On Screen p 42. Family. Monologue Practice

 

 

1. How has the idea of family changed since the past century?

2. The trouble with most children nowadays is that their parents are too easy with them. Do you agree? What's the best way to raise your children? 

Sample answer

The topic I would like to discuss with you today is the one of family and relationships. More (1)____________ (SPECIFIC), I would like to focus on an area that I consider (2)_____________ (PARTICULAR) interesting. It is how the concepts of family and relationships in general have changed in our lifetime.

To start with, I would like to reflect on how families have evolved since the times of our grandparents. As strange as it might seem today, our grandparents' generation believed that having children meant an increase in their workforce and therefore they embraced the idea of having many of them. So, the more children they had, the more work could be carried out in the fields. As a matter of fact, my grandparents were farmers and all family members were supposed to lend a (3)___________ (HELP) hand and shoulder the burden of the (4)_____________ (DAY) farm chores.

Nowadays, however, we tend to have (5)___________ (FEW) children. (6)___________ (EVIDENT), we no longer see them as workforce. Quite the (7)_____________ (OPPOSE), we have become aware that they need our constant attention and a lot of TLC (tender, loving care).  (8)_____________ (ADD),  we also enjoy an (9)___________(EXTENSION) life (10)___________ (EXPECT). People live (11)___________ (DEFINITE) (12)______________ (LONG) and this has of course influenced family structures. We even have coined a new term, the (13)_________ (CALL)  "Beanpole family", which describes a multi-generational family that is (14)__________ (THIN) (15)____________ (STRETCH) over several generations, with fewer family members in each generation and with (16)_____________ (GROW) numbers of (17)_______________ (SINGLE) families.

In (18)____________ (ADD) to family size, a (19)____________ (FAR) point to discuss is family types. At the time of our grandparents you would just find the most traditional families. Our generation, on the other hand, has witnessed the (20)______________ (EMERGE) of a much (21)___________ (WIDE) range of family structures. A case in point is the single-parent families, which have become  more common in recent years. Another family type to consider is the rainbow families, which include same-sex families and gender-diverse families. Apart from these, there is also the blended family, a family consisting of a couple, the children they have had together, and their children from previous relationships. Finally, another family type that has gained (22)____________ (PROMINENT) recently is the foster family, which takes a child into their home for a while and takes care of him or her. In any case, what we should bear in mind is that there is no such thing as 'normal' or '(23)_____________ (NORMAL)' family structures – we are all equal and love is what really makes a family.

 

Another area to consider, is our children's (24)______________ (BRING). There are (25)__________ (MAIN) two types of parenting, helicopter parenting and free-range parenting. In the former parents pay (26)______________ (EXTREME) close attention to their children's experiences and problems. And the latter advocates (27)___________ (ENCOURAGE) (28)_______________ (DEPEND) in children. These parents believe that (29)_______________ (PROTECT) is a danger in itself. (30)___________ (DEED), a child who thinks he cannot do anything on his own (31)__________ (EVENT) can't. As the popular (32)___________ (SAY) goes "either if you say you can or you can't you are always right.

(33)_______________ (OBVIOUS), these two types of parenting lead us to a dilemma. Are we living in a risk-averse culture where we stifle our children's (34)____________ (ABLE) to deal with danger by never allowing them to take (35)_____________ (REASON) risks? Does our society (36)__________ (MOLLY) its children? Or do free-range parents expose their children to real and (37)__________ (NECESSITY) danger? What do you think?

In conclusion, our generation has witnessed a major shift in not only the area of family size and structure but also in the emergence of (38)_____________ (CONVENTION) family types.(39)_____________ (WISE), today's parents are in a quandary over whether in our modern times  they should rear their children in a (40)____________ (PROTECT) or (41)_____________ (PERMIT) way. In any case, at this moment in time, we have all become (42)_____________ (PERFECT) aware that we are propelling our children to an (43)___________ (PREDICT) future.  So, as long as they have the skills to fend for themselves, we as a society should feel proud and (44)_____________ (CONTENT).

 KEY

 

1. specifically 

 

 

 

2. particularly 

 

 

 

3. helping 

 

 

 

4. daily/ day-to-day

day-to-day: involving the usual events or tasks of each day. Happening every day as a regular part of your job or life.
E.g. 

She has been looking after the day-to-day running of the school.

day-to-day problems/responsibilities

I am a vegetarian and use a lot of lentils in my day-to-day cooking.

 

 

 

 

5. fewer 

 

 

 

6. Evidently 

 

 

 

7. opposite 

 

 

 

8. Additionally 

 

 

 

9.extended

 

 

 

10. expectancy 

 

 

 

11. definitely 

 

 

 

12. longer 

 

 

 

13. so-called 

 

 

 

14. thinly 

 

 

 

15. stretched 

 

 

 

16. growing 

 

 

 

17. single-parent 

 

 

 

18. addition 

 

 

 

19. further 

 

 

 

20. emergence 

 

 

 

21. wider 

 

 

22. prominence 

 

 

 

23. abnormal 

 

 

 

24. upbringing 

 

 

 

25. mainly 

 

 

 

26. extremely 

 

 

 

27. encouraging 

 

 

 

28. independence 

 

 

 

29. overprotectiveness / overprotection

 

 

 

30. Indeed 

 

 

 

31. eventually 

 

 

 

32. saying 

 

 

 

33. Obviously 

 

 

 

34. ability 

 

 

 

35. reasonable 

 

 

36. mollycoddle

mollycoddle somebody 

 to protect somebody too much and make their life too comfortable and safe.

E.g.
She was mollycoddled as a child.

 

 

 

37. unnecessary

 

 

 

38. unconventional 

 

 

 

39. Likewise 

 

 

 

40. protective 

 

 

 

41. permissive 

 

 

 

42. perfectly 

 

 

 

43. unpredictable 

 

 

 

44. contented 

  

Objective Proficiency p 168. How Mothers Deliver a Baby. Extra Listening

Objective Proficiency p 130. The End of Men. Extra Listening

Simone de Beauvoir wrote, "This world has always belonged to males," but author Hanna Rosin says that isn't the case anymore. In Rosin's new book "The End of Men and the Rise of Women," she argues that women are winning in the new economy, surpassing men in education and at work, while continuing to exercise power at home. What gender role changes have you observed in work, pay, marriage, child rearing and sex? What do both sexes have to do to adapt?

Click here to listen to the NPR programme about this topic 

Click here to listen to the Forum programme about this topic

Objective Proficiency p 123. Countdown to Life. The Extraordinary Making of You. Extra Listening

Objective Proficiency p 92. Pamela Meyer: How to Spot a Liar. Extra Listening

On any given day we're lied to from 10 to 200 times, and the clues to detect those lies can be subtle and counter-intuitive. Pamela Meyer, author of Liespotting, shows how those trained can recognize deception -- and she argues honesty is a value worth preserving.

Objective Proficiency p 66. Meet the Romans. Extra Listening

Objective Proficiency p 32. Thanksgiving. Extra Listening

Objective Proficiency p 32. Ritual Family Meals. Listening

Fill in the gaps with a word or phrase

My family is not like many modern ones since it still 1__________ the tradition of large family meals. We always follow the same pattern of long phone calls weeks ahead of the occasion to 2_________ distant cousins and elderly aunts. The preparation of so much food is 3_________________ for the host family members concerned.
On the day of the meal, we 4_____________ our well-established roles, 5____________ all that is served and expressing the joy and 6________________ that convention demands.
As soon as we have drunk some wine, the 7____________________ dishes gives way to another, more sinister part of the ritual: 8____________  comments on family members who are not there, the 9___________ of ancient 10____________  and 11__________ family rivalries. Then we have debates on politics and the world 12____________. We don't physically fight, but the verbal gloves are certainly off at this late stage in the 13_____________. As soon as a heated argument breaks out the host hurries away to prepare coffee, 14____________  chocolates and 15__________ of ice-cold water, in a 16_____________ attempt to restore calm. At this moment all hostilities stop and therefore peace 17______________. After his second cup of coffee, 18______________ a final blessing to the assembled group, the most senior member takes his 19________, signalling that it is time for others to do the same. Another memorable family occasion 20________________.

KEY
1. holds to
hold to: refuse to abandon or change (a principle or opinion). E.g. those who held to the view that Britain should not be part of the Common Market. My family holds to the tradition of large family meals.



2. mobilise (also mobilize) /ˈməʊbəlaɪz/ organize and encourage (a group of people) to take collective action in pursuit of a particular objective. E.g. it would be hard for worker representatives to mobilize the workforce against the employers.



3. stress-inducing
induce something to cause something. E.g. drugs which induce sleep.



4. slip into 
Slip into: 1. to pass into a particular state or situation. E.g. He began to slip into debt.The patient had slipped into a coma. 2. To put clothes on. E.g. To slip into/out of a dress. When I get home I will slip into my onesie.

5. devouring
devour: /dɪˈvaʊə(r)/

gobble:  


to eat something very fast, in a way that people consider rude or greedy. Wolf. E.g.  gobble (something) Don't gobble your food like that! gobble something up/down They gobbled down all the sandwiches. He gobbled up the last of the chocolates.


savour something 


 to enjoy the full taste or flavour of something, especially by eating or drinking it slowly. E.g.  He ate his meal slowly, savouring every mouthful.


6. contentment /kənˈtentmənt/ a feeling of happiness or satisfaction. E.g. He has found contentment at last. E.g. a sigh of contentment

contempt: 
/kənˈtempt/ the feeling that somebody/something is without value and deserves no respect at all. E.g. She looked at him with contempt. I shall treat that suggestion with the contempt it deserves. His treatment of his children is beneath contempt (= so unacceptable that it is not even worth feeling contempt for). Politicians seem to be generally held in contempt by ordinary people. contempt for somebody/something They had shown a contempt for the values she thought important.


contemptuous /kənˈtemptʃuəs/ feeling or showing that you have no respect for somebody/something. She gave him a contemptuous look. The company has shown a contemptuous disregard for Henry’s complaints. contemptuous of somebody/something He was contemptuous of everything I did.

contemptible: /kənˈtemptəbl/ not deserving any respect at all. Despicable. E.g. contemptible behaviour 



7. praise of succulent
 
praise: /preɪz/ to express your approval or admiration for somebody/something. 
succulent: /ˈsʌkjələnt/ containing a lot of juice and tasting good. E.g. a succulent pear/steak
give way to something: to be replaced by something. E.g. The storm gave way to bright sunshine. As he drew nearer, his anxiety gave way to relief.



8. snide  
Snide: /snaɪd/ criticizing somebody/something in an unkind and indirect way. Sp. Malicioso. E.g. Snide comments/remarks. Adv. snidely.

bad-mouth: /ˈbæd maʊθ/
bad-mouth somebody (informal) to say unpleasant things about somebody. E.g. No one wants to employ somebody who bad-mouths their former employer.


9. surfacing 
Surfacing: /ˈsɜːf ɪs ɪŋ/ sudden appearance after having been hidden for a while. Emergence. E.g. The surfacing of ancient grudges and petty family rivalries.



10.  grudges 
Grudge: /ɡrʌdʒ/ a feeling of anger or dislike towards somebody because of something bad they have done to you in the past. Rencor E.g. I bear him no grudge. He has a grudge against the world. She has harboured a grudge against me for years. I don't hold any grudges now. 



11. petty: /ˈpeti/ small and unimportant. E.g. petty crime/theft (= that is not very serious). 
Rivalry: /ˈraɪvlri/ plural: rivalries.



12.at large:  (used after a noun) as a whole; in general. E.g. The opinion of the public at large.



13. proceedings
proceedings [plural] an event or a series of actions. E.g. The Mayor will open the proceedings at the City Hall tomorrow. We watched the proceedings from the balcony.



14. hunting out  
Hunt sth out/down: to search for something until you find it. E.g. We hunted down their phone number and gave them a call. I hunted out my old school photos to show Mary.  




15. jugs 
Jug: /dʒʌɡ/ a container with a handle and a lip, for holding and pouring liquids. Jarra.  E.g. A milk/water jug.

pitcher /ˈpɪtʃə(r)/ (North American English) (British English jug) a container with a handle and a lip, for holding and pouring liquids. E.g. a pitcher of water



 16. valiant: /ˈvæliənt/ very brave or determined. E.g. Valiant warriors. She made a valiant attempt not to laugh.



17.  prevails
Prevail: /prɪˈveɪl/ to be accepted, especially after a struggle or an argument. Triumph. E.g. Justice will prevail over tyranny. Fortunately, common sense prevailed. 



18. handing down 
Hand down: announce something. To officially give a decision/statement, etc. Sp. Transmitir. E.g. The judge has handed down his verdict.



19. leave 
Take (your) leave (of somebody): (formal) to say goodbye. E.g. With a nod and a smile, she took leave of her friends.



20. draws to a close 
Draw + adverb/preposition: to move in the direction mentioned. E.g. The train drew into the station. (Figurative) The meeting was drawing to a close.

Transcript
Unlike many modern families, mine still holds to the tradition of large family meals at times of celebration or crisis. I use the word ‘large’ of both the group and the amount of food on offer. The pattern is always the same: endless phone calls weeks ahead of the occasion to mobilise distant cousins and elderly aunts; on the eve of the event, the preparation of excessive amounts of food by the host family member, which never fails to be stress-inducing for all concerned; and then, on the day itself, we slip into our well-established roles, devouring all that is set before us and expressing the joy and contentment that convention demands. Once the wine has started to flow, the praise of succulent dishes gives way to another, more sinister part of the ritual: snide comments on family members not present, the surfacing of ancient grudges and petty family rivalries. This in turn leads to the more general but equally predictable debates on politics and the world at large. Manners always prevent us from actual bodily assault, but the verbal gloves are certainly off at this late stage in the proceedings. As the insults start to fly, the host hurries away to prepare coffee, hunting out chocolates and jugs of ice-cold water, in a valiant attempt to restore calm. Ritual behaviour dictates that all hostilities cease at this point and so, finally, peace prevails. After his second cup of coffee, handing down a final blessing to the assembled group, the most senior member takes his leave, signalling that it is time for others to do the same. Another memorable family occasion draws to a close.