Reading test "Family Relationship"

11 Form                                    Test

Reading

V-1

1. Complete the text with the words from the box below.

From a very early age, it was (1)... that Magnus Carlsen was a brilliant chess player. By the age of 13, Magnus was (2)... to be one of the best chess players in the world, and his parents wanted him to reach his (3)... potential as a professional chess player.

This meant their son had to develop a lifestyle of strict (4)... which included many hours of practice. Only this way could he become a world champion. (5)... Magnus’s parents supported him, they did not want him to devote his whole life to chess. They felt that if he (6)... only on chess, he would suffer both physically and emotionally. They made it clear to him that they (7)... no intention of letting their son drop out of school. He was encouraged to follow his interest in sports. As a result, when Magnus graduated from high school in 2009, he was not only the best chess player in the world, but he was also (8)... the title of “sport-student of the year” for his achievements in snowboarding and golf.

Today, Magnus gives (9)... to his parents for the way they (10)... him. They set rules, but they never (11)... with his ambitions. Instead they gave him the (12)... and encouragement he needed to achieve his goals and still be a happy young man.

2. Read the text and say whether the statements below are true or false.

MODERN BRITISH FAMILIES

Father leaves for work in the morning after breakfast. The two children take the bus to school, and mother stays at home cooking and cleaning until father and the kids return home in the evening. This is the traditional picture of a happy family living in Britain. But is it true today? The answer is — no! The past 20 years have seen enormous changes in the lives and structures of families in Britain, and the traditional model is no longer true in many cases.

The biggest change has been caused by divorce. As many as 2 out of 3 marriages now end in divorce, leading to a situation where many children live with one parent and only see the other at weekends or holidays.

There has also been a huge rise in the number of mothers who work. The large rise in divorces has meant many women need to work to support themselves and their children. Even when there is no divorce, many families need both parents to work in order to survive. This has caused an increase in childcare facilities, though they are very expensive and can be difficult to find in many areas. In addition, women are no longer happy to stay at home raising children, and many have careers earning as much as or even more than men, the traditional breadwinners.

There has also been a sharp increase in the number of single mothers, particularly among teenagers. Many of their children grow up never knowing their fathers, and some people feel the lack of a male role model has a damaging effect on their lives.

However, these changes have not had a totally negative effect. For women, it is now much easier to have a career and good salary. Although it is difficult to be a working mother, it has become normal and it’s no longer seen as a bad thing for the children. As for children themselves, some argue that modern children grow up to be more independent and mature than in the past. From an early age they have to go to child-minders or nurseries, and so they are used to dealing with strangers and mixing with other children.

So while the traditional model of a family may no longer be true in modern Britain, the modern family continues to raise happy, successful children.

1) The traditional model of a happy family is still true in Britain.

2) 2 out of 3 marriages now end in divorce.

3) Women are happy to stay at home raising children.

3. Complete the sentences according to the text.

1) The large rise in divorces has meant...

2) To be a working mother has become normal and it’s no longer seen...

3) Modern children grow up to be more…

11 Form                                    Test

Reading

V-2

1. Complete the text with the words from the box below.

It is never easy to (1)... up children, but for the rich and famous, it is particularly difficult. Their parents’ wealth often means that these children are (2)... like royalty. Many grow up in a world where they have all the (3)... possessions they could want. Some celebrities, however, go to great lengths to (4)... their children with a sense of (5)... about life.

Film (6)... Angelina Jolie, for example, educates her children by bringing them into (7)... with people less fortunate than they are. Jolie does a lot of volunteer and (8)... work in countries where children suffer both (9)... and emotionally because of the conditions they (10)... in.  She often takes her children with her, hoping that they will learn to appreciate the (11)... that they enjoy as a result of their wealth. She wants them to grow up to be (12)... human beings who are aware of and care about other people.

2. Read the text and say whether the statements below are true or false.

MODERN BRITISH FAMILIES

Father leaves for work in the morning after breakfast. The two children take the bus to school, and mother stays at home cooking and cleaning until father and the kids return home in the evening. This is the traditional picture of a happy family living in Britain. But is it true today? The answer is — no! The past 20 years have seen enormous changes in the lives and structures of families in Britain, and the traditional model is no longer true in many cases.

The biggest change has been caused by divorce. As many as 2 out of 3 marriages now end in divorce, leading to a situation where many children live with one parent and only see the other at weekends or holidays.

There has also been a huge rise in the number of mothers who work. The large rise in divorces has meant many women need to work to support themselves and their children. Even when there is no divorce, many families need both parents to work in order to survive. This has caused an increase in childcare facilities, though they are very expensive and can be difficult to find in many areas. In addition, women are no longer happy to stay at home raising children, and many have careers earning as much as or even more than men, the traditional breadwinners.

There has also been a sharp increase in the number of single mothers, particularly among teenagers. Many of their children grow up never knowing their fathers, and some people feel the lack of a male role model has a damaging effect on their lives.

However, these changes have not had a totally negative effect. For women, it is now much easier to have a career and good salary. Although it is difficult to be a working mother, it has become normal and it’s no longer seen as a bad thing for the children. As for children themselves, some argue that modern children grow up to be more independent and mature than in the past. From an early age they have to go to child-minders or nurseries, and so they are used to dealing with strangers and mixing with other children.

So while the traditional model of a family may no longer be true in modern Britain, the modern family continues to raise happy, successful children.

1) The biggest change in the traditional model of a happy family has been caused by divorce.

2) There has also been a huge rise in the number of mothers who work.

3) Some people feel the lack of a male role model has a positive effect on their lives.

3. Complete the sentences according to the text.

1) From an early age modern children have to go to child-minders or nurseries, and so they…

2) Nowadays, it is much easier for women to…

3) Even when there is no divorce, many families need…