| {{B}}
The American Family{{/B}} In the American family the husband and wife usually share important decision making. When the children are{{U}} (51) {{/U}}enough, they take part as well. Foreigners are often surprised by the permissiveness (宽容) of American parents. The old rule that "children should be seen and not heard" is rarely{{U}} (52) {{/U}}, and children are often allowed to do{{U}} (53) {{/U}}they wish without strict control of their parents. The father seldom expects his children to listen to him{{U}} (54) {{/U}}question, and children are encouraged to be{{U}} (55) {{/U}}at an early age. Some people believe that American parents carry this freedom{{U}} (56) {{/U}}far. Others think that a strong father image would not{{U}} (57) {{/U}}the American values of equality and independence. Because Americans emphasize the importance of independence, young people are expected to{{U}} (58) {{/U}}their parental families by the time they have{{U}} (59) {{/U}}their late teens or early twenties. Indeed, not to do so is often regarded as A.{{U}} (60) {{/U}}, a kind of weak dependence. This pattern of independence often results in serious{{U}} (61) {{/U}}for the aging parents of a small family. The average American is expected to live{{U}} (62) {{/U}}the age of 70. The job-retirement age is{{U}} (63) {{/U}}65. The children have left home, married, and{{U}} (64) {{/U}}their own households. At least 20 percent of all people over. 65 do not have enough retirement incomes.{{U}} (65) {{/U}}the major problem of many elderly couples is not economic. They feel useless and lonely with neither an occupation nor a close family group. |