Episode 260

EPISODE 260
LEVEL A1.2/A2.1

 

 

READING COMPREHENSION 

 

FAMILY

 

There are many people in an extended family (= a family unit which includes grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts and uncles, etc). We cannot forget about our cousins (= your aunts and uncles’ children), nieces (= your sister or brother’s daughters) and nephews (= your sister or brother’s sons).

The basic family unit is called a nuclear family (= a family with two parents and their children, but not aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.). Sometimes life is difficult and people live in single-parent families (= they have a child, but they don’t have a husband or wife).

The moment you get married, your family gets bigger. I’m not talking only about your spouse (= your husband or your wife), but also about their father, mother, sister, brother etc. Together they are your in-laws and for example you suddenly have your mother-in-law and your father-in-law and so on.

 

 

More contexts for the new words: 

 

• She is a single mother. (= she has a child, but no husband) 
• I like my sister-in-law.  (= I like my husband’s or wife’s sister) 

 

EXERCISE 1 

Decide if the sentences are correct or incorrect. Correct the sentences which are wrong.

 

1. A nuclear family is called so because it has a lot of energy.
2. A large family is called an expanded family.
3. Your aunt’s son is your brother.
4. Your spouse is your husband or wife.
5. In a single-parent family, there is no father or no mother.
6. A niece is always a girl.

 

EXERCISE 2 

Match the question halves, then answer the questions.

 

1. What should the government do 
2. What are the features 
3. Would you prefer to live in a nuclear family 

 

a) or in an extended one? Why?
b) of your ideal spouse?
c) to help single-parent families?

 

 

ENGLISH IN USE  

 

 

Today I want you to focus on the first sentence of the above text:

There are many people in an extended family.

 

As you can see we say „an extended family„. We can put a/ an only in front of countable nouns in singular(1) form. We say: a family/ 2 families. We use „many” with countable nouns, not „much”. We can use them in plural (2 or more) form.

We say: There are many families in Warsaw.

 

 

IDIOM CLOSE-UP 

 

 

A/ Why did Sue decide to become a teacher?

B/ Her mum is also a teacher. Sue wanted to FOLLOW IN HER FOOTSTEPS.

 

When you follow in somebody’s  footsteps, you want to do what they do. This is usually used in the context of family and jobs.

 

 

PHRASAL VERBS CLOSE-UP

 

 

Let’s look at two phrasal verbs, often used in the context of family, which are frequently confused.

 

1. If you GROW UP, you change from being a baby or young child to being an older child or adult.

 

He’s really starting to grow up now.

Some people never grow up.

 

2. If you BRING UP a child, you look after them until they become an adult.

 

She brought up three kids on her own.

He was brought up by his grandparents.

 

Remember: ‘grow up’ doesn’t require a noun after it, while ‘bring up’ does. Someone brings you up, but you grow up on your own.

 

 

 

EXERCISE 3 

 

Rewrite the sentences keeping the same meaning and using the word in capitals. Use the idiom and phrasal verbs you have learned in this lesson.

 

1. It is hard work to look after a child from its being a baby to adult age.

UP ………………………………………………

 

2. Many women think that men never become adults.

UP ………………………………………………

 

3. She didn’t want to have the same job as her father.

FOLLOW ………………………………………………

 

 

NEWS

  

 

THE DEMISE OF EXTENDED FAMILIES

 

Fewer and fewer families are deciding to live with the more distant family members, such as grandparents or aunts. This demise of the extended family is often attributed to the changing housing conditions – namely that increasing numbers of families are living in flats, and not houses, thus reducing the space for potential additional household members. However, an explanation may also be sought in the changing attitudes of people nowadays. We no longer want to take responsibility for more distant family members, preferring instead to focus on ourselves, our spouses and children.

 

GLOSSARY 

– demise – downfall, deterioration

– attributed to – explained by

– household – family members living in one house or flat

– to seek (sought sought) – to look for something

 

 

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