The best years of your life, so everybody says…. But are they ?

Reading time

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 ones, 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 overcrowded 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

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 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 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 be back at a certain time and there’s no “ but…” about it.” (…)

Comprehension:

1-Are these statements TRUE or FALSE?

3- What do the following words refer to?

1- 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………………………………………..

6- 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………………………………………..

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

1- happen = …………………………………………………….

2- rows = ………………………………………

3- neat and formal = …………………………………………..

4- annoys = ………………………………………..

5- miserable = ………………………………………………………

5-Find equivalents of these phrases (lines 12 to 27):

1- up until now = ………………………………………….….

2- testing and using = …………………………………………

3- opportunity = ………………………………………………

4- worried = …………………………………………………..

5- more severe = …………………………………………….

6- Find antonyms of these between lines 2 and 9:

1- are solved = ………………………………………….….

2- consequences = …………………………………………

3- a good-looking person = …………………………………

4- casual = …………………………………………………..

5- calmer = …………………………………………………

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

1- worst = …………………………………………………….

2-isn’t suitable for you = ………………………………………

3-are suspicious of = …………………………………………..

4-don’t care enough = ………………………………………..

5-less = ………………………………………………………