英语短文阅读-文化篇.docVIP

文化 美国家庭是怎样的？ American family In the United States, most families have two or three children, and there are also even larger families. Certainly, children live together with their parents. But when the children have families, they will move out and have their own houses. Parents usually keep in touch with their grown children and take great interest in their grandchildren. On holidays, members of the larger family - grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins - often have meals together. Both Mother and Father can have a voice in the family, but not all families are run this way. Many families still live by the old rule that Fathers word is law. Now, some mothers do not stay at home any longer. They also go out to work. Today, about 10 million American mothers with children under eighteen have jobs. In some families, mothers have to work because the father can neither find jobs nor make enough money. In other families, the mother may work to make more money so other family can enjoy a better living. Many working mothers have to look for a cleaning woman one day or more days a week to help with housework and look after the children. 美国的房车文化 The van culture in the US Americans with small families own a small car or a larger one. If both parents are working, they usually have two cars. If the family is large, they will buy a van (住房汽车). A small car can hold four people. A large car can hold six people but it is very crowded (拥挤). A van can hold seven people easily. Americans call vans motor homes. A motor home is always used for holidays. So if a family has a van, the grandparents are often asked to go on a travel together. Mr. Bush and his wife had a third child last year. So they have to sell the old car and buy a van. The sixth and seventh seat are used to put other things, since a family of five have to carry many suitcases (衣箱) when they travel. And when they arrive at their grandparents’ home, they can also carry their grandparents. During the travel, the