LESSON 6. SECRET DIARIES

Communicative area: asking for and giving information Active vocabulary: mad, furious, to trust, to scream, to put up with, a row

1. a) If teenagers don't get enough understanding from their parents, how do they usually solve this problem?

b)Do you keep a diary?

2. a) Read the diary entry from Growing Pains by Sue Townsend. The main character of the book Adrian Mole is a teenager. What kind of family does he live in? Do you think his parents are pushy and controlling?

Tuesday June 29^th. Usual last minute discussion about where we are going for our summer holiday. My father said, "It'll probably be our last. This time next year we'll have the baby." My mother got mad, she said that having a baby was not going to restrict her. She said that if she felt like walking in the Hindu Kush next year, then she would strap the baby on her back and go. The Hindu Kush! She moans if she has to walk to the bus stop. I suggested the Lake District. I wanted to see if living there for a bit would help my poetry. My father suggest­ed Skegness. My mother suggested Greece. Nobody could agree, so we wrote our choices on pieces of paper and put them into a box. We didn't trust each other to make the draw so my mother went and fetched Mrs. Singh. Mrs. Singh and all the little Singhs came and stood in our kitchen. Mrs. Singh asked, "Why are you having this procedure, Mrs. Mole? Can't your husband decide?" My mother explained that Mr. Mole had no superior status in our house. Mrs. Singh looked shocked, but she drew a piece of paper out of the hat. It said 'Skegness'. Worse luck! Mrs. Singh excused herself, saying that she must get back to prepare her husband's meal.

b) Mark the statements True. False or No Information available.

1. The family kept on discussing their holiday plans.

2. Mum felt like going to the mountains next year.

3. She was sure the baby could not prevent her from going on holiday.

4. Mother doesn't mind walking to the bus stop.

5. Adrian suggested going to Greece.

6. Father objected to going to Greece.

7. Adrian didn't approve of going to Skegness.

8. Adrian thought of going to the Lake District to get inspi­ration for his poetry.

9. Mrs. Singh was not used to making important decisions.

10. Mother thanked Mrs. Singh for helping them with the draw.

11. The family decided against going to Skegness.

c) Find the Lake District and Skegness on the map of the UK. Where would you like to go?

3. a) A teacher in a British school used the extract in ex. 2, les­son 6 to stimulate students into writing an entry for Wednesday June 30^th. Read three of her students' entries. Which of them do you like best?

Charlotte Wednesday 30^th June

I got up this morning and heard that my mum and dad kept on having a row about where we are going on holiday. Finally mum went out and bought us 3 tickets to Greece! Dad didn't know because he had to go the hospital to visit his poor old mother. She'd been in hospital for a month already.

I had my breakfast, packed my bag and went to school . Dur­ing the first break I had a packet of crisps and I found a ticket to the Lake District inside! Sadly that was the only good thing about that day at school. When I got home, I went upstairs to tell mum that I had won a ticket for a holiday in the Lake District. I was amazed when she replied "You are not going there on your own - you are only 15. It's out of the question". I replied, "All right then I will go with a friend" but she still said no. She denied

promising to let me go to the Lake District the other day on con­dition that my best friend would go with me.

To tell the truth. I don't know what to write so I'm going to bed. Goodnight!!

Thomas and Oliver Wednesday 30^th June

I woke up early this morning. I went downstairs but my par­ents had gone. I made my breakfast, took it into the lounge, turned on the TV channel three, and watched South Park. Then played the guitar for a little while, phoned my mate and told him about yesterday in detail.

My Mum came screaming though the door with three tick­ets to Greece. "We're going to Greece! We're going to Greece!" She told my Dad and made him absolutely furious! He stormed out and kicked the cat.

Melanie, Joanne & Jonathan Wednesday 30^th June What an awful start to the day! I was suddenly woken up by Mum screaming at my father, "You won't get me going to Skeg­ness; not in a million years." It was then that I remembered my dreams of last night, how I was writing marvellous poetry by the beautiful lakes of the Lake District. The cat ran away. I had to look for it in a hurry. When I eventually found it, it was dirty from head to foot. Had to wash it, as a result was late for school. Had to write 'I mustn't be late for school' 100 times. I thought things couldn't get any worse but this afternoon things got a lot better! Our English teacher, Mrs. Paine announced the winner of the poetry competition and the winner was ME! My prize? A great day out which was where?? THE LAKE DISTRICT! I can't believe it. I can even put up with going to Skegness for a holi­day. I hope I have a good time in the Lake District.

b) Which of the words in bold in ex. 2a and ex. 3a means:

a) very angry

b) extremely angry

c) a noisy argument or fight

d) crying or saying something loudly and on a high note be­cause of strong emotions

e) to believe in the honesty, goodness, skill or safety of a per­son, organization or thing

f) to be ready to accept (agree to take something as reasonable) something that is unpleasant

Date: 2015-12-18; view: 1887