Task1: Nuclear Family Living Patterns Script
A nuclear family is typical in high-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 acquire their own jobs and move into their own apartment or home.
In the early mid-20th century, the family typically was the sole wage earner, and the mother was the children‘s principle care giver. 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 later 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 fulfill this need. Increasingly, a company‘s arrangement of day care as well as government assistance to parents requiring day care is occurring.
Task 2: Fatherhood in Australia
Script
Can it be true that Australian men spend more time during the week brushing their teeth than they do alone with children? A new study from the University of New South Wales has discovered that during the working work, 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 whose who want to shake off perhaps unfair image of Austrila as a land of old-fashioned make 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 peole believe that that the last 20 years have seen the arrival of the so-called \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! Key
1. F 2. T 3.T 4.F 5. T
Task 3: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 conductd 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 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. 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 that they would give money, and only two percent of the respondents said they would be ready to take care of the psychologiacal 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 wisdon of adopting the new concept of government welware. 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 socail security network can support all senior citizens, it cannot replace the love that only family members can give. Questions and key
1. According to most of the respondents, who should take up the responsibility for supporting the elderly?
2. Which of the following is a way for most respondents to show respectht and love for their old parents?
3. Which of the following types of people have more loving care for their old parents? 4. According to Researcher Wong, why is a welfare society not realistic in Hong Kong?
5. What it the passage maily abou? 1. A 2. A 3. A 4. D 5.C
IV. Speaking Out
MODEL 1 Is youth wasted on the young?
Amy: I‘d like to talk to you, so stop what you‘re doing for a minute.
Bill: What is it, Amy? I‘m having a hectic time working on this report for tomorrow‘s
meeting.
Amy: Well, you‘re always pretty busy, and it‘s been more five years, almost six, since we were married.
Bill: Yes, time has gone so fast, but they‘ve been good years. Amy: I know, but I want to have a baby—I want us to have a baby.
Bill: I know you do. But remember, we said we‘d wait until we could afford it. Amy: But five years is a long time to wait. Anyway, it‘s long enough. Bill: I‘m this close to getting a promotion.
Amy: What has that got to do with it? We could wait forever if we wait for the
―perfect‖ moment. Soon we‘ll be too old to enjoying having a baby.
Bill: You know, you have a good point. This report can wait. I‘ll do it tomorrow
morning. Let‘s open a bottle of wine and enjoy ourselves.
Now Your Turn SAMPLE DIALOG
A: I‘ve got something important to tell you: I‘m pregnant. B: What? You‘re pregnant? Wow, I‘d love to have a baby.
A: Well, I understand you want to be a father. It‘s been more than three years, almost four, since we were married.
B: Yes, time has passed so quickly, but we still didn‘t have a baby.
A: I know, but we can‘t afford to have one now. If I leave my job for more than two weeks, I‘ll lose it forever.
B: I know you will. But remember, if we don‘t have one now, it‘ll be too late. We‘ll be busier in future.
A: There is something in what you said. Four years is a long time to wait. But I really like my job. What‘s more, I‘m very close to getting promotion.
B: But a baby borne by a woman in her 30s may be physically and intellectually less
healthy. If we wanted to hold onto your job, we would wait forever. Soon we‘ll be too old to enjoy a baby.
A: You really have a point. I‘ll choose the baby over the job. B: Good, I‘ll try harder to make both ends meet
MODEL2 So many people in the United States get divorced!
Script
Kim: Hi Amy.
Amy: Hi! Look at this headline, Kim.
Kim: Wow! So many people in the United States get divorced!
Amy: But this is not uncommon in west. In some places, the divorce rate can be as high as 50 percent.
Kim: It seems strange to me that Westerners fall head heels in love quickly, if not at
first sight; but they also leave each other quickly. Amy: Is it the same in your country?
Kim: I don‘t think so. In my country, some marriages break up, but most couples stay together.
Amy: Do people get married young?
Kim: Not really. Not many people get married before the age of 20. Amy: Hmm. Do woman usually work after they get married?
Kim: No, a lot of women stay home to take care of their families. But more women
work now.
Now Your Turn SAMPLE DIALOG
A: It seems strange to me that Westerners fall head heels in love quickly, but they also leave each other quickly.
B: Is it the same where you live?
A: I don‘t think so. In my country, most couples stay together. B: What is the divorce rate in your homeland? A: The divorce rate can be as low as 10 percent. B: That‘s quite lower than in our country.
A: Well, what‘s the divorce rate in your country? B: About 50 percent, if I‘m not mistaken. A: Oh, that‘s really high!
B: Do people get married young?
A: Not really. Not many people get married before the age of 22.
B: Many of our young people get married before 20. Is it common for women in your country to work after they marry?
A: Yes, most wives work even after they‘ve got a baby.
B: In my country, a lot of wives stay home to look after their families.
MODEL3 Why not have both our parents here for Christmas?
Script
Amy: You know, Christmas is coming. And I haven‘t seen Dad for ages—he always
has such great stories to tell.
Bill: I know we went t my folks‘ last year, but my Mom‘s been pretty sick. This
might be her last Christmas.
Amy: She‘s been ill, but don‘t exaggerate. You just don‘t like my mother. That‘s why
you don‘t want to go to my parents
Bill: She‘s never liked me. Never thought I was good enough for you. Amy: Well, you‘re not… But seriously, Mom‘s not so sad. She‘s just got a thick skin
and likes to hide her feelings Bill: I don‘t think so.
Amy: Why not have our both families here for Christmas?
Bill: That would make twenty-two of us if we invited everybody. Amy: Why not just have our parents here for Christmas? Bill: Good idea. Just don‘t sit me next to your mother.
Now Your Turn
SAMPLE DIALOG
A: You know, the Spring Festive is coming, and we have to consider where to have the Spring Festive Eve dinner. B: What have you got in mind?
A: Since I‘ve been busy, I haven‘t seen mom for quite some time—she‘s always been so kind to us.
B: I know we went t my folks‘ last year, but my mom‘s been sick. She needs comfort. A: My parents also need company. If I don‘t have the Spring Festive Eve dinner with them for two years running, they will be extremely disappointed. As a matter of fact, my mom is already blaming me for neglecting them. B: What can we do then?
A: Let me think. Why not invite our parents here for the dinner?
B: But they live so far away from us. It‘s inconvenient for old people. A: Then we can invite four of them to a restaurant near them. B: Good, idea. On the next morning we can visit both our parents. A: And don‘t forget to bring gifts.
V. Let’s Talk
When i knew my parents split up