The nuclear family, (22) ............ of a mother, father and their children

Choose the best answers among A, B, C or D to fill in each gap in the text below

The nuclear family, (22) ............ of a mother, father and their children may be (23) ............ an American ideal than an American reality. Of course, the so-called traditional family was always varied than we had been led (24) ............, reflecting the very different racial, ethnic, class, and religious customs among among different American groups, but today (25) ............ is even more obvious.

The most recent government statistics reveal that only  about one third of all current American families fit the traditional mold of two parents and their children, and (26) ............ third consists of married couples who either have (27) ............ children  or have none still living at home. Of the final one third, about 20 percent of the total (28) ............ of American household are single people, usually women over sixty-five years of age. A small percentage, about 3 percent of the total , consists of unmarried people who (29) ............ to live together, and the rest, about 7 % are (30) ............ parents, with at least one child.

There are several reasons for the growing number of the single-parent households. First, the number of births to unmarried women has increased dramatically. In addition, a substantial number of adults become single parents (31) ............ of divorce. Finally, a small percentage of deaths result in single-parents families. Today, these varied family types are typical and, therefore, normal.

(22) ................

• A. consisting
• B. comprising
• C. including
• D. composing