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Intermediate

Reading Comprehension Texts

 

LIED TO-BE

 Groom Philip tells parents his girl is 21 when she=s really 43

 

LOVER boy Philip Pendlington, 20, is to wed a divorcee of 43 - after fibbing to his parents that she=s only 21.

Philip=s family even sent 21st birthday cards to his sweetheart Pat Higgings.

But now he plans to reveal the truth to his mother Linda 45, and father Mike, 48.

Pat said: AI=m not sure how Philip=s parents will take this.

AThey know we=re getting married and are happy about that. But they think I=m just a youngster like Philip.

AIt=s not the easiest thing in the world to admit you are virtually the same age as your new mother-in-law.@

The Tyneside couple met in April last year at Newcastle University, where Philip is on a biology course and Pat is a mature student.

They soon started living together in Throckley, Newcastle.

            Laugh

But Pat -who has a daughter of 24 from a marriage which ended 13 years ago- feared that the age gap between her and Philip would upset his parents.

Pat said: AI just wanted them to get to know me as a person before they found out my age.

AI have dated men my own age. But I find them boring. Philip keeps me young at heart.@ Philip said: AI=m a quiet guy. Girls my age expect men to be witty and talk all the time. Pat just wanted to get to know me.

AI thought that she was about 20. So it was a bit of a shock when she told me she was almost as old as my mother. I couldn=t help but laugh.@ Pat said: AI was nervous about telling him my age but it didn=t seem to make a difference.

AI still felt like a teenager in love, with weak knees, a pounding heart and all that. I knew he was the one.@

 

QUESTIONS

1. Find words in the text that have the same or similar meaning to the following (2 points).

    Beloved:                                                        Youth:

    Practically:                                                    Age difference:

    Lying:

 

2. Answer the following questions (1.5 points)

a. Why did Philip fell in love with Pat?

b. Why does Pat not like men her own age?

c. Why did Philip lie to his parents?

 

3. Rewrite the following sentences without changing the meaning of the original sentence (1.5 points).

a. Michael was late for school because he woke up late.

    If                

b. We didn=t sell our car last year and so we didn=t get a new one.

    If                

c. The swimmer drowned because the sea was too rough.

    If                

 

4. Write the following questions in indirect speech (2 points).

a. AWhen did the government decide to raise taxes?@ he wondered.

b. AWhere is the Grand Canyon?@ she asked.

c. AWhy are these people queuing up?@ he enquired.

d. AHow far is your house from the centre of town?@ the boy wanted to know.

e. AWhose book is this?@ she enquired

 

5. Write 120 words about this topic: Should marriage be for ever? Would you marry knowing that you might get divorced? (3 points)