Reading time

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

The best years of your life

10
 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 dont talk, parents dont talk and conflicts explode
when you least expect them
5Clothes 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 its more your behaviour that upsets your parents.
In Britain today, more and more young people want to be independent and
10leave 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.
15PHIL: I dont know whether this is the best time of my life because I
still have got the rest of
it to go, but so far its been good. Having said that, its 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
20 to specialise in, what degree you are going to get, what career
Thats 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.
25 You also have the chance of being almost an adult but still getting
away with being young. Your parents dont treat you like a child,
they trust you moreI know that parents are only concerned about
whats happening to you, but sometimes they really worry too
much I get on OK with my parents. A lot of people think that boys
30 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 thats about it.
I have many Portuguese friends and their parents are stricter than
35 mine. They have to be back at a certain time and theres no
but about it. ()
 Comprehension:

1-Are these statements TRUE or FALSE ?

5

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 cant
find anywhere to live
7-Although Phil and his parents have a row from time to time, they get
on OK.
8-Nowadays its 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 Frequent problems
between teens and their important decisions about teens complain about
parents
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

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

1- up until now = ..
102- testing and using =
3- opportunity =
4- worried = ..
5- more severe = .

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

1- are solved = ..
2- consequences =
3- a good-looking person =
204- casual = ..
5- calmer =

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

25
1- worst = .
2-isnt suitable for you =
3-are suspicious of = ..
4-dont care enough = ..
305-less =

8- Complete according to what you have just read ,but in your own words:
35
1-Being a teenager is sometimes difficult because
..

2-Phil thinks that some parents ..

40

9-Answer these questions now in your own words:

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

2- Take this situation :

You are going to visit some friends of your parents.
50 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 ?