Stepfamilies are commonplace in the United States and their number continues to grow. Whil

Stepfamilies are monplace in the United States and their number continues to grow. While stepfamilies differ widely in their make-up， they all consist of a parenting couple and children， one or more of whom is of a previous union. Such binations of his kids， her kids， and then， possibly， kids of the new union make for plicated and often trying difficulties， more challenging than those of traditional families.
Since stepfamilies involve more people and， consequently， more potential problems from the start than do childless new marriage， it is wise for the couple to do some careful planning prior to (＝before) marriage. Not only do the prospective(预期的) marital partners need agreement about their own carriers， life goals， finance and special interests， they must also prepare for new relationship with their children and attempt to acmodate their individual needs and feelings. Furthermore， there are often the rights of other relatives to consider.
As for any family， the basic ingredient(成分) of a successful stepfamily are affection， kindness and mutual(相互的) respect. However， love alone is not enough. Certainly love is the cornerstone upon which the foundation of any family is built， but there are also many other important ingredients involved in building a successful stepfamily.
Surveys reveal that successful families regard the ability to municate openly as the most important factor in their success. Communication is what keeps families on track and functioning as a unit. Although healthy munication is easier for some people than for others， this skill can be learned and improved. Healthy munication involves speaking clearly and listening carefully.
By their very nature， stepfamilies often are plicated by past events that give rise to ambivalent(矛盾的) loyalties， lingering(持久的) hurts， fears， feelings of guilt and unrealistic dreams. The difficulties that arise within the stepfamilies are human and understandable. However， there are ways to confront(面临) and resolve them. For example， support groups and professional counselors(法律顾问) are available in most munities to provide help and guidance when munications stopped and problems seem overwhelming(压倒性的).
Planning and building a stepfamily is not a responsibility to take lightly. It can be a very trying and， at times， seemingly impossible effort. Many potential troubles can arise and threaten to destroy the stepfamily. Nevertheless， meeting and mastering these special challenges can bring unexpected satisfactions and rewarding depths of family closeness and affection.
【小题1】According to the passage， there are      in the United States.A．no stepfamiliesB．more stepfamilies than ever beforeC．fewer stepfamilies than ever beforeD．fewer stepfamilies than traditional ones【小题2】Which of the following can help avoid the potential problems arising in a stepfamily？A．The pursuit of the same careers.B．Professional interventions(干涉).C．The development of special interests.D．Careful planning before the marriage.【小题3】 Many people believe that      contributes most to the building of a successful stepfamily.A．everlasting loyaltiesB．open municationC．kindness and mutual respectD．persistent(持久稳固的) affection【小题4】 It is natural for a stepfamily to be     .A．unrealisticB．plicatedC．ambivalentD．guilty【小题5】According to the author， planning and building a stepfamily is     .A．impossibleB．satisfying and rewardingC．discouraging and frustratingD．a difficult and trying experienceB