2. Reading Comprehension

4. General Comprehension

Read the article and say whether these statements are true of false. Give reasons.

T/F

…….. 1. Signor Angelozzi placed his advertisement in «The Times».

…….. 2. He chose the Riva family because the mother looked like his late wife Lucia.

…….. 3. The new family are going to take care of a lot of pets – a dog, two birds and seven cats.

…….. 4. A lot of Italian pensioners care of themselves and live alone.

…….. 5. Signor Angelozzi’s daughter works as a doctor for a charity organization.

…….. 6. A popular Italian TV entertainer, Mr. Agelozzi’s former pupil, offered to adopt the old man.

…….. 7. Signor Angelozzi plans to stay with the new family for 3 months.

5. Detailed Comprehension

Read the article another time and answer the following questions.

1. What made Signor Angelozzi place his advertisement in newspapers?

2. Why, do you think, hundreds of applicants responded? Were they attracted by the money the old man promised to contribute to the household?

3. Why did he choose the Rivas?

4. What do you know about the family?

5. Why, do you think, a lot of Italian pensioners live alone?

6. Why do the Rivas need a grandad?

7. Does Signor Angelozzi have any relatives?

8. How did the old man live after he retired?

9. How did it happen that he had a stream of phone calls from elderly ladies?

10. Is Signor Angelozzi going to move to his new family for good?

3. Making up a Summary

Divide the article into 4 logical parts and sum up the contents of each one in 2 – 3 sentences.

Make use of the following key words.

1. In Italy, a lonely widower, a retired classics teacher, to place an advertisement in newspapers, to express his wish, to be adopted by a new family. To offer; to contribute & 500 a month, household expenses.

2. To be inundated by inquiries, all over the world, families, lonely elderly ladies. To choose the Riva family, Marlena’s voice, to remind his dead wife.

3. The Rivas, two teenage children, to like a house with a large garden, several pets. Like many other Italian pensioners; Signor Angelozzi, to live alone, because, family ties, to break, pressure of modern life, his daughter, to work abroad. The old man, to need, a family, the Rivas, to want, a grandad.

4. Signor Angelozzi, to decide, to stay with the new family, 3 months, to return to his house; the experiment, not to work out.

4. Reviewing the Article

Now, using the scheme of reviewing newspaper articles (App. 2), useful vocabulary and clichés (App. 1 – 2) and the summary you have just made up, review the article. Do not forget to give your opinion of the material.

UNIT 8

It is what any grandparent would do

1. Before reading Tasks

1. What kind of newspaper is «The Daily Mail»?

2. What do you think of a Russian tradition that grandparents always look after grandchildren and take an active part in their upbringing? Is there a similar situation in Spain, France, Great Britain, and the USA?