2009年安徽高考英语＂任务型读写题＂专项训练

　　At the beginning of the twentieth century, many people thought that the American family was falling apart. A century later, we know that this was not the case. However, although the family is still alive in the United States, its size and shape were very different 100 years ago.

　　In the late 1800s and early 1900s, there were mainly two types of families in the United States: the extended and the nuclear. The extended family usually includes grandparents, parents, and children living under the same roof. The nuclear family consists of only parents and children.

　　Today there are many different kinds of families. Some people live in traditional families, that is, a stay-home mother, a working father, and their own biological children. Others live in two-paycheck families, single-parent families, adoptive or foster, families, blended families ，5 million women were left alone to take care of their homes and their children. Because many men were at war, thousands of these war widows had to go to work outside their home.

　　During the next ten years, the situation changed. There were fewer divorces, and people married at a younger age and had more children than the previous generation. It was unusual for a mother to work outside the home during the years when her children were growing tip. Families began leaving cities and moving into single-family homes in the suburbs. The traditional family seemed to be returning.

　　In the years between 1960s and 1990s, there were many important changes in the structure of the family. From the 1960s to the early 1970s, the divorce rate doubled and the birthrate fell by half. The number of single-parent families tripled, and the number of couples living together without being married doubled again. In fact, the single-parent household, once unusual, has replaced the traditional family as the typical family in the States. If we can judge from history, however, this will probably change again in the twenty-first century.

　　The Changes of the American Family

　　Main comparisonsContexts

　　Different___1____There were two __2___ types of families in the past, ___3____, the extended and the nuclear.

　　Nowadays __4___types of families can be seen than before.

　　Changes in different ___5_____.In the 1900s and 1940sMany of the women had to work outside due to the __6___of money., thus causing the fall of __7__and the rise of divorce rate.

　　In the 1950sDivorce rate slided and there were more children . The families tended to be ___8___ again.

　　In the years between 1960s and 1990sDifferent types of familes__9____. Traditional families are no longer the typical ones in America.

　　A trend worth noting

　　Authors opinion on changesThe present structure is ___10____; it will experience changes again in the near future.

　　1. kinds/ types 2. main 3. namely 4. more 5.periods 6. lack 7. birthrate 8. fewer 9. occurred 10. temporary