第九篇：

The American Family

In the American family the husband and wife usually share important decision making. When the children are old enough, they take part __C__1____. Foreigners are often surprised by the permissiveness of American parents. The old rule that “children should be seen and not heard” is rarely __B__2____, and children are often allowed to do what they wish without strict parental _A__3____. The father seldom expects his children to obey him ____4__C__ question, and children encouraged to be independent ___B___5_____ an early age. Some people believe that American parents carry this freedom ___A__6____ far. Others think that a strong father image would not ____7___C_ the American values of equality and independence. Because Americans emphasize the importance of independence, young people are expected to ____8__D__ their parental families by the time they have __A__9_____ their late teens or early twenties. ____10__C__, not to do so is often regarded as a failure, a kind of weak dependence.

This pattern of independence often results in serious __B___11____ for the aging parents of a small family. The average American is expected to live __D__12____ the age of 70. The job-retirement age is ___B_13____ 65. The children have left home, married, and __C___14_____ their own households. At least 20 percent of all people over 65 do not have enough retirement incomes. __A__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.

1. A) either         B) though         C) as well        D) also

2. A) discussed      B) followed        C) seen          D) heard

3. A) control        B) support         C) agreement     D) criticism

4. A) for           B) on             C) without        D) in

5. A) in            B) at              C) on            D) for

6. A) too           B) almost          C) nearly         D) quite

7. A) fit            B) meet           C) suit           D) satisfy

8. A) break up       B) break into       C) break through   D) break away from

9. A) reached        B) come           C) arrived        D) developed

10. A) In truth       B) In name         C) In summary    D) In a word

11. A) questions      B) problems        C) matters        D) affairs

12. A) on           B) up              C) from         D) beyond

13. A) only         B) usually          C) sometimes      D) seldom

14. A) set forth      B) set aside         C) set up          D) set down

15. A) But          B) Therefore        C) In contrast    D) On the other hand