Vocabulary
trust
feel sorry for
in common
close
respect
confide
see eye to eye
praised
adores
boasting
life expectancy
health care
retirement age
elderly relatives
nursing homes
confusing
incompatible
unpredictable
responsive
argumentative
USE OF ENGLISH
1 even/shall
2 mind/about
3 up/as
4 no/than
5 care/like
LISTENING
Tapescript
Listen to three people discussing old age and decide whether the statements are true (t) or false (f).
Speaker A: Anna
Speaker B: Bill
Speaker C: Carol
A: So, you're living with your daughter, Bill, are you? How are you getting on with her?
B: Great, Anna. We're very close. She felt sorry for me when I broke my leg last year, and put me up for a while. I moved back to my house, but as time went on, my pension wasn't enough to pay the rest of my mortgage off and I had to put it on the market. I sold it, and went back to live with her. She's looked after me ever since. I have a nice room on the ground floor and my own bathroom. I get a couple of hot meals a day - she's a great cook, by the way - well what more can I ask? Oh, and I adore her husband. He's accepted me as part of the family. (laughs) He teases me about finding myself a lady friend and even keeps nagging me to go on a blind date!
C: You're a lucky man, Bill! I think young people are too inconsiderate these days. More and more of them would rather put their elderly relatives into old people's homes than show a little consideration. There just seems to be no respect for the elderly. So many want to live in a huge, luxurious house, but they wouldn't put a parent up if it came to it. They'd rather have three empty bedrooms. I really dread the day when I get too old to look after myself. I can't stand the thought of being totally dependent on strangers looking after me. I'm a little sceptical about the future of pensioners. Longer life expectancy, worsening health care, families breaking apart...
A: You sound so depressing, Carol! Being a pensioner isn't that bad, you know. Since I retired, I've been doing a lot of painting. It's something I've always wanted to do but never had the time when I had a career and was bringing up our children. That's one good thing about retiring. And I'm sure one of your three boys would look after you if you got too sick or too old to live on your own. You'll never end up in an old people's home, I'm sure of that. You know, I met Dominic in the supermarket the other day and he's turned into a charming young man. Actually, he was flirting with a young girl. Before you know it, there'll be a wedding and grandchildren!
C: Oh, stop it, Anna! That was probably his new girlfriend. I really don't like her and I don't know what he sees in her. They have absolutely nothing in common. All she does is nag him. And she lets him pay for everything! I've warned him about her, but unfortunately he won't listen, because he adores her.
B: He'll come to his senses, Carol, don't worry. Sooner or later. For now, just let him be a normal teenager.
F
F
T
T
T
READING
F
E
A
C
B
UNIT 4 PROGRESS TEST 4B
GRAMMAR
will be taking all
will already have heard
will die
will let
Won't they be taking
leaves
won't be
will be hoping
will probably be
will be
will have finished
will have been living
will still be waiting
will leave
will have got over
will have been living on
will still be expecting
will take
will be getting
will blow