Reading time

5
A- read the following text very carefully in order to answer the questions on it:

The best years of your life…

 The best years of your life, so everybody says…. But are they ?
Some of the problems young people have at home are caused by sheer lack of dialogue---
children don’t talk, parents don’t talk and conflicts explode when you least expect them…
Clothes seem to be one of the causes of these quarrels. Either you want to buy too expensive
5ones , or you look like a tramp---parents want you to dress smartly and very rarely appreciate
your style.
Some other times it’s more your behaviour that upsets your parents.
In Britain today, more and more young people want to be independent and leave home between
the ages of 16 and 20. Some are students; others run away to escape from their homes which are
10overcrowded and unhappy. They go in search of work or of a more exciting life.
We asked Phil Tillinghurst (17 years old) to examine his life, the good and the bad things about
being his age.
PHIL: “ I don’t know whether this is the best time of my life because I still have got the rest
of
15 it to go, but so far it’s been good. Having said that, it’s also one of the most difficult
times because you already have to take important decisions about what you are going
to do, what subjects you want to specialise in, what degree you are going to get, what
career…That’s why this is the time for trying out the different things that you think
you may like, so that you can find out what you are best at for the future. So you
20 should try all sorts of sports, hobbies and activities and see what really fits in with
you.
You also have the chance of being almost an adult but still getting away with being
young. Your parents don’t treat you like a child, they trust you more…I know that
parents are only concerned about what’s happening to you, but sometimes they really
25 worry too much… I get on OK with my parents. A lot of people think that boys have
more freedom than girls, but in fact I know some girls that have more freedom than I
do. But I have no major problems, though money is always a problem. Everyone is
always running out of money these days, but that’s about it.
I have many Portuguese friends and their parents are stricter than mine. They have to
30 be back at a certain time and there’s no “ but…” about it.” (…)
 Comprehension:

1-Are these statements TRUE or FALSE ?

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Not True False

mentioned
1-if parents and teenagers talked to each other, they would have more conflicts.
2-teenagers only fight because of clothes.
3-the majority of the young people want to buy brand clothes.
4-teenagers refuse to eat unless they can watch TV .
5-Young people never leave home without their parents’ permission.
6- Phil says that young people should only stay at home when they can’t find anywhere to
live
7-Although Phil and his parents have a row from time to time, they get on OK.
8-Nowadays it’s quite common for girls to have more freedom than boys.
9-Phil gets an allowance but he can never buy all the things he wants.
10-Portuguese parents are more authoritative than his parents.

2- Fill in this table in NOTE-FORM :

10
Frequent causes for quarrels Teens have to take important Frequent problems teens
between teens and their parents decisions about complain about
1. 1. 1.

2. 2. 2.

3. 3. 3.

3- What do the following words refer to ?

151- your on line 1 refers to………………………………………..

2- they on line 1 refers to ……………………………………….
3- them on line 3 refers to………………………………………..
4- ones on line 4 refers to………………………………………..
5- others on line 8 refers to………………………………………..
206- their on line 8 refers to………………………………………..
7- which on line 8 refers to………………………………………..
8- his on line 10 refers to………………………………………..
9- that on line 23 refers to………………………………………..
10 - they on line 21 refers to………………………………………..
25

4- Find equivalents of these phrases ( lines 2 to 9 ) :

301- happen = …………………………………………………….

2- rows = ………………………………………
3- neat and formal = …………………………………………..
4- annoys = ………………………………………..
5- miserable = ………………………………………………………
 5-Find equivalents of these phrases ( lines 12 to 27 ) :

51- up until now = ………………………………………….….

2- testing and using = …………………………………………
3- opportunity = ………………………………………………
4- worried = …………………………………………………..
5- more severe = …………………………………………….
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6- Find antonyms of these between lines 2 and 9 :

1- are solved = ………………………………………….….

2- consequences = …………………………………………
153- a good-looking person = …………………………………
4- casual = …………………………………………………..
5- calmer = …………………………………………………

7- Find antonyms of these between lines 12 and 25 :

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1- worst = …………………………………………………….
2-isn’t suitable for you = ………………………………………
3-are suspicious of = …………………………………………..
254-don’t care enough = ………………………………………..
5-less = ………………………………………………………

308- Complete according to what you have just read ,but in your own words:

1-Being a teenager is sometimes difficult because ………………………………………………..

2-Phil thinks that some parents …………………………………………………………………..

35

9-Answer these questions now in your own words:

401-Why do so many teenagers have problems with their parents?

……………………………………………………………………………………………

2- Take this situation :

You are going to visit some friends of your parents.
45 You want to wear your old but comfortable T-shirt, loose jeans and a pair of oversized
Adidas .
Your mother tells you to change and dress smartly.
How would you handle a situation like this: refuse to change , stay home instead, throw a tantrum, obey
mum, or….what ?
50
……………………………………………………………………………………………