Beingagoodparentishardernowthanithaseverbeenbefore.Inpressurizedmodernlives,demandstobeafulfilledindividual,agoodpartnerandagoodworker,takenoaccountofbeingagoodparent.Wehaven’tleftspaceforthenurturin

　　Beingagoodparentishardernowthanithaseverbeenbefore.Inpressurizedmodernlives,demandstobeafulfilledindividual,agoodpartnerandagoodworker,takenoaccountofbeingagoodparent.Wehaven’tleftspaceforthenurturingparentswhoareexpectedtoprovidewhatchildrenneed.Asaresult,manyfamiliesinthewesternworldjustdon’twork.

　　Somethingwillhavetochange.Withluck,peopleinthefuturewillonlyhavechildreniftheyreallywantthem.Thatshouldmeanparenthoodisseenasamuchmorepositivepromisethanitisnow,thatparentsaresociallysupported,andareadmiredfordoingagoodjob.

　　Theproblemisthatinthelastgenerationorsowe’vecometoassumethatwomenshouldwantandbeabletoeverythingthatbytraditionmenhavedoneatthesametimeasprettywelleverythingthatbytraditionwomenhavedone.Andit’sjustnotpossible.Sinceadoptingamalelifestyleisdemonstrablyonlyanotherformofsubmission（顺从）,quiteanumberofhighlyeducatedandeconomicallyprivileged（优越的）womenarenowchoosingtotakecareerbreakssoastobeathomewiththeirchildrenforlongerthanthatpoor18weeks.

　　Themostwelcomingtrendinparentingisthatmenareparticipatingmoreandmore,eventhatisnotfreeofconflict,however.Intellectually（理智上）,womenwantmentobeequalparentsanddotheirshare.Butthere’softenacontradictory（矛盾的）emotionbecausechildrenarethelastfortofthefemalepowerinthefamily.“IwanthimtohelpmebutthisismyregionandbeingbetteratitisoneofthenewthingsI’vegotasafemale.”Intruth,althoughtheyhaven’thadgenerationsofpractice,there’snoreasonwhymencan’traisechildrenaswellaswomen.Menlefttocopeafterbereavementordivorce,aswellassomewhotakeontheroleofprincipalcareerwithinapartnership,arealreadydoingit.

　　16.Whyisitmoredifficulttodaytobegoodparents?

　　A.Becauseparentsdon’twanttofacethepressureofrearingchildren.

　　B.Becausechildrenareindependentanddon’tneedtobetakencareof.

　　C.Becausehusbandsandwiveshavelittletimetotalktoeachother.

　　D.Becausepeoplewanttofulfilltheirowndreams,leavingnotimetolookafterchildren.

　　17.Wecanlearnfromthepassagethat_______.

　　A.peopleinfuturewillnotbeasinterestedinchildrenas