Fatherhood is going to have a different meaning and bring forth a different response from every man who hears that he has got a baby. Some feel pride when they receive the news, while others worry, wondering whether they will be good fathers. Although there are some men who like children and may have considerable experience with them, others do not particularly care for children and spend little time with them. Many fathers and mothers have been planning and looking forward to children for some time. For other couples pregnancy was an accident that both husband and wife have accepted willingly or unwillingly.

Whatever the reaction to the birth of a child, it is obvious that the shift from the role of husband to that of a father is a difficult task. Yet, unfortunately, few attempts have been made to educate fathers in the resocialization process. Although numerous books have been written about American mothers, only recently has literature focused on the role of a father.

It is argued by some writers that the transition to the father’s role, although difficult, is not so demanding as the transition the wife must make to the mother’s role. The mother’s role seems to require a complete transformation in daily routine and highly innovative adaptation. On the other hand, the father’s role is less demanding and immediate. However, even though we mentioned the fact that growing numbers of women are working outside the home, the father is still thought by many as the breadwinner in the household.

1. According to the author, being a father ________ .

A) brings a feeling of excitement to some men

B) has a different meaning for those who have daughters

C) makes some men feel proud and others uneasy

D) means nothing but more responsibilities

2. It is stated in the passage that ________ .

A) some parents are not prepared to have children

B) young couples do not like children at all

C) working couples do not have much time to take care of their children

D) many parents look forward to having a boy as their first child

3. In the second paragraph, the author _________ .

A) criticizes fathers for not taking enough responsibilities in bringing up their children

B) excuse the American writers for ignoring the difficulties of being a father

C) supports the idea that the chief role of a father is to earn money for the family

D) complain about the lack of social programs to help husbands adjust themselves to being a father

4. The transition to the mother’s role requires that the wife _______ .

A) change her life style in a highly innovative way

B) make a complete change in her everyday life to deal with the new situation

C) stay at home to take care of the baby

D) help her husband in his resocialization

5. Some writers argue that with respect to the change of roles, fathers, compared with mothers,_______ .

A. have to shoulder more burdens              B. have to make more difficult adaptations

C. have an easier job to do                    D. can usually do a better job

参考答案：Passage 16.  C A D B C

对每一个听到自己有孩子了的男人来说，父亲这一身份都会有不同的含义，每个男人也会做出不同的反应。听到这个消息时，有人会感到骄傲，而有人则感到担忧，（他们）怀疑自己是否会当好父亲。尽管有人喜欢孩子，可能有跟孩子相处的很多经验，但有人却不是特别喜欢孩子，跟孩子一起度过的时间也很少。很多父母一段时间来一直计划并盼望孩子的到来，而对有的父母来说，怀孕纯属意外，夫妻双方不管愿不愿意都得接受。
无论对孩子的出生是什么反应，显而易见的是从丈夫的角色转换到父亲的角色是一项不轻松的任务。然而，不幸的是人们几乎没有做出多少努力在这一再社会化过程方面对父亲进行教育。尽管有许许多多关于母亲的书籍出版，但是只是最近文献才把注意力集中在了父亲的角色上。
有作者争论说：（丈夫）到父亲角色的转换尽管难，但是远不及（妻子）到母亲角色转换的难度大。母亲的角色要求日常生活的日程的彻底改变，同时要求非常创新性的适应，另一方面，父亲的角色要求没有那么多的要求，也不那么直接。然而，即使我们提到了越来越多女性外出上班的事实，很多人依然认为父亲才是养家糊口的人。