阅读理解
A family sustains, supports and nourishes the members throughout the span of that family. A strong family unit creates a safe, positive and supportive place for all members to grow up. They are able to use resources and to live together in a fairly healthy manner.
The adults in a strong family set the tone. They are good role models that lead by example. They reach out to friends and community and teach their children the importance of doing the same. Some important elements of a strong family system are family cohesion, family flexibility and family communication.
Cohesion — In families, cohesion would be defined as the feeling of being loved, of belonging to the group and being nurtured (养育) by it. Although closeness is good in a family unit, there must be a balance between being together and being separate. A person must be able to develop their individuality, while being supported and confident within the family.
Flexibility — On one hand, there must be a structure in a family or it will become orderless and will not be a peaceful setting for a family. On the other hand, there must be flexibility or the family becomes rigid and the authority figures become resented. We could compare a successful family to a democracy. There are leaders, but the whole group is involved in the decision making process. Although the leaders are in charge, all members develop the ability to cope with stress, and at times lead. While the family works to avoid stressful situations, they work together to solve problems, without blaming, criticizing and finding fault with each other.
Communication — A lack of communication can rip a family apart. Things that lead to communication are the things mentioned so far — family closeness, flexibility, time spent together. All members must feel a freedom within the group to express themselves freely.
Another very important factor is the relationship between the "head" couple. A happy marriage extends itself from the family to the community and a healthy family will be reaching out to help others. They do not tend to isolate themselves from the rest of the world.
A healthy, happy family benefits our whole society. Among the children of strong families there is less crime, less divorce and less emotional problems. They tend to go on and have strong, healthy families of their own, having learned from their folk''s example.
单选题
What does the author mean by "The adults in a strong family set the tone." (Para. 2, Line 1)?
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】词义理解题。“tone”一词主要有声音、音调、音质；音色、语气、口吻、色调、风气、品质等意思，结合第二段，其主要内容是：成年人是家庭的楷模，他们通过自己的行为引导孩子。因此这里“set the tone”应该是决定家庭的特点、氛围的意思，答案是D。
单选题
What does the word "cohesion" (Para. 3, Line 1) probably refer to?
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】“cohesion”是本文提到的和睦家庭的一个不可或缺的特点，整个第三段就是对“cohesion”一词的解释，包括“the feeling of being loved，of belonging to the group and being nurtured”(被爱的感觉、归属感、被人养育的感觉)，以及“a balance between being together and being separate”(一种亦分亦合的平衡)，因此“cohesion”一词在本文的意思是A。
单选题
Which is the following statement is TRUE concerning cohesion according to the passage?
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】句意理解题。第三段的“a balance between being together and being separate”即是B的意思。
单选题
In what way can a successful family be compared to a democracy?