best years of our lives

1

Uint3

isteningPractice

M:Amy,sitdown,therandIaregoingtoparate.

W:What!Areyoucrazy?Youcan’tdothat!Whatwillmyfriendssay?Ijustwantto

haveanormalfamily.

Q:Whatisthegirlsaying?

M:Goodevening,agerntyoutherosandhisbestwishes

toyoubothforahappyanniversary.

W:theroomandthervicehere,andweespeciallyappreciate

themanager’sconsideration/

Q:Whatcanwelearnfromtheconversation?

W:WhileI’mscramblingtheeggs,couldyouputtheflourintothebowl?

M:Youbet,darling.I’llalsoturntheovenonsothatitgetswarmedup.

Q:Wheredoesthisconversationprobabletakeplace?

W:Ihaveaveryimportantmeetingtonight,andI’mafraidIcan’tmissit.

M:Butthiveningistheparents’meetingatschool,andIwaxpectingyou’d

,I’llphoneDad,maybeheandhisgirlfriendwillcome.

Q:Whatcanbeinferredfromtheconversation?

W1:Soyou’restillsingle?Ifyou’dlistentomeandudtheInternet,you’dhavea

husbandbynow.

W2:danadthatread“HusbandWanted”.Therewere

yallsaidprettymuchthesamething:Youcan

havemine.

Q:Whatcanweinferfromtheconversation?

Keys:1.C2.A3.B4.C5.D

2

ingIn

Task1:ReasonsforaDivorce

Script

W:I’mdivorcingmyhusband.

M:Howlonghaveyoubeenmarried?

W:Thirteenyears.

M:Doyouhavechildren?

W:Yes,andIhavetoprotectthemfromanymoreharmfrommyhusband’s

irresponsibility

M:So,whatareyourgroundsfordivorce?

W:Well,firstofall,’vehadmovedfourtimesinthirteen

years!

M:And,youbelievethatwillbegoodgroundsfordivorce?

W:Idohavearighttostabilityformychildrenandmylf,don’tI?

M:Aren’ttheyhischildren,too?

W:Butmyhusbandisn’tfulfillinghisduties!

M:Ishepayingthebills?

W:Well,yes,sarebeingteadby

otherkidsatschoolbecauwecan’tdressthemingoodclothes!Wehavetolive

inasmalldepartmentanddriveanoldcar!

M:Doesthecarrun?

W:Yes,butitlooksOLD!

M:Doyouyellathimandcallhimnames?

W:Well,heyellsatme!

M:So,goingtogivehim

jointcustodyinthisdivorce?

W:No,justvisitationrights.

M:Why?

W:Becauthelawpermitsmeto.

M:And,whataboutthefinancialdemandsofthisdivorce?

W:I’mdemandinghalfofallwehave,whichisn’tmuch,andlargesupportpayments.

Afterthirteenyearsmarriage,thewomanwantstodivorceherhusband,claimingheis

kedforthespecificgroundsfordivorce,shegivesthe

reasons:First,hekeepschangingjobs,andthefamilyhashadtomovefourtimesin

thirteenyears,,althoughhe

ispayingthebills,ldrenarebeingtead

3

,theyhadtoliveinasmall

apartmentanddriveanoldcar,till,thehusbandyellsat

her,hedivorce

arrangements,thewomanwillgivethehusbandonlyvisitationrightsinsteadofjoint

er,thewomanwilldemandhalfofalltheyhaveandlargesupport

payments.

Task2:Whatfour-letterwords?

Script

Dorothywastheonlychildofherfamily,

herandfathertreat

medperfectlycontentwiththatsituation,soherfriends

whoknew

herwellsaidthemarriagewouldn’theprent,sheandhernew

husbandapproachedhappy.

Assoonasthenewlycouplereturnedfromtheirhoneymoon,thebridecalledher

mother.

“Howdoeverythinggo?”hermotherasked.

“Oh,Mom,”shebegan,“thehoneymoonwaslovely!Soromantic!Wehada

urback,’dnever

’vegottocomegetmeandtakeme

,Mom!”thenewbridesobbedoverthetelephone.

“But,honey,”themotherasked,“Whatfour-letterwords?”

“Ican’ttellyou,’retooawful!Comegetme,plea!”

“Darling,whatfour-letter

wordsheud.”

Stillsobbing,thebridesaid,“Mom,wordslikedust,wash,iron,andcook.”

Keys:FTFFT

Task3:AWomanWhoChoNottoRemarry

Script

After17yearsofmarriage,myhusbandleftmeformybestfriend,

hadfearedmostbecamereality:

-year-oldJoannahadanxietyattackswhen

4

-year-oldSophiewould

hepsychologicalpressure,

friendsarrangeddinnerwithsinglemenandinvitedmetopartiestomeetthelatest

“someonespecial”.

agueofminesaid,“Secondmarriagesusually

endindivorce,andchildrenaredestroyedbyit.”Thereissometruthinhiswords.

Rearchpublishedin2004showedthatchildreninblendedfamilieswerenomore

emotionallyhealthythanthoinsingle-parentfamilies.

Notlongago,mynow-teenagedaughterandIwenttolunchatourfavoriteItalian

ating,wetalkedaboutafriendofourswhowasdivorcingher

worriedabouthowthebreakwouldharmherthreechildren,

putdownherforkand

lookedatme.“Mom,I’mgladyoudidn’tremarry,”shesaid.“Ifyouhaddivorced

again,Imighthavetrieddrugsorevenconsidersuicide.”Atthatmoment,Irealized,

onceagain,thatsinglenesswasrightchoiceforme.

sthespeakermostafraidof?

fthefollowingisNOTtrue?

dthespeaker’scolleaguesay?

fthefollowingistrue?

peakerhaddivorcedagain,whatmightherdaughter,Joanna,havedone?

Kes:1C2.A3.B4.B5.B

ngOut

MODEL1Isyouthwastedontheyoung?

Amy:I’dliketotalktoyou,sostopwhatyou’redoingforaminute.

Bill:Whatisit,Amy?I’mhavingahectictimeworkingonthisreportfortomorrow’s

meeting.

Amy:Well,you’realwaysprettybusy,andit’sbeenmorefiveyears,almostsix,since

weweremarried.

Bill:Yes,timehasgonesofast,butthey’vebeengoodyears.

Amy:Iknow,butIwanttohaveababy—Iwantustohaveababy.

Bill:ember,wesaidwe’dwaituntilwecouldaffordit.

Amy:,it’slongenough.

Bill:I’mthisclotogettingapromotion.

Amy:Whathasthatgottodowithit?Wecouldwaitforeverifwewaitforthe

“perfect”’llbetoooldtoenjoyinghavingababy.

Bill:Youknow,portcanwait.I’lldoittomorrow

5

’sopenabottleofwineandenjoyourlves.

NowYourTurn

SAMPLEDIALOG

A:I’vegotsomethingimportanttotellyou:I’mpregnant.

B:What?You’repregnant?Wow,I’dlovetohaveababy.

A:Well,’sbeenmorethanthreeyears,almost

four,sinceweweremarried.

B:Yes,timehaspasdsoquickly,butwestilldidn’thaveababy.

A:Iknow,butwecan’vemyjobformorethantwo

weeks,I’llloitforever.

B:ember,ifwedon’thaveonenow,it’’ll

bebusierinfuture.

A:ally

’smore,I’mveryclotogettingpromotion.

B:Butababybornebyawomaninher30smaybephysicallyandintellectuallyless

ntedtoholdontoyourjob,’ll

betoooldtoenjoyababy.

A:Youreallyhaveapoint.I’llchoothebabyoverthejob.

B:Good,I’lltryhardertomakebothendsmeet

MODEL2SomanypeopleintheUnitedStatesgetdivorced!

Script

Kim:HiAmy.

Amy:Hi!Lookatthisheadline,Kim.

Kim:Wow!SomanypeopleintheUnitedStatesgetdivorced!

Amy:places,thedivorceratecanbeas

highas50percent.

Kim:ItemsstrangetomethatWesternersfallheadheelsinlovequickly,ifnotat

firstsight;buttheyalsoleaveeachotherquickly.

Amy:Isitthesameinyourcountry?

Kim:Idon’untry,somemarriagesbreakup,butmostcouplesstay

together.

Amy:Dopeoplegetmarriedyoung?

Kim:ypeoplegetmarriedbeforetheageof20.

Amy:nusuallyworkaftertheygetmarried?

Kim:No,ewomen

6

worknow.

NowYourTurn

SAMPLEDIALOG

A:ItemsstrangetomethatWesternersfallheadheelsinlovequickly,buttheyalso

leaveeachotherquickly.

B:Isitthesamewhereyoulive?

A:Idon’untry,mostcouplesstaytogether.

B:Whatisthedivorcerateinyourhomeland?

A:Thedivorceratecanbeaslowas10percent.

B:That’squitelowerthaninourcountry.

A:Well,what’sthedivorcerateinyourcountry?

B:About50percent,ifI’mnotmistaken.

A:Oh,that’sreallyhigh!

B:Dopeoplegetmarriedyoung?

A:ypeoplegetmarriedbeforetheageof22.

B:mmonforwomeninyour

countrytoworkaftertheymarry?

A:Yes,mostwivesworkevenafterthey’vegotababy.

B:Inmycountry,alotofwivesstayhometolookaftertheirfamilies.

MODEL3WhynothavebothourparentshereforChristmas?

Script

Amy:Youknow,ven’tenDadforages—healways

hassuchgreatstoriestotell.

Bill:Iknowwewenttmyfolks’lastyear,butmyMom’

mightbeherlastChristmas.

Amy:She’sbeenill,butdon’tdon’’swhy

youdon’twanttogotomyparents

Bill:She’houghtIwasgoodenoughforyou.

Amy:Well,you’renot…Butriously,Mom’’sjustgotathickskin

andlikestohideherfeelings

Bill:Idon’tthinkso.

Amy:WhynothaveourbothfamilieshereforChristmas?

Bill:Thatwouldmaketwenty-twoofusifweinvitedeverybody.

Amy:WhynotjusthaveourparentshereforChristmas?

7

Bill:n’tsitmenexttoyourmother.

NowYourTurn

SAMPLEDIALOG

A:Youknow,theSpringFestiveiscoming,andwehavetoconsiderwheretohave

theSpringFestiveEvedinner.

B:Whathaveyougotinmind?

A:SinceI’vebeenbusy,Ihaven’tenmomforquitesometime—she’salwaysbeen

sokindtous.

B:Iknowwewenttmyfolks’lastyear,butmymom’dscomfort.

A:’thavetheSpringFestiveEvedinnerwith

themfortwoyearsrunning,teroffact,

mymomisalreadyblamingmeforneglectingthem.

B:Whatcanwedothen?

A:inviteourparentshereforthedinner?

B:’sinconvenientforoldpeople.

A:Thenwecaninvitefourofthemtoarestaurantnearthem.

B:Good,extmorningwecanvisitbothourparents.

A:Anddon’tforgettobringgifts.

’sTalk

Script

IfyouwantmetotellyouwhyIremarried,that’smystory.

RemarriedisthelastthingI’ard

portantly,Iwonderedhow

tachedwhenIsawmyson

drawapictureofhimlf,myex-wifeandmeholdinghands,withsadnessonour

yparentshavemarriedanddivorceeighttimesaltogether,Ihopemy

ult,my

primaryfocusafterdivorcewasmyrelationshipwithmysonJohn,notfindingawife.

Astimewentby,mysongraduallygrewup,andhebecameofmylonelinessand

sttimerhesaidthis,Iignored

ondtimehebroughtitup,Ireconsideredmyrervationsaboutdating.I

elationshipdevelopedoverthefollowingyear,Iwas

t,John’saffectionfor

tance,hewouldhugher,buttheactemedmechanical.

Butafterveraltimes,thatthetimewasripe,Iasked

8

epted,soourfamilyoftwosmoothlybecameafamilyof

ngback,Ibelievemyremarryingwastherightchoice.

tyou’veheardmy

story,Ihopeyouwon’thesitateandletgoldenopportunitiesslipthroughyourfingers.

ChangesintheSpeaker’s

AttitudetoRemarriage

ReasonsorDetailedDescription

Fortwoyearsaftermydivorce,

remarriagewasthelastwordI’dconsider.

teofremarriagefailure.

iagewouldaffectmyson.

①Hedrewapictureofthethreeofus.

②Myparentsmarriedanddivorcedeight

timesandIhopemysonwouldhaveno

suchpain.

③Myprimaryfocuswasmyson,notawife.

Iignoredmyson’ssuggestionthatI

considerdating.

Hegrewupandbecameconsciousofmy

lonelinessandanxiety.

Ireconsideredmrervationaboutdating

andbegantodateMaria

Thecondtimehebroughttheissueup.

Iwasconcernedaboutmyson’srespond

toher.

Atfirsthisaffectionforherwas

lukewarm:hishugwasmechanical;but

veralmonthslaterhewarmeduptoher.

IaskedMariatomarrymeandshe

accepted.

Seeingtimewasripe.

Ourfamilyoftwobecameafamilyof

three.

Ibelievemyremarryingwastheright

choice.

Debate

SAMPLE

A:OnthewholeIdon’yremarriageshaveturnedoutto

beunsuccessfulandendindivorce.

B:Ifyousaymanyremarriageshavefailed,thatmeansotherremarriageshave

survived,ldnotonlylookatthedarkoftheissue.

A:Butthere’

9

example,asyoubecomeolder,youmayfinditincreasinglydifficulttoadjusttoa

ere’saconflictneitheriswilling

togivein.

B:There’reconflictverywhere,butyoushouldnotneglectthatanadulthas

tacompanion,onemayfeellonelyand

anxious.

A:Inanewfamilythehusbandtendstocomparehisnewwife’sweakpointwithhis

ex-wife’wifedoesthesame.

B:Iwishyou’ernessMariablendedso

smoothlyintotheCaptain’sfamily.

A:mply

impossibleforthemtoforgettheirbirth-mother’slovingcareandthehappy

momentsintheirchildhood.

B:ButhowhappyaretheCaptain’svenchildrenwiththeiradoptedmotherMaria!

Ifthenewmothershowsgenuinecareforthekids,theywillgraduallywarmtoher.

Ontheotherhand,manychildreninasingle-parentfamilyareunderpsychological

,thesinglelifeisnottherightchoice.

rListeningandSpeaking

Task1:EarlyMarriage

Script

Attheageof12,Lisahasbeenmarriedforthreeyearstoayoungmanshemetjust

ostdiedduringthebirth

oftheirfirstchild,ondchild,born18months

later,tstogo

tovocationalschooltolearnskillstoaddtothefamilyincome,buthismotherinsists

shestayhomeandproduceason.

arriageiscommoninmanypartsof

developingcountries,

20percentoroverhalfofthewomengivebirthtotheirfirstchildbeforetheageof

ationsfromparents,in-lawsandsocietyaretoproduceachildassoonas

picallyresultsinearly

andfrequentpregnancies.

Indevelopingcountries,morethanhalfamillionwomendieeveryyearfromcaus

re

either“toosoon,tooclo,toomany,ortolate”.Accordingtostatistics,itisyoung

womenwhomostdieduringpregnancy.

agedidLisagivebirthtoherfirstchild?

10

esLisawant?

omeninsomedevelopingcountrieshavebabiearly?

ethereasonswomendiefromchildbirth?

themainideaofthepassage?

Keys:1.B2.D3.A4.D5.C

Task2:NuclearFamilyLivingPatterns

Script

ingintheearly20th

century,thetwo-parentfamilyknownasthenuclearfamilywasthepredominant

llychildrenlivewiththeirparentsuntiltheygoawayto

acollegeoruniversity,oruntiltheyacquiretheirownjobsandmoveintotheirown

apartmentorhome.

Intheearlymid-20thcentury,thefamilytypicallywasthesolewageearner,andthe

motherwasthechildren’,oftenbothparentsholdjobs.

Dual-earnerfamiliesarethepredominanttypeforfamilieswithchildrenintheUnited

singly,oneoftheparentshasanon-standardshift;thatis,ashiftthat

efamilies,oneofthe

parentsmanagesthechildrenwhiletheotherworks.

Priortoschool,

recentyears,manyprivatecompaniesandhome-baddaycarecentershavesprung

singly,acompany’sarrangementofdaycareaswellas

governmentassistancetoparentsrequiringdaycareisoccurring.

Task3:TheyarecomingforChristmas,

Script

AmaninPhoenixcallshissoninNewYorkthedaybeforeChristmasandsays,“I

11

hatetoruinyourday,butIhavetotellyouthatyourmomandIaredivorcing,

Forty-fiveyearsofmiryinough..”

“Dad,whatareyoutalkingabout?”thesonscreams.

“Wecan’tstandthesightofeachotheranylonger,”thefathersays.“We’resickof

eachother,andI’msickoftalkingaboutthis,soyoucallyoursisterinChicagoand

tellher.”

Frantic,thesoncallshissister,whoexplodesonthephone.

“Oh,heck,they’regettingdivorced,”sheshouts.“I’lltakecareofthis.”Losingno

time,shecallherfatherandscreamsathim,“’tdoa

singlethinguntilIgetthere.I’mcallingmybrotherback,andwe’llbothbethere

hen,don’tdoanything!DOYOUHEARME?”Thenshequickly

hangsup.

stohiswifeand

saysmerrily,“Okay,theyarecomingbackforChristmasandpayingtheirownway.”

ForReference:

heboy’smotheraredivorcing.

n’tstandthesightofeachotherany

’resickofeachother.

franticandcallshissister.

llcomebackhomeandstoptheparentsfromdivorcing.

ppy,forhissonanddaughterwillcomebackforChristmasandpavetheir

ownway.

NewsReport

PrinceMorePreciousThantheDiamond

Script

Peoplehavelongknownthesaying“Diamondsareagirl’sbestfriend.”Butthismay

’sanewstoneonthegemmarket,tanzanite,anditisgiving

diamondssomeriouscompetition.

realgemamongthe

stoneswastanzanite,newasnamedafterits

countryoforiginbyNewYork’

drawsone’sattentionquicklywithitscolor—blue,purpleorbronze,dependingonthe

directionitisviewedfrom.

12

Moreimportantforitsvalue,though,itehasbeenfoundinonly

onesmallarea,nearMountKilimanjaro,supplywillprobablybe

fullyminedinthenexttwodecades.

Asoneminingofficialputsit,“Itshouldneverhavereallyoccurredinthefirstplace.

ythisonedepositonthintireplanetthatisknown…makesit

tainlywithinthenext15to

20years,therewillbenomoretanzanitetobemined.”

Thecurrentvalueofthetanzanitemarket,atU.S.$10billion,iquivalenttothatof

nothersaying“Diamondsareforever”maylosomeofits

meaning.