Lesson 4. How do the Elderly Live?
What you'll learn:
Vocabulary: Elderly people and their lifestyle
Grammar: Tag Questions/Sentences with conjunctions and prepositions
Speaking: Comparing opinions, generalizing real-life situations
Writing: A project

| breakdown [ breıkdaʊn ] (n) a mechanical failure. Breakdowns could totally disrupt production. burden [ bə:d(ə)n] (n) a load, typically a heavy one. To carry a burden. compelling [kəm'pelıη ] (adj) evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way. His eyes were strangely compelling. consume [ kən'sju:m] (v) eat, drink, or ingest food or drinks. People consume a good deal of sugar in drinks. despite [ dı'spaıt ] (prep) without being affected by; in spite of. He remains a great leader despite his age. distinctive [dı'stıη(k)tıv] (adj) characteristic of one person or thing, and so serving to distinguish it from others; typical, particular, exclusive, peculiar, special. A distinctive flavor. foresee [fɔ:'sı:] (v) predict. We did not foresee any difficulties. impressionable [ım'prɛʃ(ə)nəb(ə)l ] (adj) easily influenced. Children are highly impressionable. otherwise [ʌðəwaiz] (adv) in any other way, differently. He saw otherwise. sane [sein ] (adj) (of a person) of sound mind; not mad or mentally ill. Hard work keeps us sane. vulnerable ['vʌln(ə)rəb(ə)l] (adj) exposed to the possibility ofbeing attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally. A vulnerable position.

LISTEN AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS! Read Listening Material
Read through the questions. Then listen to the passage and answer the following questions.

1. What is the passage mainly about?
   a) Areas of the brain
   b) Participants of the research
   c) New studies on learning teenager brains
   d) Comparing adult memory with teenagers’
   e) The evidence of the teenagers’ better performance
2. Which is NOT mentioned according to the passage?
   a) Teenager brains are studied from their experiences
   b) Studies can reveal new ways of teaching teenagers
   c) Teenagers’ parents also participated in the project
   d) Researchers started a project with 41 teenagers
   e) Experiences prepare teenagers for adulthood
3. Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
   Memory test showed that___________
   a) teenagers remembered questions
   b) adults remembered more pictures
   c) teenagers got less answers correct
   d) adults’ brains were active in all areas
   e) teenagers remember answers’ details
4. Choose the correct answer according to the passage. Which area of the brain did adults use in the memory test?
   1. Area of sorting memories
   2. Area of storing memories
   3. Area of decision making
   4. Area of planning
   a) 1, 2
   b) 1, 4
   c) 2, 4
   d) 3, 4
   e) 2, 3
5. Write an answer to the question according to the passage.
   Why did teenagers do better in the game?
6. Which word in the passage is closest in meaning to the definition “a statement or example that makes something clear”

Researchers suggest that teenagers’ brains are learnt from their experiences, which makes them better prepared for adulthood. Researchers also think that studies can find out new ways of teaching teenagers.

Researchers asked 41 teenagers, aged 13 to 17, and 31 adults, aged 20 to 30, to play a game based on pictures while scanning their brains.

In the game, the teenagers got more answers correct. Memory tests showed they were also better at remembering the detail of why they chose the answers.

Looking at the teenagers' brain scans, the researchers found activity in two areas of the brain, one is storing and sorting memories and the other is a push for planning and decision making. Adults mainly used the area of planning and decision making, while teenagers connected the two areas. This connection was the explanation to their better performance.

1. What is the passage mainly about?
   a) Areas of the brain
   b) Participants of the research
   c) New studies on learning teenager brains
   d) Comparing adult memory with teenagers’
   e) The evidence of the teenagers’ better performance
2. Which is NOT mentioned according to the passage?
   a) Teenager brains are studied from their experiences
   b) Studies can reveal new ways of teaching teenagers
   c) Teenagers’ parents also participated in the project
   d) Researchers started a project with 41 teenagers
   e) Experiences prepare teenagers for adulthood
3. Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
   Memory test showed that___________
   a) teenagers remembered questions
   b) adults remembered more pictures
   c) teenagers got less answers correct
   d) adults’ brains were active in all areas
   e) teenagers remember answers’ details
4. Choose the correct answer according to the passage. Which area of the brain did adults use in the memory test?
   1. Area of sorting memories
   2. Area of storing memories
   3. Area of decision making
   4. Area of planning
   a) 1, 2
   b) 1, 4
   c) 2, 4
   d) 3, 4
   e) 2, 3
5. Write an answer to the question according to the passage.
   Why did teenagers do better in the game?
   Answer: they connected all the areas of the brain
6. Which word in the passage is closest in meaning to the definition “a statement or example that makes something clear”
   Answer: explanation