American Families
1. Despite social and economic differences among Americans, many American families have certain characteristics in common. Both the husband and wife were born in the United States, and their forefathers came from Europe. They have completed high school, and they belong to the middle class. They have a car, a television set, a washing machine, a refrigerator, a telephone, etc.. They own their own home and spend about 55% of their income for housing and food. Clothing accounts for almost 10% of their income, medical care 6%, transportation 8% and taxes 15%. The rest of their income is used for such items as insurance, savings, gifts and recreation.
2. Most families consist of a mother, a father, and, at most, two children living at home. There may be relatives? — grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins living in the same community, but American families usually maintain separate households. This family structure is known as the "nuclear family". It is unusual for members of the family other than the husband, wife, and children to live together.
3. Marriage in the United States is considered a matter of individual responsibility and decision. Young people frequently fall in love and marry even if their parents disagree. American marriages are usually based on romantic love, rather than on social class, education, or religion.
4. After their marriage the young couple is free to decide where to live and when to start a family. Most young couples set up their own household immediately. In the early 1970s only 1.5% of all married couples were not living on their own-independently and by themselves. Most married people practise some kind of birth control. They plan the number of children they are going to have and when their children will be born. The practice of limiting the size of families has general approval. The birth rate has been declining steadily in recent years.
1. Passage 1 __________
2. Passage 2 __________
3. Passage 3 __________
4. Passage 4 __________
A Post-marriage life
B The birth rate in the early 1970s
C Usual family structure of American families
D Characteristics in common in many American families
E Marriage concept in USA
F In marriages usually romantic love is as important as social class, education, or religion
5. There are __________ among many American families.
6. __________ are usually small.
7. Young Americans make their own decisions __________.
8. The birth rate __________.
A has been dropping over the last few years
B on marriage
C Most American families
D some similar features
E live with their parents
F Most married couples
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