A family sustains, supports and nourishes the members throughout the span of that family. A strong family unit creates a safe, positive and supportive place for all members to grow up. They are able to use resources and to live together in a fairly healthy manner.
The adults in a strong family set the tone. They are good role models that lead by example. They reach out to friends and community and teach their children the importance of doing the same. Some important elements of a strong family system are family cohesion, family flexibility and family communication.
Cohesion — In families, cohesion would be defined as the feeling of being loved, of belonging to the group and being nurtured (养育) by it. Although closeness is good in a family unit, there must be a balance between being together and being separate. A person must be able to develop their individuality, while being supported and confident within the family.
Flexibility — On one hand, there must be a structure in a family or it will become orderless and will not be a peaceful setting for a family. On the other hand, there must be flexibility or the family becomes rigid and the authority figures become resented. We could compare a successful family to a democracy. There are leaders, but the whole group is involved in the decision making process. Although the leaders are in charge, all members develop the ability to cope with stress, and at times lead. While the family works to avoid stressful situations, they work together to solve problems, without blaming, criticizing and finding fault with each other.
Communication — A lack of communication can rip a family apart. Things that lead to communication are the things mentioned so far — family closeness, flexibility, time spent together. All members must feel a freedom within the group to express themselves freely.
Another very important factor is the relationship between the "head" couple. A happy marriage extends itself from the family to the community and a healthy family will be reaching out to help others. They do not tend to isolate themselves from the rest of the world.
A healthy, happy family benefits our whole society. Among the children of strong families there is less crime, less divorce and less emotional problems. They tend to go on and have strong, healthy families of their own, having learned from their folk’’s example.
Which is the following statement is TRUE concerning cohesion according to the passage
A．The close the members are, the healthier a family is. B．Balance should be kept between members’’ individuality and the close family ties. C．A complete separation is beneficial for family cohesion. D．Though belonging to the family group gives one support, but it may impair their confidence.