The problem of staying single in Singapore

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The problem of staying single in Singapore

• What kind of problems could there be with being
  single in Singapore?

2
The problem of staying single in Singapore
3
In this article, ..., Dora Cheok, discusses a
campaign by the Singapore government, assisted by
the (49)
4
In this article, ..., Dora Cheok, discusses a
campaign by the Singapore government, assisted by
the (49)

• Paragraph 1.
• Its about how the government has long been
  trying to pair singles together, and how the
  private sector is now getting involved in
  matchmaking as well.

• Who is helping the government in this campaign?
• (49) private sector

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which aims to persuade people, especially women,
to (50) and (51) earlier.
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which aims to persuade people, especially women,
to (50) and (51) earlier.

• Paragraph 1
• the government has long been trying to pair
  singles together
• Actually, the whole passage is about this.
• (50) marry

• Paragraph 3
• Theyre not having children on time.
• Again, most of the passage is about this.
• to tells us we need the bare infinitive.
• (51) have children

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This campaign seems to be in response to concerns
of the Singapore government about (52) growth.
8
This campaign seems to be in response to concerns
of the Singapore government about (52) growth.

• Paragraph 5
• Governments like Singapores are worried about
  low population growth and are doing their best to
  encourage women to get married and

• What is the Singapore government concerned about?
• (52) low population

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Cheok comments that it is common for the
government to try (53) the behaviour of its
citizens, referring to past campaigns promoting
courtesy and (54) spitting as examples.
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Cheok comments that it is common for the
government to try (53) the behaviour of its
citizens, referring to past campaigns promoting
courtesy and (54) spitting as examples.

• Para. 2 Im Singaporean and campaigns of all
  kinds are the norm where I grew up courtesy
  campaigns, no-spitting campaigns, and even
  lets-get-married campaigns.

• What is the gvt. trying to do to the behaviour of
  its citizens?
• (53) to change/ to modify
• promoting courtesy and _____ spitting
• (54) not

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The current trend is for Asian women, especially
those with (55) levels, to remain single longer
...
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The current trend is for Asian women, especially
those with (55) levels, to remain single longer
...

• Paragraph 5
• Theres no denying that singles in Asia (women
  to be precise), particularly those with higher
  education, are opting to get married later,

• What kind of women remain single longer?
• (55) higher education

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The Singapore government has responded by
introducing (56) financial incentives to
encourage parenthood.
14
The Singapore government has responded by
introducing (56) financial incentives to
encourage parenthood.

• Paragraph 5
• (They) are doing their best to encourage women
  to get married and have more babies by offering a
  whole range of incentives, known as baby bonuses.

• Version 2 gives us the name of the incentives and
  then explains what they are.
• Version 1 explains that the government is giving
  incentives and then tells us what theyre called.
• (56) baby bonuses

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Cheok approves of this move because it (57) the
sacrifices women make when they have children.
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Cheok approves of this move because it (57) the
sacrifices women make when they have children.

• The reference to this move allows us to assume
  that the answer is close to the previous one.
  Paragraph 6.
• Its very encouraging to see an Asian government
  acknowledging the fact that women must make big
  sacrifices in order to start a family.

• because it acknowledging is grammatically
  impossible.
• Present tense.
• (57) acknowledges

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Her own experience is that (58) members also
frequently put (59) on her to find a mate.
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Her own experience is that (58) members also
frequently put (59) on her to find a mate.

• Paragraph 4
• I have been the recipient of well meaning
  concern from my formidable family.
• Who wants her to find a mate?
• (58) family

• Her family is concerned but you cant put
  concern on.
• What word fits into this structure and keeps the
  overall meaning?
• (59) pressure

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Cheok herself has strong reservations about young
people rushing into early (60) and parenthood.
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Cheok herself has strong reservations about young
people rushing into early (60) and parenthood.

• Paragraph 6
• What troubles me (is) the idea that having
  children early in life is sound reason for
  getting married.

• Parenthood having children
• getting married ?
• Rush into something.
• Early is an adjective so (60) is a noun.
• (60) marriage

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She cites the rising (61) across Asia, the high
financial costs of raising children, and the
stress of combining a (62) with parenthood ...
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She cites the rising (61) across Asia, the high
financial costs of raising children, and the
stress of combining a (62) with parenthood ...

• Paragraph 7
• You need only look at increasing divorce rates
  throughout Asia to know
• What is rising?
• (61) divorce rates

• Paragraph 8
• you need a double-income This means working
  parents have the added stress of two demanding
  careers within a family.
• (62) career

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She notes that single-parent households, not an
(63) for children, are increasing.
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She notes that single-parent households, not an
(63) for children, are increasing.

• Paragraph 7
• Theres a corresponding increase in the number
  of single-parent households - not the ideal
  environment for raising your child.

• This is easy if you know where to look.
• (63) ideal environment

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She claims that other factors such as (64) and
(65) are still of fundamental importance in
modern-day Asian marriage decisions.
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She claims that other factors such as (64) and
(65) are still of fundamental importance in
modern-day Asian marriage decisions.

• Paragraph 9
• Lets face it most marriages in Asia arent
  about love theyre about duty, obligation, and
  the meeting of expectations.

• What are the two factors mentioned?
• (64) duty
• (65) obligation

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Cheok recognises that there is a strong
biological argument to have children early, since
(66) decreases with age, and the chance of
producing a child with (67) increases.
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Cheok recognises that there is a strong
biological argument to have children early, since
(66) decreases with age, and the chance of
producing a child with (67) increases.

• Paragraph 11
• As women approach their mid-30s, they face
  reduced fertility and the possibility of having a
  baby with a chromosome abnormality or other
  health problems.

• What decreases with age?
• (66) fertility
• There is no article in front of (67).
• (67) health problems/ chromosome abnormalities

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On balance, however, she feels that important
(68) about having a family should be made
carefully, when the time and the person are
right.

• You do not need to refer to the passage.
• She is talking about choosing the right time and
  person.
• We know that we are looking for a noun because of
  important.
• Were speaking generally, so we need the plural
  form.
• We are looking for a noun that can be used with
  the verb make in the passive voice.
• (68) choices/decisions

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A practical question for her is the practical one
of whether the marriage (69).
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A practical question for her is the practical one
of whether the marriage (69).

• Paragraph 11
• Would that sort of marriage last?

• (69) would last