Аудирование "A modern family"

A modern family.

Interviewer: What is a modern British family like?

Tony: The statistics show that 45% of British families tend to have two children, while around 19% have three, and only nine per cent have four or more. The average age to start having children is 27 years old. As well as children, the families surveyed had an average of one pet, with a dog being the companion of choice, closely followed by a cat. Two thirds or 67% of parents are married, according to the research, with 10% either single, divorced or separated.

Interviewer: How do the family members spend their time?

Tony: Mums and dads work about 30 hours a week on average. The family usually wake up at 7 and send the kids to bed at half past 8, with sleepy adults following just an hour and a half later at about 10 pm. The research also found that families spend an average of ten hours a week watching television, but only six hours a week spending quality time together.

Interviewer: What about family meals?

Tony: The tradition of the family meal is still very common for British households with the poll showing that families eat together, gathered at the table on average four times a week, compared to only twice a week in front of the television.

Interviewer: How often does an average family travel?

Tony: British families enjoy two holidays a year together, one in the UK and one abroad. While one in eight families or 13% aren’t able to go on holiday together at all.

Interviewer: What does an average family own today?

Tony: The poll shows that an average British family live in a three-bedroom house, with two toilets, one family room and one toy room. Technology plays an important part in the modern family home, with families saying they own an average of two televisions, two tablets, two laptops, one computer, three phones and two games consoles.

Interviewer: Well, that’s quite a few! What about the happiness index?

Tony: According to the Nationwide poll, 91 per cent of parents’ class themselves as happy with family life, with nearly a third (31%) saying they are extremely happy.