Unit 2 Let's talk teens

Reading

Predictio

According to the title and the picture, predict what kind of parent-

child relationship the text is about.

Tense, contradictory, problematic, difficult...

Complete the

chart

Read the magazine article and complete the chart below.

Physical growth

Regular and honest communication

Developing mental needs

Everything will turn out all right in the end.

Contextual

clue:

Teenagers'

physical

changes may

result in such

family

tensions.

Contextual clue:

It can be a big

headache to

balance your

developing

mental needs too.

Contextual clue: The key to keeping

the peace is ....

Pay attention to

topic sentences ！

Question

Why does the author use a group of questions?

Para. 1

•

To arouse readers’ interest;

•

To introduce the topic of parent-child tensions;

•

To introduce the topic of parents’ love for their children.

Introduce a

topic

Question

What physical changes might teenagers worry about?

Shoot up in height

A changing voice

Weight problems

Red spots

Para. 2

Question

How do teenagers suffer mentally?

Para. 3

Adulthood

Childhood

Adolescence

•

a conflict between new desire

for… and a continued need for…

•

a sense of responsibility

•

making decisions independently

•

disagreement

•

failing to control feelings

•

failing to be caring and

patient

A middle ground

Question

How to solve these problems?

Para. 4

Although sometimes it may seem impossible

to get along as a family, you can take action to

improve the situation. The key to keeping the

peace is regular and honest communication.

When you disagree with your parents, take a

minute to calm down and try to understand the

situation from their point of view. Perhaps they

have experienced something similar and do not

want you to go through the same pain. After you

have thought it through, explain your actions and

feelings calmly, listen carefully, and address their

concerns. Through this kind of healthy

discussion, you will learn when to back down

and when to ask your parents to relax their

control.

1. Take a minute to __________.

2. Try to understand the situation

______________________.

3. ______your actions and feelings

calmly.

4. ______carefully and address their

________.

calm down

from their point of view

Explain

Listen

concerns

Question

What is the author’s attitude toward the Parent-

child relationship?

Para. 4

A. negative B. indifferent

C. positive D. nervous

Exercis

Read the magazine article again carefully and answer the

following questions.

1. What physical changes might teenagers worry about?

2. In line 15, what does “middle ground” mean?

3. What does “that” in “that makes you feel unhappy” in line 18 refer to?

4. How can teenagers have a healthy discussion with their parents?

1. What physical changes might teenagers worry about?

2. In line 15, what does “middle ground” mean?

Changing voice, weight problems or spots.

No longer a child but not quite an adult.

Contextual clue: You enter 15 a strange middle ground—no longer ...

Dash (—) means further explanation.

Exercis

3. What does “that” in “that makes you feel unhappy” in line 18 refer to?

4. How can teenagers have a healthy discussion with their parents?

Teenagers feel ready to be more responsible and make decisions on their own, but

their parents do not always agree.

Contextual clue: Unfortunately, your parents do not always agree and that makes you feel unhappy.

Explain their actions and feelings calmly, listen carefully,

and address parents' concerns…

Exercis

Mrs Zhao wrote an email to a teen magazine. Complete the email with the

correct forms of the words and phrases in the box below.

anxious argument concern calm

down

normal stress struggle go

through

Dear Editor,

I am writing to ask for advice on my relationship with my teenage son. To tell the truth, I

often (1)__________ to get along with him. Recently we have argued with each other a

great deal. He is (2)__________ about his skin because it has started to become very oily,

with lots of red spots. He is very angry these days and seems less confident.

struggle

anxious

Exercis

I keep telling him that these changes are (3) ________, and that things will turn out just

fine. Of course, I wanted to show my (4)_________ for his condition, so I bought him some

skin care products. But we had a big (5)_________ when I gave them to him. He told me

that I was putting even more (6)_______ on him by talking about his spots all the time. In

the end, I sent him to his room. He finally (7)____________, but it took some time. The

whole experience was really terrible and I do not want to (8) ___________ the same thing

again. What should I do?

Best wishes,

Mrs Zhao

normal

go through

stress

calmed down

argument

concern

Exercis

The article uses some abstract nouns. Note the following suffixes

and think of more abstract nouns formed with them. Then fill in

the table below with as many words as you can.

Exercis

Questio

What do you think each letter of the word “FAMILY” mean?

Questio

•

Although family members are living under the same roof, however, if

they do not properly handle their relationships, and fail to have an honest

and peaceful communications regularly, misunderstandings or conflicts

might arise, which might lead to frequent arguments, or cold silence,

making them total strangers.

•

Take a minute to calm down and try to understand the situation from

parents’ point of view. Think it through, and then explain your actions

and feelings calmly, listen carefully and address your parents’ concerns.

Assignmen

If you were the editor, how would you reply to the mom?

Assignmen

Dear Mrs Zhao,

Thank you for your letter. I can fully put myself into your shoes as my kid

used to have the same problem—too concerned about his looks. At first I

stepped in by advising him but it was adding fuel to the flames. Later I took

him to the public library and encouraged him to read books on teenage

health. He learned that it is normal for teenagers’ faces grow oilier and

calmed down. I then told him that he still looks great as long as he is

independent and confident. And that is what he is today. So why not take a

step back and allow him to think for a while? He will be fine with your

company and guidance.

Best wishes,

Thank you