完形填空题

　　第6部分：完形填空中楼阁 （第51～65题，每题1分，共15分）

　　阅读下面的短文，文中有15处空白，每处空白给出4个选项，请根据短文的内容从4个选项中选择1个最佳答案，涂在答题卡相应的位置上。

The American Family

　　In the American family the husband and wife usually share important decision making. When the children are old enough, they take part      （51）. Foreigners are often surprised by the permissiveness of American parents. The old rule that "children should be seen and not heard" is rarely      （52）, and children are often allowed to do what they wish without strict parental      （53）. The father seldom expects his children to obey him      （54） question, and children are encouraged to be independent      （55） an early age. Some people believe that American parents carry this freedom      （56） far. Others think that a strong father image would not      （57） the American values of equality and independence. Because Americans emphasize the importance of independence, young people are expected to break      （58） their parental families by the time they have      （59） their late teens or early twenties.      （60）, not to do so is often regarded as a failure, a kind of weak dependence.

　　This pattern of independence often results in serious      （61） for the aging parents of a small family. The average American is expected to live      （62） the age of 70. The job-retirement age is      （63） 65. The children have left home, married, and      （64） their own households. At least 20 percent of all people over 65 do not have enough retirement incomes.      （65） the major problem of many elderly couples is not economic. They feel useless and lonely with neither an occupation nor a close family group.

　　51 A either B though C as well D also

　　52 A discussed B followed C seen D heard

　　53 A control B support C agreement D criticism

　　54 A for B on C without D in

　　55 A in B at C on D for

　　56 A too B almost C nearly D quite

　　57 A fit B meet C suit D satisfy

　　58 A up B into C through D away from

　　59 A reached B come C arrived D developed

　　60 A In truth B In name C Indeed D In a word

　　61 A questions B problems C matters D affairs

　　62 A on B up C from D beyond

　　63 A only B usually C sometimes D seldom

　　64 A set forth B set aside C set up D set down

　　65 A But B Therefore C In contrast D Even if

　　【参考答案】

　　51. C　　52. B　　53. A　　54. C　　55. B

　　56. A　　57. C　　58. D　　59. A　　60. C

　　61. B　　62. D　　63. B　　64. C　　65. A