Show Me the Way to Go Home

Unexpected numbers of young adults are living with their parents. This fact is becoming abundantly familiar as American parents are forced to make room for their adult children. There is a naive notion that children grow up and leave home when they are 18, and the truth is far from that. Today, 59 % of men and 47% of women between 18 and 24 depend on their parents for housing in this or that way and this is part of a major shift in the middle class.

Analysts cite a variety of reasons for this return to the nest. The marriage age is rising, a condition that makes home and its amenities particularly attractive to young people. A high divorce rate and a declining remarriage rate are sending economically pressed and emotionally battered survivors back to parental shelters.

For some, the expense of an away-from-home college has become so exorbitant that many students now attend local schools. Even after graduation young people find their wings clipped by skyrocketing housing costs.

Sharing the family home requires adjustments for all. There are the hassles over bathrooms, telephones, and privacy. Some families, however, manage the delicate balancing act.

Still, most psychologists feel lengthy homecomings are a mistake. Offspring, struggling to establish separate identities, can wind up with a sense of inadequacy, defeat, and failure. And aging parents who should be enjoying some financial and personal freedom, find themselves bogged down with responsibilities. Living with children of any age involves compromise and obligation, factors that can be detrimental to some aspects of well-being. All children, even adult children, require accommodation and create stress.

Brief visits, however, can work beneficially. They may make parents and their children much closer to each other without being a burden for either part.

Task 1. For each of the questions 1 — 10 decide which of the statements are true or false

1.I caving home after school used to be a tradition in the US.

2. Children do not want to leave their parents' houses.

3.There is a variety of choices for children to make.

4.Students nowadays have fewer options for studying than before.

5.More females than males depend on their parents for housing.

6.Living with adult children is relaxing in most cases.

7.When adult children return home, it is them who need to get used to their parents' way of life.

8.Most parents expect their lives will change for the better without their children living with them.

9.Living with parents may be psychologically harmful.

10.There seems to be no possible way to handle the problem today.

Task 2. For each of the questions 11—20 decide which of the answers (a, b), c) or d) best complete the statements

11. The situation described is something:

a) not very well known; b) not very much waited for; c) not very embarrassing; d) not very naive.

12. It can be inferred from the text that:

the life of the middle class has changed;

middle class people have to work in two shifts;

middle class students majorin housing;

middle class houses are different from what they used to be.

13. You may be most likely expected to live with your parents if you are: -

a) 21; b) 28; c) 42; d) 81. . '

14. Americans today tend to get married:

a) earlier than before; b) at the same age as before; c) later than before; d) only after being forced to.

15. The text states that the cost of housing:

a) is slowly getting more expensive; b) remains the same; b) is going down a bit; d) is increasing at a high speed.

16. It is implied in the text that:

a) most families feel comfortable when living together; b) a few families are able to find a compromise;

c) there is no problem with personal space; d) no efforts to solve the problem are made.

17. Living in the parents' house may produce a negative effect on children's:

a) self-esteem; b) selfishness; c) attitude to parents; d) intentions to get married.

18. In the families where parents and adult children live together, it is more likely to find the atmosphere of:

a) friendliness; b) hopefulness; c) nervousness; d) ruthlessness.

19. According to the text, parents believe that they must:

a) provide their children with a place to live; b) improve their children's well-being;

c) enjoy their children; d) establish children's identities.

20. One can make a conclusion that parents and children in America are tradi­tionally:

a) very close; b) a bit distant from each other; c) glad to visit each other; d) a burden for each other.

11^th form.

Reading. Text 1. ( From The Worst-Case Scenario Handbook )

How to Survive in Frigid Water 1) Do not attempt to swim unless it is for a very short distance. A strong swimmer has a 50-50 chance 0f surviving in 50-degree Fahrenheit water. Swim only if you can reach land, a boat, or a floating object with a few strokes. ( Swimming moves cold water over skin, causing rapid cooling. Cold water saps body heat 25 times faster than air of the same temperature, and water any colder than 70 degrees Fahrenheit can cause hypothermia ). 2) If you are alone and wearing a personal flotation device (PFD), assume the Heat Escape Lessening Posture (HELP). Cross your ankles, draw your knees to your chest, and cross your arms over your chest. Your hands should be kept high on your chest or neck to keep them warm. Do not remove clothing. Clothes will not weigh you down but will hold warm water against your skin like a diver’s wetsuit. This position can reduce heat loss by 50 percent. 3) If two or more people are in the water and all are wearing personal flotation devices (PFDs), assume the “huddle” position. Two or four people should “hug”, with chest touching chest. Smaller individuals can be sandwiched between larger members. This position allows body heat to be shared. Also, rescuers can spot groups more easily than individuals.

State true or false sentences:

1. An average person swimming 50 yards in 50-degree water has a 50 percent chance of surviving.

2. Air lowers body heat 25 times faster than water of the same temperature.

3. Generally, when stranded in frigid water, you should try to swim to the closest floating object.

4. When alone and wearing a PFD in cold water, you should wrap your arms around your stomach.

5. In this article, HELP stands for heat escape lessening posture.

6. Always remove clothing when stranded in water, because it will weigh you down.

7. The HELP reduces the body’s heat loss by 50 percent.

8. When two to four people stranded in water they should hold each other with their chests touching.

9. Smaller people stranded in the water should be held on the backs of the larger people.

10. It is more difficult for people stranded at sea to be seen by rescuers if they are in groups.

TEXT 2.

After inventing dynamite, Swedish-born Alfred Nobel became a very rich man. However, he foresaw its universally destructive power too late. Nobel preferred not to be remembered as the inventor of dynamite, so in 1895, just two weeks before his death, he created a fund to be used for awarding prizes to people who had made worthwhile contributions to mankind. Originally there were five awards : literature, physics, chemistry, medicine and peace. Economics was added in 1968, just sixty-seven years after the first awards ceremony.

Nobel’s original legacy of nine million dollars was invested, and the interest on this sum is used for the awards which vary from $30,000 to $125,000.

Every year on December 10, the anniversary of Nobel’s death, the awards (gold medal, illuminated diploma, and money) are presented to the winners. Sometimes politics plays an important role in the judges’ decisions. Americans have won numerous science awards, but relatively few literature prizes.

No awards were presented fro 1940 to 1942 at the beginning of World War II. Some people have won two prizes, but this is rare; others have shared their prizes.

Choose the right variant:

1. When did the first award ceremony take place? A) 1895 B) 1901 C) 1962 D) 1968

2. Why was the Nobel prize established? A) to recognize worthwhile contributions to humanity

B) to resolve political differences C) to honor the inventor of dynamite D) to spend money

3. In which area have Americans received the most awards?

A) literature B) peace C) economics D) science

4. Which of the following statements is not true? A) Awards vary in monetary value B) Ceremonies are held on December 10 to commemorate Nobel’s invention

C) Politics can play an important role in selecting the winners D) A few individuals have won two awards.

5. In how many fields are prizes bestowed? A) 2 B) 5 C) 6 D) 10

Text 3.

On the 1^st of January 2002, 300 millions Europeans in twelve countries woke up to a new currency, the euro. The euro is not new: it had been used in electronic transfers and by banks in international businesses since 1999. But with the launch of euro banknotes and coins, anyone who lives, does business or travels in any of the twelve- countries will benefit from dealing in just one currency.

There are seven euro banknotes denominations, which can be recognized easily by their look feel: the larger banknote the higher the value. There are also 8 denominations of euro coins each having a common side and a national side. The common side always shows the value of the coin. The national side differs from country to country.

Euro banknotes and coins may be used in each of the participating countries. For the first time in the history of Europe twelve currencies have been traded in for just one. (Taken from the European Central Bank Advertisement)

True or False:

1. The euro was first used on January 1, 2002.
2. Twelve countries used euro as their only currency.
3. The euro will be convenient only for travelers and businessmen.
4. A five hundred euro banknote will be larger than a two hundred one.
5. Each country has different euro coins, which can only be used in that country.
6. There are seven different euro banknotes and seven different coins.
7. The national side of each coin shows how much it is worth.
8. Thirty million people have used the euro since January 1, 2002.
9. Banknotes are easily recognized by their look and colour.
10. The euro is the first currency in history to be used in twelve countries in Europe.

Text 4.In 776 B.C. The first Olympic Games were held at the foot of Mount Olympus to honour the Greeks’ chief god, Zeus. The Greeks emphasized physical fitness and strength in their education of youth. Therefore, contests in running, jumping, discus and javelin throwing, boxing and horse racing were held in individual cities, and the winners competed every four years at Mount Olympus. Winners were greatly honoured by having olive wreaths placed on their heads and poems sung about their deeds. Originally these were held as games of friendship, and any wars in progress were halted to allow the games to take place. The Greeks attached so much importance to these games that calculated time in four-year cycles called “Olympiads” dating from 776 B.C.

Choose the best variant:

1. Which of the following is not true?

A) Winners placed olive wreaths on their own heads B) The games were held in Greece every 4 years C) Battles were interrupted to participate in the games. D) Poems praised winners in songs

2. Why were the Olympics held?

A) to stop wars B) to honour Zeus C)to crown the best athletes D) to sing songs about their deeds

3. Approximately how many years ago did these games originate?

A) 776 years B) 1,276 C) 2,780 D) 2,277

4. What conclusion can we make about the ancient Greeks?

A) They liked to fight B) They were very athletic C) They liked a lot of ceremony D) They couldn’t count, so they used “Olympiads” for dates

5. How many Olympic events did the Greeks originally participate in?

A) 4 B) 5 C) 6 D) 8