The United States has many different types of families. While most American families are traditional, (38) _____ a father, mother and one or more children, 22 percent of all American families in 1998 were headed by one parent, usually a woman. In a few families in the United States, there are no children. These childish couples may believe that they would not make good parents; they may want freedom from the (39) _____ of childbearing; or, perhaps they (40) _____ physically able to have children. Other families in the United States have one adult (41) _____ a stepparent. A stepmother or stepfather is a person who joins a family by marrying a father or mother.

Americans tolerate and accept these different types of families. In the United States, people have the right to privacy and Americans do not believe in telling other Americans what type of family group they must belong to. They respect each other’s (42) _____ regarding family groups. Families are very important to Americans.

While most American families are traditional, (38) _____ a father, mother and one or more children, 22 percent of all American families in 1998 were headed by one parent, usually a woman.