The current generation of parents must， in many cases， balance care of children with care for their own aging parents. It is estimated that women can now expect their mothers to live 55 years after their own birth and 30 to 40 years after the birth of their first child， many analysts suggest that this added pressure disproportionately touches the women， who already carry major responsibility for their own children.

　　Perhaps the most important issue that emerges from the social trends just described is the impact of family instability and single parenting on children. Some argue that single-parent families are a deficient form of family functioning. Others see them as a courageous， desirable alternative to unhappy two-parent families.

　　On average， kids fare better in two-parent families. But a sizable percentage of children in single parent families thrive， and many in two-parent families do not， what matters most ? regardless of family structure ? is what happens within the family.

　　Particularly important is the family‘s ability to support and nurture， minimize conflict， practice democratic decision making， provide consistent and positive forms of discipline and mode， and encourage values of caring and responsibility. Families should also provide access to structured activities (e.g.church participations， clubs， organizations， lessons) and a stimulating environment for learning (including parental involvement in schooling)。 While it is somewhat easier to deliver these in two-parent families， some single-parent families do succeed by drawing on informal and formal support systems from neighborhoods， schools， and churches.

　　26. The current generation of parents shoulder a heavy pressure ___.

　　A. since they carry major responsibility for their own children.

　　B. because in many cades they must balance care of children with care for their own aging parents.

　　C. they must burren lots of work in family.

　　D. because they hardly obtain any help from others

　　答案： B

　　解析： 细节题。文章的第一段第一句就是该题的答案，主要说作为母亲在家庭里面在孩子和对他们的老父母之间的权衡利弊。

　　27. Perhaps the most important issue that emerges from the social trends is ___.

　　A. the deficiency of single-parent families.

　　B. whether single-parent families can be regarded as a courageous， desirable alternative to unhappy two-parent families.

　　C. the impact of family instability and single parenting on children.

　　D. the poverty of the single-parent families.

　　答案： C

　　解析： 细节题。第2段的第一句就是这题的答案，要大家对细节仔细的把握，该句的意思是说：当今社会出现的家庭的不稳定性的单身家庭的出现对孩子这代的严重冲击。