Read the article. Match the highlighted words with their meanings.

Over the past two centuries, different generations were born and given different names. Each generation comes with its characteristics, which are largely influenced by the historical, economic, and social conditions of the country they live in. However, in many countries the following three generations have common characteristics.

Generation X refers to the generation born between 1965 and 1980. When Gen Xers grew up, they experienced many social changes and developments in history. As a result, they are always ready for changes and prepared to work through changes. Gen Xers are also known as critical thinkers because they achieved higher levels of education than previous generations.

Generation Y, also known as Millennials, refers to those born between the early 1980s and late 1990s. They are curious and ready to accept changes. If there is a faster, better way of doing something, Millennials want to try it out. They also value teamwork. When working in a team, Millennials welcome different points of view and ideas from others.

Generation Z includes people born between the late 1990s and early 2010s, a time of great technological developments and changes. That is why Gen Zers are also called digital natives. They grew up online and never knew the world before digital and social media. They are very creative and able to experiment with platforms to suit their needs. Many Gen Zers are also interested in starting their own businesses and companies. They saw so many people lose their jobs, so they think it is safer to be your own boss than relying on someone else to hire you.

Soon a new generation, labelled Gen Alpha, will be on the scene. Let's wait and see if we will notice the generation gap

Read the article again. Match the highlighted words with their meanings.

Read the article. Match the highlighted words and phrases with their meanings.

Teen's life

I don't want to be the odd one out!

"My parents don’t want me to hang out with my friends from school. They think those friends have a bad influence onme. They aren’t happy that instead of going home after school, we go to games centres to play video games. But I think it’s fun, and! don’t want to lose my friends," Thanh, 17.

“One day I coloured my hair and painted my finger nails. My parents got so angry with me. I know that this is not allowed at school, but all the girls in my group of friends did the same. I don’t want to be the odd one out!" Van, 16.

[ A ] The emails we have received from teenagers this week point to the effects of peer pressure, which is when you do things because you want to be accepted or valued by your friends. If teens fail to do what their group of friends want them to do, they may not be accepted or may even be bullied.

[ B ] In many cases, peer pressure can lead to depression, low self-confidence, distance from family and poor school performance. It can also lead to bigger social issues. It was reported that 70% of teenage smokers surveyed in the US said that they started smoking because they had friends who were smoking.

[ C ] It is not always easy to stand up to peer pressure, but sooner or later you need to decide what is best for you. Choose the right friends, learn to say no when you don’t feel comfortable and don’t hesitate to talk to an adult when the situation looks dangerous. And remember it’s sometimes OK to be "the odd one out". 

Read the article below and match its parts with the correct descriptions.

_______ A. Introduction - A short paragraph stating the issue and what the article will cover

_______ B. Title - The topic of the article in a few words

_______ C. Body paragraphs - Each presenting a main point for or against the issue, supported by facts, examples, or explanations

_______ D. Conclusion - A summary of the main points and sometimes the writer’s opinion

Read the text about life in a village in Viet Nam. Match the highlighted words in the text with their meanings. 

I feel fortunate that I am living in a peaceful village in southern Viet Nam. The scenery here is beautiful and picturesque with vast fields stretching long distances. The houses are surrounded by green trees. There are lakes, ponds, and canals here and there. The air is fresh and cool. Life here seems to move more slowly than in cities. The people work very hard. They grow vegetables, cultivate rice, and raise cattle. At harvest time, they use combine harvesters to harvest their crops. Many families live by growing fruit trees in the orchards. Others live by fishing in lakes, ponds, and canals. Life in the village is very comfortable for children. They play traditional games. Sometimes they help their parents pick fruit and herd cattle.

People in my village know each other well. They are friendly and hospitable. They often meet each other in the evening, eating fruit, playing chess, singing folk songs, and chatting about everyday activities.

Read the article. Match the highlighted words with their meanings.

THE EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY FOR SCHOOL-LEAVERS 

This month, Teen Talk magazine has received many letters from secondary school students asking about the different options for school-leavers. We've talked to educational experts, and they think that young people should either continue their studies at a college or university or go to a vocational school.

A. ______________________

Higher education is really for people who want formal learning in order to get an academic degree. If you are good at certain subjects and need a degree related to those subjects, then university is the right choice for you. Besides studying, university students also have the opportunity to live independently, make new friends, and join different clubs. Many students still manage to work part-time during their university years. In addition, college or university students usually have an advantage over students from vocational schools when it comes to further studies after a degree. They will also have broader career options and an advantage in the job market.

B. ______________________

If you are not interested in traditional academic subjects and want to work in a specific trade, then vocational education is the right choice for you. You will gain the practical skills and knowledge necessary for a specific job. In addition, a vocational school may also offer you an apprenticeship. This type of training not only provides students with hands-on experience, but also gives them wages to cover their living costs. Most importantly, vocational training is usually much shorter than a college or university course. After getting their vocational qualifications, graduates can immediately start work and earn a salary.

There are a lot of educational opportunities for school-leavers today. You can choose from hundreds of vocational schools or higher education institutions to continue your educational journey. 

Read the news items again and match the highlighted words with their meanings.

Read the article and match the photos (A-C) with two of the artists.

Jessie Hemmons

Magda Sayeg

GRANNY GRAFFITI

The statue of Rocky outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art is very popular with tourists, who often stop to take their photo in front of it without bothering to visit the museum itself. This irritated the artist Jessie Hemmons, who knitted a bright pink jacket and put it on the statue of the boxer. On the front of the jacket, Jessie knitted the words 'Go see the art'. Jessie hopes that more people will visit the gallery. This form of street art has become known as 'yarn bombing'.

The craze is believed to have started in 2005 by Magda Sayeg in Houston, Texas. One day Magda decided, just for fun, to knit a blue-and-pink cover for her shop's door handle. She loved it, and unexpectedly, so did her customers. Pedestrians stopped outside the shop to photograph it. Motorists slowed down to take a closer look. Their reaction inspired Magda to make covers for other objects in the street, such as a stop sign, a lamp post, a parking meter - and even an entire bus, which took a whole week to complete!

There are now yarn bombing groups in dozens of countries. They photograph and film their works and upload them to the internet.

Jessie believes that most street art is done by men and that yarn bombing is a more feminine activity. But not everyone approves of the new form of street art. Some people argue that covering public objects in wool is vandalism and littering, but the police appear to have a relatively relaxed attitude towards yarn bombers. They might interrupt them if they see them at work in the street, but they do not often view them as criminals.

Whether you see yarn bombing as a bit of fun that brightens up drab cities, or as a form of high culture with a serious message, it is a craze that is likely to continue.