B Read the text below. For questions (1-5) choose the correct answer (A, B, C or D).
British couples have developed a system of 'shift-parenting' to cope with ever-longer working hours, according to a new study of how families are adapting to the demands of modern employers. Parents have learnt to fit their working hours around one another so that as one of them gets home, the other is able to leave for work. The study, by the National Centre for Social Research (NSCR), looked in detail at the hours and times worked by more than 1,000 families. Despite women's advances in the workplace, fathers remain less likely than mothers to be fully involved in bringing up their children.
Almost one-third are now working more than a 48-hour- week, with 12% clocking more than 60 hours per week. Almost half of working fathers found they didn't have enough time with their children, helping them read and do their homework. Based on a year-long project, the study- Happy families? Atypical work and its influence on family, by Ivana La Valle - finds unusual working hours becoming the norm.
The NSCR study highlights the demands placed on middle-class parents to work anti-social working hours. 'Shift-parenting" developed as a result of these demands. It enables both parents to pursue careers while spending some time with their offspring. It can, however, lead to couples communicating largely via notes stuck on the fridge door and dividing their lives into strictly scheduled chunks of work, family time and sleep. On some evenings they will be able to organise a nanny to do shifts with the children, enabling both parents to work late. The study found that fathers were less able than mothers to reorganise their work lives around their children, said La Valle, explaining that professional men are 'very career-oriented, very highly motivated and working in environments where a long working-hours culture is very popular.' It also illustrates the radical changes that have taken place in the working life of British people, said Gary Cooper, Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health at the University of Lancaster. 'Britain used to be a nine-to-five culture,' he says. 'People have seen a major change in the quality of their lives. They are working longer hours with less balance between their work and their life.' However, there is evidence some fathers may no longer be willing to remain in the office late at the expense of spending time with their children.
1. What is true, according to the NCSR study? A. Fathers are not able to bring up their childre B. Fathers often sacrifice successful careers for their children.
C. Mothers usually have more responsibility fo bringing up their children than fathers.
D. Both mothers and fathers bring up their children to an equal extent.
2. According to the text, how can shift-parenting help parents?
A. They can bring up their children in a better
way.
B. They can combine family life with a career. C. They can develop a closer relationship with their children.
D. They can save money on babysitters.
3. What does Professor Cooper point out? A. People can now enjoy a better quality of life B. The number of professionally successful
people has increased in the last twenty year C. Because of their demanding careers, many people don't have a normal personal life. D. People no longer pay attention to culture.
4. What does the text offer readers? A. advice
B. information C. instructions
D. guidance
5. What would be the best title for the text? A. Part-time parents
B. Demanding parents C. Stay-at-home parents D. Tired parents