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Multiracial Families
In Western
culture, a typical family usually consists of a couple with
their biological children. But some couples can't have their own
children for different reasons and they choose to build a family
through adoptions. Infertility is the main reason why men and
women want to adopt children. Some couples have compassion for
poor parentless children and adopt them for humanitarian
reasons. Some believe that it is more responsible to take care
of indigent children than to give birth to their own children.
Some have to resort to adoption because of health problems.
Adoption isn't
just for childless people. Many families have biological
children and choose to adopt as well. There are millions of
children in the world in need of loving families and permanent
homes.
Nowadays the growing number of men and women adopt children from
other countries including Third World countries. In recent
decades international adoptions have become increasingly
popular. International adoption means adopting a child from a
foreign country. Many people are eager to adopt children and
since there is more demand than supply within the country for
adoptions, they are looking overseas to adopt. Adopting children
from foreign countries couples hope that their children's
natural parents will not interfere in their life. Most adopted
children come from Ethiopia, China, Russia, Guatemala, South
Korea and other countries. For example, Americans have adopted
more than 200,000 children from overseas in the past 15 years.
There are still
many people who are skeptical about adoption. Some people are
concerned about the genetic quality of adopted children and they
believe that adoptees are predisposed to drug and alcohol
problems as well as to behavior problems. Some adopted children
have histories of maltreatment, physical and sexual abuse. Other
people think that the absence of biological ties complicates
parent-child relationships.
The mass media is
the primary source of information about adoption and it plays a
role in the increased interest in international adoptions. Every
time a Hollywood celebrity adopts a child, there is a great
increase in enquires from people wishing to adopt. Among the
celebrities who have adopted children from abroad are Josephine
Baker, Mia Farrow, Dan Marino, Sharon Stone, Ewan McGregor, Meg
Ryan, James Caviezel, and Julie Andrews. In the 2000s, the
cou¬ples Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt and Madonna/Guy Ritchie drew
public attention by adopting several children from Third World
countries.
In 2002, Jolie
adopted her first child, seven-month-old Maddox Chivan. The star
decided to apply for adoption after she had visited Cambodia
twice. Jolie adopted a six-month-old girl from Ethiopia, Zahara
Marley in 2005. In 2006 the famous actress gave birth to a
daughter, Shiloh Nouvel, in Swakopmund, Namibia. In 2007, Jolie
adopted a three-year-old boy from Vietnam, Pax Thien. Jolie gave
birth to twins, a boy, Knox Leon, and a girl, Vivienne
Marcheline in Nice, France in 2008. In her interview for People
Magazine Angelina Jolie has said, 'Most of the night I just
thought about how quickly I want to adopt again. It's a very
special thing. There's something about making a choice, waking
up and travelling somewhere and finding your family. ... There
are so many wonderful places. There are many parts of Asia,
Africa, South America, so sooner or later I'll end up
everywhere, I'm sure.'
In 2006 Madonna
decided to adopt a boy named David Banda Mwale from Malawi. The
procedure was complicated by the fact that Malawian law requires
prospective parents to reside in Malawi for one year before
adopting. There was a storm of controversy as some people were
sure that Madonna's application received special status because
of her celebrity. The adoption was finalized in 2008.
Many families who
adopt children should understand that love is not enough to make
their family united and happy. They should also respect their
children's cultural heritage and teach them the history,
traditions and language of their native country.
Adoption has
quite an impact on modern society changing its structure and
people's attitude to racial barriers. Adam Pertman, an adoption
expert, has said, 'Suddenly there are Jews holding Chinese
cultural festivals at synagogues, there are Irish people with
their African American kids at St Patty's Day. This affects
whole communities, and as a consequence our sense of who we are,
what we look like, as a people, as individual peoples. These are
profound lessons that adoption is teaching us.'
1. Read the following sentences and circle TRUE or FALSE:
1) In Western culture, a typical family usually consists of
a couple with their biological children. T|F|
2) Infertility is the main reason why men and women want to
adopt children. T|F|
3) Adoption is only for childless people. T|F|
4) In recent decades international adoptions have lost
popularity. T|F|
5) The Chinese have adopted more than 200,000 children from
overseas in the past 15 years. T|F|
6) The mass media is the primary source of information about
adoption T|F|
7) Adoption has quite an impact on modern society. T|F|
2. Complete each sentence (A-H) with one of the endings
(1-8):
A. There are millions of children in the world
B. Nowadays the growing number of men and women
C. Most adopted children
D. Some adopted children have histories of
E. Every time a Hollywood celebrity adopts a child,
F. In the 2000s, the couples Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt and
Madonna/Guy Ritchie
G. Angelina Jolie decided to apply for adoption after she
H. Madonna's adoption was complicated by the fact that
1. there is a great increase in enquires from people wishing to
adopt.
2. in need of loving families and permanent homes.
3. maltreatment, physical and sexual abuse.
4. had visited Cambodia twice.
5. Malawian law requires prospective parents to reside in Malawi
for one year before adopting.
6. adopt children from other countries including Third World
countries.
7. come from Ethiopia, China, Russia, Guatemala, South Korea and
other countries.
8. drew public attention by adopting several children from Third
World countries.
3. Choose 1-2 phrases from each paragraph in order to
summarize its contents
4. Agree or disagree with the following statements. Explain
your point of view
Taking care of indigent children is more responsible than
giving birth to your own children.
The absence of biological ties complicates parent-child
relationships.
People who adopt children should respect their cultural heritage
and teach them the history, tra¬ditions and language of their
native country.
Celebrities' money and influence make the process of adoption
easier and faster.
Any family willing to adopt a child must be helped and
encouraged by the government.
5. Answer the questions
1) Why do many people choose to build a family through
adoptions?
2) Why have international adoptions become increasingly popular
in recent decades?
3) Why are many people skeptical about adoption?
4) Why do you think many celebrities adopt children from abroad?
5) How did Angelina Jolie explain her wish to adopt needy
children? Do you approve of her deeds?
6) Why did David's adoption by Madonna cause controversy?
7) What effect does adoption have on modern society?
8) What is your personal attitude to adoption, including
international adoption? Would you like to adopt a needy child
from abroad? Why?
6. Fill in the table and organize a discussion
International Adoption
PROS ............
CONS ...........
7. Read the quotations below. Choose any quotation and
comment on it
• 'Too many children in foster care are falling through
cracks. Be a hero, take the time learn about adoption today.'
(Bruce Willis)
• 'Children make your life important.' (Erma Bombeck)
• 'Children are all foreigners.' (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
• 'Children are our most valuable natural resource.' (Herbert
Hoover)
• Every child should have a caring adult in their lives. And
that's not always a biological parent or family member. It may
be a friend or neighbor.' (Joe Manchin)
• 'We find delight in the beauty and happiness of children that
makes the heart too big for the body.' (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
• 'Parentage is a very important profession, but no test of
fitness for it is ever imposed in the interest of the children.'
(George Bernard Shaw)
• 'To maintain a joyful family requires much from both the
parents and the children. Each member of the family has to
become, in a special way, the servant of the others.' (Pope John
Paul II)
Read the article below. Discuss the major problem touched in
it. What are the reasons for some people's cruel attitude to
adopted children?
US continues to investigate all facts pertaining to the
death of a Russian six-year-old boy who had been adopted by an
American family about a month ago.
Police has already determined that Alex Pavlis (named after his
foster parents) has died as a result of a craniocerebral wound
from a dull object. 911 doctors discovered traces of brutal
physical abuse on the child's body. They immediately informed
the police. The boy was hospitalized right away Unfortunately,
it was too late. He died on Friday, December 19th. The Pavlis
were unable to conceive. Therefore, they decided to adopt Alex
along with his five-year-old sister about a month ago. The
family managed to find a private agency in Russia specializing
in international adoptions. A representative from the Department
of Children and Family Services has stated in his interview to
CNN that Irma Pavlis had been preparing to become a mother for a
long time. She devoted an entire year to studying Russian
language. Department's employees claimed that everything was
done in strict accordance with all necessary legal formalities.
One month later, the new foster mom has confessed in physically
abusing her child. She has also confessed in hit¬ting him on the
head.Irma Pavlis has been bailed out for $3 million. According
to the defendants, she confessed in killing the boy. Her lawyer
however disputes such statement. According to him, Pavlis was
simply incapable of killing the child. After undergoing two
unsuccessful pregnancies, Irma Pavlis was extraordinary happy to
adopt two Russain children. "There was little rational
discipline in the children's upbringing," stated Pavlis' lawyer
Stewart Goldberg. Irma Pavlis is scheduled to appear in court in
January. In the meantime, the Department of Children and Family
Services is working on transferring guardianship of Alex's
little sister to another family.
(from english.pravda.ru, 23.12.2003)
A. Give the definitions of the following words.
• adoption
• infertility
• humanitarian
• indigent
• maltreatment
• controversy
• application
• heritage
B. Read the text 'Multiracial Families' and say if you would
like to have such kind of family.
Из учебного пособия
"Открывая
мир с английским языком. Современные темы для обсуждения.
Готовимся к ЕГЭ" Юнёва С.А. 2012г.
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