The Tweens Problem

Old people are always saying that the young are not what they were. The same comment is made from generation to generation and is always true; it has never been truer than it is today.

These days, grown-ups describe children as «difficult», «rude», «wild» and «irresponsible». Only some people say that they will grow up to make our country a better place.

For kids from 8 to 14 a new term «tweens» has recently been coined. They are no longer children nor yet teenagers, just between – tweens. They are said to be a generation in a fearful hurry to grow up. Instead of playing with Barbies and Lego they are interested in the vagaries of love on TV serials. Girls wear provocative make-up. At this very age kids start pairing off. Tweens have got an insatiable desire for the latest in everything – from jeans with labels so that everyone will know that they've got the latest stuff – to CDs. Kids at their age desperately need to belong and that's why everything comes down to appearance. They think that having the right «stuff» is the quickest way to acceptance. To parents and teachers they can be a nightmare, aping the hairstyles, clothes and make-up of celebrities twice their age. Experts say that the rush to grow up is due to the mass media. Being raised by single-parent families as well as watching TV, which sucks up most of their free time, can also accelerate the desire of children for being independent and creates behaviour problems.

Task II. Scan the text above and write down all the sentences containing the Degrees of Comparison of Adjectives.

Task III. Open the brackets using the Degrees of Comparison.

1. Spanish is (easy) than German.

2. She is not so (busy) as I am.

3. Today the wages are (low) than they were a week ago.

4. My colleague speaks English (bad) than I do.

5. Which is the (hot) month of the year?

Task IV. Find the synonyms for the words and combinations given below.

Task V. Fill in the correct article.

1. I come to … work by … bus. Today … bus was a bit late.

2. Sam used … drugs and was sent to … prison in … August. What … shame!

3. … Harrisons are not religious and they never go to … church.

4. … English are very fond of … gardening.

5. I’ve tried to learn … Japanese many times.

Task VI. Open the brackets using the Pronouns something, everything, anything, nothing. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. I understand … now. Thank you for your explanation.

2. Is there … that you want to tell me?

3. The capital’s best-selling guide contains … you need to know about London.

4. If you look in the yellow pages I am sure you’ll find … useful.

5. I don’t want … today, thank you.

Task VII. Translate into English.

1. То, что молодое поколение всегда отличается от старшего – правда.

2. Молодежь проблемного возраста отличается пародированием причесок, одежды и манер своих кумиров.

3. Телевидение поглощает большинство свободного времени подростков.

4. Деловые поездки очень важны для установления хороших отношений между партнерами по бизнесу.

5. Подготовка к поездке включает резервирование билетов на самолет, гостиничного номера, назначение встреч и организацию собраний.