The Sato family, seemingly ordinary inhabitants of a bustling modern Japanese city, harbored a complex web of unspoken responsibilities and gendered expectations. The patriarch, Mr. Sato, a successful businessman, outwardly projected an image of stoic strength and unwavering authority. However, beneath this façade lay a deep-seated insecurity concerning his professional success and a profound reliance on his wife, Mrs. Sato, to maintain the family's delicate equilibrium. Mrs. Sato, a homemaker, deftly managed the household, raised their two children, and subtly navigated the expectations of her husband and in-laws, all while grappling with her own unfulfilled aspirations. Their eldest child, a daughter named Akari, demonstrated exceptional academic ability and harbored ambitions beyond the traditional roles prescribed for women in their community. Her younger brother, Taro, presented a contrasting picture; burdened by a sense of entitlement rooted in his gender, he struggled academically and displayed a lack of motivation, frequently relying on his mother and sister to compensate for his shortcomings. The family's dynamics reflected a microcosm of broader societal issues. The weight of responsibility, implicitly dictated by gender, fell unevenly upon Mrs. Sato and Akari. Mr. Sato, despite his economic success, largely absolved himself from household and childcare duties, expecting these tasks to be effortlessly managed by the women in his life. The prevailing cultural norms reinforced this imbalance, creating a climate where the contributions of women remained largely unseen and undervalued. Akari's struggle to reconcile her personal ambitions with societal expectations became a central conflict in the family. While she excelled in her studies, she found herself trapped in a cycle of responsibility, perpetually responsible for her brother's failures and her mother's emotional well-being. The narrative unveils the hidden costs of upholding traditional gender roles, questioning whether the family's apparent success masks a deeper crisis of fairness and equity.
1. Which statement BEST summarizes the central theme of the passage?
2. What can be inferred about Akari's character from the passage?
3. What role does Mr. Sato play in the family's dynamics, according to the passage?
4. The passage suggests that the Sato family's "apparent success" masks a deeper crisis. What is the nature of this crisis?