There was a time when all house-work was
done by the women or girls of the household.
Few husbands ever dreamt of washing up,
preparing breakfast or tending the baby. Such
duties were no concern of theirs. And normal
school boy assumed that if help were needed
in the home, his sisters would be called on to
give it. The whole family supported the view
that the male child could not or should not
clean, mend, wash, cook or make beds.
Things are very different today. Doctors or
barristers find nothing shameful in putting on
an apron to help in the kitchen or nursery and
even boast of being good at washing of clothes and personal linen. The school boy is more often now than formerly expected to help his mother. One reason for the change is the shortage of domestic servants. Girls could once be found
to do the hard work in middle and upper class homes for very moderate wages. Such girls
nowadays work in factories. They earn more money than most householders can afford to
pay. Thus the wife now does the househeld work herself with the aid of labour saving machines; and she expects some help from her husband.
1. Answer the following questions briefly
(a) Who usually did all house work in the past?
(b) Mention some household chores
that women use to do in their house.
(c)How did the whole family view the male child?
(d) How are things different now?
(e) Mention one reason that has brought this change today?
2. Find words from the above passage that mean the same as:
(a) taking care of
(b) took for granted
(c) talk proudly
(d) not excessive
(e) hopes
Answers
1. Answer the following questions briefly
(a) Who usually did all house work in the past?
All house work is usually done by the women or girls of the household in the past. It include a mother, sister and wife.
(b) Mention some household chores that women use to do in their house.
The household chores like preparing breakfast, tending babies, cleaning, mending, washing and cooking, etc are done by the women in their houses everyday.
(c)How did the whole family view the male child?
The whole family supported the male child and insist him to not do any household chores. They assumed that if help were needed in the home, their sisters would be called on to give it.
(d) How are things different now?
Now a days, even doctors or barristers find nothing shameful in putting on apron to help in kitchen or nursery and even washing and helping mothers at home.
(e) Mention one reason that has brought this change today?
This changes in the society has been brought by the spread of Education, Employment opportunities and mindset changes.
2. Find words from the above passage that mean the same as:
(a) taking care of
Taking care of means tending
(b) took for granted
Took for granted means Assuming
(c) talk proudly
Talk proudly means boast
(d) not excessive
Not excessive means moderate
(e) hopes
Hopes means expected
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