During the past generation, the American middle-class family that once could count on hard work and fair play to keep itself financially secure has been transformed by economic risk and new realities. Now a pink slip, a bad diagnosis, or a disappearing spouse can reduce a family from solidly middle class to newly poor in a few months.
In just one generation, millions of mothers have gone to work, transforming basic family economics. Scholars, policymakers, and critics of all stripes have debated the social implications of these changes, but few have looked at the side effect: family risk has risen as well. Today's families have budgeted to the limits of their new two-paycheck status. As a result, they have lost the parachute they once had in times of financial setback-a back-up earner (usually Mom) who could go into the workforce if the primary earner got laid off or fell sick. This "added-worker effect" could support the safety net offered by unemployment insurance or disability insurance to help families weather bad times. But today, a disruption to family fortunes can no longer be made up with extra income from an otherwise-stay-at-home partner.
During the same period, families have been asked to absorb much more risk in their retirement income. Steelworkers, airline employees, and now those in the auto industry are joining millions of families who must worry about interest rates, stock market fluctuation, and the harsh reality that they may outlive their retirement money. For much of the past year, President Bush campaigned to move Social Security to a saving-account model, with retirees trading much or all of their guaranteed payments for payments depending on investment returns. For younger families, the picture is not any better. Both the absolute cost of healthcare and the share of it borne by families have risen--and newly fashionable health-savings plans are spreading from legislative halls to WalMart workers, with much higher deductibles an
主旨题。文章主旨句即文章首句，开头明确说明中产阶级财务危机已经出现，其他段落均是围绕此中心展开说明解释的。B项“处于悬崖的中产阶级”，暗含处于危机中的意思，是主旨的正确概括。A项“警惕的中产阶级”，C项“处在矛盾中的中产阶级”，D项“没落的中产阶级”，均不能概括主旨。
我国保护少年儿童权益的专项法律是《中华人民共和国未成年人保护法》。（ ）
MP3（ ）。
计算机软件是指（ ）。
下面哪一项不属于维护交易安全原则的内容？（ ）
围绕《建国以来的重大科技成就》一课，做一个教案。
请围绕“城乡发展一体化”写一篇小论文，题目自拟，角度不限，要求：结构完善、条理清晰、有说服力。
在国际关系中，第三世界国家历来是中国团结合作的对象，因为 ①第三世界国家是国际社会一支重要的政治力量 ②团结第三世界国家符合中国的国家利益 ③合作是第三世界国家共同发展的必由之路 ④第三世界国家在南北关系中处于主导地位（ ）
微观经济学要解决的问题是（ ）
机关文书部门或业务部门在年终或第二年上半年对归卷的文件材料进行整理等工作，称为（ ）。
20世纪70年代中国外交有了重大突破和转机，转变的关键是（ ）
