Upon reaching an appropriate age (usually between 18 and 21 years), children are encouraged, but not forced, to “leave the nest” and begin an independent life. After children leave home they often find social relationship and financial support outside the family. Parents do not arrange marriages for their children, nor do children usually ask permission of their parents to get married, Romantic love is most often the basis for marriage in the United States; young adults meet their future spouses (配偶) through other friends, at jobs, and in organizations and religious institutions, Although children choose their own spouses, they still hope their parents will approve of their choices.

　　In many families, parents feel that children should make major life decisions by themselves. A parent may try to influence a child to follow a particular profession but the child is free to choose another career. Sometimes children do precisely the opposite of what their parents wish in order to assert their independence. A son may deliberately decide not to go into his father’s business because of a fear that he will lose his autonomy in his father’s workplace. This independence from parents is not an indication that parents and children do not love each other. Strong love between parents and children is universal and this is no exception in the American family Coexisting with such love in the American family are cultural values of self – reliance and independence.

　　1. The writer discusses the marriage of young adults in order to show which of the following?
　　A) They enjoy the freedom of choosing their spouses.
　　B) They want to win the permission of their parents.
　　C) They have a strong desire to become independent.
　　D) They want to challenge the authority of their parents.

　　2. Most young adults in the U.S. get married for the sake of ____.
　　A) love
　　B) financial concern
　　C) their parents
　　D) family background

　　3. Based on the passage, it can be assumed that ______.
　　A) American young adults are likely to follow the suit of their parents
　　B) most American people never make major decisions for their children
　　C) American young adults possess cultural values of independence
　　D) once a young person steps into his twenties, he will leave his home permanently

　　4. A son is unwilling to work in his father’s business mainly because _____.
　　A) he wishes to make full use of what he has learnt in school
　　B) he wants to prove his independence
　　C) he wishes to do the opposite of what his parents approve of
　　D) he wants to show his love for his parents

　　5. The subject matter of this selection is _____.
　　A) family values
　　B) marriage arrangements
　　C) the pursuit of a career
　　D) decision making

　　【答案及詳解】

　　答案：CACBA

　　子女一旦到適當年齡(通常是18至21歲)，要鼓勵而不是強迫他們“離開窩的，財政的巢”，開始獨立生活。小孩離開家后，往往在外能夠與人交往，并自謀出路。父母不為子女安排婚姻，子女結婚也通常無需獲得父母同意。在美國，浪漫的愛情往往是婚姻的基礎，青年人通過朋友在學校、單位、組織以及宗教團體認識自己的，愛情的未來的伴侶。盡管子女自己擇偶，他們仍然希望父母能認同他們的選擇。

　　許多家庭的父母認為，應由子女自己來做他們生活中的重大決定。家長可能會設法影響子女去從事某一職業，但子女也有選擇其它職業的自由。有時為了證實自己的獨立性，子女從事的工作正好與父母希望的相反。兒子可能執意不去父親的企業工作，因為擔心在那里就不能獨立自主。這種不依靠父母的獨立性并不意味著父母與子女之間缺乏愛心。父母和子女之間普遍都有摯愛，美國家庭也毫不例外。只不過在美國家庭之中，還融合了自主、獨立的文化價值觀念。