Unit 2: The generation gap

1. Read the following sentences and choose the full form of the underlined words.
Then practise saying the sentences.
1. She’s never discussed her problems with her father.
A. She is B. She has
2. There’s always some disagreement between me and my mother.
A. There is B. There has
3. I’d like some fruit cake, please.
A. I would B. I had
4. We’d lived with our extended family before we moved to a new house.
A. We would B. We had
2. Rewrite the following sentences using contractions. Then practise saying them.
1. Many people do not like to live with their extended family.
2. Parents should not limit their children’s screen time.
3. Even facts cannot make people change their minds.
4. She said she would not like to go to the park.
3. Choose the best answers to complete the sentences.
1. It is impossible to avoid daily __________ when you live with your extended family.
A. arguments B. views
C. attitudes D. characteristics
2. Older generations often have very __________ about how people should live.
A. common characteristics B. traditional views
C. generational conflicts D. cultural values
3. We should respect the __________ that have been passed down from the previous
generations.

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 A. family conflicts B. generational differences
C. cultural values D. common behaviours
4. Educational games can help bridge the __________ between children, parents, and
grandparents.
A. nuclear family B. extended family
C. common behaviour D. generation gap
5. Older generations can cope with difficulties because they have __________ many
changes in their lives.
A. experienced B. refused
C. looked for D. influenced
6. My little brother always asks questions and is __________ to find out all the answers.
A. strange B. curious
C. experienced D. responsible
4. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the
underlined word(s) in each of the following questions.
1. Although Mark is 25 years old, he always assists his mother to do the chores every
day.
A. homework B. works C. housework D. exercises
2. Your table manners are awful - don't you know how to use a knife and fork?
A. etiquette B. rules C. behavior D. attitudes
3. When their children are teenagers, many parents struggle to comprehend what's
happening to them.
A. adults B. elders C. adolescents D. genders
4. Having a large extended family makes a number of problems inevitable.
A. profits B. issues C. views D. merits
5. Now that Jean’s got a job, she’s financially independent
A. self-collected B. self-confident C. self-confessed D. self-determining
6. My mom inaccurately believes that my fashion style violates societal norms.
A. habit B. barrier C. rule D. conflict
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7. Because of its geographical position, Germany's perspective on the situation in Russia
is very different from Washington's
A. point of view B. view from point C. idea D. belief
5. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the
underlined word(s) in each of the following questions.
1. Having an extended family, however, did not always guarantee a role.
A. close family B. traditional family C. nuclear family D. large family
2. Doctors these days tend to be more open-minded about alternative medicine.
A. optimistic B. lavish C. close-knit D. narrow-minded
3. Domestic violence must be strictly banned all around the world.
A. permitted B. limited C. restricted D. forbidden
4. Jane found herself in conflict with her parents over her future career.
A. disagreement B. harmony C. controversy D. combat
5. Never punish your children by hitting them. This might teach them to become hitters.
A. bring B. accept C. give D. reward
6. Choose the best answers to complete the sentences.
1. My mother wanted to become a dancer, but she __________ follow in her parents’
footsteps and became a medical doctor.
A. had to B. must C. shouldn’t D. has to
2. You __________ wear shorts to school. Please put your school uniform on.
A. must B. mustn’t C. have to D. don’t have to
3. My parents are always open to different views. I __________ agree with their
opinions.
A. have to B. must C. don’t have to D. mustn’t
4. I think parents __________ limit their children’s screen time to protect their eyesight.
A. mustn’t B. don’t have to C. shouldn’t D. should

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5. Parents __________ expect their children to take care of them when they get old.
Their adult children will have their own life and many other duties.
A. shouldn’t B. don’t have to C. must D. should
6. There are agreed rules in each family that its members __________ follow.
A. don’t have to B. must C. mustn’t D. had to
7. Gen Zers are very __________ as they always come up with new ideas or things.
A. experienced B. curious C. creative D. traditional
8. My parents need to __________ someone to look after my grandparents.
A. lose B. play C. gain D. hire
7. Rewrite the sentences without changing their meanings using the modal verbs in
brackets.
1. You are required to ask your parents for permission before going out.
(must) →

2. You are not allowed to colour your hair.

(mustn’t) →

3. It is not necessary for children to go to kindergarten.

(not have to) →

4. It is a good idea for parents to try to understand their teenage children.

(should) →

5. Women were responsible for all household chores in the past.

(had to) →

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6. It is not a good idea for you to study at night.
(shouldn’t) →

7. You are not allowed to stay overnight at your friend’s house.

(mustn’t) →

8. He is required to look after his younger brother when his parents are still at work.
(has to) →
9. Perhaps Susan knows the address.
(may)  Susan

10. It’s possible that Joanna didn’t receive my message.

(might)  Joanna

11. The report must be on my desk tomorrow.

(has)  The report

12 I managed to finish all my work.

(able)  I

8. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct
word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.
Generation gap refers to a vast difference in cultural norms between a younger
generation and their elders. It’s a distressing thing for the phenomenon (1) _______
occurs around the world. The (2) _______ of communication, different views on certain
problems and different attitudes towards life may cause the generation gap or even
widen it. First, one of the major factors for this misunderstanding between two
generations is that parents and children lack communication. Young people (3) _______
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reveal their feelings to their parents, and often complain that their parents are out of (4)
_______ and that they talk too much about certain problems. So when young people
meet some problems, they would rather (5) _______ to their classmates or their friends
for help. The lack of communication widens the generation gap.
1. A. which B. who C. whom D. what
2. A. deficiency B. shortage C. lack D. inadequacy
3. A. sometimes B. always C. often D. seldom
4. A. mind B. reach C. depth D. touch
5. A. turn B. turning C. to turn D. to have turned
6. A. opinions B. perspectives C. scopes D. visions
9. Use the words and phrases below, and add some words where necessary to make
meaningful sentences. Change the verb forms if necessary.
1. my opinion, / living / extended family / best way / bridge / generation gap.

2. When / live / together, / different generations / start / share ideas and values /
regular basis.

3. Parents / should / explain / children / why / they / have a job / describe / what / do at
work.

4. Living / extended family / provide / opportunity for people / get / understand and
respect / generational differences.

5. Older people / more likely / accept / behaviour and lifestyle / their children or
grandchildren.