Part Ⅰ Getting ready
The family, being the basic living unit of society, is the social group with which every individual is most closely connected. On the whole, families in the world can basically be divided into four types: joint families, nuclear families, enlarged families and incomplete families, among which nuclear families are becoming more and more popular with the rapid economic development in most countries.
A The following words and phrases will appear in this unit. Listen carefully and study the definitions.
1. kindergarten: a school or class for young children, usually four to six years old, that prepares them for first grade
2. nursery school: a school for very young children, usually three to five years of age
3. kid: a child or young person
4. stability: steadiness, the state of being not likely to separate, break down or fall apart
5. discipline: n. strict control to enforce obedience; punishment
v. control, train, punish
6. divorce: legal ending of a marriage
7. care for: look after, take charge of b
8. coo: speak gently and lovely
9. wedding: the act or ceremony of becoming married
10. bride: a woman who has just been married or is about to be married
B You are going to hear some people talking about pictures of their families. Listen carefully and identify which one of the following pictures each person is talking about.
Part Ⅱ A birthday present
Nothing in life is as good as the marriage of true minds between man and woman, but it requires great care to keep this tender plant alive. Remember, happiness is a perpetual rejoicing in small events ?a gift, a gentle smile, a small sticky kiss.
A John has just opened his birthday present from his wife, Mary. Before listening to the following dialogue, you will hear several questions about it on the tape. Write down the questions.
Question 1: ____________________________________________________
Question 2: ____________________________________________________
Question 3: ____________________________________________________
Question 4: ____________________________________________________
B Now listen to the dialogue. While listening for the first time, take down key points in the left-hand column. After the second listening, give brief answers to the above questions.
Answers
Answer 1: ____________________________________________________
Answer 2: ____________________________________________________
Answer 3: ____________________________________________________
Answer 4: ____________________________________________________
C Now listen to the dialogue again. Pay special attention to the names of people and places and all the telephone numbers. Complete the following chart.
Names of People/Places Telephone Numbers
the bank ______________________
_________________________ 76763
the dentist ______________________
__________________________ 757412
the station ______________________
the flower shop/the florist ______________________
John and Jane ______________________
______________________ 675645
Part Ⅱ Family life then and now
As one gets on in years, he/she is always inclined to remember the good old days: how delicious the food was, how cheap things were, how obedient children were and how unsophisticated people were.
Josephine Davies and Gertrude Smith, two members of the older generation, are talking about their childhood in Britain 70 years ago.
A Now listen to the following conversation. While listening for the first time, add more key words in the left-hand column. After the second listening, answer the questions.
Questions
1. Why does Josephine feel that there was more stability in family life 70 years ago? Fill in the blank.
Because in those days, nobody expected the families to ______________.
2. According to Gertrude, people also did some things not so good years ago. What were they?
_____________, _________ and drug-taking.
3. Josephine's mother did a great deal of work outside. What was she interested in? Fill in the blank.
She was interested in the Nursing Association ______________ money for it.
4. Where did Gertrude's father work?
___________________ at Victoria Station.
5. Why did Gertrude's mother go out so much with her friends? Fill in the blank.
Because life at that time was not ____________ and it was a relief for her to go out.
6. According to Josephine, since there was neither television nor radio in those days, what did children use to do in the evenings?
7. How does Josephine explain that there were more discipline in families 70 years ago? Fill in the blanks.
She says, at that time, she couldn't ____________ with any friends of her own until she was about _________.
B Now try this: listen to a more authentic version of the conversation and decide whether the statements after the conversation are True or False. Put "T" or "F" in the brackets.
1. ( ) 2. ( ) 3. ( ) 4. ( ) 5. ( ) 6. ( )
Part Ⅳ More about the topic: Father's Day
American fathers have lots of different opinions about being a father. Some say they would like to spend more time caring for their children, but are afraid to do so. They say it might prevent them from getting a better job or earning more money. Other fathers would never think of staying at home. They believe an important part of being a man is to go to work and earn money. Do American men today spend enough time with their children?
The following passage is about the father's role in the family. Supply the missing words while listening.
Father is a very formal word today. Most people use the word "__________" or "______________" instead. On Father's Day children might take their dad out for a ______________。They might send him a ______________ or call on the telephone, or they might buy him a present.
Not all children however will ____________ or speak with their dad on Father's Day. Studies say about __________ of American children live in a family without a father. This is three times more than in ________. Back then only __________ of children lived in a family without a father.
One reason is the increasing children born to women who are not ___________. Studies show the children growing up without a father are more likely to be __________. They are more likely to __________ before completing their education, and they are more likely to become involved in __________ or illegal drugs.
Another reason for the __________ number of American families without fathers is the increasing of the number of people who have _________ their marriage. The divorce rate in the US has increased sharply in recent years. Today more than ___________ of all marriages end in divorce. In __________ the rate was only _________. After a divorce, a judge decides which parent will care for the children. In about __________ of cases, the judge decides that the children will live with their mother. In about __________ of the cases, children live with their father after a divorce and in about __________ of the cases children live with each parent at ___________ times.
The image of fathers in America has changed especially since the _________. Before then, many people felt that fathers were not supposed to become ____________ with their children or to show ________ for them. This was not a part of father's image as a strong and ____________ man. Fathers were the ____________ of the family. They earned the money. They made the rules. They ___________ the children when they were bad. Back then fathers did not always spend a lot of time with their children. __________ mothers stayed at home to care for them. They also did all the shopping, __________ and cooking.
During the __________ and __________, however, more American women began to work outside the home. As a result, more and more fathers became ____________ in taking care of their children and helping their ________. Yet, most studies today show that women still spend more time caring for their children and doing ___________. This is true even if the wife works and _________ the same amount of money as her husband. _________ studies show that fathers who are involved with their children are usually more happy and in better_________than fathers who are not involved. So celebrating ____________is important for men not only on Father's Day but throughout the year.
Part Ⅴ Memory test: Brothers and Sisters
When your little brother or sister is brought to the world, are you happy, jealous, or even hateful?
You are going to hear a young lady talking about the relationship between brothers and sisters. After that several questions will be asked. Find the right answers as quickly a possible according to the notes you have taken while listening.
Notes
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
1. a. 1 b. 2 c. 3 d. 4
2. a. happy b. calm c. hateful d. jealous
3. a. He got very angry.
b. He laughed a lot.
c. He beat his daughter.
d. He asked his wife to punish the girl.
4. a. 16 b. 17 c. 15 d. 50
5. a. In England.
b. In Brazil.
c. In France.
d. In Australia.
6. a. the bride's brother
b. the young lady's brother
c. the bride's father
d. the bride1 s good friend
Part Ⅵ Reminder of key points in this unit
Verb & Verb Phrase Noun & Noun Phrase Other
Part Ⅰ be married kindergarten be involved in
nursery school Time really flies.
kid
soccer
Part Ⅱ hunt around calculator super
look up solicitor in a panic
contract Great minds think
the telephone directory alike!
Part Ⅲ separate stability tremendous
keep sth / sb quiet drug-taking
look after flat
do the cooking wage
do the cleaning an easy life
be close to relief
discipline discipline
Part Ⅳ end in crime formal
care for drug
be supposed to divorce
become involved with image
PartⅤ be jealous of sb curl
coo over sb travel agent
ignore wedding
lose contact with bride
