I.

Family: the
basic unit of
the society

The family is an essential aspect to the development of a society. Being the basic unit, the values and
traits a person has starts with it. If the moral fabric of the family is corrupted and immoral then these
members will go out to society contributing the same corrupt values. It is therefore imperative that sound
moral judgment and humane principles should be learned within the family even in childhood.

If every member of the family has a good guiding principle in life with sound mora values, then the
society would definitely be a better one.
It plays a major role in the development of each member of the family in conformity with societal
standards. When there is a divergence in character trait or behavior of an individual relative to the society,
this fault is often attributed to the family upbringing of that particular individual. Therefore, emphasis
should be given to the way a person is brought up in the family where he belongs, because the eventual
result would either benefit the society or be a source of nuisance for the whole community. Hence, it is
said that “stable families are the first unit in building unified communities and a stable society
(relate.org.uk).”
More and more societal issues emerge today because of communities’ growing awareness of their own
problems that need to be solved. One of these issues is the breakdown of the family; this issue attracted
attention because of the family’s primary role in the production of upright individuals to the society.
Accordingly, “family breakdown is a private tragedy but on a wider scale is also a matter for public
concern. Looking at social and family policy questions across government shows that family breakdown
contributes to a wide variety of social problems causing distress for individuals, families and communities
(relate.org.uk).” Thus the need to give particular interest to this issue is immediate because it is the
society, as a whole, who will be adversely affected if this issue would not be resolved.
As varied are the effects to the society of the breakdown of the family, the causes are numerous that each
one should be tackled independently from the other because each cause is distinctive and causes a
different degree of effect to the breaking down of the family structure. Considered as causes of breakdown
of family relationships are parental fighting and domestic violence; in which they cause a feeling of
alienation or neglect in the children. This often results in juvenile delinquency that causes problems to the
community. It is a fact that “the more frequent or intense the conflict, the more the child is hurt
emotionally. In sharp contrast, tranquility and peace in the family and in the marriage helps prevent
delinquency. Breakup of parents’ marriage during the first five years of a child’s life places him at a high
risk of becoming a juvenile delinquent (heritage.org).”
At a more common perspective, poverty plays a big role in a family relationship break-up. The pressure of
having to meet the entire family’s needs everyday places upon the parents a heavy load and often causes
neglect in caring for the children and scarcity of attention given to one’s spouse. This also leads to habitual
drinking or drug addiction; in which these behaviors are often mimicked by children.
Another cause is family abandonment which often causes emotional pain and anxiety and financially-
based problems for the ones abandoned. It is said that the “loss of love and guidance at the intimate levels
of marriage and family has broad social consequences for children and for the wider community. The
empirical evidence shows that too many young men and women from broken families tend to have a much
weaker sense of connection with their neighborhood and are prone to exploit its members to satisfy their
unmet needs or desires (heritage.org).” This situation contemplates a losing of belongingness to the
community where one belongs, and causes the collapse of the society in the long run.
These causes of the breaking down of the family structure put the community and the society in danger of
disintegration. A structure which has a weak foundation will tend to collapse if an adverse event occurs.
This situation applies in the societal milieu; once the family structure, as the basic unit/foundation of the
society, breaks down the societal disintegration soon follows.
The traditional concept of a loving family must be preserved in order for the whole community to be
benefited in the process. In keeping with this, the elements of trust, support and especially love must be
integrated into the family life at all times. These elements bind the family into a cohesive structure that
will be able to withstand societal challenges.
Children in their young and tender ages need the loving care and support of their parents in order to grow
into morally responsible individuals. Love is the most fundamental requisite for strong and healthy family;
thus, this should be shown by the family members toward each other, especially to the children. A child
develops a feeling of security and comfort knowing fully well that there is some one who will support
him/her in his endeavors in life.
The family which is most rewarding for a parent is having a supportive and loving spouse who will share
the burdens and pressures of family life, and children who are contented with what they are provided with.
Overall family happiness and well-being eventually follow when these elements concur. It is suggested also
that parents must undergo training and counseling so that they are the ones who primarily contribute to
the strengthening of the family structure. Eventually, they reap the rewards of a good family life.

II. reading

The Day My Mother Died

Short Story By: Ima Kant
Memoir

It is twenty one years ago to the day since my Mother died: Tuesday 22nd November
1988. Twenty five years, coincidentally, to the day prior to that John F. Kennedy was
assassinated.

That's by the way really.

The last time I had seen my Mother was on the Sunday previous – she had dropped my
little baby boy off, who was a little over a year old, at the maisonette in Alfred Street I
shared with Leanne my wife at the time. We had spent the afternoon at the Luccombe
Hall Hotel in Shanklin taking full advantage of their swimming pool and sauna suite
whilst my Mother, who had retired eighteen months previously, baby sat Aidan.
The last thing I ever did was kiss her before she returned home… a home I thought she
was going to spend many years in enjoying her retirement… deservedly enjoying her
retirement because she had worked hard as a psychiatric nurse before becoming a sister
for over two decades. Her life, like many others, hadn't been easy.

She had nearly died as a baby only being saved by her father, who had tragically lost his
first wife whilst she was giving birth to twins, taking her home from the hospital which
he had said didn't really care.

At the age of thirteen she had boarded at a Convent in Kent – her father having landed a
job as a storekeeper in Nigeria and taking her mother with her – and found the experience
to be extremely harrowing: frequent canings for the slightest misdemeanour, constant
chores and longing for the warmth of normal family life. I sometimes think that that had
made her slightly cold… cold to me at times.

Towards the end of the war she had become a land girl and had been employed on a fruit
farm in Kent – she had worked along a German prisoner of war, his name was Helmut,
and they had been lovers for a while… if it had lasted perhaps I would be six foot and
blonde! He had been the only soldier to survive in his company after an Allied assault… I
wonder how that affected him… and what happened to him?

After the war she enrolled at Salford College and started an Art's Diploma which she
never completed. Whilst there she submitted some work to Lowry and he sent her back a
very complimentary letter – I still have that.

She then went to Austria and taught English in a Convent there – she told me it had been
the happiest times of her life… she also became fluent in German; spoken in an Austrian
accent naturally.

In 1955 she came to the Island for the first time to live with her parents who had bought a
shop to keep them occupied during their retirement… they soon found it too hard work,
sold it and then moved to St. James Street.

For a year or so she had drifted round mixing from time to time, with what I call, the
Ryde Bohemians who were an odd mix of failed artists, anarchists, homosexuals and
early hippies – many of whom are still around to this day.

In 1956, the year of the Hungarian uprising, she had become pregnant by my father who
lived next door with his parents. My mother had told me later that he was the cleverest
man she had ever known… but he was an alcoholic and had emotional problems so the
relationship was doomed.

In 1957 I was born, out of wedlock, and, now thirty, she was forced to accept her
responsibilities.

In 1958 the family moved to Spencer Road. My Mother went from one low paying job to
the other – I would be looked after by my Grandparents whilst she was at work – but in
1965 she enrolled as a Student Nurse. The job had its ups and down but I think she got a
lot out of it. She once told me that people became a psychiatric nurse for one of two
reasons: They either wanted to help people or they joined in the hope of resolving their
own issues. I had asked her to which category she belonged. 'The latter' she had instantly
replied… I never pursued it.

After the split from my father, I spoke on the phone to him once and corresponded with
him briefly many years later but never met him, she never settled down with a man
though she had a few flings including one with a Zen Buddhist Monk.

Despite working hard she always had time for travelling and never lost her interest in
Architecture, Classical Music and Fine Art. I have to admit, at times, though I am sure it
wasn't true, to feeling unwanted or a burden.

In her forties she managed to obtain an Open University Degree in Arts and Humanities
which really impressed me… and taught me that it is only really by hard work and
application do we ever get to achieve anything in life… I hasten to add that, being a lazy
bastard, I never followed her example.

In her early fifties she looked after her increasingly frail mother at home, her father
having died suddenly in 1968, who eventually passed away in 1982.

When she was 59 she had collapsed, to everyone's surprise at work, suffering from high
blood pressure. She was slim, didn't smoke, didn't drink, hated fatty foods and walked
regularly. She had been put on tablets and when she had retired the next year had been
given a clean bill of health and had come off the tablets… it had been a false alarm.

I had made her a grandmother at sixty and life for all us, though not perfect was pretty
good. Leanne and I had a lovely property, we were okay for money and Leanne had a
part time job. Her parents and my mother would look after Aidan when both of us were
working and we were thinking about getting a larger property… I actually felt quite
happy despite the job being tiring and looked forward with optimism to the future.
Leanne had lost a baby that summer, on my birthday, but it was only a matter of time
before she would fall pregnant again.

But, it wasn't to be.

That Tuesday I had been driving Service Fours to East Cowes, Cowes and Gurnard. I
finally got back to Ryde Bus Station at about eleven to be met by the Inspector. He had
come up to me taken my ticket machine and bag off me: ‘I'm really sorry to tell you this,
Jules, but your Mother has died, get off home… your Uncle and Auntie are there waiting
for you. I'll sort out your money.’

My first thought was that it was a mistake… surely it was my Uncle, my Great Uncle,
who had died as he was ten years older than my Mother and had had health problems
himself.
It had only taken about seven minutes to walk up the hill to the house. I let myself in to
see my Uncle and Auntie there. I could see both of them had been crying and when they
saw me they both wrapped their arms around me. I was in a state of total disbelief.

‘We've been trying to get hold of you for the last of couple of hours but you don't have
radios on your buses. They've taken her away now. The next door neighbour had come in
to look after her dog for the day, as she was off to London, and found her stretched out
half dressed on the bed… she looked as though she was reaching out for a glass of water.
She called for an ambulance but it was obviously too late. Doctor More left about an hour
ago… he was sobbing like a baby.’ My Uncle had told me in a quivering voice.

I remember at this point looking at the crockery and cutlery she had left on the drainer
from the night before. I then went upstairs to her bedroom. I still couldn't react, it seemed
unreal. The bed was tidy, there was a paperback book with bookmark halfway through it
on her bedside table… and a black jumper and skirt poignantly hung up in preparation for
her day trip to London to meet her friend Mary from Tamworth. I then went downstairs.

‘Shall we all have a cup a tea?’ My Auntie had suggested.

‘Yes please… I'd better phone Leanne.’ I had said.

Whilst my Aunt had put the kettle on I had phoned Leanne at the bookies where she had
worked. She had immediately burst into tears - why wasn't I doing that I thought - and
told me she would get round as soon as possible.

‘We think she may have let the dog out in the garden and then returned to upstairs to get
fully dressed, felt unwell, tried to get back into bed and then suffered a massive heart
attack. Doctor More reckoned she would have died very quickly…’

Everything after this moment became very surreal, as though it was happening to
someone else. I had to inform the police and all her friends and relatives. Mary had
phoned from a box in London to see why she hadn't turned up. Leanne had turned up…
and then that evening after the initial turmoil I had returned to the house – I now had a
dog to look after as well. I had gone upstairs and on a shelf was a small present in silver
paper, for Christmas, for Aidan. It was at that point I broke down and couldn't stop
crying.

I took two weeks off work and the funeral came and went – I recollect after everything
looking green in the flat… weird. Leanne gave up her job and then told me that she didn't
want to live in my Mother's old house and that we should get a new property with a
bridging loan in the meantime. I told her that a bridging loan was prohibitively expensive
and that the best strategy was to live in the old house, it needed work done, sell the
maisonette, which was in good condition and then when the old house was renovated we
could sell that and then move to a new property – I could understand her not wanting to
live in the old house… but I had no choice. She wasn't happy and when after the first day
back at work I had returned home to be greeted by her parents and friend.
‘Are you going to buy another house or not? If you don't then I am going to leave you!’
Leanne had challenged me in front of everybody.

‘We can't afford it… the interest on the bridging loan will eat up all of my wages and
there's no guarantee we can sell the properties quickly… and you're not working now.
The answer is no.’

With that everybody swung into operation with the efficiency of the SAS and within
minutes the flat had been stripped of Leanne's and Aidan's stuff. There was just me and
my Mother's, my late Mother's, dog left. I had lost everybody I had loved. I vowed at the
time that I would not be destroyed by this.

Leanne stopped paying the bills and I spent most of my time between the two houses
trying to keep them up as best I could. I also started to drink a lot when off work… it
wasn't a good time. Leanne drifted back to me though we never fully made up… I
couldn't forgive her… and after a couple of years we divorced.

One of the hardest things to do was giving the dog away as I couldn't look after her – I
cried buckets that day as I drove away from the RSPCA.

Of all people it was Leanne a few years later who said to me: ‘The day that your Mum
died was the day the laughter left your eyes and never really came back.’

So true… I have never really felt the same since though I came close with Moody for a
while.

Reference point:
http://www.booksie.com/library/toc.html/toc/196863

Reading skills check

1. How does the writer start the short story?
2. Who is the main character in the story?
3. when din the mother assassinated?
4. where do the writer know about the death of her mother?

III. Study skill or Key point

Prefixes and Suffixes

A prefix is a group of letters added before a word or base to alter its meaning
and form a new word. In contrast, a suffix is a group of letters added after a
word or base. This page contains free worksheets, online activities and other
educational resources to help with prefixes and suffixes.
Prefixes and Suffixes Word Lists
anti- de- dis- ex- mis- -ly pre- re- un- -ful -less

Examples:
Prefix Suffix
Anti-virus Personally
Deduction Beautiful
Deprivation Nonetheless
Disconnection Fearless
Exempted Fashionable
Misunderstanding Softly
Pre-marital sex Purity
Reduce Tasteless
Understand Wonderful
Undedicated Lightless

Exercises 1

Put the word in brackets into the correct form. You will have to use prefixes and/or
suffixes.

1. He was sitting __________________ in his seat on the train. (comfort)

2. There was a __________________ light coming from the window. (green)

3. He was acting in a very __________________ way. (child)

4. This word is very difficult to spell, and even worse, it's __________________.
(pronounce)

5. He's lost his book again. I don't know where he has __________________ it this time.
(place)

6. You shouldn't have done that! It was very __________________ of you. (think)

7. He didn't pass his exam. He was __________________ for the second time. (succeed)

8. Some of the shanty towns are dreadfully __________________ . (crowd)

9. The team that he supported were able to win the__________________ . (champion)

10. There is a very high __________________ that they will be late. (likely)

11. I couldn't find any __________________ in his theory. (weak)

12. He wants to be a __________________ when he grows up. (mathematics)

13. You need to be a highly trained __________________ to understand this report.

(economy)

14. There were only a __________________ of people at the match. (hand)

15. She arrived late at work because she had__________________ . (sleep)

16. The road was too narrow, so they had to __________________ it. (wide)

17. He was accused of __________________ documents. (false)

18. They had to __________________ the lion before they could catch it. (tranquil)

19. He needed to __________________ the temperature. (regular)

20. I think that you should __________________ . It may not be the best thing to do.
(consider)

Exercises 2
Task: Link the verbs with their correct suffix to form NOUNS and
write them down. Follow the example and be careful with the
spelling.
a) IMAGINE 1. -ance g ASSISTANCE
b) WEAK 2. -ity
c) TEACH 3. -ation
d) INFECT 4. -sion
e) DECIDE 5. -ence
f) ARGUE 6. -er
g) ASSIST 7. -al
h) SECURE 8. -ance
i) REFUSE 9. -ment
j) OCCUR 10. - ion
k) RESIST 11. -ness

Exercises 3

1. PREFIXES like
DIS/IN/IM/IR/UN/IL/MIS are used to
give an opposite/negative meaning to a
word.
Task: Find the opposites of the words on the right and write them
down.

POSSIBLE
LOYAL
HONEST
REGULAR
LEGAL
COMPLETE
REPLACEABLE

EFFECTIVE
POPULAR
FORTUNE
DIFFERENT
KIND

Participle
In linguistics, a participle can be a verb or an adjective. It is a derivative of a non-finite verb, which can be
used in compound tenses or voices (periphrasis), or as a modifier. Participles often share properties with other
parts of speech, in particular adjectives and nouns. A phrase composed of a participle and other words is a
participial phrase.

English verbs have two participles:

1. called variously the present, active, imperfect, or progressive participle, it is

identical in form to the gerund; the term present participle is sometimes used to
include the gerund. The term gerund-participle is also used.
2. called variously the past, passive, or perfect participle, it is usually identical to the
verb's preterite (past tense) form, though in irregular verbs the two usually differ.
Examples of participle formation include:

Past Past Present Regular/

Verb Simple Participle Participle Irregular
to talk talked talking
regular
to hire hired hiring
to do did done doing
to say said saying
to eat ate eaten eating
to write wrote written writing irregular
to beat beat beaten beating
to sing sang sung singing
to see saw seen seeing

The present participle in English is in the active voice and is used for:

• forming the progressive aspect: Jim was sleeping.

• modifying a noun as an adjective: Let sleeping dogs lie.
• modifying a verb or sentence in clauses: Broadly speaking, the project was
successful.

The present participle in English has the same form as the gerund, but the gerund acts as
a noun rather than a verb or a modifier. The word sleeping in Your job description does
not include sleeping is a gerund and not a present participle.

The past participle may be used in both active and passive voices:

• forming the perfect: The chicken has eaten.

• forming the passive voice: The chicken was eaten.
• modifying a noun, with active sense: our fallen comrades
• modifying a noun, with passive sense: the attached files
• modifying a verb or sentence, with passive sense: Seen from this perspective, the
problem presents no easy solution.

As noun-modifiers, participles usually precede the noun (like adjectives), but in many
cases they can or must follow it:

• The visiting dignitaries devoured the baked apples.

• Please bring all the documents required.
• The difficulties encountered were nearly insurmountable.

Old English

• In Old English, regular, or weak, present participles ended in -ende or -iende

depending on verb class. In Middle English, various forms were used in different
 regions: -ende (SW, SE, Midlands), -inde (SW, SE), -and (N), -inge (SE). This
latter form eventually fell together with the suffix -ing, used to form verbal nouns.
• Strong, or irregular, past participles were marked with a ge- prefix, as are most
strong and weak past participles in Dutch and High German today.

Present participle, past participle, perfect

participle
1) present participle

The present participle is often used when we want to express an active action.
In English we add -ing to the infinitive of the verb.

Use of the present participle

Progressive/ He is reading a book.
Continuous tense He was reading a book.
Reading books is fun.
Gerund
He likes reading books.
Look at the reading boy.
He came reading around the corner.
Participle
He sat reading in the corner.
I saw him reading.

2-1) past participle

The present participle is often used when we want to express a passive action.
In English we add -ed to the infinitive of regular verbs. We use the 3rd column of the
table of the irregular verbs.

Use of the past participle

He has forgotten the pencil.
Perfect tenses
He had forgotten the pencil.
A house is built.
Passive voice
A house was built.
Look at the washed car.
The car washed yesterday is blue.
Participle
He had his car washed.
2-2) Compounds with the past participle

This combination is also known as perfect participle. It is used to form an active sentence
with the past participle. There is a time gap between the actions.

Past participle and having

Exercises 1

Fill in the Past Participle.

1. the (lose) son

2. an (interest) audience
3. a (break) leg
4. an (empty) bottle
5. a (close) door
6. a (decorate) room
7. two (pack) bags
8. the (write) letters
9. the (sell) car
10. the (buy) apples

Exercises 2

Rewrite the sentences replacing the italic part with a perfect participle.

1. We switched off the lights before we went to bed.

→ we went to bed.
2. The boy asked his mother's permission and then went out to play.
→ the boy went out to play.
3. As he had drunk too much, he didn't drive home himself.
→ he didn't drive home himself.
4. We have written two tests today, so we are very exhausted.
→ we are very exhausted.
5. She filled the washing machine and switched it on.
→ she switched it on.
 6. She had been to the disco the night before and overslept in the morning.
→ she overslept in the morning.
7. We had worked in the garden all day and were sunburned in the evening.
→ we were sunburned in the evening.
8. She had not slept for two days and therefore wasn't able to concentrate.
→ she wasn't able to concentrate.
9. Since I had not seen him for ages, I didn't recognize him.
→ I didn't recognize him.
10. I had not ridden a horse for a long time and found it very difficult to keep in the
saddle.
→ I found it very difficult to keep in the saddle.

Exercises 3

Fill in the present participle.

1. an (interest) book
2. a (sleep) child
3. two (play) dogs
4. the (win) number
5. several (travel) bags
6. the (move) power
7. a (touch) moment
8. an (excite) film
9. a (work) man
10. (run) water

Writing

Write at least a short paragraph where you can apply the past topic about the
participles. Then after you write the paragraph you must underline the words those words
that is having these participles.