泽熙美文Reading Comprehension
At the beginning of the twentieth century, North American society held, as an ideal，the Nuclear Family. This presumably perfect residential, social, and economic unit consisted of an adult male, an adult female and their minor children. This structure was thought to be stable and long lasting.
However, a few decades later, the structure of that ideal family was being altered radically even while it was being touted as the structure to be aimed for. Popular magazines bemoaned the loss of the Nuclear Family and its replacement with inferior forms.
There are a number of factors that are acting in concert to apply pressure on the Nuclear Family and generate a variety of new structures. Some of these are:
The definition of marriage has changed somewhat in that few people now consider it to last “until death do us part”. The concept of monogamy (the marriage of one man and one woman) has been modified to a form now referred to as serial monogamy (the marriage of one man and one woman at a time). This reflects the increasing equality of women and men in terms of economic advantage and the recognition that many women no longer depend on men for their survival. Women are acquiring independence and have become empowered to make their own choices. With this independence, the need to form a relationship with a man becomes less important. This change embodies the concept that the marriage is temporary and can be terminated by either partner at any time. Associated with this, of course, is the relaxation of the divorce laws and the significant reduction of the shame that had one time been attached to divorce
The economy of North America has resulted in a two-tier system of a few rich who control most of the resources and a large portion of the population who control almost none of the resources. Because of this, many couples are forced to have both partners with full-time jobs outside the home. There are unintended byproducts of the need for a double income. The most important of these is the replacement of a mother-oriented socialization of children to a “stranger-oriented” socialization system reflected in the growth of the childcare industry. Also, either partner is financially able to end the marriage without significant hardship.
The combination of these changes will in the coming decades have a profound effect on the structure of the family of North America. As a result, the family will be a fluid, constantly changing structure with variable household arrangements as the norm.
1. In the 1910s most North Americans believed that the Nuclear Family ______.
A.wouldn’t last long
B.was the normal family structure
C.had no social and economic basis
D.was unworthy
正确答案：B
[解析] 本题考查事实细节。根据文章第一段第一句“At the beginning of the twentieth century, North American society held, as an ideal, the Nuclear Family.”可知，B项为正确答案。根据第一段最后一句“This structure was thought to be stable and long lasting.”可知，A项不正确；C、D两项在文中并未提及。
2. What happened to the Nuclear Family in the middle Of the twentieth century?
A.It changed greatly.
B.It was criticized.
C.It remained a normal structure.
D.It was lost.
正确答案：A
[解析] 本题考查事实细节。根据文章第二段第一句“However, a few decades later, the structure of that ideal family was being altered radically.”可知，几十年后，理想家庭结构有了根本性改变。所以，答案是A。
3. In the middle of the twentieth century, people in North America ______.
A.were tired of the Nuclear Family
B.wanted to give up the Nuclear Family
C.believed that the Nuclear Family was hopeful
D.were indifferent to the Nuclear Family
正确答案：C
[解析] 本题考查事实细节。根据文章第二段第一句“However, a few decades later, the structure of that ideal family was being altered radically even while it was being touted as the structure to be aimed for.”可知，人们吹捧核心家庭是他们的目标家庭结构。据此推断，答案是C。
4. What has changed the Nuclear Family in North America?
A.People have changed their ideas about marriage.
B.Women become more independent.
C.The economy is changing.
D.All of the above factors are acting together.
正确答案：D
[解析] 本题考查文章主旨。根据文章第四、五段内容可知，这两段主要讲述了是哪些因素导致了核心家庭的改变，其中有人们的婚姻观、妇女的独立和社会经济状况的改变。由此可知，答案是D。
5. What is the major factor that has raised the divorce rate in North America?
A.The increasing equality of women.
B.Relaxation of the divorce laws.
C.The significant reduction of the shame on divorce.
D.Men having more chances to know women.
正确答案：A
[解析] 本题考查事实细节。根据文章第四段第三句“This reflects the increasing equality of women and men in terms of economic advantage and the recognition that many women no longer depend on men for their survival.”可知，正确答案是A。
6. In Paragraph 4, “until death do as part” probably means remaining married ______.
A.until death
B.to the particular person until death
C.to one person at a time
D.until one leaves
正确答案：B
[解析] 本题考查短语意义。根据文章第四段第二句中的monogamy和serial monogamy可知，”until death do us part”.的意思是至死都和某个人保持婚姻关系，所以，答案是B。
7. In Paragraph 5, “two-tier system” means some ______.
A.men have many wives while others have none
B.people are very rich while others are very poor
C.people have too much work to do while others have nothing to do
D.people control others
正确答案：B
[解析] 本题考查事实细节。根据文章第五段的第一句话“The economy of North America has resulted in a two-tier system of a few rich who control most of the resources and a large portion of the population who control almost none of the resources.”可知，正确答案是B。
8. Many wives work outside their home because they ______.
A.want to be independent
B.don’t want to stay at home
C.don’t have to take care of their children
D.want to make money for their home
正确答案：D
[解析] 本题考查事实细节。根据文章第五段前两句“The economy of North America has resulted in a two-tier system of a few rich who control most of the resources and a large portion of the population who control almost none of the resources. Because of this, many couples are forced to have both partners with full-time jobs outside the home.”可知，因为产生了双重体系，所以，很多夫妇被迫双双出去工作。据此推断，答案是D。
9. “‘Stranger-oriented’ socialization system” in Paragraph 5 probably means ______.
A.strangers come home to take care of children
B.neighbors don’t know each other
C.mothers work outside their home and become strange to their children
D.children become strange to their parents
正确答案：A
[解析] 本题考查事实细节。根据文章第五段第四句“The most important of these is the replacement of a mother-oriented socialization of children to a ‘stranger-oriented’ socialization system reflected in the growth of the childcare industry.”可知，妈妈无暇照顾孩子，而是由陌生人来家中照顾孩子。所以，答案是A。
10. The author’s purpose is to ______.
