1

Look at the quotes from three men in the Bennett family. They are talking about their
fathers. Try to match each quote with the man who said it.

a) The grandfather Tve always had a very c10se relationshj p with my dad.'

b) His son 2 'My father was always at work.'

e) His grandson 3 ' We had to obey him vvitbout question .'

2.29 Read the artic1e and check your ideas.

Three generations

Gordon - the grandfather (72) Tony - his son (48) Seott - his grandson (19)
'1 think my son and my grandson 'When I was growing up, my father Tve always had a very close

have a lovely relationship - it was always at work, and when he

relationship with my dad and 1 don't
wasn't like that when 1 was a boyo came home, we eouldn't disturb him, have to hide anything from him.
M,y father was a very strict man, we be ea use he was ti red. When 1 was at schoo!, I had a
5 had to obey him without question. Because my father left school very 5 lot of freedom. When 1 went out,

1 had to walk five kilometres early and regretted it afterwards, he

I didn't have to come home at a
to school. There was no other wanted me to do well at sehool. 1 had certain time - my parents trusted
way of getting there. At home we to do my homework every night and me.

didn't have a television, so we had I could only watch television at the

I'm at eollege now, and my
10 to make our own entertainment.
1 spent all my free time outside
playing football.
But we couldn't play football on
Sundays beca use we had to go to
15 church.
1 left school when I was fourteen
and went to work in a bakery. That's
where 1 met Mabel.
We couldn't bring girlfriends
20 home in those days. We had to meet
in public places. 1 suppose that's why
so many people got married young.
10 weekend.
When 1 was eighteen I got a place
at university. My parents didn't have
to support me financially, beeause the
government gave me a grant to study.
15 I didn't go home very often, even
during the holidays. I preferred
spending time with my friends,
especially my girlfriends. In my last
year of university 1 met Louise, and
20 we got a place together. We had to
get married when Louise found out
she was pregnant:
10 parents have to pay for my studies,
but I have to work in the evenings
to pay for any luxuries I want.
I think it's wrong that my
parents have to pay for my studies.
15 1 think colleges and universities
should be free for everybody.
My girlfriend often stays with
me at my parents' house, and 1
sometimes go and stay at her
20 parents'. Both our parents think we
should get married one day, but
we're definitely not in a hurry:

1 was only nineteen, and Mabel was

eighteen:

2 Read the article again and answer the questions.

a) INhy did Gordon have to walk to school?

b) Why eouldn' t GOl'don play football on Sundays7

c) Wh)' could Tony onl)' watch television at the weekend 7

d) Wh)' didn' t Tony's parents have to pay for his university education?

el Wh)' did Tony have to get married to Louise 7

f) Wh)' does Scott ha ve to work in the evenings?

3 In what ways has life changed in your family over the generations? Tell your partner.
'My gralldll'lOllzt'r lIad lo /t'ave scJ¡oo/ at jourteen. VVornl'1l cou/du 't So to l/Iliversity in tiJose days.'

70 ..-- ' ti 'H J l' _ Education

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