Though there are many stereotyped reasons individuals join gangs, they don't actually join for the reasons most people think. One common stereotype is that young boys join gangs because they are from homes with no male authority figure with whom they could identify. This study showed that equal numbers of gang members were from intact nuclear households as from those with an absent father. Another common perception is that the gang replaces a missing feeling of family as a motive. This study, again, showed that the same number of gang members reported having close family ties as those who did not.

1- What is the topic? a. Gangs b. Fatherless families c. Orphans

2-. What is the main idea?

a. Many gang members have close family ties

b. Most gang members have no male authority figures in the household

c. Individuals do not join gangs for the reasons most people think

d. People think that the gang is a substitute for a missing family, but this is not true