Text c. Ageism turned her into a liar

Ex. 1. a) Read and translate the article.

For most of my life, age has seemed unimportant. My friends of both sexes have been younger, older or the same age. When I was in my early thirties I had a very enjoyable and fulfilling relationship with a man of 23. One of the most attractive men I know is in his mid fifties.

The first time I experienced a problem with age was on my fortieth birthday. Much to my surprise, it was a deeply traumatic event. Forty seemed to be much older than 39. I used to like it when people told me I looked young for my age, but then I realized that they were just telling me how old I was. Anyway, I slowly got over the shock and tried to convince myself that life begins at 40… .

I met him playing badminton. He was impressed with my exciting lifestyle – lots of traveling and some writing. I found him fun, kind, amusing and very attractive. He’s 31 and looks about 19. He has no idea about how old I am.

All my life I’ve been totally honest. I return extra change to astonished shopkeepers, I’ve never traveled without a ticket and in job interviews I always come out with all the reasons why I should not be employed.

Early on in the relationship I told him the truth about my disastrous existence – my divorce, my financial difficulties, the relationship that destroyed my faith in men. I even admitted that I dye my hair. The sky did not fall in and he didn’t run screaming from the house. I did tell him I’m older than he is, but something stopped me from coming clean about my actual age.

And now I’m in trouble – serious trouble. Silence has made the problem much greater. If I had told him before, it wouldn’t have become such a big issue. If I had been brave enough to admit that I was 11 years older than him, I wouldn’t be in this crazy situation now. I lie about jobs, years abroad and education; he wonders how I’ve managed to fit so much living into my life; I conveniently can’t remember the music of my teenage years.

The other day, I even hid my passport under a pile of papers. I’m worried about organizing a get-together with my friends in case one of them says something like, “Doesn’t she look good for her age.”

The longer I remain silent, the more likely he is to find out and I’m frightened. For once in a very long time I’ve found someone who makes me happy and I don’t want to lose it.

I know that if I was a man, I would never have got into this mess. Eleven years’ difference is nothing for a man. But it’s the other way round and the world judges older women harshly, and I’m afraid he would do the same.

I have become an ageist and a liar and I have no one to blame but myself.

Ageism is prejudice against older people, for example through refusing them employment. It is a new word, following the models of racism and sexism.

Ex. 2. Say whether these statements are true or false. If not, correct them. Use the following conversational formulas.

Conversational formulas:

Agreement: Sure. Why, yes, of course. By all means. That’d be lovely. I’d be glad to. How nice of you. It (certainly) is.

Disagreement: By no means. Far from it. I’m afraid I don’t agree. I think you are mistaken. Just the other way round. I’d like to say yes, but… I’m awfully sorry but you …

1. I wish I’d never met him.

2. I should have been honest about my age.

3. If I’d told him my age at the beginning, he might have left me.

4. I shouldn’t have told him about my disastrous existence.

5. If I was a man, the age difference wouldn’t be a problem.

6. It’s all his fault: if I hadn’t met him I wouldn’t have turned into an ageist and a liar.

Ex. 3. Dramatize the conversation they have when she tells him the truth. Begin like this:

He: You look worried. What’s on your mind?

She: Actually there is something I’ve been meaning to tell you.

He: …

She: …