The American Family
In the American family the husband and wife usually share important decision making. When the children are
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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
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, and children are often allowed to do what they wish without strict control of their parents. The father seldom expects his children to listen to him
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question, and children are encouraged to be independent at an early age. Some people believe that American parents carry this freedom
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far. Others think that a strong father image would not suit the American values of equality and independence. Because Americans emphasize the importance of independence, young people are expected to
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their parental families by the time they have reached their late teens or early twenties. Indeed, not to do so is often regarded as a
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, a kind of weak dependence.
This pattern of independence often results in serious
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for the aging parents of a small family. The average American is expected to live beyond the age of 70. The job-retirement age is
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65. The children have left home, married, and set up their own households. At least 20 per cent of all people over 65 do not have enough retirement incomes.
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the major problem of many elderly couples is not economic. They feel useless and lonely with
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an occupation nor a close family group.
A. neither D. old G. followed J. break away from
B. failure E. problems H. never K. for
C. without F. usually I. but L. too