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Uint4
Taste the sweets and bitters of family life I.Lead in Task 1:
Extended family;DINK family;Nuclear family;Single parent family II. Basic Listening Practice Keys: 1.C 2.A 3.B 4.C 5.D III. Listening In
Task 1:Nuclear family living patterns Script:
A nuclear family is typical in highly-industrialized societies.
Beginning in the early 20th century, the two-parent family known as the nuclear family was the predominant American family type.
Generally children live with their parents until they go away to a college or university, or until they find jobs and acquire an apartment or home of their own.
In the early mid-20th century, the father was typically the sole wage-earner, and the mother was the children's principal caregiver.
Today, often both parents hold jobs. Dual-earner families are the predominant type for families with children in the United States.
Increasingly, one of the parents has a non-standard shift, that is, a shift that does not start in the morning and end in the late afternoon.
In these families, one of the parents manages the children while the other works.
Prior to school, adequate day care of children is necessary for dual-earner families. In recent years, many private companies and home-based day care centers have sprung up to fulfill this need.
Increasingly, companies are getting involved in the arrangement of day care. Governments are providing assistance to parents that require day care as well. Keys: (1)typical (2)known (3)Generally (4)find
(5)apartment (6)sole (7)principal
(8)Dual-earner families are the predominant type for families with children in the United States
(9)adequate day care of children is necessary for dual-earner families (10)companies are getting involved in the arrangement of day care
Task 2:Fatherhood in Australia
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Script:
Can it be true that Australian men spend more time during the week brushing their teeth than they do alone with their children?
A new study from the University of New South Wales has discovered that during the working week, Australian fathers only spend an average of just over a minute each day alone with their children.
Australian mothers, on the other hand, spend three hours a week purely looking after their children—a much greater disparity than in other countries like America, Denmark, Italy, and France, where couples divide the childcare more evenly.
These findings will probably infuriate those who want to shake off the perhaps unfair image of Australia as a land of old-fashioned male chauvinism.
According to the study, Australian fathers appear to like the fun aspects of parenthood, but shy away from the boring housework. So while they tend to be happy taking the kids to the park or to sporting events, they are unlikely to participate regularly in feeding, bathing, or taking the kids to school. In short, Australian parenting is seen as a woman's job and a man's hobby. Many people believe that the last 20 years have seen the arrival of the so-called \—the man who is willing to share the housework and childcare.
The new man has a picture of his children on his computer desktop at work; he never misses the kids' school plays, and he skips a drink at the bar after work so that he can get home in time to read bedtime story to their kids. This study suggests that the new man feels a little more at home in Europe than in Australia.
Indeed, a poll conducted in the U.K. for the think tank the Fatherhood Institute in January indicates that almost 70 percent of British women think that men are as good at raising children as women.
That's something for Australian men to ponder while they brush their teeth! Keys:1.B 2.A 3.A 4.B 5.A
Task3: Views on filial piety see change Script:
With fast economic development in Hong Kong, young people are less likely to cherish the traditional notion of filial piety.
Instead, they are gradually taking a new approach to a welfare society, according to a three-year survey conducted by the City University of Hong Kong.
As many as 85 percent of the respondents expect the government to take up the responsibility for supporting the elderly, and 77 percent agree with the idea that the burden should fall on society as a whole rather than on individual families.
Researcher Richard Wong, who took charge of the study, is sad about the eroding of traditional family bonds.
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He said that while most people still respect their parents and grandparents, they tend to equate economic assistance with love.
When asked about how they would show their love for their old parents, many simply said they would send them to old people's homes.
Others said they would give money, and only two percent of the respondents said they would be ready to take care of the psychological health of their parents.
According to the study, middle-aged people who have children of their own take their filial duties more seriously.
Also, married women know better than men the need for this kind of loving care.
Researcher Wong questioned the wisdom of adopting the new concept of government welfare.
He said, \Kong the personal tax rate is only 15 percent.
How can you expect the government to take care of all the elderly?\
He further pointed out that even when a social security network can support all senior citizens, it cannot replace the love that only family members can give.
Keys:1.A 2.A 3.A 4.D 5.C IV. Speaking Out MODEL1 MODEL2 MODEL3 V. Let?ˉs Talk
Task 1:When I knew my parents split up Keys: (1) cry (2) relief (3) strong
(4) understanding (5) angry (6) left
(7) wondering (8) five (9) sad (10) stress (11) friends (12) helps (13) Christmas (14) cousins (15) presents
Task 2:What's your answer?
She felt it was very traumatizing, but in other ways it was a relief to just talk
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about it.
She makes drawings when she feels sad. She feels that it's like a wave of calmness just washes over her. It relieves a lot of stress. She talks to her friends or invites them for a sleepover. They do lots of silly and fun things together.
Task 3:Let's group work!
VI. Further Listening and Speaking Listening Task:
Task1: Reasons for a divorce Keys:
(1) divorce her husband (2) irresponsible (3) changing jobs (4) stability (5) bills
(6) poverty line (7) apartment (8) yells at
(9) calls him names (10) half
Task 2: Thick cloud of pollution covering southern Asia Script Question:
Hi, I have been divorced for eight years.
My ex sees our child Maria on a regular basis.
She is eight and in the second grade. My ex has a wife that is 20.
My ex and his wife go to the school almost every day to see our daughter. Our daughter has failed the second grade and now has to repeat it.
I have seen her grades plummet since those two started showing up at school.
They are both very controlling and verbally abusive to me and to our daughter.
I'm concerned about this. He forced my daughter to call his wife mommy. I am really tired of their unkind visits. I don't know what to do. If you have any advice to give me, I would be grateful. Thanks. Answer (by a woman psychiatrist):
Hi, Diana. It's obvious to me that your daughter is having problems with the visits.
I would suggest having a frank conversation with your daughter to see what she feels the problems are.
If she says it is all these problems as you have stated above, I would try to talk to your ex about her problems.
I'll try to stick to what your daughter feels to be the problems and hope he
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will help your daughter do better at school.
If he is not responsive, then I'll take your daughter for counseling to help her. You can't make others do things that are right for your child, not even the father, so spend your energy on things you can control like counseling for your daughter.
Also, you should spend quality time with her and allow her to vent her feelings on you, and let her know you are always there for her no matter what happens. Try to keep her self-esteem high.
When a child fails a grade, they will feel bad. Good Luck! Keys:1.B 2.C 3.A 4.D 5.C Task3: A man who remarried Script
If you want me to tell you why I remarried, here's my story.
Remarriage was the last word I'd consider for two years after my divorce. I had heard about the high rate of remarriage failures.
More importantly, I wondered how remarriage would affect my 10-year-old son, John.
My heart ached when I saw my son draw a picture of himself, my ex-wife and me holding hands—with sadness on our faces.
Since my parents have married and divorced eight times altogether, I hoped my son would not have to go through the same pain I experienced.
As a result, my primary focus after the divorce was my relationship with John, not finding a wife.
As time went by, my son gradually grew up, and he became conscious of my loneliness and anxiety. One day he asked me to consider dating.
The first time he said this, I ignored him. The second time he brought it up, I reconsidered my reservations about dating. I began to date Maria.
As our relationship developed over the following year, I was concerned about how my son would actually respond to her.
At first, John's affection for Maria was lukewarm. For instance, he would hug her, but the act seemed mechanical. But after several months, he warmed up to her.
Seeing the time was ripe, I asked Maria to marry me. She accepted. So the two of us blended smoothly into the three of us.
Thinking back, I believe my remarriage was the right choice.
Some single parents are still hesitating about remarriage. Now that you've heard my story, I hope you won't hesitate and let golden opportunities slip through your fingers. Keys:
(1) the last word (2) remarriage (3) picture (4) eight times (5) wife