The American Family
. o" o. R( ]4 J2 x7 I; G. YIn the American family the husband and wife usually share important decision making. When the children are old enough, they take part__1__.# y: d+ h2 L2 K2 @6 J" @! N
Foreigners are often surprised by the permissiveness of American parents. The old rule that "children should be seen and not heard" is rarely__2__, and children are often allowed to do what they wish without strict parental__3__. The father seldom expects his children to obey him__4__ question, and children are encouraged to be independent__5__ an early age. Some people believe that American parents carry this freedom__6__ far. Others think that a strong father image would not__7__ the American values of equality and independence. Because Americans emphasize the importance of independence, young people are expected to __8__ their parental families by the time they have__9__ their late teens or early twenties.__10__, not to do so is often regarded as a failure, a kind of weak dependence.4 |- P+ O5 ^3 }( ~4 }4 N
This pattern of independence often results in serious__11__ for the aging parents of a small family. The average American is expected to live __12__ the age of 70. The job-retirement age is __13__ 65. The children have left home, married, and __!4__ their own households. At least 20 percent of all people over 65 do not have enough retirement incomes.__15__ the major problem of many elderly couples is not economic. They feel useless and lonely with neither an occupation nor a close family group.
, S9 {- m& v3 ]# F( ]1 A1.A) either B) though C) as well D) also q8 t E& s/ H
2.A) discussed B) followed C) seen D) heard) ]* _( W7 G! @: u
3. A) control B) support C) agreement D) criticism3 d! I' {! P, E
4. A) for B) on C) without D) in D( C# s& S* f% t
5. A) in B) at C) on D) for
/ A0 R* O; n$ q: R2 g% M6. A) too B) almost C) nearly D) quite
( _0 c& b% {- |6 X/ c/ B* V7. A) fit B) meet C) suit D) satisfy
( v1 b: N( `/ N$ A8. A) break up B) break into C) break through D) break away from
0 x# O: B x. R# a0 n6 m$ h9.A) reached B) come C) arrived D) D) developed0 w1 m5 a. o6 s! I
10.A) In truth B) In name C) Indeed D) In a word9 w& P6 z& J8 i6 i, f
11.A) questions B) problems C) matters D) affairs. X/ E. r8 |! d( w2 v
12.A) on B) up C) from D) beyond
; Q% ^ ~# P& b: i" n/ \7 Q13.A) only B) usually C) sometimes D) seldom; N& h* _* E% A8 C( \
14.A) set forth B) set aside C) set up D) set down5 H" X0 _" s8 M R
15.A) But B) Therefore C) In contrast D) On the other hand: q; E1 s- a; p
key: CBACB ACDAC BDBCA |