A Level Sociology OCR Practice Exam

In the context of family structures, which option best represents a nuclear family?

1. A mother, a father, and their biological children

2. A group of extended family members

3. A single parent and their children

4. Roommates living together

The correct answer is: A mother, a father, and their biological children

The representation of a nuclear family as a mother, a father, and their biological children is accurate because the nuclear family is typically defined as a family unit consisting of two parents and their children living together in one household. This structure emphasizes a close, primary relationship between the parents and their offspring and reflects traditional family patterns in many societies. In contrast, extended family consists of multiple generations or various branches of a family living together or maintaining close relationships, which does not fit the nuclear family model. A single parent and their children make up a family unit but is classified as a single-parent family rather than a nuclear family. Roommates living together do not constitute a family structure, as they may not be related by blood or marriage and typically do not share familial bonds similar to those found in a nuclear family. Thus, option A clearly embodies the essential characteristics of a nuclear family.