Q: "Reconstituted" families are more and more common in the UK.

Steve and Debbie got married in 2001 and had two children,Lily and Alex.Unfortunately,Steve and Debbie's marriage didn't work out and they got divorced in 2006.The children live with Debbie.In 2008,Debbie remarried.Her new husband,Martin,has three children from his previous marriage and they visit Debbie,Martin,Lily and Alex at weekends.In addition,Debbie is pregnant with her third child.She's expecting a boy who will be a halfbrother to Lily and Alex and also to Martin's three other children.

Confused?Debbie's family arrangements might have seemed strange 30 years ago but nowadays this kind of "reconstituted" family is increasingly common in the UK.Almost half of all marriages in Britain end in divorce and over 40% of marriages are remarriages.More than 10% of all British children live with one birth parent and a stepparent--a parent who isn't their biological mother or father.The traditional "nuclear" family of two parents and their children is not so traditional any more.

What does all of this mean for parents in these "reconstituted" families?"There are difficulties and challenges," says Debbie."Different families have different routines and it can be difficult for children to move between their two families.Birthdays and holidays can be tricky.Where do the children go?Who should they spend their time with?Also,when my children are naughty it can be difficult for Martin to _ .Things that might be simple in a traditional family can be a bit more complicated."

And how about the children?Martin's eldest child,Ella,is 12."I like my two families," she says."I live with my mum but visit my dad quite often and I'm happy that my mum and dad get along OK.They're not married any more but it's good that they can still be friends." Of course divorce and separation are never easy but many families in the UK are finding ways to make family life work in new ways.

1. in 2001
2. Yes
3. No
4. 10%
5. No
6. 12
7. Her mom
8. happy
9. .In 2008
10. yes
11. yes

Numbered questions:
1. when did they get married?
2. any kids?
3. are they still married to each other?
4. how many british kids live with a step parent and birth parent?
5. is this easy for kids?
6. how old is Ella?
7. who does she live with?
8. how does she feel?
9. when did debbie remarry?
10. has she had anymore kdis?
11. does she have stepkids?

Q: CHAPTER XXV

He was duly at Transham station in time for the London train, and, after a minute consecrated to looking in the wrong direction, he saw his mother already on the platform with her bag, an air-cushion, and a beautifully neat roll.

'Travelling third!' he thought. 'Why will she do these things?'

Slightly flushed, she kissed Felix with an air of abstraction.

"How good of you to meet me, darling!"

Felix pointed in silence to the crowded carriage from which she had emerged. Frances Freeland looked a little rueful. "It would have been delightful," she said. "There was a dear baby there and, of course, I couldn't have the window down, so it WAS rather hot."

Felix, who could just see the dear baby, said dryly:

"So that's how you go about, is it? Have you had any lunch?"

Frances Freeland put her hand under his arm. "Now, don't fuss, darling! Here's sixpence for the porter. There's only one trunk--it's got a violet label. Do you know them? They're so useful. You see them at once. I must get you some."

"Let me take those things. You won't want this cushion. I'll let the air out."

"I'm afraid you won't be able, dear. It's quite the best screw I've ever come across--a splendid thing; I can't get it undone."

"Ah!" said Felix. "And now we may as well go out to the car!"

He was conscious of a slight stoppage in his mother's footsteps and rather a convulsive squeeze of her hand on his arm. Looking at her face, he discovered it occupied with a process whose secret he could not penetrate, a kind of disarray of her features, rapidly and severely checked, and capped with a resolute smile. They had already reached the station exit, where Stanley's car was snorting. Frances Freeland looked at it, then, mounting rather hastily, sat, compressing her lips.

1. Frances Freeland
2. Transham station
3. no
4. third
5. a slight stoppage in his mother's footsteps
6. a convulsive squeeze of her hand on his arm
7. no
8. yes
9. lunch
10. London
11. Three
12. bag, an air-cushion, and a beautifully neat roll.
13. no
14. hot
15. she couldn't have the window down
16. yes
17. There was baby
18. violet
19. trunk
20. sixpence

Numbered questions:
1. what is his mother's name?
2. what station did he go to?
3. did she travel first class?
4. then?
5. what was he conscious of?
6. and?
7. could he let the air out of the cushion?
8. did he ask her about a meal?
9. what meal?
10. where was the train coming from?
11. how many things did he see mother with?
12. what were they?
13. was it cold in the train?
14. what was it?
15. why?
16. was there a reason for that?
17. what?
18. what color is the lable?
19. what is it on?
20. how much does she want to give the porter?

Q: CHAPTER VII

THE STATEMENT OF TIBBIE BIRSE

On a Thursday Pete Lownie was buried, and when Hendry returned from the funeral Jess asked if Davit Lunan had been there.

"Na," said Hendry, who was shut up in the closet-bed, taking off his blacks, "I heard tell he wasna bidden."

"Yea, yea," said Jess, nodding to me significantly. "Ay, weel," she added, "we'll be hae'n Tibbie ower here on Saturday to deave's (weary us) to death aboot it."

Tibbie, Davit's wife, was sister to Marget, Pete's widow, and she generally did visit Jess on Saturday night to talk about Marget, who was fast becoming one of the most fashionable persons in Thrums. Tibbie was hopelessly plebeian. She was none of your proud kind, and if I entered the kitchen when she was there she pretended not to see me, so that, if I chose, I might escape without speaking to the like of her. I always grabbed her hand, however, in a frank way.

On Saturday Tibbie made her appearance. From the rapidity of her walk, and the way she was sucking in her mouth, I knew that she had strange things to unfold. She had pinned a grey shawl about her shoulders, and wore a black mutch over her dangling grey curls.

"It's you, Tibbie," I heard Jess say, as the door opened.

Tibbie did not knock, not considering herself grand enough for ceremony, and indeed Jess would have resented her knocking. On the other hand, when Leeby visited Tibbie, she knocked as politely as if she were collecting for the precentor's present. All this showed that we were superior socially to Tibbie.

1. Thursday
2. Marget
3. Pete
4. Marget
5. Thrums
6. Tibbie
7. Saturday
8. yes
9. no
10. Leeby

Numbered questions:
1. When was the funeral?
2. Who is Davit's wife related to?
3. Who was she married to?
4. Who was fashionable?
5. Where do they live?
6. Who lived shabbily?
7. When did she show up?
8. Did she seem nervous?
9. Does she knock upon entering?
10. Who is better than Tibbie?