In the American family the husband and wife usually share important decision making. When the children are old enough, they take part__1__.
　　Foreigners are often surprised by the permissiveness of American parents. The old rule that "children should be seen and not heard" is rarely__2__, and children are often allowed to do what they wish without strict parental__3__. The father seldom expects his children to obey him__4__ question, and children are encouraged to be independent__5__ an early age. Some people believe that American parents carry this freedom__6__ far. Others think that a strong father image would not__7__ the American values of equality and independence. Because Americans emphasize the importance of independence, young people are expected to __8__ their parental families by the time they have__9__ their late teens or early twenties.__10__, not to do so is often regarded as a failure, a kind of weak dependence.
　　This pattern of independence often results in serious__11__ for the aging parents of a small family. The average American is expected to live __12__ the age of 70. The job-retirement age is __13__ 65. The children have left home, married, and __!4__ their own households. At least 20 percent of all people over 65 do not have enough retirement incomes.__15__ the major problem of many elderly couples is not economic. They feel useless and lonely with neither an occupation nor a close family group.
　　1.A) either B) though C) as well D) also
　　2.A) discussed B) followed C) seen D) heard
　　3. A) control B) support C) agreement D) criticism
　　4. A) for B) on C) without D) in
　　5. A) in B) at C) on D) for
　　6. A) too B) almost C) nearly D) quite
　　7. A) fit B) meet C) suit D) satisfy
　　8. A) break up B) break into C) break through D) break away from
　　9.A) reached B) come C) arrived D) D) developed
　　10.A) In truth B) In name C) Indeed D) In a word
　　11.A) questions B) problems C) matters D) affairs
　　12.A) on B) up C) from D) beyond
　　13.A) only B) usually C) sometimes D) seldom
　　14.A) set forth B) set aside C) set up D) set down
　　15.A) But B) Therefore C) In contrast D) On the other hand
　　key: CBACB ACDAC BDBCA

Water
　　From the beginning, water has furnished man with a source of food and a highway to travel upon. The first __1__ arose where water was a dominant element in the environment, a challenge to man's ingenuity. The Egyptians invented the 365-day calendar __2__ the Nile's annual flooding. The Babylonians, who were among the most famous law-makers in ancient times, invented laws __3__ water usage. Water inspired the Chinese to build a 1,000-__4__ canal, a complex system which, after nearly 2,500 years, remains still practically __5__ and still commands the astonishment of engineer. But the __6__ never found complete solutions to their water problems. The Yellow River is also known __7__ "China's Sorrow"; it is so unpredictable and dangerous __8__ in a single flood it has caused a million __9__. Floods slowed the great civilization of the Indus River Valley, and inadequate drainage ruined __10__ of its land. Today water dominates __11__ as it always has done. Its presence continues to __12__ the location of his homes and cities; its violent variability can __13__ man of his herds or his crops; its routes links him __14__ his fellows; its immense value may __15__ to already dangerous political conflicts. There are many examples of his in our own time.
　　1. A) governments B) cultures C) civilizations D) universities
　　2. A) in regard to B) in response to C) in case D) in spite of
　　3. A) regulates B) regulate C) regulated D) regulating
　　4. A) miles B) mile C) mile's D) miles'
　　5. A) in use B) for use C) by use D) on use
　　6. A)villagers B) ancients C) farmers D) merchants
　　7. A) for B) by C) to D) as
　　8. A) that B) when C) because D) which
　　9. A) injuries B) deaths C) damages D) ruins
　　10. A) a number of B) a couple of C) many of D) much of
　　11. A) woman B) women C) man D) men
　　12. A) govern B) control C) lead D) change
　　13. A) move B) violate C) kill D) disappear
　　14. A) by B) on C) and D) to
　　15. A) increase B) add C) expand D) extend
　　KEYS: CBDBA BDABD CACDB