Passage Three
Questions 11 to 15 are based on the following passage.
In the past, American families tended to be quite large. Parents raising five or more children were common. Over the years, the size of the family has decreased. One reason for this is an increase in the cost of living. On the average, children attend schools for more years than they used to, making them financially dependent on their families. Moreover, children nowadays are better dressed and have more money to spend on entertainment. The parents usually take the responsibility for all the expenses. Meanwhile, families are less close than they used to be. More and more American mothers work away from home.
The breakup of the family occurs when the parents divorce. A lot of children in the U.S. live part of their young lives with only one parent. Broken families usually result in problems for children and parents alike. Children blame themselves when their parents separate. They grow up feeling unsettled as they are moved back and forth between parents. Usually one parent is responsible for raising the children. These single parents must care for the children’s emotional and psychological needs while also supporting them financially. This is very demanding and leaves very little time for the parent’s own personal interests. Single parents often marry other single parents. In this type of family, unrelated children are forced to develop brother or sister relationship.
The situations of many American families today are not good. However, recent signs indicate that things are getting better. The divorce rate is declining. The rate of childbirth is rising. Perhaps Americans have learned how important families are.
11. In the past, American families tended to be ______.
A. quite small
B. medium-sized
C. quite large
D. small
12. To parents who take the responsibility for children’s expenses, the cost of living increases because ______.
A. children attend school for less years
B. children are worse dressed
C. children have more interests nowadays
D. children spend more money on entertainment
13. What problems would broken families bring to children and parents respectively?
A. Children grow up feeling unsettled and parents didn’t pay much attention to children.
B. Children grow up feeling free and one parent is responsible for raising the children.
C. Children are moved back and forth between parents and the single parent is busy working to make money to support himself or herself.
D. Children grow up feeling unsettled, and the parents have little time for his or her own interests because one parent is too busy taking care of children.
14. According to the author, the situations of American families in the future may ______.
A. become worse
B. remain the same
C. get better
D. keep unchanged
15. The title of the article might be ______.
A. American Children
B. American Families
C. American Mother
D. American Parents
