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Family Life in Britain — Семейная жизнь в Британии

A «typical» British family used to consist of mother, father and two children. But in recent years there have been many changes in family life. For example, since the law made it easier to get a divorce, the number of divorces has increased. That’s why 24% of British children live with only one parent, usually their mother.
The contemporary British child doesn’t have a lot of companionship from brothers and sisters, because the average family has only one or two children. Most British children live with their parents at least until they finish school at the age of 17 or 18. Then many go away to college, leaving some parents sad and lonely in their empty nest and others enjoying their release from parental responsibilities.
But many adults stay with their parents during their college years or return home after graduation. Today’s parents cannot even be sure that their married children have moved out forever. After a divorce they may return to the

parental home temporarily or even on a long-term basis.
Older people take pride in their independence, enjoy their freedom and don’t want to be a burden to their children. The telephone, the car and the airplane keep them in close contact even when they live in different parts of the country.
Members of family — grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins-keep in touch, but they see less of each other than they used to. This is because people often move away from home town to work and so the family becomes scattered. Christmas is the traditional season for reunions.
Although the family group is smaller nowadays than it used to be, relatives often travel many miles in order to spend the holiday together. Family parties may be all the more joyous when they bring together relatives who haven’t seen each other for a while.

Семейная жизнь в Британии

Типичная британская семья всегда состояла из матери, отца и двух детей. Но в последние годы в семейной жизни произошло много

перемен. Например, с тех пор как закон упростил процедуру развода, количество разводов увеличилось. Поэтому 24% британских детей живут только с одним родителем, обычно с мамой.
Современный британский ребенок не ощущает большой поддержки братьев и сестер, потому что средняя семья имеет одного или двух детей. Большинство британских детей живут с родителями самое меньшее до тех пор, пока не закончат школу в возрасте 17 или 18 лет. Затем многие отправляются в колледж, оставляя одних родителей печальными и одинокими в опустевшем гнезде, а других — наслаждающимися освобождением от родительских обязанностей.
Но многие совершеннолетние дети остаются с родителями во время обучения в колледже или возвращаются домой после окончания. Сегодняшние родители отнюдь не могут быть уверены, что их женатые дети уехали навсегда. После развода они могут вернуться в родительский дом временно или на долгое время.
Старые люди гордятся своей независимостью, наслаждаются ею и не хотят быть обузой своим детям. Телефон, машина и самолет помогают им поддерживать контакт, даже если они живут в разных частях страны.
Члены семьи — бабушки, дедушки, тети, дяди, кузины — общаются между собой, но они реже, чем раньше, видят друг друга. Происходит это потому, что люди часто уезжают из дома на работу, и поэтому семья оказывается разобщенной. Рождество — традиционный период для воссоединения.
Хотя семьи сейчас меньше, чем раньше, родственники преодолевают сотни миль, чтобы провести праздник вместе. Семейные вечера становятся веселее, когда они собирают вместе родственников, которые долго не виделись.

Questions:

1. Why do a lot of British children live with only one parent?
2. What can you tell about the contemporary British child?
3. Are there many adults staying at their parents’ place?
4. Older people take pride in their independence, don’t they?
5. What is the traditional season for reunions?

Vocabulary:

Divorce — развод
to increase — увеличиваться
contemporary — современный
responsibility — ответственность
temporarily — временно

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