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depleted. Her job is to ensure that orders for delivery to wholesale
distributors are assembled, packed and shipped correctly. It’s a job
she enjoys. It offers enough responsibility to be satisfying, while
allowing her to work the hours that suit her best. It is very clear that
the family comes first for her. Like Peter she belongs to a trade union.
Emma Goodwin is getting some work experience before
moving on to further education. She works full time for a small
printing business. Small printing jobs such as notepaper, notices and
small publications can be designed, printed and returned complete to
the customer in a few days. Emma’s job is to take the orders. If the
job is not a difficult one she is allowed to do the design work. She is
planning to go on and study graphic design at art college after her
year at work.
Having three members of the family at work boosts the
Goodwin’s standard of living. Peter earns 13,118 pounds. His basic
pay is around three quarters of this: the rest is made up by overtime
and weekend working payments. Lucy works part time – 18 hours a
week – which brings in another 4,128 pounds. Emma, as a trainee,
earns 4,850 pounds for a 40–hour week, and gives her mother a
qurater of her wages for her keep. The family income is thus 18,458
pounds a year.

***

Text 4

The Changing Patterns of Families

Q. Family is one of the most common human institutions; however, it
doesn't mean the same thing to various groups of people.
Sociologists say that the American family is in a state of flux and
ask alarmingly: "Will the traditional American family survive?"
Cheril Brown from the Administration for Children and Families
which is part of the United States Department of Health and Human
Services will help us understand if there are any causes for alarm.
What does the concept of a "traditional American family" include,
Cheril?
A. The concept of a "traditional American family" requires
clarification. There is no single family pattern in the United States
that can wholly and universally depict "the American family".

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