Step by Step 1 + 1 > 2：重組家庭的歡樂與哀愁

by Marcus Maurice
Divorce is hard on parents and kids.

　　The harsh reality of marriage is that nearly half of them end in divorce. This is extremely difficult for all parties, especially when there are children involved. The youngsters usually have to adjust to one parent becoming the primary caregiver and seeing the other parent a lot less. This usually coincides with emotional disagreements between the parents, which take a heavy toll on the kids. Sooner or later, one or both of the parents may find someone else to spend their lives with. These families must find ways to co-exist with each other, and a lot of times, it ends up being a bumpy road.
　　Children don't automatically take to their stepparents right away. Therapists have a few suggestions to make the reconstituted families' lives easier. For parents, the number one rule is to be positive about the previous marriages. Kids don't want to hear about how great the new stepparents are, while their real parents are openly criticized. Another way is for the stepparents to form bonds with their stepchildren by going on outings together. These can be as simple as trips to the grocery store, going for walks, or watching movies together. Soon, the stepparent and stepchild will have their own stories and jokes to share with each other.
　　Being a stepparent or a stepchild is never simple, and every situation is very different. The things that both sides need to remember are never to give up on each other and that things will work out in the end.

1. According to the article, what happens to kids when their parents get divorced?
(A) They become much more difficult to get along with.
(B) It is difficult for them to get used to seeing less of one parent.
(C) They usually despise their new stepmother or stepfather.
(D) They have a hard time finding true love later on in life.

2. What does "which" in the first paragraph refer to?
(A) The cost of a divorce.
(B) The harmony in a household.
(C) Two parents quarreling.
(D) The parent they choose to live with after a divorce.

3. What is something a stepparent should NOT say to a stepchild?
(A) "Stop playing with your food."
(B) "You should remember to flush the toilet after using it."
(C) "You need to cut down on the amount of sugar you eat."
(D) "I am a much better cook than your mother, who doesn't even know how to boil water."

4. What is the author's purpose for writing this article?
(A) To help families blend together.
(B) To warn children about the evils of divorce.
(C) To show that children can easily adapt to new family members.
(D) To teach parents how to live without their children after a divorce.



@單字小舖

1. divorce n. 離婚 & vt. 和……離婚
2. primary a. 主要的
3. caregiver n. 照顧孩子的家人
4. disagreement n. 爭吵；意見不同
5. co-exist vi. 共存
6. stepparent n. 繼父，繼母
stepchild n. 繼子女
stepmother n. 繼母
stepfather n. 繼父
stepson n. 繼子
stepdaughter n. 繼女
7. therapist n. 治療師
8. reconstituted a. 重新組成的
a reconstituted family　　重組家庭
9. openly adv. 公開地
10. outing n. 外出
11. household n. 家庭
12. flush vt.（用水）沖洗
13. blend vi. 交融，融和