Always 0_____a_______ sure source of affection, my grandparents 1___________ hugely important figures in my life. They 2_________ shower my sister and me with sweets, indulgences and stories, telling tales about my parents as naughty children. When the last of 3___________ died, we all wondered who would hold the family together.
People have relied on grandparents in Britain since the Industrial Revolution, 4___________ whole families moved into cities from the country to get work in the new factories, taking grandmother along to look after the children. 5___________ the fact that more grandmothers are working now, grandparents are still the backbone of childcare in Britain. They provide 44% of full-time care for pre-school children, 6__________ makes you wonder how the country would manage 7_________ them.
The traditional image of a grandparent is a smiling old person surrounded by a cohort of happy children, but 8______________ doesn’t match the facts. 9_____________ we have now is the so-called ‘beanpole family’, thinly stretched 10______________ several generations, with fewer family members in each and with growing numbers of single-parent families. Grandparents are getting younger – more than 50% of grandparents 11______________ already had their first grandchild by the age of 54.
For many of them, grandparenthood means juggling a job, involvement with grandchildren and, sometimes, the care of 12______________ own parents. It is up 13____________ us to balance the demands we make on them if we don’t want to wear them 14_____________. Grandparents are 15______________ a valuable part of the family that we just cannot do without them.
KEY
1. were
2. would
Indulgence: the state of allowing sb to have or do
whatever they want. E.g. There is no limit to the indulgence he shows to
his grandchildren. Sp. Capricho.
3. them
Hold together: To keep sb/sth united. E.g. It’s the mother who usually holds the family together.
4. when
5. Despite
Backbone:
Spine. The most important part of a system, an organization, etc. that
gives it support and strength: E.g. Agriculture forms the backbone of
the rural economy.
6. which
7. without
8. it/ this/ that
Cohort: /ˈkəʊ hɔːt/a group of people who share a common feature. Séquito. E.g. Data was collected from a cohort of 154 students.
9. what
A beanpole family. A family whose living members come from many generations, but with few members in each generation.
E.g.
Family relationships are expected to be dramatically altered by the
ageing society. With people having fewer children and living longer, the
whole notion of family will change. Widely extended families of cousins
of similar age will be replaced by 'beanpole' families of many
generations.
Beanpole: a long stick put upright for bean plants to climb on. (Informal) a tall, lean person.
10. over
11. have
Juggle:
to try to deal with two or more important jobs or activities at the
same time so that you can fit all of them into your life: E.g. Working
mothers are used to juggling their jobs, their children’s needs and
their housework.
Juggle: to throw a set of three or more objects such
as balls into the air and catch and throw them again quickly, one at a
time.
12. their
13. to
14. out
wear yourself/somebody out to make yourself/somebody feel very tired. E.g. The kids have totally worn me out. You'll wear yourself out if you carry on working so hard.
15. such
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