Stepfamilies are commonplace 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 combinations of his kids， her kids， and then， possibly， kids of the new union make for complicated 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 accommodate 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 communicate openly as the most important factor in their success．Communication is what keeps families on track and functioning as a unit．Although healthy communication is easier for some people than for others， this skill can be learned and improved．Healthy communication involves speaking clearly and listening carefully．
By their very nature， stepfamilies often are complicated 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 communities to provide help and guidance when communications 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．
According to the passage， there are 　　　　 in the United States．

A．no stepfamilies	B．more stepfamilies than ever before
C．fewer stepfamilies than ever before	D．fewer stepfamilies than traditional ones

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．

Many people believe that 　　　　 contributes most to the building of a successful stepfamily．

A．everlasting loyalties	B．open communication
C．kindness and mutual respect	D．persistent（持久稳固的） affection

It is natural for a stepfamily to be 　　　　．

A．unrealistic

B．complicated

C．ambivalent

D．guilty

According to the author， planning and building a stepfamily is 　　　　．

A．impossible	B．satisfying and rewarding
C．discouraging and frustrating	D．a difficult and trying experience

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