American Families

1 Despite social andeconomic differences among Americans,many American families have certaincharacteristics in common.Both the husband and wife were born in the

United States,and their forefathers came from Europe.Theyhave completed high school,and they belong to the middle class.They have a car,a television set,a washing

machine,arefrigerator,a telephone,etc.They own their own home and spend about 55%oftheir income for housing and food.Clothing accounts for almost 10%of their

income,medical care6%,transportation 8%and taxes 15%.The rest of their income is used for suchitems as insurance, savings,gifts,and recreation.

2 Most familiesconsist of a mother,a father,and,at most,two children living at home.There maybe relatives-grandparents,aunts,uncles,cousins living in the same

community,butAmerican families usually maintain separate households.This family structure isknown as the"nuclear family".It is unusual. for members of the familyother

than thehusband,wife,and children to live together.

3 Marriage in theUnited States is considered a matte,r of individual responsibility anddecision.Young people frequently fall in love and many even if their parents

disagree.Americanmarriages are usually based on romantic love,rather than on socialclass,education,or religion.

4 After theirmarriage the young couple is free to decide where to live and when to start afamily.Most young couples set up their own household immediately.In the early

1970s only 15%of allmarried couples were not living on their own-independently and bythemselves.Most married people practise some kind of birth control.They planthe

number of childrenthey are going to have and when their children will be born. The practice oflimiting the size of families has general approval.The birth rate has been

declining steadilyin recent years.Paragraph 4______

A.Post-marriage Life

B.The Birih Rate inthe Early 1970s

C.Usual FamilyStructure of American Families

D.Features in Commonin Many American Families

E.Marriage Conceptin the USA