Family Transformations From Traditional to Chosen Reading Answers

Jul 31, 2025

Family Transformations: From Traditional to Chosen Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Family Transformations: From Traditional to Chosen Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total. In the question set given, you have to state whether the statement is true, false or not given with the information given in the text. In the next set, choose the correct letter. In the last question set, choose no more than two words for each.

The IELTS Reading section is an essential part of the test that evaluates a candidate's comprehension and analysis of various passage types. You will work through a number of IELTS reading practice problems in this section that resemble actual test situations. These questions are designed to help you improve your ability to recognise essential concepts, extract particular facts, and make inferences. Practising these IELTS reading problems can help you get comfortable with the structure and increase your confidence for the exam, regardless of whether you are studying for the Academic or General Training module.

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Section 1

TRANSFORMATIONS: FROM TRADITIONAL TO CHOSEN

In our minds, we often picture the typical family as a married couple with a few kids. However, this “nuclear family” is now becoming less and less common in the United States. We're in a time of change, holding on to an old idea of family that was popular between 1950 and 1965. So, why did this traditional family structure fade, and what do families look like today?

Throughout history, families were close-knit groups that worked as a unit to support the family's livelihood, especially on farms. In 1875, most American workers were farmers, and the rest worked in small family-run businesses. In many cases, extended families, including aunts, uncles, and cousins, were a big part of life. They provided a safety net if something went wrong, a large group who could help with childcare, look after elderly and frail family members, and provide for each other in times of hardship or disability.

During the Victorian era, a period in the 1800s, extended families were more common in the US and Britain than ever before. This was a time of big changes, and people felt not just economic pressure, but also moral pressure. The extended family served as a moral compass, teaching children right from wrong and preserving traditional family values. But as cities grew, young people left home to chase their dreams. This led to the rise of the nuclear family. By 1960, almost 78 percent of children were raised in nuclear families, and there was heavy pressure to conform to this way of living.

At that time, everything worked together to support the nuclear family. Wages were high, which allowed one person to support the household and freed up the other to take care of family and domestic responsibilities. There were strong unions, high church attendance, and a great deal of trust in society. However, from 1965, this stability began to fade. The conditions that had created the idealised families of the 1950s began to change, leading to the more strained families of the following decades.

Over the past 50 years, the number of people living alone in America has doubled. One salary is often no longer enough to support a family, people are getting married later and divorcing more often, while the number of children being born is dropping. The changes have hit less well-off households the hardest. Recent data shows that wealthier people have the means to cope without extended family more easily, enjoying the benefits of a detached nuclear family structure without the corresponding drawbacks. Being able to bring in outside help, they have been able to enjoy greater freedom, but for those who are less affluent, it has been much more challenging. They now have to do all the work that was once shared among extended family members. Balancing career responsibilities with the raising of children and care for elderly parents has become a delicate juggling act for many adults. What's more, women continue to

shoulder a lot more of the housework and childcare responsibilities despite often having equally demanding work commitments. One of the most interesting trends in recent decades is the rise of chosen families. This started in the 1980s in San Francisco within the gay and lesbian community. People who had lost touch with their biological families came together to form new bonds. Chosen families helped them navigate the ups and downs of modern life in much the same way that traditional families had always done. Family became no longer just about blood ties, but also about the deep connections people chose to make.

The family situation varies greatly by country and region. Globally, 38 percent of people still live in extended family units. In some places, like the Gambia, households average 13.7 members, while in Mexico, kinship groups can include up to 70 people. While extended families have some downsides, such as less privacy and more responsibilities, having many people in your life who share strong familial bonds has distinct advantages too. For one, you have access to a support network of people in times of difficulty, and much greater levels of companionship, something which is especially important as you age.

The evolution of family structures reflects shifts in societal values and lifestyles. From the close-knit agrarian families of the past to the emergence of nuclear families during the mid-20th century, each era brought its own set of challenges and opportunities. Today's world continues to change, and with it, the kinds of family structures we can find around us.

Questions 1-5

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage? Write

TRUE — if the statement agrees with the information

FALSE — if the statement contradicts the information

NOT GIVEN — if there is no information on this

1. In the late 19th century, most American workers were employed in industrial factories.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “In 1875, most American workers were farmers, and the rest worked in small family-run businesses.”

Keywords: 1875, American workers, family-run businesses

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 2-3

Explanation: The passage directly contradicts the statement by saying most workers were farmers, not factory workers.

2. Extended families in the past helped in taking care of both children and elderly members.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “They provided a safety net if something went wrong… help with childcare, look after elderly and frail family members…”

Keywords: safety net, childcare, elderly and frail

Keyword Location: Para 2, Lines 4-5

Explanation: The passage confirms that extended families took care of both the young and the elderly.

3. During the Victorian era, extended families were seen as morally superior to nuclear families.

Answer: NOT GIVEN

Explanation: From the passage, it is clear that extended families provided moral guidance, it does not compare their moral superiority to nuclear families.

4. High wages and societal stability in the 1950s encouraged the growth of nuclear families.

Answer: TRUE

Supporting statement: “At that time, everything worked together to support the nuclear family. Wages were high… strong unions… great deal of trust in society.”

Keywords: nuclear family, Wages, trust in society

Keyword Location: Para 4, Line 1

Explanation: The statement is directly supported by the passage, explaining the conditions that favoured nuclear families in the 1950s.

5. The trend of chosen families began because of rising divorce rates in American cities.

Answer: FALSE

Supporting statement: “One of the most interesting trends… is the rise of chosen families. This started in the 1980s in San Francisco within the gay and lesbian community. People who had lost touch with their biological families…”

Keywords: interesting trends, 1980s, San Francisco, biological families

Keyword Location: Para 5, Lines 12-13

Explanation: The passage says chosen families arose in the LGBTQ+ community due to estrangement from biological families, not because of divorce rates.

Questions 6-9

Choose the correct letter.

6. What factor contributed to the decline of extended families in urban areas?

A. Economic pressure on farmers

B. Young people moving away to pursue careers

C. Decline in moral values

D. The rise of modern education

Answer: B

Supporting statement: “But as cities grew, young people left home to chase their dreams. This led to the rise of the nuclear family.”

Keywords: cities grew, left home, nuclear family

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 4-5

Explanation: The passage links the movement of young people to urban areas with the decline of the extended family structure.

7 . What does the passage suggest about wealthier families in recent times?

A. They face more problems due to nuclear family structures.

B. They are more likely to have chosen families.

C. They can afford external support systems.

D. They rely more heavily on religious institutions.

Answer: C

Supporting statement: “Wealthier people… enjoy the benefits of a detached nuclear family structure… Being able to bring in outside help…”

Keywords: Wealthier people, nuclear family, outside help

Keyword Location: Para 5, Lines 4-5

Explanation: The passage explains that wealthier families can cope better because they can hire help to perform tasks once done by extended family members.

8. One major difficulty for less affluent families today is:

A. A lack of religious guidance

B. A drop in birth rates

C. Managing responsibilities without support

D. Rising house prices

Answer: C

Supporting statement: “They now have to do all the work that was once shared among extended family members. Balancing career responsibilities with the raising of children and care for elderly parents…”

Keywords: extended family members, children and care

Keyword Location: Para 5, Lines 8-9

Explanation: The passage emphasizes how less affluent families struggle to juggle responsibilities without the support of extended family.

9. What advantage of extended families is emphasized in the passage?

A. Access to better education

B. More employment opportunities

C. Improved technology use

D. Companionship and emotional support

Answer: D

Supporting statement: “…much greater levels of companionship, something which is especially important as you age.”

Keywords: companionship, important

Keyword Location: Para 6, Lines 6-7

Explanation: The passage highlights emotional support and companionship, especially in old age, as a key benefit of extended families.

Questions 10-13

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each.

10. In the 1950s and 60s, nuclear families were encouraged by strong__________and a trusting society.

Answer: UNIONS

Supporting statement: “There were strong unions, high church attendance, and a great deal of trust in society.”

Keywords: strong unions, attendance

Keyword Location: Para 4, Lines 3-4

Explanation: The phrase “strong unions” is mentioned as one of the supportive factors of nuclear families during that era.

11. Women today often face the double burden of career and________

Answer: HOUSEWORK

Supporting statement: “Women continue to shoulder a lot more of the housework and childcare responsibilities despite often having equally demanding work commitments.”

Keywords: Women, housework, work commitments

Keyword Location: Para 5, Lines 10-11

Explanation: The passage states that women handle both work and housework, indicating the “double burden.”

12. Chosen families emerged in the 1980s particularly within__________ the community.

Answer: GAY AND LESBIAN

Supporting statement: “This started in the 1980s in San Francisco within the gay and lesbian community.”

Keywords: 1980s, San Francisco, gay and lesbian

Keyword Location: Para 5, Lines 13-14

Explanation: The passage clearly states where and among whom chosen families first emerged.

13. In Mexico, some extended family groups may include as many as__________individuals.

Answer: 70

Supporting statement: “In some places, like the Gambia… while in Mexico, kinship groups can include up to 70 people.”

Keywords: Mexico, kinship, 70 people

Keyword Location: Para 6, Lines 2-3

Explanation: The number 70 is directly stated in the context of large extended families in Mexico.

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*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.

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