Reading and critical thinking

A TV guide

  1. Work in pairs. Look at the photos on p25. Answer the questions.
    1. Do you think the Putmans are a big family or a small family?
    2. Why do you think this family is unusual?

Subskill: Predicting what a text is about

Look at the photos and text type. Think about what is in the text before you read it. This can help you understand a text when you read.

  1. Read and listen to the TV guide article. Check your answers in exercise 1.

Atidaryti garso įrašo transkripciją

  1. Read the article again and complete the sentences.
    1. The Putmans are from (…) .
    2. They all live in one (…) .
    3. Bill and Barb are the (…) of the family.
    4. They’ve got (…) children and (…) grandchildren.
    5. The Putmans’ house is (…) .
    6. The children go to school in the family (…) .
    7. The Putmans eat together at (…) o’clock every evening.
  1. Are the sentences true or false? Correct the false sentences.
    1. Bill and Barb have got two daughters.
    2. The Putmans use two bathrooms.
    3. Each child has got a separate bedroom.
    4. The children study together in the evenings.
    5. The Putmans eat at one big table.
    6. The home is very quiet.
  1. Word work Match the definitions to the words in bold in the text.
    1. sad because you aren’t with other people
    2. with other people
    3. not normal or typical
    4. use or have with another person
    5. a TV programme about the lives of real people
    6. an adjective to describe an activity that you like

unusual

reality show

share

lonely

together

fun

  1. Use the words in exercise 5. Write …
    1. the name of a reality show in your country
    2. an activity that is fun
    3. a place you and your friends go together
    4. an unusual name for a boy or girl
    5. an object that you share with a friend
    6. something you do when you’re lonely
  1. Work in pairs. Compare your answers in exercise 6. Are any answers the same?

Big Brother is a reality show.

You’re right! So is the music show The Voice.

  1. Read what the people say about their families. Answer the questions.

I haven’t got any brothers or sisters. I’ve got friends, but I’d love a sister to talk to. Eli, 11

I’ve got two brothers, and they’re very annoying! Clara, 13

I’m an only child, but my dad has got six brothers and sisters. It’s great because I’ve got a lot of cousins to do things with. Toby, 12

  1. Who … ?
    1. is an only child
    2. is happy with his/her situation (Why?)
    3. isn’t happy with his/her situation (Why?)
  2. Who’s got a situation similar to you? Why?

CRITICAL THINKING

  1. Understand Read the text again. Find two advantages and two disadvantages of a big family.

Advantages

The children help each other with their homework.

Disadvantages

The children share a bedroom.

  1. Apply Think of two advantages and two disadvantages of a small family.
  2. Evaluate What do you think is the ideal number of people in a family? Why?

Research

Find other TV programmes about families.