Comprehension check

Complete the statements by choosing the answer which fits best.

1. Families face decline because

a) they are no longer the foundation of the society. b) people's attitude towards family life changed.

c) the society is not able to support families.

 

2. The divorce has been made easier by

a) not having to pay for legal procedures. b) allowing the spouses not to state the real reason for separation.

c) making it unnecessary to register marriages.

 

3. The Government proposes to help the family by

a) offering financial support to every family. b) setting up counseling service.

c) encouraging voluntary organizations to take care of prob­lem families.

4. The new Government's proposals serve to

a) strengthen the family. b) make the divorce easier. c) discourage young people from getting married.

 

Language work

1. Give your explanation of: no-fault divorce, health visitors, child benefit, marital status, a day care centre, Green Paper.

 

2. Find in the text equivalents for: to explain, counsel, to save, offer, to give moral support, to simplify, appeal.

 

3.Which is the synonym for the words in italics:

irreversible – unchangeable, invariable, irrevocable.

to confirm – to assume, to imply, to prove.

to dispense with – to refuse, to reject, can do without.

bond – companionship, union, partnership.

 

4. The word to study: to decline.

They say: a declining birth rate; declining sales; declining years; the decline of Roman Empire; fall into decline; on the decline.

Make up examples of your own with the phrases given above.

 

Pre-reading task

Match the words in Column A with their definitions in col­umn B.

 

	A	B
A	To estimate	1. the hard work and loyalty that someone gives to an organization, activity, or
		piece of work because they really care about it and believe in it;
B	Urban	2. a group in society considered to be superior because of the power, talent, privileges;
C	Elite	3. (a legal or official word) belonging to / concerning a man / woman who are married;
D	Matrimonial	4. existing in or intended for towns or cities;
E	Prevalent	5. (formal) common, seen or done everywhere;
F	To reject	6. very holy and therefore treated with great respect;
G	A breakthrough	7. major achievement;
H	Commitment	8. to refuse to accept;
I	Sacred	9. to calculate the cost, value, size, etc.