Expressing Preferences (Parents)

Chapter: Parents

Vocabulary in use

Supply the correct word from the box below after each definition.

obsessed, window-shopping, ridiculous, stomach, swerved, lurking, stammered, evil

a. preoccupied or filled the mind of (someone) continually and to a troubling extent: obsessed
b. the activity of looking at goods displayed in shop windows especially without intending to buy anything: window-shopping
c. very silly or unreasonable: ridiculous
d. a large belly: stomach
e. changed or caused to change direction abruptly: swerved
f. hiding so as to wait in ambush for someone or something: lurking
g. having or showing offensive desire: evil
h. spoke with sudden involuntary pauses repeating the initial letters of words: stammered

Reading comprehension

Read the extracts given below, and answer the questions that follow

a. “I’m not a girl … I mean I’m not a girl for the girl … I mean the friend I am going to meet.”

I. Who said this and to whom?
The daughter said this to the father.

II. What does ‘the girl’ refer to?
'The girl' refers to the friend that the daughter is going to meet.

III. What does ‘a girl’ refer to?
'A girl' refers to the daughter.

b. “You see, I was right. There is no one here. The girl you chatted on the Internet must have been a fake.”

I. Who said this and to whom?
The father said this to the daughter.

II. What does ‘you’ refer to?
'You' refers to the daughter.

III. What happened afterwords?
There was no girl at the meeting place, and the father assumes that the girl the daughter chatted with on the internet was a fake.

c. “You mean… You mean she saw me and…”

I. Who said this and to whom?
The father said this to his colleague.

II. What does the speaker try to say?
The speaker is trying to say that the girl's mother saw him at the meeting place.

III. What does ‘she’ refer to?
'She' refers to the girl's mother.

Read the story, and answer the following questions.

a. Where is Anuja going?

Anuja is going to meet her e-mail friend.

b. What was her father’s suggestion?

Her father's suggestion was to accompany her to the meeting place and wait in the car while she meets her friend.

c. Why did Anuja tell her secret to her father?

Anuja told her secret to her father because she wanted to explain why she was going to meet a girl even though she had presented herself as a boy to the girl online.

d. What did her father notice on the other side of the road?

Her father noticed a car with dark windows parked on the other side of the road.

e. Did Anuja meet her friend? Why not?

No, Anuja did not meet her friend because the mother of the friend saw the father lurking around the meeting place and did not allow her daughter to get out of the car.

f. How did her father feel at the end?

At the end, the father felt embarrassed and foolish.

g. Who do you think is cleverer, Anuja's father or the mother of Anuja’s friend?

It is not clear who is cleverer, Anuja's father or the mother of Anuja's friend.

h. Write down the major traits of Anuja’s father.

Some major traits of Anuja's father might include being protective, concerned about his daughter's safety, and possibly overprotective.

i. Do you think Anuja’s father was caring? Why? Why not? Give reasons.

It is possible to interpret Anuja's father as being caring because he was concerned about his daughter's safety and tried to accompany her to the meeting place. However, some people might also see his behavior as overprotective and not allowing Anuja to make her own decisions.

Read the story again, and rearrange the events in the order in which they happened.

a. Anuja reveals her secret to her father.
b. Anuja wants to meet her friend.
c. Anuja's father also goes with her.
d. Her friend did not turn up.
e. Father tells his daughter not to wait her friend more than 10 minutes.
f. They returned without meeting her friend.
g. It was not easy to digest new information.
h. Instead of a boy of 13, there appeared a lecherous old man.

Answer

b. Anuja wants to meet her friend.
a. Anuja reveals her secret to her father.
c. Anuja's father also goes with her.
e. Father tells his daughter not to wait her friend more than 10 minutes.
f. They returned without meeting her friend.
d. Her friend did not turn up.
g. It was not easy to digest new information.
h. Instead of a boy of 13, there appeared a lecherous old man.

When you become a parent, how would you make sure that your child is not in danger? What are the possible measures that you can take in that situation?

As a parent, there are several measures I would take to ensure that my child is not in danger:

1. Communicate with my child: I would make sure to have open and honest communication with my child about their online activities and the potential dangers they may face.
2. Set boundaries: I would set boundaries and rules for my child's online activities, such as not sharing personal information or arranging in-person meetings with people they have only met online.
3. Monitor their online activities: I would consider using parental control software to monitor my child's online activities and ensure that they are not engaging in risky behavior.
4. Educate myself: I would make sure to stay informed about the latest online trends and dangers, so I can better understand the risks my child may face.
5. Seek help: If I am concerned about my child's online safety, I would not hesitate to seek help from professionals or trusted resources.

Grammar

Write a couple of paragraphs about your likes and dislikes.

I have always been a lover of music and art. I enjoy listening to a wide variety of genres, from classical to contemporary, and I am also an avid concert-goer. In my spare time, I enjoy painting and drawing, and I find that creating art is a great way to relax and express myself.

On the other hand, I am not a fan of crowds or loud noises. I find it overwhelming to be in a crowded, noisy environment for an extended period of time, and I prefer to spend my time in quieter, more peaceful surroundings. I also tend to avoid activities that involve a lot of physical exertion, as I am not particularly athletic and tend to tire easily. Overall, I enjoy activities that allow me to relax and engage my creative side, but I tend to avoid those that are too strenuous or chaotic.

Fill in the blanks with ‘a’, ‘an’, or ‘the’ where necessary to complete the story.

Once there lived an Emperor, who was very fond of wearing a new pair of shoes. He had a set of new shoes for every hour. He used to go riding on his horse merely to show off his shoes. He told all, “I think the best way a man can spend money is by buying shoes!” People used to think him to be a bit ridiculous.

One day he wished to get the most magnificent shoes with a remarkable quality. People had never heard of such a thing before. He called the cobbler and gave a large sum of gold coins from the royal treasury to buy the finest materials. A few days passed and the cobbler did not turn up. Then, he sent the Prime Minister to examine the progress. After an hour, the Prime Minister came with an empty hand. The poor emperor could not believe that he had such a liar in his kingdom.

Writing

The sentences given below go together to form a complete letter of application, but they are in the wrong order. Put them in the right order.

Dear sir,

d. With reference to your advertisement in the News Express of 28 January, I would like to apply for the post of an assistant librarian. e. I have been working as an assistant librarian at my own school. b. I therefore feel confident that I can fulfill my duties and responsibilities. f. I am single, 24 years of age, and I have completed my training on library management from Future Star Institution. c. My duties here include the general supervision of different sections, as well as looking after the Periodical Section. a. Moreover, on numerous occasions I have had to take the duties of a librarian, since the librarian has had several prolonged bouts of illness. g. If I am given the post, I can assure you I will do my best to give you satisfaction. h. I have enclosed all the required testimonials along with CV with this application.

Yours sincerely,
Phurli Waiba

Rewrite the sentences of Exercise 1 to form the job application. Divide your writing into three paragraphs. You may add your own words or sentences to the application.

Dear Sir,

I am writing to apply for the position of assistant librarian, as advertised in the News Express of 28 January. I have completed training in library management from the Future Star Institution and have experience working as an assistant librarian at my own school.

In my current role, I have been responsible for the general supervision of different sections and the management of the Periodical Section. On numerous occasions, I have also had to take on the duties of the librarian when he has been absent due to illness.

I believe that my experience and training make me well-suited for this position. If given the opportunity, I am eager to do my best and assure you of my satisfaction. I have included all required testimonials and my CV with this application.

Sincerely,
Phurli Waiba