I.

Getting the Message

After reading the article, choose the best answer for each item.
1. According to this article, one of the main causes of family poverty is_________
a. the rising birth rate
b. families supported by only one parent
c. women who contribute very little to family income
2. The changes in family life that this article describes__________
a. are occurring only in poor countries
b. are related to the rising divorce rate
c. are likely to improve family life
3. The Population Council studied families in many countries and concluded that
a. in rich countries, nearly all children live in two-parent families
b. family structure is changing in the same ways throughout the world
c. in poor countries, the average woman earns more than her husband
4. The author of this article________
a. does not give any personal opinions about the changes described
b. criticizes fathers for deserting their children
c. praises women for working so hard at home and at outside jobs
5. One important benefit of studies about families is that they__________

a. prove that divorce is harmful to families

b. prove that men are lazier than women
c. point out family problems and suggest ways government can help
6. Sending children to school nowadays____________
a. improves the economic situation in most families
b. increases the economic burden upon families of school-age children
c. has no effect upon family finances
Check your answers with the key on page 117. If you have made mistakes, reread the article
to gain a better understanding of it.

II. Expanding Your Vocabulary

_________________________________________________________
A. Getting Meaning from Context

Find each word in the paragraph indicated in parentheses. Use context clues to determine
the meaning of the word. Choose the best definition.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

myth (2)
dissolving (4)
exceeded (11)
vary (16)
migrated (18)

News / Features

a. true story
a. breaking apart
a. were less than
a. be different
a. stayed at home

b.
b.
b.
b.
b.

story that isn't true

staying together
were more than
be the same
moved away