Answer key: Changing American Family

Lesson Plan: Faces of the New American Families

II. While Reading Activities

  1. atypical |āˈtipikəl| adjective-not representative of a type, group, or class: a sample of people who are rather atypical of the target audience | there were somewhat atypical results in May and November.
  2. prosaic |prōˈzāik| adjective-commonplace; unromantic: the masses were too preoccupied by prosaic day-to-day concerns.
  3. litany |ˈlitn-ē| noun ( pl. litanies )-a tedious recital or repetitive series: a litany of complaints.
  4. incarcerated inˈkärsəˌrāt|-verb [ with obj. ] imprison or confine: many are incarcerated for property offenses.
  5. evolution |ˌevəˈlo͞oSHən| noun-the gradual development of something, esp. from a simple to a more complex form: the forms of written languages undergo constant evolution.
  6. unsullied |ˌənˈsəlēd| adjective-not spoiled or made impure: an unsullied reputation.
  7. egalitarian |iˌgaləˈterēən| adjective-of, relating to, or believing in the principle that all people are equal and deserve equal rights and opportunities: a fairer, more egalitarian society.
  8. mortarboards |ˈmôrtərˌbôrd| noun- an academic cap with a stiff, flat, square top and a tassel;usually worn at college  graduations.
  9. Type A  noun-a personality type characterized by ambition, high energy, and competitiveness, and thought to be susceptible to stress and heart disease.
  10. subverting |səbˈvərt|-verb [ with obj. ] undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution): an attempt to subvert democratic government.

Source: New Oxford American Dictionary

Reading Comprehension

Fill-ins

Words as they appear in the sentences:

typical, multilayered, portmanteau, study, evolution, transformations, turnover, complex, endpoint, midst, researchers, historical, identified,

IV. Listening Activity

While Listening Activities

True /False/NA-Statements

Video Clip:  One Big Happy Family  by Rebecca Walker

  1. NA-Rebecca  Walker  has 3 children in Hawaii.
  2. F- Her new book One Big Happy Family  is about  open adoptions, single parents,  mixed marriages, and other non-traditional families.
  3. T- Rebecca stated  that many of her friends were from  non-traditional families.
  4. F- One example of an American television sitcom family Rebecca mentioned was Father Knows Best.
  5. T- Polyamory means having an open marriage involving several people.
  6. T- Her book also covers mixed and gay marriages.
  7. F- Rebecca is a product of a mixed marriage.
  8. T- She states that there are two million men  incarcerated in America and are part of American families.
  9. NA-Rebecca wants to write another book about Native families in Hawaii.
  10. T- Through her book Rebecca wanted to show that love, and coming together are important issues in families.