Lesson 20: The Teenage Years

It isn't easy to be a teenager. The teenage years are filled with problems of all kinds. A teenager is no longer a child but not yet an adult. Teenagers are searching for a sense of identity. The name for this difficult period is adolescence.

Physical Changes

The name for the period when a teenager's body develops sexually is puberty. It usually begins at age 11 for girls and age 13 for boys. During puberty boys change into young men and girls change into young women. By the time they are 16 or 17, they are capable of having children of their own.

Adolescence can be a time of stress, because all teenagers don't develop at the same speed. Some teens worry if they're not maturing as fast as their friends are. Teens who are still small when their friends are getting tall are afraid that they might never grow up.

Peer Pressure

Teenagers are very concerned about their appearance. Clothes and hairstyles are very important to them. They usually feel that they have to wear the same kinds of clothes that their friends are wearing.

Teenagers have a strong desire to be accepted by their peers. Sometimes they do things just to please or impress their friends. What makes them do those things is called peer pressure.

Sometimes pleasing friends involves taking chances. Teenagers want to try out new things. They also crave excitement. That's why many teenagers try drinking or smoking or do other things which are bad for them.

A Sense of Identity

Besides growing taller and maturing sexually, teenagers start to think and feel differently. They start to make close friendships outside of the family and get ideas of their own. Teenagers spend a lot of time talking on the phone with friends.

Sometimes their new behavior causes arguments with family members, but these changes are normal for teenagers. It is a teenager's way of becoming an individual.

Study these words:

1. filled with
2. puberty
3. to mature
4. concerned about
5. peer pressure
6. to crave
7. identity
8. argument
9. to impress
10. excitement

Questions for discussion:

Do you think it's hard to be a teenager?If so, why do you think so?

How important are each of the following things to you? Tell why.

• Wearing clothes and hairstyles that are fashionable (popular)
• Being able to make your own decisions
• Being "accepted" (liked) by other students and friends

Do you carry a pocket pager or a cellular phone? If so, why?

Have you ever done anything with friends which was "bad" for you? If so, what was it, and why did you do it?

• I thought it would be exciting.
• I wanted to feel like an adult.
• My friends told me to do it (peer pressure).
• Another reason. (explain)

Do you sometimes have disagreements (arguments) with your parents? If so, what do you argue about?

• My clothes or hairstyles
• My friends
• My behavior
• Other things

Do you always do exactly what your parents tell you to do? Why or why not?

Have you ever made a decision that you later regretted? If so, did you learn anything from that experience? What did you learn?

When do you think is the best (most interesting) time of life: childhood, the teenage years, or adulthood (over 20) ? Why do you think so?

Do you sometimes worry about things? If so, what kinds of things do you worry about?

Lesson 19: Grammar Exercises (Based on Lesson 18)

Complete the sentences with the following verbs in the correct form:

get
happen
look
lose
make
start
stay
try
work

1. "You _______________ hard today". "Yes, I have a lot to do."
2. I _______________ for Christine. Do you know where she is?
3. It _______________ dark. Shall I turn on the light?
4. They don't have anywhere to live at the moment. They _______________ with friends until they find somewhere.
5. Things are not so good at work. The company _______________ money.
6. Have you got an umbrella? It _______________to rain.
7. You _______________ a lot of noise. Can you be quieter? I _______________ to concentrate.
8. Why are all these people here? What _______________?

Put the verb into the correct form. Sometimes you need the negative (I am not doing, etc.).

1. Please don't make so much noise. I _______________ (try) to work.
2. Let's go out now. It _______________ (rain) any more.
3. You can turn off the radio. I _______________ (listen) to it.
4. Kate phoned me last night. She's on holiday in France. She _______________ (have) a great time and doesn't want to come back.
5. I want to lose weight, so this week I _______________ (eat) lunch.
6. Andrew has just started evening classes. He _______________ (learn) German.
7. Paul and Sally have had an argument. They _______________ (speak) to each other.
   
8. I _______________ (get) tired. I need a rest.
9. Tim _______________ (work) this week. He's on holiday.
   

Lesson 18: Present Continuous (I am doing )

This means:

She is driving now, at the time of speaking. The action is not finished.

Present Continuous :

am/ is/ are + verb-ing


I am (=I'm ) driving
he/she/it is (=he's, she's, it's) working
we/you/they are (=we're, you're, they're) doing, etc.


I am doing something

I'm in the middle of doing it; I've started doing it and I haven't finished yet.

Examples:

1. Please don't make so much noise. I'm trying to work.
2. A:"Where's Mark" B: "He's having a shower".
3. Let's go out now. It isn't raining anymore.
4. (at a party) Hello, Jane. Are you enjoying the party?
5. What's all that noise. What's going on

The action is not necessarily happening at the time of speaking.

For example:

Steve is talking to a friend on the phone. He says:

"I'm reading a really good book at the moment. It's about love and friendship."

Steve is not reading the book at the time of speaking. He means that he has started it, but has not finished it yet. He is in the middle of reading it.

Some more examples:

1. Kate wants to work in Italy, so she's learning Italian (but perhaps she isn't learning Italian at the time of speaking)
2. Some friends of mine are building their own house. They hope to finish it next summer.
   

Lesson 17: Idioms and Expressions

ABOVE ALL

Meaning:

• more than anything else

Example:

• A winter hike calls for good equipment, but above all it requires careful planning

ABOVE AND BEYOND

Meaning:

• more than is required

Often precedes "the call of duty", which means exceeding what a particular job requires.

Example:

• Putting in overtime without pay is above and beyond the call of duty.

ABOVE SUSPICION

Meaning:

• so trustworthy as never to be suspected of wrongdoing

Example:

• The wife of Caesar must be above suspicion.

Lesson 16: Vocabulary Exercise

Please _______________ from smoking in this area.

If someone shows _______________, they choose to forgive or to be kind to someone who they have the power to hurt or punish.

Marriage life has its own ________________.

__________________ is the ability or opportunity to make your own decisions without being controlled by anyone else.

To __________________ is to have a lot of power or influence, and to use it.

A __________________ is a small-sized car.

A __________________ is a member of an all-male religious group that lives apart from other people in a monastery.

To __________________ is to continue doing an activity or trying to achieve something over a long period of time.

To limit or control the size, amount, or range of something is to ______________.

__________________ is a strong hope or wish.

Lesson 15: Express Yourself: Lifestyles

People have different lifestyles. Some only pursue self-oriented happiness without considering other people. They get happiness from wielding political power and economic influence over others. They seem to think they are happy. But they are actually disappointed after all: since man's desire is endless, nothing can satisfy their needs. They must remember that the first step to happiness is to restrict one's desire.

Priests, monks,nuns are the outstanding examples of those who try refraining from wordly passion. They think they're happy because they're living the way God orders them to live. For them, however, one question also remains. Are they "really" happy if they have no personal autonomy?

A third group consists of very ordinary people. They have no political or economic power. They're at the mercy of political ups and downs and the economic situation. But they treasure their families and value little things from which they can get happiness. . They're happy if they have three meals a day, a car, a summer vacation, enough money to educate their children. They feel happy when they play tennis instead of golf. They're happy with a compact car and never worry about driving a sedan.

Who are the happiest people? Who knows? If you think you're happy, you are. Happiness is how you think about yourself and the world you live in.

Try to learn these words:

1. to pursue
2. monks
3. conpact car
4. to wield
5. autonomy
6. ups and downs
7. to restrict
8. mercy
9. desire
10. to refrain

Questions:

• What types of social activities do you do?
• What do you think about becoming a priest, monk, or nun?
• What religion do you have?
• How do you spend your free time? Do you prefer spending it alone or with friends?
• Do you think the quality of your life is improving or getting worse?
• What musical instruments can you play?
• Do you enjoy singing?
• Have you ever done any volunteer work?
• Are you usually on time for appointments?
• How do you relieve your stress?
• Are you forgetful? How do you cope with being forgetful?

Opinion Samples:

The quality of my life is worsening. I agree that material wealth grows as the economy expands. But I don't think money is everything in terms of a quality life. What are the really decisive factors? I think quality depends upon environmental concern, stress, crime rates, education, etc. Economic wealth comes after these. We all know our environment is becoming dirtier and crimes are on the rise. Everybody suffers from stress, caused by a variety of sources, which shortens the life expectancy of our generation. Even material wealth may be a source of stress. The quality of life can't be measured by material wealth.

_______________
_________________________
_______________

Traditional sex roles used to be clear-cut in our society. Men didn't try to understand women's work, and vice versa. For example, men didn't pitch in on doing domestic chores , and women were not allowed to interfere in men's jobs. I think this might have been an obstacle to understanding. But, now, society is rapidly changing. Women are making money outside the home, while men seem to be ready to help their wives with household chores. This not only helps men and women understand each other better, but also eases other problems that exist between spouses.

Useful Expressions:

• Learning goes on throughout life.
• She spent her life helping the poor.
• Life is too short to worry about money!
• He doesn't know what he really wants in life.
• He ran off with her life savings.
• They were investigating her private life.
• Drugs and violence are deeply rooted in American life.
• We don't know much about his private life.
• In real life, crimes are seldom solved by the police.
• My grandfather was troubled with a lung disease in later life.
• Teaching has been her life.
• It's a life and death issue.
• Maria led a full and happy life.
• Tom dreamed of getting rich and living a life of luxury.
• According to this book, the life of a rock star is not a happy one.
  
• After 25 years of married life, they got divorced.
• They emigrated to Australia to start a new life there.
• Miss Kate thinks her life is in danger.
• A seatbelt could save your life.
• Two firefighters risked their lives to rescue the children.
• Thousands lost their lives in the earthquake.

Lesson 14: Abbreviated Styles : Advertisements and Instructions

Some styles of writing and speech have their own special grammar rules, often because of the need to save space or time.

Advertisements and Instructions

Small ads and instructions often leave out articles, subject or object pronouns, forms of be, and prepositions.

Examples:

Single man looking for flat Oxford Area. Phone 806127 weekends.

Job needed urgently. Will do anything legal. Call 312654.

Pour mixture into large saucepan, heat until boiling, then add three pounds sugar and leave on low heat for 45 minutes.

Lesson 13: Answer Key (Lesson 12)

1. Look - it's raining.
2. It often rains here.
3. When I was 20 I smoked.
4. I saw Louis yesterday.
5. We're been living here since April.
6. I'll phone you when I arrive.
7. I don't believe him.
8. I was born in Chicago.
9. My sister is 15 (years old).
10. I am cold in this house.
    

Lesson 12: Don't Say It (Common Mistakes)

1. Look - it rains.
2. It's often raining here.
3. When I was 20 I was smoking.
4. I have seen Louis yesterday.
5. We're living here since April.
6. I'll phone you when I will arrive.
7. I'm not believing him.
8. I am born in Chicago.
9. My sister has 15 years.
10. I have cold in this house.

N.B. Go to Lesson 13 to check your answers.

Lesson 11: Review of Lessons 1-10

1: A and an are _______________.

• a) regular verbs
• b) indefinite pronouns
• c) proper nouns
• d) predicative adjectives

2: Which one is fit for introducing oneself to others?

• a) Hi, I'm Robert Chartland.
• b) Sorry, I'm Robert Chartland.
• c) Excuse me, I'm Robert Chartland.
• d) I must be Robert Chartland

3. Which body part is most closely associated with the word "skull" ?

• a) leg
• b) hip
• c) chest
• d) head

4. In writing, words are made of _______________.

• a) letters
• b) sounds
• c) images
• d) actions

5. To _______________ is to accept in accordance with a decision or set of rules.

• a) be about time
• b) abide by
• c) be not about to
• d) be faithful to

6. It is a small card that people use when they buy goods or services on credit:

• a) credit card
• b) payslip
• c) bill
• d) note

7. Please don't make so much noise. I _______________.

• a) work
• b) am working
• c) have been working
• d) had been working

8. Someone or something that is _______________ is so important or useful that it is impossible to manage without them.

• a) environmental
• b) vulnerable
• c) indispensable
• d) congested

9. In the 1990s, cars have become indispensable for many people. They are used for _______________purposes.

• a) commuting
  
• b) shopping
  
• c) leisure
• d) all of these

10. It means long past the right time:

• on time
• in time
• in the nick of time
• about time
  

Lesson 10: Name these things:

Lesson 9: What do people do with each of these things?

Lesson 8: Grammar Review

Please don't make so much noise. I _______________.

• a) work
• b) am working
• c) have been working
• d) had been working

Linda _______________ to the movies three times last week

• a) had gone
• b) has gone
• c) went
• d) was going

There's no one _______________ the room.

• a) at
• b) on
• c) to
• d) in
  

Nurses _______________ of patients in hospitals.

• a) take care
• b) are taking care
• c) have taken care
• d) took care

A woman got into the car and _______________.

• a) drove
• b) drove out
• c) drove in
• d) drove off

Three young boys _______________ my brother last night.

• a) beated
• b) beaten
• c) beat
• d) bet

Who is that man standing _______________ the bus stop?

• a) in
• b) on
• c) at
• d) with

The bus was full. We couldn't _______________.

• a) get
• b) get in
• c) get with
• d) get on

I _______________ here yesterday.

• a) was
• b) am
• c) were
• d) been

This time last year I _______________ in Brazil

• a) was living
• b) lived
• c) have lived
• d) had lived

Lesson 7: Vocabulary Exercise

Someone or something that is _______________ is so important or useful that it is impossible to manage without them.

• a) environmental
• b) vulnerable
• c) indispensable
• d) congested

The _______________ of this meeting is to elect a new chairman.

• a) purpose
• b) flow
• c) leisure
• d) complaint

English is my ________________ nowadays.

• a) maintenance
• b) environment
• c) commuter
• d) top priority

London's roads are heavily _______________.

• a) congested
• b) vulnerable
• c) large
• d) disappearing

The flowers _______________ in the spring.

• a) fluctuate
• b) flow
• c) suffer
• d) emerge
  

Someone who is vulnerable can be easily _______________.

• a) harmed or hurt
• b) understood
• c) taught
• d) seen

To commute is to _______________.

• a) do one's work well
• b) regularly travel a long distance to get to work
• c) discuss serious topics with others
• d) solve a problem or conflict

The time of day when the roads, buses, trains etc are most full, because people are travelling to or from work:

• a) do day
• b) call time
• c) rush hour
• d) business hour

If a price or amount fluctuates, it ________________.

• a) keeps changing and becoming higher and lower
• b) increases steadily
• c) decreases dramatically
• d) remains the same

An amount of money that you must pay to the government according to your income, property, goods etc and that is used to pay for public services:

• a) bill
• b) fee
• c) duty
• d) tax
  

Lesson 6: Express Yourself : Traffic and Transportation

In the 1990s, cars have become indispensable for many people. They are used not only for commuting, but also shopping and for leisure purposes. However, people in a large city like Seoul suffer from many traffic-related problems. For example, roads are congested all the time, so the word "rush hour" is fast disappearing. Gas prices fluctuate depending on taxes. Car owners are in a vulnerable position as environmental problems emerge as the top priority in maintaining the quality of life. Many people also complain that the police are not as interested in making traffic flow easily as in "collecting money" from law-breaking drivers.

Try to study these words:

1. indispensable
2. commute, commuter, commuting
3. leisure
4. purpose
5. however
6. large
7. suffer
8. congested
9. rush hour
10. disappear, disappearing
11. fluctuate
12. tax
13. vulnerable
14. environmental
15. emerge
16. top priority
17. maintain
18. complain
19. interested
    
20. flow

Let's answer these questions:

• If you were late for an appointment, would you violate the traffic rules?
• What traffic rules do you often break?
• If you were stopped by a policeman for breaking the law, what would you say to him first?
• Have you ever tried to bribe a policeman who stopped you?
• How do you feel when you get a ticket?
• These days parking is expensive. If you were going to park just 10 minutes, would you park in a paid parking space or park illegally?
• Do you think it's a good idea to let your wife drive?
• What do you think about Sipbuje? (Sipbuje means that you have to stop driving your car three times a month)
• When do you take the subway?
• When do you take a taxi?
• When do you take a bus?

Useful Expressions:

• heavy traffic
• traffic jams
• rush hour
• parking lot
• get a ticket
• be speeding
• make a U-turn
• go through the red light
• traffic lights
• traffic cops
• air traffic control

Useful sentences:

• The traffic's very heavy this morning.
• There was heavy traffic on the roads this morning.
• We got stuck in traffic for several hours.
• I was stuck in a traffic jam for an hour yesterday.
• I try to avoid rush-hour traffic.
• New measures have been introduced to ease traffic congestion in the city.
• five people were injured in a traffic accident.
• Air traffic has increased 30% in the last decade.
• The noise from the traffic kept me awake.

Opinion Samples:

1. After I got a ticket from a policeman some months ago, I drove away recklessly.I knew that this might cause a traffic accident, but I couldn't help it. It was very dangerous, so I decided to stop my car and relax for a few minutes. This helped me calm down so I could drive normally again.
2. When I go downtown I never drive. The roads in Seoul are crowded with cars all the time, and if I get stuck because of an accident or road construction I can't move for an hour or more. Driving a car never guarantees on-time arrival for appointments downtown. The subway is safe, inexpensive, and on time.