READ THE PASSAGE AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT FOLLOW.
Though the U.S. prides itself on being a
leader in the world community, a recent
report shows that it lags far behind other
industrialised countries in meeting the needs
of its youngest and most vulnerable citizens.
The U.S. has a higher infant mortality-rate,
a higher proportion of low birth-weight
babies, a smaller proportion of babies
immunised against childhood diseases and a
much higher rate of adolescent pregnancies.
These findings, described as a 'quiet
crisis' requires immediate and far-reaching
action. Research shows that a fourth of the
nation's 12 million infants and toddlers
live in poverty. As many as half confront
risk factors that could harm their ability
to develop intellectually, physically and
socially. Child immunisations are too low,
more children are born into poverty, more
are in substandard care while their parents
work and more are being raised by single
parents. When taken together, these and
other risk factors can lead to educational
and health problems that are much harder
and more costly to reverse.
The crisis begins in the womb with unplanned parenthood. Women with unplanned pregnancies are less likely to seek pre-natal care. In the U.S. 80% of teenage pregnancies and 56% of all pregnancies are unplanned. The problems continue after birth where unplanned pregnancies and unstable partnerships often go hand in hand. Since 1950, the number of single parent families has nearly tripled. More than 25 percent of all births today are to unmarried mothers. As the number of single parent families grow and more women enter the work force, infants and toddlers are increasingly in the care of people other than their parents.
Most disturbingly, recent statistics show that American parents are increasingly neglecting or abusing their children. Babies under the age of one are the fastest growing category of children entering foster care. The crisis affects children under the age of three most severely, the report says. Yet, it is this period-from infancy through pre-school years-that sets the stage for a child's future.
The crisis begins in the womb with unplanned parenthood. Women with unplanned pregnancies are less likely to seek pre-natal care. In the U.S. 80% of teenage pregnancies and 56% of all pregnancies are unplanned. The problems continue after birth where unplanned pregnancies and unstable partnerships often go hand in hand. Since 1950, the number of single parent families has nearly tripled. More than 25 percent of all births today are to unmarried mothers. As the number of single parent families grow and more women enter the work force, infants and toddlers are increasingly in the care of people other than their parents.
Most disturbingly, recent statistics show that American parents are increasingly neglecting or abusing their children. Babies under the age of one are the fastest growing category of children entering foster care. The crisis affects children under the age of three most severely, the report says. Yet, it is this period-from infancy through pre-school years-that sets the stage for a child's future.
The passage is about the _________.
A sorry plight of infants and orphaned children in the U.S
B increasing number of mothers in the U.S
C drawbacks of unplanned pregnancies
D 12 million infants and toddlers