Six People’s Childhood Memories

Interviewer: Did you often misbehave when a child? Were you afraid of your father?

Person 1: I really wasn’t. I used to like to do well just to see the look of pleasure on my dad’s face. He’d say

“Pet, it’s like a tonic to me when you do well – I don’t know how I have such clever children!” But I

never felt I was being pushed too hard. If I did badly he’d just say “Well what’ll it matter a hundred

years from now that you failed your Geography exam!” I liked his approach to me, that’s why I never

make him lose his temper.

Interviewer: You were lucky to have such a father. And you, mister, did you have good relationship with your

father?

Person 2: Not that good. In his opinion, whatever I did was just never quite good enough. I wasn’t very strong as

a child – I used to get attacks of asthma, so I couldn’t do PE or games. Well, anyway, when I was

twelve I was so thrilled because I was put in the second eleven for cricket. I was so sure he’d be

pleased. Do you know what he said? “Second team” When I was your age I was in the first for cricket,

rugby, and hockey.” I felt so crushed away and cried – in private of course!

Interviewer: An unpleasant situation… Miss, were your parents friendly with you and your friends? Or did your

parents suppress you?

Person 3: They never ever were authoritarian. Our house was always open to whoever came round. You’d never

know how many people would sit down to a meal. My parents were always inviting people in, and my

sisters and I brought friends from school. They used to love coming to our house because they were

made so welcome. There were no petty rules, and as long as we tidied up they didn’t mind what we did.

We called of my parents’ friends ‘Uncle’ or ‘Aunt’ so-so. We never used to know who were our real

relations! But what was so nice for us kids was that we grew up surrounded by a lot of adults, not just

our parents, so we heard what they had to say, and they listened to our opinions as well.

Interviewer: How happy you are to have such parents! Mister, were your parents also loving and caring people? Did

they pay enough attention to your problems? Did you spend much time together?

Person 4: I can’t say they didn’t love me but they were always busy, always getting dressed up to go somewhere,

and so wrapped up in each other. I really don’t know why they had children. They always said I was a

mistake! They gave me very material benefit, pocket money any time I asked: I had my own brand –

BMW when I was seventeen. I wanted for nothing except their time.

Interviewer: They just wanted to earn money to provide you good conditions and education but they sacrificed the

important person in their life – their child. Miss, did your parents take care of you? Did they work

much?

Person 5: Maybe. My parents finally split up when I was four. It’s one of my earliest memories – my dad sitting

me on his knee and saying, “Mummy and daddy have decided to live in different houses and I want

you to decide which house you want to live in.” Can you imagine asking a child of four? I didn’t know

what to say, but my very much bigger brother was standing behind him mouthing, “Say mum, say

mum.” So I did, and I never saw my dad again except once when I was about ten – from the top of a

double-decker bus. At least, I think it was him. – I’m sure it was, that time – only I still keep thinking I

see him all over the place. I’ve had three step-dads – it’s not the same.

Interviewer: I quite understand you. If there isn’t a parent, it is very difficult to find “a worthy substitute”. What

kind of person was your mum, miss?

Person 6: She was like a sea of calm, nothing ruffled her, she always had time. Me and the others would be

scrapping about something, and she’d say “OK, OK, let’s calm down, let’s go back to the beginning

and sort it out – so we did, and it was sorted out!” I remember this school friend of mine, she fell off

her bike and completely smashed her front teeth. She didn’t cry because she was hurt, but because her

mother was so particular about her appearance. She said “She’ll kill me, she thinks I have such lovely

teeth!” In fact this friend came to my mum first and she rang and told her mum what had happened.

Fancy not being able to go to your own mum!

Interviewer: Guests, I’m very thankful to you for your stories. In my return, I’m going to include your interviews

into my article about family relationship.

 

Topic 13. Gifted children

Task 32. Read the text and choose the correct words in italics. Then choose the correct answer.

At the age of 15, Min Yehn seems to have everything a teenager could dream of – a computer, a mobile phone, beautiful clothes and even piano. Min Yehn, however, has little time to play / study with a mountain of homework to do. Like most other Chinese schoolchildren of her age, Min Yehn has to go to school from Monday to Friday, nine hours a day – an hour more than her parents spend at work. At the weekdays / weekend, unlike her parents, she has to get up early for piano lessons on Saturday and Sunday morning, followed by private Maths and English classes in the afternoon. As a reward for her hard work, Min Yehn’s parents let her play video and computer games for one hour on Saturday and Sunday evening.

Min Yehn is not alone. According to a new study, more and more children in large cities across the country are experiencing joyless / careless childhoods. On average, China’s children spend 8.6 hours a day at school, with some spending 12 hours a day in the classroom. The majority of children spend longer hours at school than their parents at work.

As for Min Yehn, her mother, An Hau, knows well that her daughter doesn’t get enough sleep or playtime, “We have no other job / choice ”, she said, “if she gives up now and doesn’t study hard, she will regret it as her future will be lost. She will complain to us more then.” “This is the reality of China”, she sighed.

 

1. The text tells about …

A the life of schoolchildren in China.

B clubs in Chinese schools.

C subjects that children study in different countries.

D schooling in Britain.

 

2. Min Yehn has to study …

A more hours than her parents spend at work.

B less time than her parents work.

C half a day, and then she has her private time.

D on Saturday and Sunday evening.

 

 

3. What is true according to the text?

A All the Chinese children spend 12 hours a day in the classroom.

B Many children in large cities have too little time for joy.

C Min Yehn is one of the few children who study so hard.

D Children in China prefer to study on Saturday and Sunday.

 

4. Min Yehn’s mother …

A doesn’t know that her daughter has not enough time for a sleep or play.

B doesn’t worry about her daughter.

C thinks that her daughter’s future will be lost.

D says that hard work at school is necessary for a successful future.