Read the text and choose the best answers to complete the sentences.

A recent study suggests that modern parenting skills will need to be developed even on
parents who have got two children or more. The observation done by a group of researchers
from the Institute of Education shows that there are two approaches taken by parents when it
comes to the question how willing they are to let their children be on their own.
The observation took place in a big toy shop where several dozens of kids aged 12-15
and their parents were shopping for the kids' birthday presents. It was noted that, with a few
exceptions, the parents could be divided into two groups in stark contrast.
On the one hand, there were parents who very much respected their children's choices
of toys. They set out a limit of money the children might spend on the toys and they let them
decide what toys they really want to buy. Now and then there were comments from the parents
but the final decisions were absolutely the children's. This group of parents, unfortunately, did
not make the majority.
The majority were the parents who followed every step of their children down the aisles.
They told their children about the 'good' and 'bad' things of the toys and always tried to convince
the young people of the 'right' purchases. These parents' emphases were about the 'educational'
value and the durability of the items while there was not much concern about how much the
children might (not) love the toys even though the toys were for their birthdays.
Follow-up interviews with the young shoppers showed that the children of the minority
group were feeling the happiest about their birthday presents. As for the children of the other
group, the degree of their satisfaction was minimal. One of the young interviewees said, "I
bought the one mom appeared to like best. It'll be the Mother's Day next weekend anyway"

1. According to the text, the two groups of parents in the toy shop are completely ..................
A. the same B. related C. opposite D. different

2. It is implied in the text that most parents ................ their kids to choose toys
independently.
A. help B. do not help C. allow D. do not allow

3. The highlighted word "one" in the last paragraph refers to ........................

A. present B. group C. shopper D. interviewee

4. According to the text, the group of parents caring about their kids' favourite toys accounts
for .................
A. the many B. the few C. the entire D. none

5. When buying presents for their kids, most parents pay attention to the ..................of toys in
the shop.
A. popularity and strength B. benefit and endurance
C. popularity and endurance D. strength and benefit

VIII. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct
word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.
CLOSE FRIENDS
British people have a reputation for being rather quiet and reserved. However, a new study
has
(1) _______ that Britons are actually quite sociable and the (2) _______ person claims to
have 14 close friends. Although a minority of those questioned (3) _______ that they had no
best friend, a quarter said that they had more than 18 close friends. Experts said that this is (4)
_______ to changes in the way people (5) _______ their free time. They are now more (6)
_______ to invite friends to their homes or go out socialising than previous generations. The
increasing use of mobile phones and emails has also made it easier to (7) _______ a greater
number of friendships.
Men's relationships are not (8) _______, though they tend to have more friends. Women, (9)
_______, prefer to have a small number of friends they can trust (10) _______, and with
whom they can feel completely at (11) _______. The idea that people in the north of England
are more neighbourly than those in the south seems to be backed (12) _______ by the survey.
However, despite having friends, it seems that family still (13) _______ an important part in
most people's lives. When asked who they would (14) _______ to for help if they were ill or
had a problem, the majority said that they would (15) _______ upon a relative first rather
than a friend.

1. A. exposed B. revealed C. presented D. remarked

2. A. usual B. common C. average D. medium

3. A. admitted B. apologised C. accused D. allowed

4. A. because B. due C. result D. as

5. A. pass B. apply C. accept D. spend

6. A. probable B. likely C. sure D. certain

7. A. go with B. keep up with C. carry through D. get on

8. A. long B. big C. deep D. high

9. A. in particular B. in effect C. on the whole D. on the other hand

10. A. really B. totally C. quite D. lots

11. A. comfort B. calm C. ease D. relaxation

12. A. out B. in C. through D. up

13. A. gives B. provides C. makes D. plays

14. A. turn B. apply C. contact D. request

15. A. go B. call C. send D. as

IX. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
You depend on all the people closely around to give you the warm feeling of belongingness
that you must have to feel secure. But, in fact, the members of all the groups to which you
belong also depend on you to give that feeling to them. A person who shows that he wants
everything for himself is bound to be a lonely wolf.
The need for companionship is closely related to the need for a sense of belongingness.
How sad and lonely your life would be if you had no one to share your feelings and
experiences. You may take it for granted that there always will be people around to talk to
and to do things with you and for you. The important point, however, is that keeping
emotionally healthy does not depend so much upon having people around you as upon your
ability to establish relationships that are satisfying both to you and to them.
Suppose you are in a crowd watching a football game. You don’t know them. When the
game is over, you will all go your separate ways. But just for a while you had a feeling of
companionship, of sharing the feelings of others who were cheering for the team you wanted
to win.
An experience of this kind gives the clue to what companionship really is. It depends upon
emotional ties of sympathy, understanding, trust, and affection. Companions become friends
when these ties are formed.
When you are thrown in a new circle of acquaintances, you may not know with whom you
will make friends, but you can be sure that you will be able to establish friendships if you
show that you really like people.

1. What does paragraph 2 primarily discuss?

A. Close link between companionship and belongingness
B. How to satisfy other people's needs
C. An example of a satisfying relationship
D. Difficulties in establishing friendships

2. If you had no one to share your feelings, your life would be _______.
A. sad and lonely B. colorful C. busy D. quiet

3. The warm feeling of belongingness may give you _______.

A. happiness B. a sense of humor C. freedom D. a sense of security
4. The ability to establish fine relations with others will keep you _______.
A. a lonely wolf B. emotionally healthy C. a young heart D. beautiful

5. You will find it hard to make friends with people _______.

A. without pity
B. who have few words
C. without real love for them
D. who are very rich

X. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct
answer to each of the questions.
The benefits of forming friendships with those we meet online are obvious, so why do
people still make fun of the idea?
Another week, another survey claiming to reveal great truths about ourselves. This one says
that (shock horror!) people are increasingly turning online friends' into people they'd think
worthy of calling real-life friends. Well, that’s stating the obvious, I would have thought! If
there's a more perfect place for making friends, I have yet to find it. However, when surveys
like this are reported in the media, it's always with a slight air of “It's a crazy, crazy world!”
And whenever the subject crops up in conversation, it's clear that people look down on
friends like these. In fact, some members of my family still refer to my partner of six years as
my 'Internet Boyfriend.'
It's the shocked reaction that surprises me, as if people on the internet were not 'real' at all.
Certainly, people play a character online quite often - they may be a more confident or more
argumentative version of their real selves - but what's the alternative? Is meeting people at
work so much better than making friends in a virtual world? Perhaps, but for some a
professional distance between their 'work' selves and their 'social' selves is necessary,
especially if they tend to let their guard down and might say or do something they will later
regret. And are people really much more themselves at a party than online?
Those people disapproving of online friendships argue that the concept of 'friendship' is used
loosely in a world driven by technology, in which you might have a thousand online friends.
They make a distinction between 'social connections' - acquaintances who are only a click
away - and meaningful human interaction, which they say requires time and effort. They note
that for many Facebook 'friends', conversation is a way of exchanging information quickly
and efficiently rather than being a social activity. With its short sharp updates on what you're
thinking 'right now', Facebook has been criticised for encouraging rushed and therefore
shallow friendships.
This may all have an element of truth. However, I've found that far from being the home of
oddballs and potential serial killers, the internet is full of like-minded people. For the first time
in history, were lucky enough to choose friends not by location or luck, but by those who
have similar interests and senses of humour, or passionate feelings about the same things.
The friends I've made online might be spread wide geographically, but I'm closer to them
than anyone I went to school with, by a million miles. They are the best friends I have.
And for people like me who might be a little shy - and there are plenty of us about - moving
conversations from the net to a coffee shop is a much more natural process than people
might expect. After having already made friends online, you can get rid of the social
awkwardness that comes with trying to make a friend out of someone you don't know at all.
You can enjoy their company when you eventually meet, knowing that you have enough in
common to sustain the friendship. The benefit is clear - you cut out all the boring small talk.
What could be better?
Obviously, there will always be concerns about the dangers of online friendship. There are
always stories buzzing around such as 'man runs off with the woman he met on Second Life'
or people who meet their 'soulmate' online and are never seen again. But people are people
are people, whether online or not. As for 'real' friendship dying out, surely social networking
is simply redefining our notion of what this is in the twenty-first century? The figures - half a
billion Facebook users worldwide - speak for themselves. And technology has allowed
countless numbers of these people to keep in close contact with their loved ones, however
far away they are. Without it, many disabled or housebound people might go without social
contact at all. Call me naive, call me a social misfit, I don't care. Virtual people make the best
real friends.

1. The findings of the survey described in the paragraph 1 are thought to be _______.
A. amusing B. ridiculous C. predictable D. impressive

2. What does "the subject" in the passage refer to?

A. surveys B. the media C. real friends D. online friends

3. Which of the following is stated about 'real' and 'virtual' friendships in paragraph 2?
A. There is more chance of making friends online than at a party.
B. The first impression is rarely accurate in either kind of friendship.
C. There is less pressure to impress 'virtual' friends than 'real' friends.
D. People should avoid spending free time with their work colleagues.

4. What does the phrase "let their guard down" in the passage mostly mean?
A. like being on their own
B. show dislike towards their colleagues
C. prefer to spend time away from their work colleagues
D. speak or act without worrying about the consequences

5. According to paragraph 3, online friendships are often criticised because _______.

A. their purpose is functional rather than social
B the people have no shared history to hold them together
C. the more friends people have, the less each one is valued
D. the friendship can't be genuine until people meet face to face

6. According to paragraph 4, what are the advantages of online friendships?

A. It's better to have friends that don't live nearby.
B. It's likely that these relationships will last a long time.
C. It's valuable for those who don't have any old schoolfriends.
D. It's possible to find people with whom you have a lot in common.

7. Which of the following is implied about meeting up with online friends?

A. It's a waste of time.
B. It can be difficult to arrange.
C. It's easier than meeting complete strangers.
D. It can often lead to even stronger friendships.

8. What is the writer's reaction to fears and warnings about online friendships?
A. She accepts there will always be dangers however you make friends.
B. She is nervous about the risks but thinks the benefits make it worthwhile.
C. She believes that online relationships are safer than face to face friendships.
D. She recommends online friendships only for people who can look after themselves.

Read the following passage and choose the best option A, B, C or D to each question.
The ability to be independent is something that not everyone possesses. We need to be
independent in order to survive in this world. Learning to support ourselves is fundamental
key to for any success we ever hope to achieve in our life. It is all about being secure with who
we are and what we believe in.
However, we rely on others far more than necessary. Some people put their happiness
in the hands of their significant other, thinking this will bring them fulfillment. This is a fatal
error too many people make these days. Not only are we limiting ourselves but also we are
more than likely becoming a burden to this person. Therefore, we need to learn how to make
decisions on our own.
For some reasons, people think it is weird to go to see a movie alone. If you can't talk
to the person you go with anyway, so why don't you go by yourself? There are so many
activities that can become more enjoyable by taking part in them alone. Wandering around the
city you live in can clear your mind of all the clutter it has been carrying around. Some people
are unable to be independent for a variety of reasons, with fear at the top: the fear of being
alone, the fear of rejection and the fear of the future. As we get older, we need to learn how to
make the best decisions that allow us to live our lives the way we want to.
Developing into an autonomous person can be one of the most worthwhile outcomes
we can strive for ourselves. There is no reason to base your life decisions on relationships with
people. Make decisions by and for yourself, whatever they may be. Don't ask for advice, do
what you want and learn from your own mistakes. Many people are afraid to think for
themselves because that involves taking responsibility for their own lives. This is just one way
people become dependent. We are born alone and we die alone, so we each have to take
responsibility for our lives at every step along the way.

1. The word 'fundamental" in paragraph one means .....................

A. unimportant B. basic C. minor D. unnecessary

2. Why are some people unable to live independently?

A. Because they fear of being alone. B. Because they fear of the future.
C. Because they fear of rejection. D. All the options A, B, and C

3. Which of the following statements is not true according to the passage?

A. Some people put their happiness in the hands of someone.
B. If you can't talk to the person you go with, you should go by yourself.
C. Our family and friends have to take responsibility for our lives at every step along the
way.
D. Not everyone can lead an independent life.

4. The main idea of the text is ....................

A. Many people depend on others for happiness B. Activities that help us live
independently
C. Striving for independence D. Why we need to be independent

5. The attitude of the author is ............................

A. happy B. critical C. satisfied D. sad

Choose the best answer among the four choices for each question.
Loan is a career woman. She is very busy with her job as an office manager. She got
married just last year. She has chosen to live with her husband and his parents for a number
of reasons.

First, the new couple's big house would not be used up as they have not got any children. In
addition, they are at work from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., so they are home only at night-time. All
through those 12 hours, the house would be left unattended. So they have rented out the
house, and with their monthly income from the rent, they have something extra to spend on
their overseas holidays - twice a year.

Second, as Loan lives with her parents-in-law, things are very easy for her at home. When
she comes back from work, dinner is already on the dining table. Following their gym
sessions in the morning, Loan and her husband will always enjoy a hot breakfast prepared
by the old couple. During the weekend, Loan will often help her mother-in-law with the
cooking and she can learn a lot of'coor recipes from the experienced cook.

Third, the new couple plan to have a baby in two years' time. When the little princess or
prince comes out, the then grandma and grandpa will help with childcare, something they
keep saying they always look forward to doing. As Loan plans to have a short maternity
leave, and get back to work soon afterwards, the grandparents will take care of child-
minding.

Regarding the relationship with the in-laws, Loan does not find it a big problem. On the
contrary, she enjoys living in an extended family. Dinner time is particularly exciting when
they discuss the news in the media and the two generations will give arguments.

1. What can Loan and her husband spend their house's rental income on?
A. Their holidays. B. Their children. C. Their parents. D. Their house.

2. Where can Loan and her family talk about the news?
A. In her office.
B. At her parents-in-law's house.
C. At the dining table.
D. Overseas.

3. What is the meaning of the phrase "little princess or prince" in the fourth paragraph?
A. A new couple. B. A baby child. C. Grandma or grandpa. D. An extended
family.

4. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the text?

A. The new couple cannot take care of their house.
B. The parents-in-law prepare meals for Loan and her husband.
C. The parents-in-law can look after Loan's child.
D. Loan and her parents-in-law often argue for children
.
5. What is the topic of the reading text?
A. Reasons to Rent out the House
B. Reasons to Get Married
C. Reasons to Live in an Extended Family
D. Reasons to Have a Baby

Generation gap refers to a vast difference in cultural norms between a younger generation
and
their elders. It’s a distressing thing for the phenomenon (1) _______ occurs around the
world. The (2) _______ of communication, different views on certain problems and different
attitudes towards life may cause the generation gap or even widen it. First, one of the major
factors for this misunderstanding between two generations is that parents and children lack
communication. Young people (3) _______ reveal their feelings to their parents, and often
complain that their parents are out of (4) _______ and that they talk too much about certain
problems. So when young people meet some problems, they would rather (5) _______ to
their classmates or their friends for help.
The lack of communication widens the generation gap.
Another factor is that parents and their children see almost everything from different (6)
_______. Take choosing career as an example. Parents generally believe it is their
responsibility to plan the career for their children. Some hope their children will (7) _______
professions that will bring them greatest prestige and economic benefits. Some hope
children will have a stable job with a regular income. But the youth may think they should be
free to (8) _______ their own decisions as to their future career. Young people explain that
true success is not a matter of money or position, instead, it is a matter of self-fulfillment.
Finally, with the change of the world over decades, the attitude of the young has altered too.
There are differences in (9) _______ matters as musical tastes, fashions, drug use, sex and
politics between the young people and their elders. Nowadays long hair on young males is
viewed as fashion by the young, but it is frequently considered a shocking act of rebellion
against (10)_______ norms by parents.

1. A. which B. who C. whom D. what

2. A. deficiency B. shortage C. lack D. inadequacy

3. A. sometimes B. always C. often D. seldom

4. A. mind B. reach C. depth D. touch

5. A. turn B. turning C. to turn D. to have turned

6. A. opinions B. perspectives C. scopes D. visions

7. A. come in for B. go in for C. go down with D. come up with

8. A. make B. do C. build D. create

9. A. the B. so C. such D. those

10. A. society B. sociable C. social D. socializing

It is natural for young people to be critical of their parents at times and to blame them for
most of the misunderstandings between them. They have always complained, more or less
justly, that their parents are old-fashioned, possessive and dominant; that they do not trust
their children to deal with obstacles; that they talk too much about certain problems and that
they have no sense of humor, at least in parent-child relationships. I think it is true that
parents often underestimate their teenage children and also forget how they themselves felt
when young.
Young people often irritate their parents with their choices in clothes and hairstyles, in
entertainers and music. This is not their motive. They feel cut off from the adult world into
which they have not yet been accepted. So they create a culture and society of their own.
Then, if it turns out that their music or entertainers or vocabulary or clothes or hairstyles
irritate their parents, this gives them additional enjoyment. They feel they are superior, at
least in a small way, and that they are leaders in style and taste.
Sometimes you are resistant and proud because you do not want your parents to approve of
what you do. If they did approve, it looks as if you are betraying your own age group. But in
that case, you are assuming that you are the underdog: you can’t win but at least you can
keep your honor. This is a passive way of looking at things. It is natural enough after long
years of childhood, when you were completely under your parents’ control. But it ignores the
fact that you are now beginning to be responsible for yourself.
If you plan to control your life, co-operation can be part of that plan. You can charm others,
especially parents, into doing things the ways you want. You can impress others with your
sense of responsibility and initiative, so that they will give you the authority to do what you
want to do.

1. What is paragraph 1 mainly about?

A. The teenagers' criticism of their parents
B. Misunderstandings between teenagers and their parents C. The dominance of the parents
over their children
D. The teenagers' ability to deal with difficulty

2. According to paragraph 2, teenagers tend to have strange clothes and hairstyles because
they _______.
A. want to show their existence by creating a culture of their own B. have a strong desire to
be leaders in style and taste
C. have no other way to enjoy themselves better
D. want to irritate their parents

3. The word "superior" in the passage is closest in meaning to _______.

A. passive B. dominant C. advantageous D. updated

4. Teenagers do not want their parents to approve of whatever they do because they
_______. A. have already been accepted into the adult world
B. are not likely to win over the adults
C. have a desire to be independent
D. feel that they are superior in a small way to the adults

5. To improve parent-child relationships, teenagers are advised to be

A. obedient B. responsible C. co-operative D. independent

There are many types of family systems around the world. In North America and northern
Europe, the nuclear family (with two generations - a father, a mother and one or more
children) is often seen as the most typical. In contrast, in most other parts of the world,
extended families, which include other family members such as grandparents, aunts, uncles
and cousins, are seen as the norm.
The common view is that the nuclear family has become the norm in many Western
societies as a result of industrialization and urbanization. This trend began in the late
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when people were forced to move to cities to find work
in the factories that sprang up during the Industrial Revolution. In the twentieth century,
greater industrialization resulted in even more people leaving their large extended families.
Urbanization also meant that people lived in much smaller houses, which were not big
enough for an extended family.
The trend towards nuclear families meant that many of the duties and responsibilities of a
family, such as providing food and shelter, cleaning the home, preparing the food, caring for
children and their education, and caring for the sick and elderly are no longer shared among
the members of the extended family. The parents (or parent) now have to do this, with some
help from the state. However, this is the price that people pay for the higher standard of
living that may come from living in a city.
We may think we know what we mean by a ‘nuclear’ family and an ‘extended’ family, but
reality is more complicated than most people believe. Most nuclear families are part of
extended families: children have grandparents and, in many cases, aunts, uncles and
cousins as well. Part of what makes them ‘nuclear’ is that they live in their own separate
household, but it is not the whole story. In Greece or Italy, for example, a nuclear family may
live in its own flat, but the extended family may live in the same apartment block or in the
same street and family members see each other and even eat together every day.
There is at least one more factor to consider. Family members may be separated from each
other by geographical distance, but they may have close emotional ties. Even in North
America and northern Europe, grandparents usually have close bonds with their
grandchildren, and families often travel long distances so .that they can see each other.
Grandparents often help their adult children, for example, by cooking and looking after their
children in emergencies. In the same way, when
their parents become too old to live on their own, adult children may take them into their own
homes. As a result, they turn their nuclear family into an extended family.
The structure of families changes over time. The effects of urbanization and industrialization
are enormous, but they are not the only reasons for the changes. People marry, have
children, become widowed, divorce and die. Children grow up and adults grow old. Nuclear
families become extended families and extended families become nuclear families. Family
ties stay strong or become weak. One thing is certain: in a changing world, the family will
continue to change, but ultimately, it is likely to continue to be the basic unit of society.

1. According to paragraph 1, the nuclear family is seen as the most common in _______.
A. all parts of the world
B. most places except North America
C. most places except northern Europe
D. north America and northern Europe

2. The word "norm" in the passage mostly means _______.

A. standard B. exception C. law D. story

3. What made the nuclear family become the norm?

A. Higher living standard
B. Reduction of land
C. Higher prices of food and shelter
D. Industrialization and urbanization

4. The word "sprang up" in the passage is closest in meaning to _______.

A. declined B. widened C. expanded D. prolonged

5. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true about nuclear families?
A. They are isolated from their extended families.
B. They often live in their separate household.
C. They often live in smaller houses.
D. They have fewer members to share family duties.

6. The word "ties" in the passage is closest in meaning to _______.

A. expressions B. connections C. selections

7. The word "their" in the passage refers to _______.

A. grandparents' B. adult children's C. emergencies'

8. In what way can a nuclear family be turned into an extended household?

A. Children can help their parents prepare meals.
B. Adult children take care of their parents in emergencies.
C. Grandparents come to live with their adult children when becoming too old.
D. Grandparents help adult children with the housework and in emergencies.

9. Which of the following is NOT stated in the passage?

A. Members of extended families may have strong emotional bonds.
B. Changes to family structure will become increasingly fast in the future.
C. Urbanization and Industrialization are not the only reason for changes in the family
structure.
D. However the changes may be, families are likely to be the fundamentals of the society.

10. Which of the following best serves as the title for the passage?
A. Types of family system in the world
B. The popularity of extended families
C. Changes in family structure
D. Similarities of nuclear and extended families

People in conflict
There are conflicts everywhere: in families, between neighbours, between the boys and the
girls of your class. What are the (1).............. for the conflicts? Perhaps the neighbours get
angry because your football lands in their garden, or because your cassette-recorder is too
loud. Maybe adults say nasty things about your hairstyle or about the way you dress.
Perhaps your mother has a serious (2).............. with you because of your boyfriend. Perhaps
your brother and his (3).............. friend have become bitter ‘rivals because they are in love
with the same girl. Or a friend in your class cannot (4).............. which classmate – or
teachers – he/she should invite to a party. And if you open a newspaper, almost every day
you will find reports about individuals that do not get along with each other at all. Lies,
intolerance and discrimination often (5).............. serious problems which can lead to violence
and even war. Northern Ireland is a sad example.
1. A. objectives B. aims C. reasons D. arguments

2. A. controversy B. dispute C. argument D. debate

3. A. choice B. best C. prime D. select

4. A. resolve B. decide C. determine D. settle

5. A. create B. cause C. induce D. effectec

Six years ago when I was a student, I was short of money. So once a week I (1)
_________to go
home to see my parents and get a decent meal. Although I had a good relationship with my
mother, I never got (2) _________well with my father. I could never live up to his high
expectations of me. One day I did a very terrible thing. I stole some money from him. I asked
him if he (3) _________ lend me ten pounds. He refused saying he had (4) _________
given me enough and it was time I became more responsible with money. You know what it
is like being a student. I’d run out of money and wanted to take a girl out. When he refused I
accused him of being mean and we had a terrible row. He left the house and I was (5)
_________ angry that I stole ten pounds from his wallet

1. A. had B. to have C. has D. have

2. A. in B. on C. with D. of

3. A. can B. must C. could D. should

4. A. ever B. never C. ready D. already

5. A. so B. such C. so a D. such a

The United States has many different types of families. While most American families are
traditional, (6)_______ a father, a mother and one or more children, 22 percent of all
American families in 1998 were headed by one parent, usually a woman. In a few families in
the United States, there are no children. These (7) _______ couples may believe that they
would not make good parents; they may want freedom from responsibilities of childbearing;
or, perhaps they (8)_______ physically able to have children. Other families in the United
States have one adult (9)_______ a stepparent. A stepmother or stepfather is a person who
joins a family by marrying a father or a mother
Americans tolerate and accept these different types of families. In the United States people
have right to privacy and Americans do not believe in telling other Americans what type of
family group they must belong to. They respect each other’s choices regarding family
groups. Families are very important (10)_______ Americans.

6. A. consist of B. consisting of C. consisting D. including of

7. A. childish B. childlike C. childless D. childhood

8. A. are not B. can’t C. couldn’t D. weren’t

9. A. who is B. is C. which is D. which has

10. A. for B. of C. in D. to

The Family
The family in the Western world has changed greatly during the last two centuries. Social
scientists say that this change in the family is one of the important changes from a traditional
society to a modern society. Before the 19th century, families usually arranged marriages for
their children. Young people did not decide who they wanted to many. After they got married,
they usually had a lot of children.
By the 19th century, most young people could choose the person they wanted to marry. A
marriage joined two people and not two families. Two people could get married because
they loved each other, not just because their families wanted them to marry.
At the same time, parents began to realise that they had to take very good care of their
children. They had to take care of their health and try to give them an education. Before this,
most people did not go to school. Later, people realised that education was necessary for a
good life.
Many parents decided that they should have fewer children so that they could give each one
a good life. More fathers worked outside the home for money. Mothers stayed at home and
had greater control of the children and the home than the fathers had.
Family life is changing even faster in the United States today. Each year there is almost one
divorce for every two marriages. Many children grow up in a home with a mother but no
father, and the mothers generally have to work outside the home to take care of the family.
Some social scientists think that soon there will be no family life in the United States as we
know it today. They do not know how people will live. Others think that society needs
families, and we will always have them.

1. The change in the Western family in the past two centuries is .....................
A. rather small
B. the most important change
C. one from a traditional to a modem society
D. an important change in the modem society

2. Before the 19th century, families .....................

A. were usually large
B. allowed their children to arrange their own marriage
D. had few children
C. did not decide their children’s marriage

3. After 1800, people usually got married ......................

A. because their families wanted them to
C. to join two people
B. to join the two families
D. because they loved each other

4. Many parents decided to have fewer children .....................

A. to take care of their health
C. to give them a better life
B. to give them an education
D. to give them greater control

5. It can be inferred about family life in the USA today that ........................
A. there is almost one divorce each year
B. many children don’t have fathers
C. the mothers have to stay home to take care of the family
D. there are more divorces

For most people, family is a source of great joy. But when conflict (11) ............. family turmoil
can lead to depression, anxiety, resentment and fear. A variety of issues can cause (12)
............... among relatives, including extramarital affairs, financial difficulties, poor
communication and child-related hardships like infertility, disabilities or opposing parenting
styles. Arguing from time to time is part of family life, but continuous conflict can (13)
................... relationships. Listening, compromising and seeking professional guidance when
necessary can help families resolve problems. Financial problems are one of the leading
(14) .............. of divorce. A couple may feel overwhelmed by the amount of money they owe,
(15) ................. affects how much they can afford to do or buy for the family. Financial stress
can also (16) ............... when a husband and wife disagree about how, where or when
money is (17) ............. Other family conflicts arise as a result (18) ............... unemployment.
When someone is (19) ................ work for a long period of time, she might feel anxious,
depressed or ashamed, and such emotions can fuel (20) ............. arguments with her
spouse.

11. A. arise B. arises C. arose D. arising

12. A. argument B break-up C. happiness D. conflict

13. A. damage B. harm C. ruin D. benefit

14. A. reasons B. results C. causes D. problem

15. A. that B. which C. who D. whom

16. A. happen B. appear C. exist D. occur

17. A. spent B. saved C. taken D. withdrawn

18. A. in B. from C. of D. on

19. A. at B. off C. out of D. in

20. A. negative B. positive C. optimistic D. good

Generation gap is no longer so serious as it used to be.

Research finds that the largest areas of difference between young and old in the United
States are the use of technology and taste in music. However, as for the use of technology,
grandparents tend to be willing to learn from their children and especially their grandchildren.
Regarding music, the division is not severe either, as older generations appear to accept
differences in music taste as a matter of fact. In addition, technology and music are not as
emotionally charged as are political issues, which, fortunately, are found to be far down in
the list of the areas of difference between generations.

In the United States, the relationship between older and younger generations was the most
divisive in the 1960s. Before that time, society was not mobile and the young people's world
remained limited by their own community's culture. They lived with their family, worked on
the farm together or in a family business, and they went to the same church. With the arrival
of television and movies, however, young people were exposed to ideas and influences far
away from their locality. Older generations, meanwhile, were not quite prepared to accept
differences and such differences were often sneered at, if not strongly opposed.
Consequently, there was serious tension between generations.
This tension emerged at a much later time in Vietnamese society. One of the possible
reasons was the strong influence of Confucianism by which elders must be unquestionably
respected. Another possible reason was young people's economic dependence on their
parents and even their grandparents. A study on the exact causes for this tension is
overdue.

1. According to the text, the old are ready to learn how to use technology from ...............
A. juniors B. children C. younger members of the family D. grandchildren

2. The old seem to accept the truth that they have a different ................... when compared to
the young.
A. taste B. preference for music C. use of technology D. preference for technology

3. In the 1960s, the culture that the young could have been exposed to was that of
...................
A. the locality B. the family C. the country D. the church

4. Older generations disliked and .................. differences brought by television and movies.
A. avoided B. removed C. stayed away from D. laughed at

5. It is implied in the fourth paragraph that Confucianism enhances the role of .......................
A. the elder B. the young C. the family D. the parents

THE GENERATION GAP IN MY FAMILY

My family has members whose opinions vary widely but two contrasting members of my
family are my brother and my father. I understand both of them fairly well, but their attempts
to understand each other are less successful. My father and my older brother sometimes
assume diametrically different viewpoints.
My brother is artistic and creative while my father is pragmatic and technically minded. The
first difference between them is their taste in music. My brother is a born musician who loves
music with soul. He studied music at an early age and was encouraged to develop his
interest in the field. Although he was talented in maths and science, my brother's true love
was music. Born in late eighties, he is currently a Jazz Studies major at the University of
North Texas. On the other hand, my father is a scientist, has no musical talent, and listens to
"muzak." He excelled in mathematics and science and had no time or inclination to study art
or music. He worked his way through school and eventually earned a Ph.D. in physics. For
my father, a college education symbolized a way to get ahead and provide a good standard
of living for his family.
Although my brother and father disagree on many things, they manage to get along very
well. Both of them are open-minded and can appreciate each other's differences. Though
they are different in many ways, they share a few interests, such as fishing and working on
cars. They also enjoy lively discussions on topics about which they disagree. It is probably a
good thing that all people are not born exactly like their parents. If everybody was alike, the
world would be a very boring place.

1. The author's brother majors in .......................

A. maths B. science C. physics D. Jazz music

2. The author's father holds a ..................

A. bachelor's degree B. doctorate C. master's degree D. diploma

3. How old is the author's brother now?

A. around 20 B. around 30 C. around 40 D. not mentioned

4. The word "diametrically" in paragraph 1 means ...................

A. completely B. rather C. slightly D. very

5. What's the attitude of the author while writing the text?

A. critical B. judgmental C. narrative D. supportive