Read the passage, and then decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F).

The Role of the Japanese Mother

The focus of the mother is her home and family, with particular attention to the rearing of children. While most Japanese believe that a woman’s place is in the home, women make up almost 40 percent of the labor force. More than half of these women are married. Many mothers with small children work only part-time so they can be home when their children are not in school. The extra income earned by the mother is often used to meet the cost of their children’s education.

Japanese mothers take the responsibility of their child’s education and upbringing very seriously. They seldom confront their preschool children because they want to foster an intimate, dependent relationship. The purpose of this approach is to get the child to obey willingly with the mother’s wishes and to shape the child’s behavior over a long period of time. The close nature of the mother-child relationship and the strong parental commitment help to provide a strong foundation for the child’s entry into elementary school.

Mothers are involved directly in with the child’s school. Each day a notebook is sent back and forth between mother and teacher remarking on the child’s mood, behavior, health, and activities both in school and at home. Mothers attend PTA meetings usually twice a month and are involved with school committee’s working on special projects such as gardening and hot lunch preparation. School is a very stressful and competitive process so the Japanese mother concentrates all her efforts on getting her children through so they can get accepted into the appropriate universities.

1. Most Japanese women are housewives.

2. Taking care of children and bringing them up are of great importance to Japanese mothers.

3. Japanese mothers tend to be very strict to their children at home.

4. Japanese mothers and teachers work together for the children’s study progress and comfort at school.

5. The Japanese mother concentrates all her efforts on getting her children through, so the atmosphere at home is very stressful.

Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.

Family types vary in different countries and among different cultures. In Western, industrialized societies, the nuclear family ranks as the most common family type. It consists of a father, a mother and their children. But nuclear families exist together with many other types of family units. In the single-parent family, for example, a mother or a father heads the family alone. A blended family is formed when a divorced or widowed parent remarries. As divorce rates have risen, the number of single-parent and blended families has increased.

In many parts of the world, parents and children live together with other family members under the same roof. These complex families usually contain several generations of family members, including grandparents, parents and children. They may also include brothers or sisters and their families, uncles, aunts and cousins. Even when relatives do not live together, they still consider themselves members of the same extended family includes grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins.

The nuclear family ranks as the most common family type ________.

Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.

Family types vary in different countries and among different cultures. In Western, industrialized societies, the nuclear family ranks as the most common family type. It consists of a father, a mother and their children. But nuclear families exist together with many other types of family units. In the single-parent family, for example, a mother or a father heads the family alone. A blended family is formed when a divorced or widowed parent remarries. As divorce rates have risen, the number of single-parent and blended families has increased.

In many parts of the world, parents and children live together with other family members under the same roof. These complex families usually contain several generations of family members, including grandparents, parents and children. They may also include brothers or sisters and their families, uncles, aunts and cousins. Even when relatives do not live together, they still consider themselves members of the same extended family includes grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins.

In the single-parent family, ______.

Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.

Family types vary in different countries and among different cultures. In Western, industrialized societies, the nuclear family ranks as the most common family type. It consists of a father, a mother and their children. But nuclear families exist together with many other types of family units. In the single-parent family, for example, a mother or a father heads the family alone. A blended family is formed when a divorced or widowed parent remarries. As divorce rates have risen, the number of single-parent and blended families has increased.

In many parts of the world, parents and children live together with other family members under the same roof. These complex families usually contain several generations of family members, including grandparents, parents and children. They may also include brothers or sisters and their families, uncles, aunts and cousins. Even when relatives do not live together, they still consider themselves members of the same extended family includes grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins.

Grandparents, parents and children are mentioned as ___________.

Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.

Family types vary in different countries and among different cultures. In Western, industrialized societies, the nuclear family ranks as the most common family type. It consists of a father, a mother and their children. But nuclear families exist together with many other types of family units. In the single-parent family, for example, a mother or a father heads the family alone. A blended family is formed when a divorced or widowed parent remarries. As divorce rates have risen, the number of single-parent and blended families has increased.

In many parts of the world, parents and children live together with other family members under the same roof. These complex families usually contain several generations of family members, including grandparents, parents and children. They may also include brothers or sisters and their families, uncles, aunts and cousins. Even when relatives do not live together, they still consider themselves members of the same extended family includes grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins.

The second paragraph is about ________.

Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.

Family types vary in different countries and among different cultures. In Western, industrialized societies, the nuclear family ranks as the most common family type. It consists of a father, a mother and their children. But nuclear families exist together with many other types of family units. In the single-parent family, for example, a mother or a father heads the family alone. A blended family is formed when a divorced or widowed parent remarries. As divorce rates have risen, the number of single-parent and blended families has increased.

In many parts of the world, parents and children live together with other family members under the same roof. These complex families usually contain several generations of family members, including grandparents, parents and children. They may also include brothers or sisters and their families, uncles, aunts and cousins. Even when relatives do not live together, they still consider themselves members of the same extended family includes grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins.

The word “blended” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to __________.

Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.

The ordinary, everyday things that families do together can help build strong relationships with teenagers. Regular family meals are a great chance for everyone to chat about their day, or about interesting things that are going on or coming up. If parents encourage everyone to have a say, no one will feel they’re being put on the spot to talk. Also, many families find that meals are more enjoyable when the TV isn’t turned on!

We should all take turns choosing outdoor activities for our families. A relaxing holiday or weekend away together as a family can also build togetherness. One-on-one time with the child gives the parents the chance to stay connected and enjoy each other’s company. It can also be a chance to share thoughts and feelings.

Parents should celebrate the child’s accomplishments, share his disappointments, and show interest in his hobbies. Sometimes it’s just a matter of showing up to watch the child play sport or music, or giving him a lift to extracurricular activities.

Family traditions, routines and rituals can help parents and their children set aside regular dates and special times. For example, we might have a movie night together, a favourite meal or cooking session on a particular night, a family games afternoon or an evening walk together.

Agreed household responsibilities give kids of all ages the sense that they’re making an important contribution to family life. These could be things like chores, shopping or helping older or younger members of the family.

Regular family meals are a great chance for everyone _______.

Read the passage, and choose the correct answer A, B, C or D for each question.

The ordinary, everyday things that families do together can help build strong relationships with teenagers. Regular family meals are a great chance for everyone to chat about their day, or about interesting things that are going on or coming up. If parents encourage everyone to have a say, no one will feel they’re being put on the spot to talk. Also, many families find that meals are more enjoyable when the TV isn’t turned on!

We should all take turns choosing outdoor activities for our families. A relaxing holiday or weekend away together as a family can also build togetherness. One-on-one time with the child gives the parents the chance to stay connected and enjoy each other’s company. It can also be a chance to share thoughts and feelings.

Parents should celebrate the child’s accomplishments, share his disappointments, and show interest in his hobbies. Sometimes it’s just a matter of showing up to watch the child play sport or music, or giving him a lift to extracurricular activities.

Family traditions, routines and rituals can help parents and their children set aside regular dates and special times. For example, we might have a movie night together, a favourite meal or cooking session on a particular night, a family games afternoon or an evening walk together.

Agreed household responsibilities give kids of all ages the sense that they’re making an important contribution to family life. These could be things like chores, shopping or helping older or younger members of the family.

The following things are true about outdoor activities for our families EXCEPT_________.