III. Match the words with their definitions.

I. Form the derivatives of the words given in the chart below. Use a dictionary if necessary.

NOUN VERB ADJECTIVE
depression    
    embarrassed
  agree  
  argue  
  suffer  

 

II. Fill in prepositions if necessary:

For on of at with from

 

1. It is hard… me to read books in the original.

2. He didn’t want to leave home because … bad weather conditions.

3. What are you suffering …?

4. When He doesn’t know anything, he stares … the window and keeps silence.

5. It is difficult for my parents to agree … something.

6. I must study well … the sake … my future.

7. When I visit Minsk I usually stay … my relatives.

Stare argue stay suffer agree cause

1. Think or say the same as another person.

2. Say that you disagree; exchange angry comments.

3. Be the cause of; make something happen.

4. Look at something intensely.

5. Continue to be in the same place or condition; remain

Spend time in a place as a visitor.

6. Feel pain or sadness.

IV. Translate the word combinations:

Высокое кровяное давление, причинять боль, счастливый брак, согласиться с условиями, ради семьи, уставиться в книгу, страдать от головной боли, из-за болезни, глубокая депрессия, развестись с женой, спорить по мелочам.

V. Wali Abunit has not been healthy recently. Read his conversation with his doctor and find out: what makes him feel so bad?

For the Sake of Children

"Wali, the results of the tests show that your blood pressure is high... too high for a man of your age. What's wrong?" asks Dr. Netaka.

"I don't know. Well, you know, I just don't feel happy. I'm depressed. Is that strange?'

"No, not at all. Unfortunately, many people are like that. Do you have any idea what's causing your depression?"

Wali hangs his head and stares at the floor. He is embar­rassed. He starts to say some­thing, but stops.

"Hmm," says his doctor. ‘I think you know what's wrong. You can tell me. I won't tell anyone else, not even your wife, Fionia."

"My wife...Fionia. It's funny that you should mention her name," says Wali. "Actually, I think my marriage is the prob­lem.Did you know we've been married for 15 years? Fifteen long years," Wali sighs. "Our marriage is terrible. We fight and argue all the time. We can never agree on anything. It's hard for me to live with her. I guess...I don't love my wife anymore."

"What about your two children? Do you love them?" asks Dr. Netaka.

"Yes, very much. And that's part of the problem. I'm afraid to get a divorce because of the children. I thinkFionia and I will have to stay married for the sake of the children."

Dr. Netaka thinks about this for a minute and then asks Wali, "Why? Why do you think you have to stay with your wife because of your children?"

"Everyone knows that children suffer when their par­ents get divorced. I don't want my children to sufferand be unhappy and confused.And I don't want to lose them. If I divorce Fionia, she will probably keep the children. I would only be able to see them every now and then. I couldn't bear that. I would miss them too much."

 

VI. Answer the questions:

1. Why was Wali depressed?

2. How long had he been married?

3. What was wrong with his marriage?

4. What was he afraid to do?

5. Why did he decide to stay with his wife?

6. What would you do in such a situation?

What do you think?

What do you think about divorce? Check the opinions you agree with.

· Children don’t want to see their parents unhappy or fighting all the time. So divorce may help the children, not hurt them.

· When parents get divorced, they should explain to their children that the divorce is the parents` problem and that the children are not to blame.

· Divorce is wrong. Husbands and wives should try hard to stay together.

· With or without children, it doesn’t matter. When love ends, the marriage is over.

· It is OK to get divorced if you don’t have children. But if you do have kids, you should never get divorced.