The American Family

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by cuchoangthi

Could you show me that the word " wider " in the sentence " D.There has always been a wider variety of family types in the US " is right or wrong?
thank you

The word "wider" is a comparative. Nothing is being compared to anything there. The word "wide" is the better choice.

[cuchoangthi]

Originally Posted by RonBee

The word "wider" is a comparative. Nothing is being compared to anything there. The word "wide" is the better choice.

"the better choice" so it's not wrong?
I know the collocation: a wide/ huge/ great/ endless...variety of st and because it is collocation, it mustn't be added or reduced.
So this word " wider " in this sentence is wrong and unmeaning.

could you clear it for me? thank

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by cuchoangthi

"the better choice" so it's not wrong?
I know the collocation: a wide/ huge/ great/ endless...variety and because it is collocation, it mustn't be added or reduced.
So this word " wider " in this sentence is wrong and unmeaning.

could you clear it for me? thank

That is correct. The word "wider" in the original text has no meaning. After all, if a thing is wider it has to be wider than something. But it can be wide all by itself. (Example: this wide wide world.)

(The expression is clear it up.)

[cuchoangthi]

Originally Posted by RonBee

That is correct. The word "wider" in the original text has no meaning. After all, if a thing is wider it has to be wider than something. But it can be wide all by itself. (Example: this wide wide world.)

(The expression is clear it up.)

sorry, the collocation : a wide/ huge/ great/ endless...variety of something

[linhtho0211]

Let me share you my point of view.

• First, I agree with Sio's opinion. I'd choose B as answer to the first question. Well, the author mentions the traditional American family just once and there's no more clarifications for it in the following sentences.

• And I would choose D for the second question too. Though you guys find "wider" unclear in this answer but I feel it's not difficult to understand. The first paragraph seems to show the common thought that there are mainly two kinds of American families: the nuclear and the traditional family. But the next proves that this conception is not really right. There are more types of families than that: couples who either have no children or have none still living at home, single people, cohabiting couples, divorced parents.

Originally Posted by cuchoangthi

I have a reading comprehension exercise, could you help me to answer?
Thank you so much.
Here it is.

The nuclear family, consisting of a mother, a father, and their children, may be more an American ideal than an American reality. Of course, the so-called traditional American family was always more varied than we had been led to believe, reflecting the very different racial, ethnic, class, and religious customs among American groups.

The most recent government statistics reveal that only about one third of all current American families fits the traditional mold and another third consist of married couples who either have no children or have none still living at home. Of the final one third, about 20% of the total number of American households are single people, usually women over sixty-five years old. A small percentage, about 3% of the total, consist of unmarried people who choose to live together, and the rest , about 7% are single, usually divorced parents, with at least one child. Today, these varied family types are typical, and therefore, normal. Apparantly, many Americans are achieving supportive relationships in family forms other than the traditional one.

• What is the most suitable title for this passage?

A.The ideal family
B.The current American family
C.The nuclear family
C.The traditional American family

• The author wants to show that………………

A. the ideal American family is the best structure.
B. Racial, ethnic, and religious groups have presented the traditional family structure.
C. Fewer married couples are having children.
D. There has always been a wider variety of family types in the US.

[bhaisahab]

If this is a sociological study of American families carried out by non-Americans from outside America, I think the following is acceptable.

D. There has always been a wider variety of family types in the US.
(a wider variety than we have previously thought).

[linhtho0211]

Originally Posted by bhaisahab

If this is a sociological study of American families carried out by non-Americans from outside America, I think the following is acceptable.

D. There has always been a wider variety of family types in the US.
(a wider variety than we have previously thought).

Heehee . Thanks for supporting me .

[RonBee]

Originally Posted by bhaisahab

If this is a sociological study of American families carried out by non-Americans from outside America, I think the following is acceptable.

D. There has always been a wider variety of family types in the US.
(a wider variety than we have previously thought).

It makes sense when phrased that way.