5.

loss of support (7)

a. The fathers aren't giving the family any money.
b. The fathers are seldom at home to help with child care.
6. increasing economic responsibility (8)
a. Mothers are expected to be very economical, to save a lot of money.
b. Mothers are expected to contribute more money to the family income.
7. social policy (9)
a. The study encourages thinking about ways to entertain families.
b. The study encourages thinking about ways that government can help families
deal with their problems.
8. one apparent exception (22)
a. It seems that single-parent households are not very common in Japan.
b. Japan definitely does not have a lot of single-parent families.
9. relatively rare (22)
a. Single-parent households are very unusual in Japan.
b. Compared to other countries, Japan has few single-parent households.

IV. Talking and Writing.

Discuss the following topics. Then choose one of them to write about.
1. At one time, women were supposed to be taken care of all their lives, first by their fathers
and then by their husbands. But that also meant that they were controlled by these men.
Today, in many countries, women have financial and personal independenceand the
responsibility of being self-reliant. In your opinion, which way of life is better for women?
2. Once, children were a financial asset to a family because they worked from a very young
age. Today, many countries have child labor laws that strictly limit the amount and type of
work children can do. Children are now expected to put most of their energy toward their
education. Do you think it is better for children to be only students until they finish high
school or college? Or do you think that teenagers who work gain valuable experience that
helps them become successful adults?
3. Worldwide, a significant number of parents are unable to give their children good educa
tional opportunities or a childhood without deprivation. What should governments do to
help families meet the basic needs of all children?

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