were put before those of the local community or even of the State:"I cannot pay my taxes, because I've a duty to support Aunt Louise,"has been a common French attitude. 7 In the rural areas the traditionally big peasant families have been losing their influence as the young drift away to the town.And in the upper bourgeoisie,as property gives way to income and family management disappears,the tight network of the big family gathering has become less necessary for the individual's future,and also less easy to maintain.Many younger couples today prefer pleasure traveling,or a weekend cottage shared with a few friends,to the traditional big family reunions on Sundays and in August. 8 Once a girl teacher had said:"I had to cancel my holiday in Italy this winter:you see,my grandmother got ill and my mother was worried."This sense of duty is difficult to be seen in the English youth.In other words,though clan loyalties towards more distant relatives become weak,an adult's ties with his own parents and even with their parents often remain remarkably strong.And if many younger people are today trying to lead more emotionally independent lives,it is often not without a sense of guilt,or an awareness of the pain it causes to their parents.This may be so in any country:it is especially sharp in France. 9 Granny or grandpa is now expected to stay in a flat of her or his own.This has caused a good deal of heartache;but society has finally come to recognize this independent status of the elderly,and has begun to help.In recent years many clubs for old people have been created-a new departure for France.The old people themselves are adapting to the change and even beginning to group to build their own social life. A.In all classes,couples no longer accept so readily that an elderly widowed parent should come to live with them. B.But the old values still linger there. C.Another phenomenon is that for several decades the birth-rate has been falling steadily. D.Daily social relations in France have always been dominated by family ties. E.The main change since the war is that the focus of loyalty has been steadily narrowing from the“extended family"to the“nuclear family.” 204were put before those of the local communi tq or even of the State: "I cannot pay my taxes, because I've a duty to support Aunt Loui se.”has been a common French attitude. __上 _In the rural areas the traditionally big peasant families have been losing their influence as the young drift away to the town. And in the upper bourgeoisie，as property gives way to income and family management disappears，the tight network of the big family gathering has become less necessary for the individual’s future，and also less easy to maintain, Many younger couples today prefer pleasure traveling, or a weekend cottage shared with a few friends, to the traditional big family reunions on Sundays and in August. 一旦一Once a girl teacher had said:"I had to cancel my holiday in Italy this winter:you see, my grandmother got ill and my mother was worried.”"This sense of duty is difficult to be seen in the English youth, In other words, though clan loyalties towards more distant relatives become weak, an adult’s ties with his own parents and even with their parents often remain renLarkably strong. And if many younger people are t-oday trying to lead more emotionally independent lives，it is often nor without a sense of guilt，or an awareness of the pain it causes to their parents. This may be so in any country:it is especially sharp in France. _9_ -Cranny or grandpa is now expected to stay in a flat of her or his own, "hhis has caused a good deal of heartache; but society has finally come to recognize tlris independent status of the elderly，and has begun to help. In recent years many clubs for old people have been created一 a new departure for France. The old people themselves are adapting to the change and even beginning to group to build their own social life. A. In all classes，couples no longer accept so readily that an elderly widowed parent should come to live with them. B. But the old values still linger there. C. Another phenomenon is that for several decades the birth-rate has been falling steadily. D, Daily social relations in France have always been dominated by family ties. E. The main change since the war is that the focus of loyalty has been steadily narrowing from the "extended family" to the "nuclear family.” 204