The Extended Family

Mrs Sharp, a large, red-faced woman in her late sixties, has lived in Greenleas, a 'new town' in the countryside outside London, since 1958. Before that she lived in Bethnal Green, an area of inner London. She was moved to Greenleas by the local authorities when her old house was demolished.

She came from a large family with six girls and two boys, and she grew up among brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, grandparents and cousins. When she married her boyfriend from school at eighteen, they went on living with her parents, and her first child was brought up more by her mother than by herself, because she always worked.

As the family grew, they moved out of their parents' house to a flat. It was in the next street, and their life was still that of the extended family. "All my family used to live around Denby Street," said Mrs Sharp, "and we were always in and out of each other's houses." When she went to the shops, she used to call in on her mother to see if she wanted anything. Every day she would visit one sister or another and see a nephew or niece at the corner shop or in the market.

"You always knew 90% of the people you saw in the street everyday, either they were related to you or you were at school with them," she said.

When her babies were born (she had two sons and a daughter), she said, "All my sisters and neighbours would help – they used to come and make a cup of tea, or help in some other way." And every Saturday night there was a family party. It was at Mrs Sharp's mother's house. "Of course we all know each other very well. You have to learn to get on with each other. I had one neighbour who was always poking her nose into our business. She was forever asking questions and gossiping. But you had to put up with everyone, whatever they were like."

1.Why did Mrs. Sharp have to move to Greenleas? ()

A.Because she had to work there.

B.Because she didn’t like the old place at all.

C.Because her house in the downtown area was knocked down.

2.When she got married, she lived ______.

A.together with her parents all the time

B.together with her parents for some time

C.far away from her parents’ house

3.Why did she know so many people? ()

A.Because she was easy going.

B.Because they were either her relatives or schoolmates.

C.Because she was good at making friends with people.

4.The sentence “I had one neighbour who was always poking her nose into our business.” in the last Para. means ______.

A.I had one neighbour who was always warm-hearted.

B.I had one neighbour who was always ready to help us.

C.I had one neighbour who always showed her interests in our private affairs.

5.What does this passage mainly deal with? ()

A.What the extended family is like.

B.The relationship between Mrs Sharp and her neighbour.

C.How Mrs Sharp brings her children up.