In the American family the husband and wife usually share important decision－making. When the children

In the American family the husband and wife usually share important decision-making. When the children are   31  enough, they take part as well. Foreigners are often surprised by the permissiveness (宽容) of American parents. Children are often allowed to do pretty much  32  they wish without strict control by their parents. Children are encouraged to be  33  at an early age. Some people believe that American parents carry this freedom  34  far. Others think that a strong parental image would not  35  American values. Because Americans emphasize the importance of independence, young people are expected to 36  their families by the time they have  37  their late teens or early twenties. This pattern of independence often raises serious  38  for the aging parents of a small family. The average American is expected to live  39  the age of 10. The job-retirement age is usually 5. The children have left home, married, and  40  their own households. Often the major problem of many elderly couples is not economic, but they feel useless and lonely with neither an occupation nor a close family tie.

31. A. senior

B. junior

C. old

D. young

32. A.when

B. that

C. which

D. what

33. A.dependent

B. independent

C. sure

D. secure

34. A.too

B. almost

C. nearly

D. so

35. A.gain

B. welcome

C. suit

D. estimate

36. A.break up

B. break into

C. break though

D. break away from

37. A.reached

B. come

C. arrived

D. developed

38. A. events

B. problems

C. matters

D. developed

39. A.on

B. up

C. from

D. beyond

40. A.set forth

B. set aside

C. set up

D. set down