PASSAGE 17

　　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__1__.

　　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.

　　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.

　　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) D) developed

　　10.A) In truth B) In name C) Indeed 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

　　key: CBACB ACDAC BDBCA

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