①During the same period, families have been asked to absorb much more risk in their retirement income. ② 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. ③ For much of the past year, President Bush campaigned to move Social Security to a savings-account model, with retirees trading much or all of their guaranteed payments for payments depending on investment returns. ④ For younger families, the picture is not any better. ⑤ Both the absolute cost of healthcare and share of it borne by families have risen—and newly fashionable health-savings plans are spreading from legislative halls to Wal-Mart workers, with much higher deductibles and a large new does of investment risk for families’ future healthcare. ⑥ Even demographics are working against the middle class family, as the odds of having a weak elderly parent—and all the attendant need for physical and financial assistance—have jumped eightfold in just one generation.
[分析]
本段从中产阶级家庭所面临的new realities这个角度展开论述。段落中的表示总统的政策、健康储蓄计划、人口统计结果都属于new realities。近年来中产阶级家庭，不管是老年还是年轻家庭，在家庭理财方面都承担了更多的经济风险，也影响到了他们的经济安全感，这是第二个原因。
① During the same period 即是指During the past generation。注意本句用被动have been asked，说明这是他们所面临的reality，无法选择。不象上一段中女性出去工作是主动的行动所导致的经济状况的变化。注意much more强调比较级，和上段衔接，说明中产阶级在退休收入上所面临的风险要比家庭经济状况变化所面临的风险要多的多。本句属于段落主题句，二三两句具体阐述。
② 语法重点： 定语从句+同位语从句
语法分析： 本句主干为：Steelworkers, airline employees, and now those in the auto industry are joining millions of families 主谓宾状况，主语中those后有后置定语修饰those。宾语中心词families后有who引导的修饰families的定语从句。worry about后接 interest rates, stock market fluctuation, and the harsh reality三个并列宾语，其中the harsh reality后有补充说明reality的同位语从句that they may outlive their retirement money. 注意体会句中outlive的转义用法。
③ 语法重点： 独立分词状况作伴随状语
语法分析：本句主干为：For much of the past year, President Bush campaigned to move Social Security to a savings-account model，其中For much of the past year为时间状语。后有“with+名词+分词”的独立分词状况作伴随状语(with retirees trading A for B)，补充说明前面的句子所导致的结果。分词短语depending on investment returns作后置定语修饰payments。
④ 本句为段落主题句，也为作者观点句，从本句开始作者论述中心转向年轻的中产阶级家庭，五六两句话具体阐述。考生体会命题者从一前一后两个主题句后挑选了两个例子作为细节题，或者也可以称之为例证题，从中也可以看出命题者出题是丝丝入扣的，要求考生把握文章的结构，绝不是乱出的。
⑤ .it指代cost，borne by families 为过去分词作后置定语修饰share of it, 其中有个隐含的短语bear the share分担份额。注意with所引导的结构表示结果。句中legislative halls 引申意为议会。
⑥ 语法重点：原因状语从句+插入语
语法分析：本句主干为：Even demographics are working against the middle class family，其后有一个as引导的原因状语从句。从句的主干为the odds have jumped eightfold in just one generation. 其中主语the odds后面有介词短语of …作定语修饰odds。介词短语中a weak elderly parent和 插入语and all the attendant need for physical and financial assistance一起作为having的宾语。Even 表明本句和上句是递进关系，注意体会。
