Fascinating China China, one of the cradles of human civilization, possesses so many treasures with Chinese characteristics that numerous foreign friends come to visit her. The first place to go to is, the Great Wall, which is the symbol of China and one of the seven wonders in the world. What's more, it is said to be the only construction that can be seen from the outer space. In the imperial periods, it was used in defense of the dynasties. Since liberation, it has become a place of interest. There is a famous saying: "He who does not reach the Great Wall isn't a true man." Next, the Terracotta Warriors unearthed in Xi'an, a famous ancient city, were sculptured in Qin Dynasty, the first dynasty of China. When former U.S. President Clinton came to China, he visited there first. In addition, China is home to Panda, an animal with only two colors, white and black, but very cute. It's our national treasure, often functioning as a friendly diplomat. The above mentioned are just a wave of the sea. If you want to know more about this ancient nation, come and be our guest.
Part Ⅱ Reading Comprehension (Skimming and Scanning) When we worry about who might be spying on our private lives, we usually think about the Federal agents. But the private sector outdoes the government every time. It's Linda Tripp, not the FBI, who is facing charges under Maryland's laws against secret telephone taping. It's our banks, not the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), that pass our private financial data to telemarketing firms. Consumer activists are pressing Congress for better privacy laws without much result so far. The legislators lean towards letting business people track our financial habits virtually at will. As an example of what' s going on, consider US Bancorp, which was recently sued for deceptive practices by the state of Minnesota. According to the lawsuit, the bank supplied a telemarketer called Member Works with sensitive customer data such as names, phone numbers, bank account and credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, account balances and credit limits. With these customer lists in hand, Member Works started dialing for dollars -- selling dental plans, videogames, computer software and other products and services. Customers who accepted a "free trial offer" had 30 days to cancel. If the deadline passed, they were charged automatically through their bank or credit-card accounts. US Bancorp collected a share of the revenues. The state sued Member Works separately for deceptive selling. The company denies that it did anything wrong. For its part, US Bancorp settled without admitting any mistakes. But it agreed to stop exposing its customers to nonfinancial products sold by outside firms. A few top banks decided to do the same. Many other banks will still do business with Member Works and similar firms. And banks will still be mining data from your account in order to sell you financial products, including things of little value, such as credit insurance and credit card protection plans. You have almost no protection from businesses that use your personal accounts for profit. For example, no federal law shields "transaction and experience" information -- mainly the details of your bank and credit card accounts. Social Security numbers are for sale by private firms. They ' ve generally agreed not to sell to the public. But to businesses, the numbers are an open book.
1. The public tend to believe that only the FBI agents would spy on their private affairs.
N
[解析] When we worry about who might be spying on our private lives,we usually think about the Federal agents.
2. Contrary to popular belief, the author finds that spying on people' s privacy is mainly carried out by means of secret taping.
N
[解析] secret telephone taping只是其中的一个例子,并没有说是主要途径。
3. The spying on people' s pubic lives has been intensified with the help of the IRS.
N
[解析] 文中没有提到intensified with the help of the IRS。
4. We know from the passage that lawmakers are inclined to give a free hand to businesses to inquire into customers' buying habits.
Y
[解析] The legislators lean towards letting business people track our financial habits virtually at will.
5. Most states are turning a blind eye to the deceptive practices of private businesses.
N
[解析] 并非如此,已经有州起诉了这种行为。As an example of what's going on,consider US Bancorp,which was recently sued for deceptive practices by the state of Minnesota.
6. The state of Minnesota is considering drawing up laws to protect private information.
NG
[解析] 文中没有提到此点。
7. When the "free trial" deadline is over, you' 11 be charged without notice for a product or service if you fail to cancel it within the specified period.
Y
[解析] If the deadline passed,they were charged automatically through their bank or credit card accounts.
8. Businesses do not regard information concerning personal bank accounts as private because it is considered "transaction and experience" information unprotected by law.
Y
[解析] You have almost no protection from businesses that use your personal accounts for profit.For example,no federal law shields“transaction and experience" information—mainly the details of your bank and credit card accounts.
9. We can infer from the passage that privacy protection laws will soon be enforced.
NG
[解析] 文中没有提到。
10. Legislators are acting to pass a law to provide better privacy protection.
[解析] M:Have you ever had to do experimental research before? W:Once.Haveyou? M:Yes,but only for secondary school. W:What did you do it on? M:1 was looking at how far people traveled to different kinds of shops.I used a questionnaire and interviewed shoppers. W:How did it go? M:Not bad.but I did cheat a bit. W:Oh,really! M:Yes,I didn't use any system of choosing who I interviewed.I just asked those who looked friendly and nice,and who I thought would answer my questions.I didn't ask many men or those shoppers who looked busy either. W:at doesn't sound so terrible! M:Wlell,it did probably bias the results,and I'm sure that if my teacher had known,I'd have had to do it again.What kind of research did you do? W:I volunteered to do a survey last summer.1 was asked to investigate the kinds of shops that had closed, and those that remained didn't cater to local needs. M:That sounds interesting.Did you have any problems? W:Yes.the first few days I tried recording a list of all the properties in the town center.But later I knew, cafes,pubs,clubs and so on weren't considered shops.Once I got all the information collected,my main trouble was deciding how to present it.I ended up writing a very short report. M:I would have made the same mistake,I'm sure! Let's hope this Project for Economics will go smoothly…
[解析] M: I can't believe Ken missed such an important meeting even though I reminded him yesterday. W: You could have known him better by now. He's known for taking everything in one ear and out the other. Q: What can be inferred about Ken?
[答案详解]对话中男士说自己简直不敢相信Ken会错过如此重要的一次会议,女士则说男士到现在为止应该很了解Ken的情况,言下之意说Ken就是这样一种人。又从“taking everything in one ear and out the other(一个耳朵进一个耳朵出)”得知,Ken没有把事情当一回事,故可推测出答案。 [有备而战]从题目选项可以得知,A)、D)选项是对He的态度的描写,B)、C)选项是对He的特性的描写,听音过程中应该认真加以甄别。
6.
A.Sell his boots.
B.Buy some books.
C.Buy a pair of boots.
D.Wear his boots.
A B C D
D
[解析] W: The radio says there may be snow today. You'd better grab your boots, just in case. M: I am planning to do just that. Q: What will the man probably do?
[解析] M: How do you like this second-hand bike? It was only thirty dollars. W: I would say the tires alone are worth that much. Q: What does the woman think of the bike?
B.He expected his aunt give him a watch for Christmas.
C.He received a nice watch but he didn't like it.
D.He wanted a shirt but received a watch.
A B C D
D
[解析] W: Your watch looks nice,but I thought you asked your aunt to give you a shirt for Christmas. M: I did,but she said she didn't know my size. Q: What does the man mean?
B.The man shouldn't jump to conclusion so quickly.
C.Sarah must have taken it home.
D.The man can jump and get the jam.
A B C D
B
[解析] M: The jam I bought is missing. Sarah probably took it home. W: Look inside the cabinet before you leap. Q: What does the woman imply?
[有备而战]从题目C)可知是对Sarah的描述,从B)、D)可知是对the man的行为进行描述,故很难确定该题的主题,所以听音过程中要注意辨别细节信息。 [答案详解]对话中,男士对女士说自己买的果酱不见了,认为可能是Sarah拿回家了,女士则建议男士在下结论前应该检查一下壁橱,言下之意是有可能是自己不注意放在壁橱里面,不能随便下结论,故可推测出正确答案。原文中leap的意思为“下结论”而不是“跳”的意思,与选项B)中的jump to conclusion是同义转述。
10.
A.Go to the professor's house.
B.Ask the man to contact the professor.
C.Ask the professor when she will be available.
D.Call the professor when he is in office.
A B C D
C
[解析] M: I need to get in touch with the professor. I've got a math problem I can't solve. But there're always students in her office. W: I have her for an evening class. Why don't I ask her? Q: What will the woman probably do?
B.He doesn't agree with the woman about the weather.
C.He doesn't understand what the woman said.
D.He asks the woman to repeat.
A B C D
A
[解析] W: It looks as if we are in for some cold weather again this winter. M: By the looks of things you can say that again. Q: What does the man mean?
[有备而战]从题目A)、B)中可以得知,描述男士是否赞同女士有关对天气的看法;C)、D)中则是描述另外两个主题,故很难判断该题的主题,听音过程中要注意对细节信息的辨析。 [答案详解]对话中,女士对男士说从天气看来,今年冬天可能也会很冷的;男士则说“you can say that again”,其意思显然是赞成的态度,与A)中agree with是同义转述,故可推测出正确答案。原文中be in for意思为“将会遭遇/经历”。
12.
A.66 dollars.
B.32 dollars.
C.60 dollars.
D.50 dollars.
A B C D
C
[解析] M: Four tickets,please.One for adult and three for children. W: A ticket for adult is 24 dollars and children's ticket is half the price. Q: How much does the man have to pay?
[解析] W: Hello,Mr.Kramnik.Thanks for calling.Now,when Would suit you? M: Well,in fact I can come almost any time next month, and probably towards the end of a week would suit me best. W: I see.Well,how about the week beginning June 24th? Ms.Hannam is away during the middle of the month,so either the end of June or the first week of July would be best. M: Well,could we make it earlier then?I mean early in June? How about the week beginning with the 3rd? W: Er…let me see…Could we say Thursday 6th? M: Yes,that's alright.What time shall I come? W: Well,would you plan to arrive in London that day,or cOme the night before and stay in a hotel? M: Oh I think it would be better to arrive the night before and meet early in the day.Then I think I'd plan to leave the same day. W: Well,I'm sure Ms.Hannam would like to meet you for dinner on the Wednesday evening so. M: That would be very nice. W: Well,shall I send you a fax concerning this,then you can fax me with your flight details. Oh, and I'll…I'll fix you a hotel in the centre of London and send you details of that too. M: Oh thank you very much,that's very kind. W: Not at all.Thank you very much for calling We look forward to seeing you next month. M: Thank you.Goodbye. W: Goodbye,Mr.Kramnik. Q: What is the best time for the man to come?
[解析] In some way, art can reflect a culture's religious beliefs. For hundreds of years in Europe, religious art was almost the only type of art that existed. Churches and Other religious buildings were filled with paintings that depicted people and stories from the Bible, the Jewish and Christian holy book. Although most people couldn't read, they could still understand the Bible stories in the pictures on church walls. By contrast, one of the main characteristic of art in the Middle East was, and still is, its absence of human and animal images. This reflects the Middle Eastern belief that statues are unholy. By Middle Eastern law, artists are not allowed to copy human or animal figures except on small items for daily use, for example, rugs and bowls. Thus, on palaces, religious temples and other buildings, Middle Eastern artists have created unique decoration of great beauty with images of flowers and geometric forms, for example, circles, squares and triangles. Unlike Christian art which influences people to have religious feelings, the goal of traditional art in Africa is to influence spiritual powers—gods—to enter people's lives. Each tribe or village has special ceremonies with songs and dances to make sure that crops, animals and tribal members are healthy and increase in number. The dancers wear unique masks and costumes that they believe are necessary to influence the gods. These masks and costumes are a very important part of the art.
What pictures are painted in European churches?
2.
A.They are considered harmful to the Middle East.
B.They are more difficult to be painted vividly.
C.They are considered unholy in their religion.
D.They are less beautiful than flower designs.
A B C D
C
[解析] Why are there no human and animal images in Middle Eastern art?
3.
A.To beautify people's faces and bodies.
B.To invite gods to enter people's life.
C.To decorate people's masks and clothes.
D.To influence people's religious feelings.
A B C D
B
[解析] What is the goal of traditional art in Africa?
[解析] In 1848, gold was discovered near San Francisco and the first great gold-rush began. When the news spread, farmers, lawyers, sailors, soldiers and school teachers rushed to California by what ever means they could. Within a ear, 100.000 people only 8,000 of whom were women had reached the coast of California. More than half of them had traveled overland across the American continent. "Gold fever" began to spread. Settlements throughout the United States were deserted. Homes, farms and stores were abandoned as everybody raced for California. Many came by sea, and in July 1850 more than 500 ships were anchored in San Francisco Bay, many of which had been deserted by gold-hungry sailors. A few people became very rich, but it was a risky business. Law and order broke down, Even if a miner "struck it rich" , there were always those who would try to take it away: gamblers, outlaws, and thieves. Gold and silver were discovered in Nevada a few years later, and "gold fever" was an important part of the colonization of the western United States:
When did the first great gold-rush begin?
信息明示题。文章开头就指出,淘金热始于1848年,故选A。
5.
A.8,000 people.
C.80,000 people.
B.10,000 people.
D.100,000 people.
A B C D
D
[解析] How many people had reached the coast of California within a year?
信息明示题。文章提到Within a year,100,000 people... had reached the coast of California,故选D。
6.
A.From the western United States.
C.From only the east coast of the American Continent.
B.From all parts of the country.
D.From San Francisco Bay.
A B C D
B
[解析] Where were those gold seekers from?
综合推断题。文章提到More than half of them had traveled overland across the American continent,由此可以推断,来淘金的人来自美国各地,故选B。
7.
A.Because many settlements were abandoned.
C.Because private gold could not be protected by law.
B.Because there were many gold-hungry sailors.
D.Because everybody raced for California.
A B C D
C
[解析] Why was gold-mining a risky business?
信息明示题。文章提到... it was a risky business.Law and order broke down... 由此可知,淘金危险是因为它不受法律和秩序的保护,故选C。
[解析] Crime is a serious problem in Britain. One sort of crime which particularly worries people is juvenile delinquency--that is, crimes committed by young people. For some years, juvenile delinquency has been increasing. There are two main sorts of juvenile crime, stealing and violence. Most people do not understand why young people commit these crimes. There are, I think, a large number of different reasons. These crimes are not usually committed by people who are poor or in need. Young people often dislike and resent the adult world. They will do things to show that they are rebels. Also in Britain today it is ea-sier for young people to Commit crimes because they have more freedom to go where they like and more money to do what they like. There are two other possible causes which are worth mentioning. More and more people in Britain live in large towns. In a large town no one knows who anyone else is or where they live. But in the village I come from crimes are rare because everybody knows everyone else. Although it is difficult to explain, I think the last cause is very important. Perhaps there is something wrong with our society which encourages violence and crime. It is a fact that all the time children are exposed to f'rims and reports about crime and violence. Many people do not agree that this influences young people, but I think, that young people are very much influenced by the society they grow up in. I feel that the fault may be as much with our whole society as with these young people.
29. What is "juvenile delinquency"?
9.
A.They are usually poor and in need.
B.They do not have as much freedom or money as they want.
C.They live in an environment where everybody knows each other.
D.They are not satisfied with the adult world.
A B C D
D
[解析] What can we learn about the young people who commit crimes according to the passage?
10.
A.The family and the school.
B.The adults and the mass media.
C.The society and the young people.
D.The young people themselves.
A B C D
C
[解析] Who are to blame for juvenile delinquency according to the speaker?
Section C Welcome to the world of Everquest and of online gaming. In an 1 video game, the players are in control. They can 2 the game on or off. In an online game, players can 3 or leave. But the game goes on without them. In games like Everquest, players 4 characters and try to develop skills. They use a virtual currency to start 5 and get rich. They make friends and enemies. They fight wars, start revolutions and sometimes even get 6 to other characters. Everquest has 60,000 players, according to its 7 .They 8 that 12,000 of these spend most of their time in the Everquest world. The real world is just the place they eat and sleep. The next stage, say game designers, 9 . Some scientists believe that 10 .This seems to be the future of video games--hundreds of different versions of the present, where anything is possible. Perhaps 11 .
[解析] Welcome to the world of Everquest and of online gaming. In an ordinary video game, the players are in control. They can switch the game on or off. In an online game, players can (enter or leave. But the game goes on without them. In games like Everquest, players adopt characters and try to develop skills. They use a virtual currency to start businesses and get rich. They make friends and enemies. They fight wars, start revolutions and sometimes even get married to other characters. Everquest has 60,000 players, according to its manufacturers: They estimate that 12,000 of these spend most of their time in the Everquest world. The real world is just the place they eat and sleep. The next stage, say game designers, is to produce a virtual world with a real currency, so that people can move their work away from reality as well. Some scientists believe that there are parallel universes existing at the same time in different places. This seems to be the future of video games--hundreds of different versions of the present, where anything is possible. Perhaps one of them will have a museum of real life, where players can find out what existence was like when we only had one world to live in.
2.
switch
3.
enter
4.
adopt
5.
businesses
6.
married
7.
manufacturers
8.
estimate
9.
is to produce a virtual world with a real currency, so that people can move their work away from reality as well
10.
there are parallel universes existing at the same time in different places
11.
one of them will have a museum of real life, where players can find out what existence was like when we only had one world to live in
Part Ⅳ Reading Comprehension (Reading in Depth)
Section A Teachers always plan down to the minute what their students will be doing. This is good for kids, because it teaches them to stay on task and follow a 1 . But most homes aren't run this way. If parents do plan their children's lives minute by minute, what happens when that child grows up and goes to college? At some point, kids need to learn to manage their own time. This can be one of the valuable skills you help your kids develop outside of school. But it 2 won't happen all by itself, because there's a big 3 that happens when kids leave the structured school environment and come home. If you have a kid stay alone at home, think hard about trying to find an adult who can be there and provide the support your child needs. If a supportive adult isn't 4 , an expert named Martin recommends you find an after-school program led by 5 professionals who will engage them in creative activities, 6 them with healthy snacks, and 7 them with their schoolwork. If you are at home on the contrary, take some break after the guys get 8 on diversions (解闷,娱乐), because it's hard to stop and do something like homework. "If that little bit of downtime(工间休息时间) is television, good luck…, getting them to do their homework." says a professor of child development at California State University, "TV is addictive(上瘾的)." A better way to help your child unwind is with a healthy 9 . "Wait until dinner, make a plate full of energizing food. You could even dish up part of the dinner you're preparing a little early for the kids," she says. While you're sharing a snack, you can make a list of what your kids will get to do during their study breaks. The types of breaks recommended include shooting baskets, getting a drink, using the bathroom, or even playing a quick card game with parents. Your kids can be the ones to decide which breaks they'd like to take. But, as Freimuth says, your children will have to be honest about what kind of break will energize them and not 10 their momentum(动力). A. rhythm I) formula B. snack J) nourish C. guaranteed K) cultivate D. started L) available E. generally M) experienced F. upset N) transition G. alternatively O) assist H) schedule
1.
schedule
2.
generally
3.
transition
4.
available
5.
experienced
6.
nourish
7.
assist
8.
started
9.
snack
10.
upset
Section B
Passage One This story began about l0 years ago, I was coming out of a very bad marriage. For seven long years my husband spent his every moment telling me just what was wrong with me. When I finally asked for a divorce, he answered by telling me that I would never find anyone to love me because I was just so unattractive. This went on for about two years. One night one of my friends convinced me to go out with her. We went to a nightclub and that is when I met him. Clint was playing a game with a girl. I sat in the comer watching him. I didn't feel that I had whatever it took to get up and mix with others because of ray self - esteem problem. Finally I got up the courage to order a drink for him. When he got it, he gave me the most dazzling smile. We spent the rest of the evening talking until I realized that it was almost morning. I figured that he was simply being nice to me because I had bought him a drink, but the very next day be called and told me that he could not stop thinking about me and that he wanted to meet my kids too. About 3 months later, my divorce was final and Glint sat my boys down and asked them if it was all fight with them if he asked me to marry him because he could not imagine life without the three of us anymore. I was so touched that he went to my boys and asked for their approval because they were the "men of the house" at the ripe old ages of 2 and 4. They said yes and we have all been together ever since. Clint gave me and my boys a second chance at a wonderful life. Not a day goes by that he doesn't tell us that we are the best thing that ever happened to him and that he loves us.
1. The writer's first marriage was unsuccessful because ______.
A.her husband often woke her up at midnight
B.her husband kept criticizing her
C.she was unattractive
D.she bad a self- esteem problem
A B C D
B
[解析] 细节判断题。 [详细解答] 第一段第二句For seven longyears my husband spent his every moment telling me just what was wrong with me, (在长达七年的时间里我的丈夫总是说我这也不对那也不对。)丈夫的这种态度是她要求离婚以结束这种不幸婚姻的原因,因此B符合原文和题目要求,是正确答案。
2. When the writer asked for a divorce, her husband ______.
A.told her that she would never find one who loved her as he did
B.delayed two years before giving her a reply
C.accused her of having an affair
D.said that she was unattractive and not worth loving
A B C D
D
[解析] 细节判断题。 [详细解答] 由第一段第三句When I finally asked for a divorce,he answered by telling me that I would never find anyone to love me because I was just so unattractive.(当我终于提出离婚时,他说我永远都不会找到爱我的人,因为我一点都不迷人。)知D选项符合原文与题目要求,为正确答案;A选项:告诉她她永远都不会找到象他那样爱她的人不准确;B选项:拖了两年才给她答复和C选项:指责她与别的男人有染都与原文不符,故均为错误答案。
3. When the writer first met Glint, she felt that ______.
A.she should have listened to her friend and met Clint earlier
4. The writer was particularly touched by Clint because ______.
A.he loved the kids and asked for their approval of the marriage
B.he said that he could not imagine a life without her and the kids
C.he believed that at 2 and 4, the two kids were the "men of the house"
D.he kept her company and talked with her until the next morning
A B C D
A
[解析] 细节判断题。 [详细解答] 文章第三段第二句I was so touched that he went to my boys and asked for their approval because they were the “men of the house”at the ripe old ages of 2 and 4.(他去见了我的儿子并请求他们同意他娶他们的妈妈,这让我很感动)符合题目要求,因此A选项为正确答案。B选项:他说他无法想象没有我们母子三人的生活。这是他求婚的原因而不是他让她特别感动的原因。C选项他认为她的两个分别是两岁和四岁的儿子是她们家的“当家人”。D选项:他陪着她一直聊到第二天凌晨。B、C、D都与问题不符,故均不是答案。
5. The writer's marriage to Clint is important to her mainly because ______.
A.it gave her and her sons a second chance to live a happy life
B.every day Clint would tell the writer that he loved her
C.it helped her to regain her serf - respect
D.it made her kids happy, which is all she cared about
Passage Two American travelers plan to take 10 million more trips this summer than last, despite increases in hotel rates, airfare, car-rental costs and gasoline prices. Thanks to high consumer confidence, people will travel more often, stay longer and spend more money on their vacations this year. "It's going to be a record travel season," says Jason Ader, a senior analyst with in vestment bank Bear, Stearns & Co. "The economy's strong. Consumers feel good. The stock market's up. And the prices we're seeing are as high as they've been since we've been keeping records, and that's since the fifties." In all, American vacationers will take more than 270 million trips this summer -- 4 percent more than last year, according to the travel association. The top 10 destinations are Florida, California, Hawaii, Colorado, New York, Texas, Nevada, Arizona, Washington state and Washington. During such trips, a family of four will spend $ 213 a day for meals and lodging -- an increase of $ 3 from last year, according to a forecast released by the Travel Industry Association of America. In some cases, price increases are expected to double the inflation rate, which was 2.1 percent in March. The average daily price tag on a hotel room will increase 3.9 percent to $ 81.77 from $ 78.67, according to a report by Price Waterhouse Coopers and Bear, Stearns. Traveling by car this summer is expected to cost about $10.66 per 100 miles, which covers gas, tires and maintenance, according to the American Automobile Association. The recent increase in gasoline prices should make long road trips more expensive. Nevertheless, car-rental companies are expecting more leisure rentals this summer compared with last and are pushing prices up accordingly. Tickets on the major North American airlines will continue to increase, with prices jumping 10 percent by year's end, ac. cording to the Price Waterhouse Coopers' report. But the higher prices are not turning vacationers away from air travel. "Given the strong economy, and if all other factors are constant, travelers will most likely take to the domestic skies in record numbers despite higher costs to the wallet," says Dexter Wood, a Price Waterhouse Coopers consultant.
1. One reason Americans are more likely to travel this year is that.
B.to celebrate the grand American tradition of travel
C.to encourage more Americans to travel
D.to describe the travel market in the United States
A B C D
D
属主旨思想题,考查文章大意归纳。本文描述今年美国旅游市场的总体状况。
Part Ⅴ Cloze More surprising, perhaps, than the current difficulties of traditional marriage is the fact that marriage itself is alive and 1 . As Skolnick notes. Americans are a marrying people: 2 to Europeans, more of us marry and we marry at a younger age. 3 . after a decline in the early 1970s, the 4 of marriage in .the United States is now 5 . Even the divorce rate needs to be taken in this pro marriage context: some 80 percent of 6 individuals remarry. 7 , marriage remains by far the preferred way of life for the vast majority of people in our remarry. What has changed more than marriage is the nuclear family. Twenty-five years ago, the 8 American family consisted of a husband. a wife. and two or three children. 9 . there are many marriages in which couples have decided not to have any children. And there are many marriages where at 10 some of the children are from the wife's 11 marriage, or the husband's, or both. Sometimes these children spend all of their time with one parent from the 12 marriages; 13 they are shared between the two former parents. Thus, one can find every type of family arrangement. There are marriages 14 children; marriages with children from only the 15 marriages; marriages with "full-time" children from both the present and former marriage; 16 with "full-time" children from the present marriage and "part-time" children from former marriages. It is not all that 17 for a child to have four parents and eight grandparents! These are 18 changes from the traditional nuclear family. 19 even so, even in the midst of all this, 20 one constant: most Americans spend most of their adult lives married.