At an age when it is a period of life when it is a stage when a time when

e.g. To be young is a period of life when you are protected and can be carefree. You are at an age when….

10. Think about an elderly person you know and imagine how his/her life has changed since he/she retired. Describe his/her present situation using the expressions below.

• Expressing change

He is more/less he has more/fewer he has become more/less

11. Look at pictures.

• Talk about the difference between the lives of the old people in the photographs.

• In what ways do you think families are important?

• Describe your relationship with your parents and grandparents.

C. LIVING TOGETHER

1. Fill in the gaps with one of the words from the list below.

eye to eye independence fell out share quarrel

make up privacy can’t stand respect sociable

1. What I don’t like about sharing a flat is the lack of………… .You can’t really keep anything secret.

2. Sharon’s lack of…………………..for my belongings used to infuriate me. She would borrow my clothes without asking me, and then leave them on the floor.

3. After having lived together for only two month, they……………………..each other. Things have obviously gone badly wrong.

4. Paul and Gareth don’t always see………………………… about matters such as cleaning the house. Paul wants the house cleaned every day, and Gareth only once a month.

5. Ian………………………with his flatmate after he continued to play loud music even after he had asked him to turn it down.

6. Some people like shared flats as it is more………………………., and they don’t get lonely.

7. Flatmates should always……………………………expenses, such as bills and rent, equally.

8. The two flatmates had a very big………………………over the washing-up.

9. Jeremy and George’s argument was so big that I’m sure they’ll never…………………….. .

10. Although you may lose some……………………………living in a shared flat, it is certainly safer than living on your own.

2. Match 1-8 with a-I.

1. feeling sure about your own ability…… a. aggressive

2. boring…………….. b. cheerful

3. likely to fight or argue……………… c. self-confident

4. thinking you are better than others…………. d. tolerant

5. always telling the truth…………… e. sense of humour

6. ability to laugh at things…………… f. dull

7. feeling happy…………….. g. arrogant

8. unhappy to give money or help people……… h. honest

9. able to accept ideas you don’t agree with…… i. mean

3. In magazines you often see questionnaires which help analyse characters. Match the words below with the questions about your flatmate.

friendly helpful vain organized quite sympathetic

fun-loving home-loving untidy outgoing talkative sensitive

1. Does he/she spend all his/her time in the bathroom looking in the mirror?...............

2. Does he/she keep everything in the flat in perfect order?...............................

3. Does he or she leave all his/her clothes and belongings lying on the floor?...............

4. Does he/she listen to your problems and always offer a shoulder to cry on?.............

5. Does he/she not give anyone else a chance to speak?...........................

6. Does he/she get upset if somebody has shouted at him/her?............................

7. Does he/she always greet you with a smile and a few kind words?...................

8. Does he/she do his/her share of the housework, and more if you’ve got a lot of work?.....................

9. Is he/she always friendly and sociable?...........................

10. Does he/she enjoy joking and having a good time?..............................

11. Does he/she prefer to stay at home rather than go out?........................

12. Do you sometimes not know whether he/she is in the flat or not?...............

4. Match the words with the appropriate definitions below.

1. party animal

2. night owl

3. body builder

4. chatter-box

5. bookworm

6. vegetarian

7. fitness freak

8. workaholic

9. DIY enthusiast

10. globetrotter

1. someone who doesn’t eat meat ……………………………………….

2. someone who prefers to be active during the night, rather than during the day…………………………………………………………………

3. someone who can’t stop talking ………………………………………

4. someone who enjoys making things for the house ……………………

5. someone who spends a lot of time reading books……………………..

6. someone obsessed with keeping fit…………………………………….

7. someone who likes to develop their muscles…………………………..

8. someone who spends most of their time working……………………..

9. someone who likes going out all the time……………………………..

10. someone who travels a lot and to many different countries……………

5. James is a student. He seeks a flatmate with permanent job, who is quite and tidy. Pets welcome. He is looking for a flatmate because the flat he rents is very expensive. He advertises in the newspaper. Four people reply. Look at the information about the four people and discuss whom he would choose to live with and why.

ANDREW	CATHERINE	MAX	TRACEY
Saxophone player Non-smoker Very tidy Temporarily out of work	Journalist Very quite Vegetarian Works long hours	Steady job Active social life Enjoys loud music Keeps pet dog	Shift worker (incl. nights) Friendly personality Needs space for fitness equipment