TRƯỜng đẠi học quy nhơN

Bài 2: Đọc các bài đọc dưới đây và trả lời các câu hỏi kèm theo:

The controversy surrounding the relationships between and roles of men and women is, perhaps, one of the features of the second half of the twentieth century in Western societies. In the United States of America, for example, both sexes are, more or less aggressively, demanding freedom from the constraints of traditional attitudes towards the roles of the sexes and marriage. The impact of this can be seen in the rising divorce rate, falling birth rate and the increasing number of couples living together without a marriage license.

It is perhaps interesting to speculate on the future roles of men and women. In developed countries, if the advent of the silicon chip leads to mass unemployment and a revolutionized attitude towards work and leisure, what will be the effect on, for example, women who at present express their equality with men primarily through their work; if oil, coal and gas run out and alternative energy sources can not take up the slack in domestic supplies, what effect will this have on the roles of men and women in domestic life ? In developing societies, how will increasing exposure to Western society ( through the media and travel ) and improved technology affect the role of women ? One can obviously guess at the answers, but what do you think or hope will happen ?

Questions :

1. 
   What is one of the features of the 20^th century in the Western societies ?
   
2. 
   Are American men and women still happy with their traditional role in the family ?
   
3. 
   How can women express their equality with men ?
   
4. 
   How are developing countries exposed to Western societies ?
   

In societies where people tend to live together in extended family groups, - consisting of grandparents, great uncles and aunts, parents, aunts and uncles, children and cousins, for example - care of both young and old is the natural function of the group. The State is only needed when the efficiency of the group breaks down, because of illness or poverty, for example. In Britain, however, people tend to live in nuclear family groups ( parents and children only ), with the result that the care of the old is a social problem and the State needs to intervene. What is more, if the relationship between husband and wife breaks down, the children are immediately at risk, and State intervention may be necessary for them too. Where parents do care for their children, however, they usually take their responsibilities very seriously.

The British population is already one of the oldest in Europe, and it is slowly getting older. In 1990 the median age in Britain was thirty-six but it will rise to forty-one by 2020. At the end of the 1990s the number of pensioners will begin to rise rapidly, and the workforce will shrink. One result will be that by 2020 there will be twice as many people aged eighty-five or over as in 1990. A disproportionate number of the old, incidentally, choose to retire to the south coast and East Anglia, creating regional imbalances.

Questions :

1. 
   What is an extended family ?
   
2. 
   What is a nuclear family ?
   
3. 
   Who takes care of the young and old in an extended family ?
   
4. 
   What is a possible consequence if the relationship between the husband and the wife breaks down
   

“Dear Mr. Bradley,” he read, “ we are sorry to (3)………....you that your services are no longer required (4)………” He couldn’t believe it. After (5)…….…for the company for 30 years, he had been made redundant, one Monday morning without (6) …….…..warned in any way at all. There was no point in (7)….…….the letter. The ending was obvious. “Thank you for your loyalty and dedication over the years, and we hope you will enjoy (8)……..….more time to spend”. The company wanted him to go away quietly and enjoy his premature retirement. He was 52. How he could manage to find another (9)……..…at his age? He knew that firms were not interested in (10)…..…….people over 45, let alone over fifty. Could he still afford to (11) ………....his daughters to their expensive school? He sat back in his chair and looked out of the window, (12)……….…what to do next. He decided to leave the office as soon as possible. He did not want anyone to (13)…………… him while he left so sadly . So he put on his coat and for the last time closed the office door (14)…………….him and left the building.

Out in the street, it had (15)…………….. to rain. He had forgotten to bring his (16)………………..that morning, so he turned up his overcoat collar and walked towards the station to (17)……………..……his train home. He didn’t know what to say to his wife. The thought of (18)…………..…the news to her made him feel sick.