Social Science

Family Structure and Dynamics

428 Questions

Family structure and dynamics examine the various forms of familial organizations, such as joint, nuclear, and single parent families. Questions address the traditional definitions of family in India, the roles of family members, and the characteristics of extended households. This topic frequently appears in sociology, psychology, and general studies examinations.

Joint family structureSingle parent familiesExtended family unitsFamily roles and dynamicsNuclear family concepts

Family Structure and Dynamics Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following combinations represents boys?

Seven friends P, Q, R, S, T, U, V applied fro three posts like clerk, officer and manager. Out of these two have applied for each post. There is only one girl who has applied only for one post. Out of seven friends three were selected for one post. Out of these was only one girl. Q is sister of V. and both have applied for the same post but not for manager post. P applied for the post of clerk only with T who is a girl. U applied for the post of officer but he was not selected. R who is the wife of S has been selected.

  1. P, Q, R

  2. R, S, T

  3. U, V, T

  4. T, U, R

  5. P, S, U
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

If U and Q are assumed to be clerks then total number of persons applied for clerk are four which should not there according to the question. So they are applied to officer posts only. V is also male because from the question it is derived that there are only three girls for three posts. In the question it is mentioned that out of seven friends three were selected for one post. Out of these was only one girl, i.e.,  not more than three and in them one should be girl.

Two have applied for each post .There is only one girl who has applied only for one post. i.e., for one post there should boy and girl.

So three posts are there so there should be 3 girls.

Multiple choice

Which of the following combination represents girls?

Seven friends P, Q, R, S, T, U, V applied fro three posts like clerk, officer and manager. Out of these two have applied for each post. There is only one girl who has applied only for one post. Out of seven friends three were selected for one post. Out of these was only one girl. Q is sister of V. and both have applied for the same post but not for manager post. P applied for the post of clerk only with T who is a girl. U applied for the post of officer but he was not selected. R who is the wife of S has been selected.

  1. Q, R, T

  2. Q, R, V

  3. P, R, T

  4. R, T, V

  5. P, R, V
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

If U and Q are assumed to be clerks then total number of persons applied for clerk are four,  which should not be there according to the question. So they are applied to officer posts only. V is also male because from the question it is derived that there are only three girls for three posts .

In the question it is mentioned that out of seven friends three were selected for one post. Out of these only one girl.

Two have applied for each post. There is only one girl who has applied  for one post, i.e., for one post there should be a boy and a girl.

So three posts are there so there should be 3 girls.

Multiple choice

5 Indian and 5 American couples meet at a party and shake hands. If no wife shakes hands with her own husband and no Indian wife shakes hands with a male, then find the number of hand shakes that took place in the party.

  1. 90

  2. 130

  3. 135

  4. 125

  5. 120
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Since there are 5 Indian couples and 5 American couples, so there are a total of 20 persons in the party. So, the total number of handshakes possible = 20C2 It comes out to be 190 (20!/(2!*18!). Now if no wife shakes hand with her own husband, then = 190-10=180 It is also given that no Indian wife shakes hand with any male and there are 5 Indian wives.  Any of them cannot shake hand with 10 males in the party, but we have already included the case in which they do not shake hands with their own husband. So, each of them cannot shake hands with 9 males in the party So, the number of rejected handshakes = 5*9 = 45. Total number of handshakes = 180-45 = 135 (Correct Answer)

Multiple choice

In a family, grandfather has 3 sons and 24 grandsons. First son has x children and second son has x + 1 children. If children of different parents shake hands with each other, (i.e. no children of the same parents shake hands among themselves), find the maximum possible number of hand shakes that can take place.

  1. 276

  2. 351

  3. 191

  4. 162

  5. 114
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Now 1st son has x children, 2nd has x+1 children. So, 3rd will be having (24-(2x+1))children, i.e. (23-2x) children. Total number of handshakes is 24C2 = 276 But it includes cases in which children of same parents shake hands among themselves. So, possible number of handshakes = 276 - x (Handshakes among children of same parents) According to question, it should be maximum, i.e. handshakes among children of same parents should be minimum. Handshakes among children of same parents (y) y = xC2 + (x+1)C2 + (23-2x)C2 y= 253+3x2-45x Differentiating it w.r.t. x and putting 0, we get x = 7.5 Since the number of children cannot be in fraction, lets take x=8 x+1=9 and remaining children of 3rd son come out to be 7. So putting the values and solving, we get  y=21+28+36=85 So, maximum possible handshakes are 276-85 = 191 (Correct Answer)  

Multiple choice

Twins joined in various regions are called

  1. identical twins

  2. dizygotic twins

  3. siamese twins

  4. non-identical twins

  5. fraternal twins
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Conjoined twins are popularly known as Siamese twins. Identical (monozygotic) twins that did not separate fully from one another but are still partially united. Due to the incomplete division of one fertilized ovum.

Multiple choice

Directions: In the following question, five statements are provided. These statements form a coherent paragraph when properly arranged. Select the alternative representing the proper and logical sequencing of these statements.

A. Since early family in India was one what is called 'joint family' today, we should consider this family as our basic family unit and should term it as a 'traditional' family while the so-called 'nuclear' family should be termed as a 'fissioned' family, that is, one which has separated from its parental unit.
B. The term 'joint' would be appropriate only when we take 'nuclear' family as our basic family unit and the joining together of two such nuclear units gives us a new pattern of family. C. After the residential separation, it may continue to be dependent on its parental unit or may function as a completely independent unit. D. But knowing that 'nuclear' family was not our basic unit, it is necessary that we take 'traditional' family as basic family unit and understand other forms in this context. E. My contention is that the structural ideal of the Indian family is entirely different from the western family.

  1. BDCAE

  2. ABCDE

  3. EBCDA

  4. EACBD
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

E begins the sequence as it introduces the subject, 'structural idea of Indian family'. This narrows down our approach to (3) or (4). BD link is important as both the sentences comments on 'basic family unit'. As D begins with 'but', therefore, it would follow B. As A discusses both joint family & nuclear family, this is logical explanation to E. Therefore, we have EACBD link and (4) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Not all families are identical. Which of the following is/are the distinguishing feature(s)?

  1. Number of members

  2. Their relationship with one another varies

  3. Kind of activities they indulge in

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Families vary in multiple dimensions - the number of members, the nature of relationships between them, and the types of activities they engage in together. Since all these factors contribute to family diversity, option D correctly captures that ALL these features distinguish families from one another.

Multiple choice

Directions: Answer the following question by selecting the most appropriate option.

Heredity is considered as a social structure.

  1. primary

  2. secondary

  3. dynamic

  4. static
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Heredity refers to biologically inherited characteristics that are fixed at birth and cannot be changed through social processes. Unlike social structures that can be modified (dynamic or secondary), heredity is considered a static social structure because it represents unchangeable biological givens.

Multiple choice

Which of the following pairs is of husbands?

Directions: Study the following information and answer the question given below:

P, Q, R, S, T and U are travelling in a bus. There are two reporters, two technicians, one photographer and one writer in the group.
- The photographer P is married to S, who is a reporter. 
- The writer is married to Q, who is of the same profession as that of U. 
- P, Q, R and S are two married couples and nobody in the group has the same profession. 
- U is the brother of R and is a technician.

  1. PQ

  2. SR

  3. TU

  4. ST

  5. Can't be determined
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

We can't determine the pair of husbands because gender is not given in the question.

Multiple choice

Which of the following pairs is a married couple?

Directions: Study the following information and answer the question given below:

P, Q, R, S, T and U are travelling in a bus. There are two reporters, two technicians, one photographer and one writer in the group.
- The photographer P is married to S, who is a reporter. 
- The writer is married to Q, who is of the same profession as that of U. 
- P, Q, R and S are two married couples and nobody in the group has the same profession. 
- U is the brother of R and is a technician.

  1. PS

  2. TU

  3. PR

  4. RS

  5. UR
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

P is married to S and Q is married to R.

Multiple choice

How ____________ children do you have?

  1. much

  2. more

  3. many

  4. none of these fit
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The word 'children' is a countable noun, so it must be modified by 'many' rather than 'much'. 'Much' is used with uncountable nouns (much water, much time), while 'many' is used with countable nouns (many children, many books). The sentence correctly asks 'How many children do you have?' This is a fundamental grammar distinction between countable and uncountable nouns.