A. EXTERNAL B. CONFIDENT C. DYNAMIC D. ASSISTANCE XI. R...

external

confident

dynamic

assistance

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct

answer to each of the questions

"Family" includes your siblings and parents, as well as relatives who you may not interact with every day,

such as your cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and stepparents. These are probably the people you are closest

to and with whom you spend the most time. Having healthy relationships with your family members is both

important and difficult.

Families in the 21

^st

century come in all shapes and sizes: traditional, single parent, blended (more than one

family together in the same house), and gay and lesbian parents - just to name a few. No matter the "type" of

family you have, there are going to be highs and lows - good times and bad. Many times, however, families

become blocked in their relationships by hurt, anger, mistrust, and confusion. These emotions are natural and

normal, and few families do not have at least a few experiences with them. The worst time for most families, is

during a divorce.

By making a few simple changes in the way we look at the world and deal with other people, it is possible to

create happier, more stable relationships. Families need to be units of mutual caring and support; they can be

sources of lifelong strength for all individuals. What's more, remember that communication is key to resolving

conflict. While it may seem that your siblings are constantly present to annoy you or boss you around, they are

also there to communicate. Thus, use your family's presence to your advantage - communicate with each other,

develop ways to value boundaries, and build trust and respect.