Episode 57 B

EPISODE 57
LEVEL B2

 

READING COMPREHENSION 

 

STAGES OF A RELATIONSHIP 

 

It’s not always that things go the way you plan them in life, which doesn’t mean it’s worse. The same is about stages of a relationship.
My parents’ relationship, however, is a perfect example of a traditional course of things. It all began with them falling in love somewhere at university. Having been going out together for three years, my father decided to propose to my mother (= asked her to marry him) , she said 'Yes’ and so they got engaged (= agreed they would be married in the future). Their engagement (= time before getting married) lasted for another year or so before they eventually got married (= became husband and wife). They went on a honeymoon (= holiday after getting married) to some holiday resort at the seaside, they couldn’t afford a trip abroad in those days. My mum became pregnant soon after they came back from the honeymoon and nine months later my mum gave birth to her first son, which means me (= I was born).
My parents’ marriage has lasted for 30 years and despite occasional problems they encounter or arguments they have (Mum always says she wishes Dad wouldn’t be so untidy and would help more around the house), they are an example to follow for me and my future family.

 

 

More contexts for the new words: 

 

• Will you marry me? 

(= the question a man asks a woman when he proposes to her) 

• They were both engaged in some heated discussion when I entered the room. 

(= they were involved in it) 

 

EXERCISE 1 

Add the missing vowels (a, e, I, o, u).

 

1. They had a long …………………………….. NGGMNT before finally getting married.
2. He …………………………….. PRPSD to her in August. And she said ‘yes.’
3. Too many …………………………….. MRRGS end in divorce.
4. Where are you going on your …………………………….. HNYMN?
5. She gave …………………………….. BRTH to a baby boy.
6. You should not smoke if you are …………………………….. PRGNNT.

 

EXERCISE 2 

Put the phrases in the right order, then answer the questions. Explain your opinions.

 

1. a honeymoon?/ to go on/ the best place/ What is
2. special rights/ have any/ Should pregnant women/ at the workplace?
3. to a woman?/ romantic way/ What is the most/ to propose

 

 

ENGLISH IN USE  

 

 

In the next three lessons we are going to learn how to use the structure 'I WISH’ in different contexts.

Let’s first look at the sentence from today’s lesson:

’Mum always says she wishes Dad wouldn’t be so untidy and would help more around the house.’

As you can imagine, mum isn’t happy about Dad’s behaviour, since he is untidy and doesn’t help around the house. When you want another person to do (or not to do) something, often because you are annoyed, so you describe irritating behaviour, you use:

I (HE/SHE/WE etc.) WISH + person + WOULD (WOULDN’T) + verb

I wish you would be more punctual. (= you are always late and it gets on my nerves)

My sister wishes her boyfriend would buy her flowers more often. (= he never buys her anything, which makes her angry)

I wish my boss wouldn’t tell everyone off all the time. (= it is so annoying)

 

 

IDIOM CLOSE-UP

 

A/ So did he POP THE QUESTION, then?

B/ No, he didn’t. He got scared and ran away.

 

When you pop the question, you ask someone to marry you.

 

 

PHRASAL VERBS CLOSE-UP

 

1. When you CHAT somebody UP, you to talk to them in a flirtatious way to show you are attracted to them, and try and make them interested in you. This is British and Australian informal English.

 

I’ve been trying to chat him up all night but he’s not interested.

When I left, Kate was getting chatted up by the barman.

 

2. If two people PAIR OFF, they start a romantic relationship.

 

They paired off halfway through the trip.

All our colleagues seem to be pairing off.

 

EXERCISE 3 

Complete the mini-story with the missing words.

 

Tom and Kate met at a club – he liked the way she was dancing, and chatted her (1) …………………….. . She didn’t like him at first, but he kept calling her, and eventually they paired (2) …………………….. . It took Tom another six months to pop (3) …………………….. question. Now they are happily married and expecting a baby.

 

 

NEWS

 

DIVORCE RECORD

 

The National Bureau of Statistics has just released some shocking news – last year saw more couples getting divorced than any single year before. Why has the divorce rate soared so dramatically?

Sociologists, of course, are pinning the blame on our changing lifestyles. In the modern world, individuals no longer have the time to cultivate the family bonds, and the society is becoming more and more atomized. Therefore, we are simply less attached to our spouses, and find it easier to divorce them.

And what do you think is the reason for more and more married couples deciding to split up?

 

GLOSSARY 

– rate – the number of times something happens

– soared – rose greatly

– pinning the blame on – blaming

– atomized – divided into very small parts

– spouses – husbands or wives

 

 

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