The Reading / Listening - Level 2

Research says that husbands do not do their fair share of work around the house. A study from the Ohio State University says it is rare for men to do an equal share of housework. Researchers looked at 182 working couples who became first-time parents. Both partners worked the same number of hours in full-time jobs. Men did less housework after the baby was born, even though both parents worked the same number of hours in their job. Fathers did an average of five hours a week less housework. They spent this time helping to look after the baby.

Becoming a parent added about 21 hours per week to the work mothers did. Most of their extra work was spent looking after her baby. The researchers explained why new fathers did not keep up with the extra work. They said most men were unaware that the mother was doing so much more. Another reason is that after a baby is born, fathers follow what happened in their own homes when they were younger. They follow the 'traditional' roles of the mother looking after the baby and the father working, even though the mother is working the same number of hours in her job.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 0 Level 1   or  Level 3

Sources
  • http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/1352264-dual-earner-couples-share-housework-equally-until-first-baby-comes/
  • http://www.stwnewspress.com/cnhi_network/study-men-are-lazy-to-their-core/article_bbfd72ec-3be8-56e5-b4be-9f9bab767ed2.html
  • http://www.smh.com.au/business/parenthood-makes-men-even-lazier-says-study-20150508-ggwxnr.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

do their fair

a.

of hours

2.

it is rare

b.

parents worked

3.

do an

c.

a week less

4.

working

d.

for men

5.

even though both

e.

after the baby

6.

the same number

f.

couples

7.

an average of five hours

g.

equal share

8.

helping to look

h.

share



MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

Becoming a

a.

number of hours

2.

added about 21 hours per

b.

so much more

3.

Most of their extra

c.

week

4.

looking after

d.

unaware

5.

most men were

e.

parent

6.

the mother was doing

f.

her baby

7.

follow the 'traditional'

g.

work

8.

working the same

h.

roles

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

Research says that husbands (1) ___________________ fair share of work around the house. (2) ___________________ Ohio State University says it is rare for men to (3) ___________________ of housework. Researchers looked at 182 working couples who became first-time parents. Both partners worked the same number of hours (4) ___________________. Men did less housework after the baby was born, even though both parents worked (5) ___________________ hours in their job. Fathers did an average of five hours a week less housework. They spent this time helping to (6) ___________________.

Becoming a parent added about 21 (7) ___________________ to the work mothers did. Most (8) ___________________ was spent looking after her baby. The researchers explained why new fathers did (9) ___________________ the extra work. They said most men were unaware that the mother was doing (10) ___________________. Another reason is that after a baby is born, fathers follow what happened in their own homes when they were younger. They follow (11) ___________________ of the mother looking after the baby and the father working, even though the mother is working (12) ___________________ of hours in her job.

PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

Researchsaysthathusbandsdonotdotheirfairshareofworkaroundthe
house.AstudyfromtheOhioStateUniversitysaysitisrareformentodoa
nequalshareofhousework.Researcherslookedat182workingcouples
whobecamefirst-timeparents.Bothpartnersworkedthesamenumb
erofhoursinfull-timejobs.Mendidlesshouseworkafterthebabywasbo
rn,eventhoughbothparentsworkedthesamenumberofhoursintheirjo
b.Fathersdidanaverageoffivehoursaweeklesshousework.Theyspent
thistimehelpingtolookafterthebaby.Becomingaparentaddedabout2
1hoursperweektotheworkmothersdid.Mostoftheirextraworkwasspe
ntlookingafterherbaby.Theresearchersexplainedwhynewfathersdid
notkeepupwiththeextrawork.Theysaidmostmenwereunawarethatth
emotherwasdoingsomuchmore.Anotherreasonisthatafterababyisbo
rn,fathersfollowwhathappenedintheirownhomeswhentheywereyou
nger.Theyfollowthe'traditional'rolesofthemotherlookingafterthebab
yandthefatherworking,eventhoughthemotherisworkingthesamenu
mberofhoursinherjob.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

WRITING

Write about laziness for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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