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 from 30 to 34 FAMILY AND MONEY The modern world is changing family relationships. The cost of living has had an influence on how the American family behaves. It may not be the best thing. Several decades ago, the father went to work. His paycheck paid the bills. The mother stayed home. She might have volunteered at a local church or a community ...

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 from 30 to 34

FAMILY AND MONEY

The modern world is changing family relationships. The cost of living has had an influence on how the American family behaves. It may not be the best thing.

Several decades ago, the father went to work. His paycheck paid the bills. The mother stayed home. She might have volunteered at a local church or a community program. Children went to school. Sometimes they had a small job on weekends when they were teenagers.

In many parts of the United States, things are different. The cost of living is on the rise. The greatest increases in the cost of living are seen in property prices and in health care. Basically, one salary is not enough to buy or rent a house and pay the bills. As a result, both parents must work. This helps the family keep a roof over their heads, and they can go to the doctor when they need to.

When both parents work, it changes the amount of time that the child spends with them. Many parents put their children in day care. This has the benefit of ensuring the children’s care. But it also reduces the amount of time that parents spend with their children in their early years. What is more, day care is an extra expense. Both parents must work more.

During the school years, it is often the case that children come home before their parents do. They are called latchkey kids because they let themselves in the door. Mother is not waiting at home to open the door for the child. This time alone puts him at risk to things like drugs or crime. The child may get in trouble more often because he is not supervised.

Rising expenses are changing how families live. While working hard for better lives, they open themselves up to different risks

The word “ensuring” in the passage is closest in meaning to