英语课程计划-The International Day

The International Day of the Family is held on May 15 every year. This day celebrates families around the world and highlights their importance. It aims to strengthen the family unit by making family members aware of their responsibilities. The day hopes to raise awareness¹ of equality within families and of sharing domestic² duties. It also focuses on how families should encourage employment for all. The day was created by the United Nations General Assembly to support families and encourage them to contribute towards society. There is a different theme each year. In 1996, it was “Families: First Victims of Poverty and Homelessness”. Themes since then have focused on families and education, human rights, development, and disabilities.

The family is the most important unit of society. It is a group of people who share many things in common. These things include a residence and economic cooperation. A family also has one or more children. Some experts say the main function of the family is to continue the human race. Parents usually start a family because of their desire for children and to be happy. Every country has its own culture or cultures. Every culture has a different understanding of what family is. The way people look at families is changing as the world changes. Centuries ago, the extended family was the norm³ all across the world. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins all lived together. Today, the nuclear family is becoming more common.

1 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

2 domestic   

adj.家里的，国内的，本国的；n.家仆，佣人

参考例句：

• This is domestic news.这是国内新闻。
• She does the domestic affairs every day.她每天都忙家务。

3 norm   

n.标准，规范，平均数

参考例句：

• Of his age,the child is above the norm in arithmetic.在他那个年龄，这个孩子的算术能力是超过标准的。
• These events were aberrations from the norm.这些事件不合常规。