Upon reaching an appropriate age (usually between 18 and 21 years), children are encouraged, but not forced, to “leave the nest” and begin an independent life. After children leave home they often find social relationship and financial support outside the family. Parents do not arrange marriages for their children, nor do children usually ask permission of their parents to get married, Romantic love is most often the basis for marriage in the United States; young adults meet their future spouses (配偶) through other friends, at jobs, and in organizations and religious institutions, Although children choose their own spouses, they still hope their parents will approve of their choices.
　　In many families, parents feel that children should make major life decisions by themselves. A parent may try to influence a child to follow a particular profession but the child is free to choose another career. Sometimes children do precisely the opposite of what their parents wish in order to assert their independence. A son may deliberately decide not to go into his father’s business because of a fear that he will lose his autonomy in his father’s workplace. This independence from parents is not an indication that parents and children do not love each other. Strong love between parents and children is universal and this is no exception in the American family Coexisting with such love in the American family are cultural values of self – reliance and independence.
　　1. The writer discusses the marriage of young adults in order to show which of the following?
　　A) They enjoy the freedom of choosing their spouses.
　　B) They want to win the permission of their parents.
　　C) They have a strong desire to become independent.
　　D) They want to challenge the authority of their parents.
　　2. Most young adults in the U.S. get married for the sake of ____.
　　A) love
　　B) financial concern
　　C) their parents
　　D) family background
　　3. Based on the passage, it can be assumed that ______.
　　A) American young adults are likely to follow the suit of their parents
　　B) most American people never make major decisions for their children
　　C) American young adults possess cultural values of independence
　　D) once a young person steps into his twenties, he will leave his home permanently
　　4. A son is unwilling to work in his father’s business mainly because _____.
　　A) he wishes to make full use of what he has learnt in school
　　B) he wants to prove his independence
　　C) he wishes to do the opposite of what his parents approve of
　　D) he wants to show his love for his parents
　　5. The subject matter of this selection is _____.
　　A) family values
　　B) marriage arrangements
　　C) the pursuit of a career
　　D) decision making
　　【答案及详解】
　　答案：　CACBA
　　子女一旦到适当年龄(通常是18至21岁)，要鼓励而不是强迫他们“离开窝的，财政的巢”，开始独立生活。小孩离开家后，往往在外能够与人交往，并自谋出路。父母不为子女安排婚姻，子女结婚也通常无需获得父母同意。在美国，浪漫的爱情往往是婚姻的基础，青年人通过朋友在学校、单位、组织以及宗教团体认识自己的，爱情的未来的伴侣。尽管子女自己择偶，他们仍然希望父母能认同他们的选择。
　　许多家庭的父母认为，应由子女自己来做他们生活中的重大决定。家长可能会设法影响子女去从事某一职业，但子女也有选择其它职业的自由。有时为了证实自己的独立性，子女从事的工作正好与父母希望的相反。儿子可能执意不去父亲的企业工作，因为担心在那里就不能独立自主。这种不依靠父母的独立性并不意味着父母与子女之间缺乏爱心。父母和子女之间普遍都有挚爱，美国家庭也毫不例外。只不过在美国家庭之中，还融合了自主、独立的文化价值观念。　 

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（实习编辑：宋奇莲）