Question

【题目】Types of Family Structures

Family structure has changed noticeably over the last 50 years. 【1】

Nuclear Family

The nuclear family is the traditional type of family structure, consisting of two parents and children. 【2】 Children in nuclear families receive strength and stability from the two-parent structure and generally have more opportunities due o the financial ease of two adults In America, almost 70 percent of children live in a nuclear family unit.

Extended Family

The extended family structure consists of two or more adults who are related, either by blood or marriage, living in the same home. This family includes many relatives living together and working toward common goals. 【3】 Extended families are becoming increasingly common all over the world.

Stepfamily

Many marriages end in divorce, and many of these individuals choose to get remarried. This creates the stepfamily which involves two separate families merging into one new unit. 【4】 Stepfamilies are as common as the nuclear family, though they tend to have more problems. Stepfamilies need to learn to work together to ensure these family units run smoothly.

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to what is the best type of family structure. 【5】 Families need to do what is best for each other and themselves, and that can be achieved in almost any unit.

A. Parents go to look after elders occasionally.

B. They raise the children together, due to financial difficulties.

C. The nuclear family was long held by society as the ideal to raise children.

D. It consists of a new husband and wife and their children from previous marriages.

E. As long as a family is filled with love and support for one another, it is successful.

F. The following types of families exist today, with some falling into different kind.

G. While these types of families are distinct in definition, in practice the lines are less clear.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】F

【2】C

【3】B

【4】D

【5】E

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。在过去的50年里，家庭结构发生了显著的变化。文章介绍了几个属于不同类型的家庭。

【1】下文提示“在过去的50年里，家庭结构发生了显著的变化。”通过下文小标题可知空格下文在讲述不同的家庭类型，所以承接上下文，F项The following types of families exist today, with some falling into different kind.（今天有以下几种类型的家庭，其中一些属于不同类型的家庭。）切题。故选F。

【2】上文提示“核心家庭是传统的家庭结构，由父母和子女组成。”再根据下文提示“核心家庭的孩子从双亲结构中获得力量和稳定性，由于两个成年人的经济状况，他们通常有更多的机会。”承接上下文，C项 The nuclear family was long held by society as the ideal to raise children.（长期以来，这个核心家庭一直被社会视为养育孩子的理想。）切题。此处关键词The nuclear family，故选C。

【3】上文提示“这个家庭包括许多亲戚住在一起，朝着共同的目标努力。”承接上文，B项They raise the children together, due to financial difficulties.（由于经济困难，他们把孩子们聚在一起。）该项中的raise the children together与上文中的living together相吻合。故选B。

【4】上文提示“这就创建了一个再婚家庭，其中包括两个独立的家庭合并成一个新单元。”承接上文，D项It consists of a new husband and wife and their children from previous marriages.（它由一个新丈夫和妻子以及他们的孩子组成。）切题。该项中的It指代上文的the stepfamily。故选D。

【5】上文提示“当涉及到什么是最好的家庭结构时，没有正确或错误的答案。”下文提示“家庭需要为彼此和自己做最好的事情，这在几乎任何单位都是可以实现的。”承接上下文，E项As long as a family is filled with love and support for one another, it is successful.（只要一个家庭充满了对彼此的爱和支持，它就成功了。）切题。故选E。