2. Choose the synonyms to the words given in italics according to the context.

to embarrass a) to interfere b) to confuse c) to upset d) to disturb

sensitive a) touchy b) vulnerable c) delicate d) irritable

to disapprove a) to deny b) to praise c) to blame

d) to have an unfavourable opinion

to refer to a) to direct b) to regard c) to mention d) to concern

to owe a) to be in debt to somebody b) to attribute

c) to be obliged (to) d) to possess

3. Combine two sentences together omitting less important information and adding connectives.

1. Parents can get on your nerves just as you can get on theirs. If you are sensitive to each other’s feelings, you’ll be able to avoid upsetting each other.

2. Mutual understanding is a two-way process. If your parents are open and reasonable with you, you owe it to them to be open and reasonable with them.

3. When children grow up relationships within one’s family change. The relationship becomes much more one between equals.

4. Your way of life and your philosophy differ from your parents’. This difference is often called the generation gap.

5. Think about your parents as ordinary people. Parents may worry about money, they may be lonely or they may be upset about getting old.

6. Parents often disapprove of what their children do. If children can convince their parents that they are not the only ones who want to do things parents don’t approve, parents’ response is bound to be more reasonable.

4. Put the jumbled sentences in the logical order to sum up the information given in the text.

1. But not all parents are easy to get on with.

2. If you antagonize your parents, your life will be much harder but if you treat them in an honest way, their response will be more reasonable.

3. Parents can get on your nerves just as you can get on theirs.

4. Mutual understanding is a two-way process.

5. The difference between children’s philosophy and way of life and their parents’ is called the generation gap.

6. Try to avoid doing things your parents will disapprove of and never deceive your parents.

7. Before doing something think of your parents’ response.

8. If you are sensitive to each other’s feelings, you can avoid upsetting each other.

9. They may worry about money or about getting old themselves.

10. Try to think about your parents as ordinary people who are under all sorts of pressure.

11. Be open and reasonable with your parents and they’ll treat you in a similar way.

12. In time the relationship between parents and children will change and become much more one between equals.

5. Give the main idea of the text using the following words and expressions and adding connectives and some more words if necessary.

1. 1.Parents, to get on one’s nerves.

2. To be sensitive to, feelings, to avoid, to upset each other.

3. Understanding, to be, parents, a two-way process.

4. To grow up, relations, to change, to become, one between equals.

5. Generation gap, to call, difference, way of life, philosophy.

6. Parents, to be under pressure, to worry about, to get old, to be lonely.

7. To treat, honest way, reasonable response, to antagonize, life, to be hard.

8. To think, to act, to deceive parents, never.

Unit X

Pre-reading tasks