Age Differences

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Level 6 - 31st May, 2019

Anger at TV show with big age difference couples
FREE online quizzes, mp3 listening and more for this lesson here:
https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1905/190531-age-differences.html
Contents
The Article 2 Discussion (Student-Created Qs) 15
Warm-Ups 3 Language Work (Cloze) 16
Vocabulary 4 Spelling 17
Before Reading / Listening 5 Put The Text Back Together 18
Gap Fill 6 Put The Words In The Right Order 19
Match The Sentences And Listen 7 Circle The Correct Word 20
Listening Gap Fill 8 Insert The Vowels (a, e, i, o, u) 21
Comprehension Questions 9 Punctuate The Text And Add Capitals 22
Multiple Choice - Quiz 10 Put A Slash ( / ) Where The Spaces Are 23
Role Play 11 Free Writing 24
After Reading / Listening 12 Academic Writing 25
Student Survey 13 Homework 26
Discussion (20 Questions) 14 Answers 27
Please try Levels 4 and 5 (they are easier).
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THE ARTICLE
From https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1905/190531-age-differences.html
A TV channel in the UK is under fire from members of the public for one
of its programmes that follows the lives of couples with a big age
difference. Viewers have accused the Channel 5 series Age Gap Love of
"normalising grooming". The complaints came after a show that
documented the relationship of a couple who got together when the man
was 44 and his partner was 16. The man was originally a friend of the
16-year-old's mother. He became friendly with the daughter when she
was a child and started dating her when she turned 16. After this episode
was aired, the channel received a flood of complaints from viewers who
slammed the show for "making this concept seem normal".
The couple in the show are married and have two children. He is now 47
and she is 19. The man said: "I was concerned what people would think.
It's a big gap. It's a generation gap. So it's like, what are people going to
think?" His wife also spoke about the relationship. She said: "The age
doesn't really bother me. It never has done. I don't see him as an old
man, or my dad, or anything like that. He's just sensitive - like a big
teddy bear." She added: "I've always wanted to have a family, so I just
thought he would be the perfect man." Life has not been easy for the
couple. When they first started dating, they received a lot of abuse from
neighbours and the local community and had to move to another city.
Sources: https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/age-gap-love-accused-normalising-16213965
https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/9166705/viewers-blast-channel-5-normalising-grooming-age-
gap-love/
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/tv/viewers-criticise-channel-5s-age-16341922
Level 6 Anger at TV show with big age difference couples – 31st May, 2019
More free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com - Copyright Sean Banville 2019 2
WARM-UPS
1. AGE DIFFERENCES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students
about age differences. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will
the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
TV channel / under fire / couples / complaint / relationship / dating / concept / normal

married / generation gap / age / sensitive / teddy bear / family / perfect / neighbours
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. AGE LIMIT: Students A strongly believe there should be a limit on the maximum
age difference between couples; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners
again and talk about your conversations.
4. DIFFERENCES: Do differences in these things matter? What problems might

they have? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what
you wrote.
Do The Differences Matter? What Problems Might They Have?
Age
Income
Religion
Nationality
Education
Race
5. COUPLE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate
with the word "couple". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them.
Together, put the words into different categories.
6. RELATIONSHIP: Rank these with your partner. Put the most important things
for a relationship at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.
• similar age • same dreams

• same hobbies • similar personality
• same education • same religion
• shared housework • same nationality
VOCABULARY MATCHING
Paragraph 1
1. under fire a. Severely criticized.
2. viewer b. Said that someone has done something

wrong.
3. accused c. A statement that a situation is

unsatisfactory or unacceptable.
4. grooming d. Being criticized a lot.
5. complaint e. Passed the age or time of.
6. turned f. A person who watches television or a movie.
7. slammed g. Preparing a child for a meeting, especially

via an Internet chat room, with the intention
of committing a sexual offense.
Paragraph 2
8. generation h. Insulting and offensive language.
9. bother i. Worry, disturb, or upset.
10. sensitive j. A group of people living in the same place or

having a particular characteristic in
common.
11. abuse k. A great difference in age between people.
12. local l. Belonging or relating to a particular area.
13. neighbour m. Having or displaying a quick and delicate

appreciation of others' feelings.
14. community n. A person living near or next door to the

speaker or person referred to.
BEFORE READING / LISTENING
1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).
a. There was a fire at a TV channel in the UK. T/F

b. A TV show followed the lives of a couple with a 44-year age difference. T/F
c. The man in the show was the friend of a girl's mother. T/F
d. The couple started dating when the girl turned 18. T/F
e. The couple are now married and have two children. T/F
f. The man said his wife loves teddy bears. T/F
g. The couple said life hasn't been easy for them. T/F
h. Neighbours of the couple were unhappy with their relationship. T/F
2. SYNONYM MATCH:
Match the following synonyms. The words in bold are from the news article.
1. channel a. trouble
2. difference b. initially
3. accused c. ideal
4. originally d. worried
5. aired e. gap
6. concerned f. thoughtful
7. bother g. broadcast
8. sensitive h. station
9. perfect i. relocate
10. move j. blamed
3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)
1. A TV channel in the UK is under a. relationship of a couple

2. members of the b. from viewers
3. a show that documented the c. like a big teddy bear
4. After this episode was d. public
5. received a flood of complaints e. the perfect man
6. It's a generation f. fire
7. The age doesn't g. from neighbours
8. He's just sensitive - h. gap
9. just thought he would be i. aired
10. they received a lot of abuse j. really bother me
GAP FILL
A TV channel in the UK is under (1) ____________ from members relationship
of the public for one of its programmes that follows the lives of couples
(2) ____________ with a big age difference. Viewers have
flood
(3) ____________ the Channel 5 series Age Gap Love of
originally
"normalising grooming". The complaints came after a show that
documented the (4) ____________ of a couple who got together concept
when the man was 44 and his partner was 16. The man was fire
(5) ____________ a friend of the 16-year-old's mother. He
accused
became friendly with the daughter when she was a child and
turned
started dating her when she (6) ____________ 16. After this
episode was aired, the channel received a (7) ____________ of
complaints from viewers who slammed the show for "making this
(8) ____________ seem normal".
The (9) ____________ in the show are married and have two abuse
children. He is now 47 and she is 19. The man said: "I was sensitive
(10) ____________ what people would think. It's a big gap. It's a
concerned
(11) ____________ gap. So it's like, what are people going to
dating
think?" His wife also spoke about the relationship. She said: "The
age doesn't really (12) ____________ me. It never has done. I generation
don't see him as an old man, or my dad, or anything like that. couple
He's just (13) ____________ - like a big teddy bear." She added:
perfect
"I've always wanted to have a family, so I just thought he would
bother
be the (14) ____________ man." Life has not been easy for the
couple. When they first started (15) ____________, they received
a lot of (16) ____________ from neighbours and the local
community and had to move to another city.
LISTENING – Guess the answers. Listen to check.
1) A TV channel in the UK is under fire from members ______

a. of the publicity
b. of the publicly
c. of the public
d. of the publican
2) accused the Channel 5 series Age Gap Love of ______
a. normalising groom in
b. normalising gloomy
c. normalising gloom in
d. normalising grooming
3) friendly with the daughter when she was a child and started dating her ______
a. when she turning 16
b. where she turned 16
c. when he turned 16
d. when she turned 16
4) After this episode was aired, the channel received a ______
a. floods of complaints
b. flood of complaints
c. flooding of complaints
d. flooded of complaints
5) viewers who slammed the show for making this ______
a. concept seem normal
b. concepts seem normal
c. concept seems normal
d. concept seem normality
6) I was concerned what people would think. It's a big gap. It's ______
a. a generation grasp
b. a generation gap
c. a generation clap
d. a generation gape
7) The age doesn't really bother me. It never has done. I don't see him ______
a. as an old man
b. was an old man
c. has an old man
d. is an old man
8) as an old man, or my dad, or anything like that. He's just sensitive - like a ______
a. big teddy bear
b. big teddy bare
c. big teddy boar
d. big teddy beer
9) I've always wanted to have a family, so I just thought he would be ______
a. the perfectly man
b. the perfective man
c. the perfect man
d. the perfective man
10) abuse from neighbours and the local community and had to ______ city
a. moved to another
b. moving to another
c. mover to another
d. move to another
LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps
A TV channel in the UK is (1) ___________________ members of the public
for one of its programmes that follows the lives of couples with a big age
difference. Viewers (2) ___________________ Channel 5 series Age Gap
Love of "normalising grooming". The complaints came after a
(3) ___________________ the relationship of a couple who got together
when the man was 44 and his partner was 16. The man
(4) ___________________ friend of the 16-year-old's mother. He became
friendly with the daughter when she was a child and started dating her when
she turned 16. After this (5) ___________________, the channel received a
flood of complaints from viewers who slammed the show for "making this
(6) ___________________".
The couple in the show are married and have two children. He is now 47 and
she is 19. The man said: "I (7) ___________________ people would think.
It's a big gap. It's (8) ___________________. So it's like, what are people
going to think?" His wife also spoke about the relationship. She said: "The
age doesn't (9) ___________________. It never has done. I don't see him
as an old man, or my dad, or anything like that. (10) ___________________
- like a big teddy bear." She added: "I've always wanted to have a family, so
I just thought he would be (11) ___________________." Life has not been
easy for the couple. When they first started dating, they received a lot of
abuse from neighbours and the (12) ___________________ had to move to
another city.
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS
1. Who is a TV channel under fire from?
2. What is the name of the TV programme?
3. How old was the woman when she first started dating the man?
4. Who was the man a friend of?
5. What did the show receive a flood of?
6. How many children do the couple have?
7. What kind of gap did the man call the age difference?
8. What did the woman liken her husband to?
9. What did the woman think the man would be?
10. What did the couple get a lot of from their neighbours?
MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ
1) Who is a TV channel under fire 6) How many children do the couple

from? have?
a) regulators a) 1
b) fire fighters b) 2
c) members of the public c) 3
d) marriage guidance counsellors d) 4
2) What is the name of the TV 7) What kind of gap did the man call
programme? the age difference?
a) Age Gap Love a) a generation gap
b) What a Difference b) a slight gap
c) A Huge Difference c) an opinion gap
d) Gap In Love d) a huge gap
3) How old was the woman when 8) What did the woman liken her
she first started dating the man? husband to?
a) 16 a) a movie star
b) 17 b) Rambo
c) 18 c) a teddy bear
d) 19 d) a best friend
4) Who was the man a friend of? 9) What did the woman think the
a) the girl's best friend man would be?
b) the girl's mother a) full of aches and pains
c) the girl's father b) old-fashioned
d) the girl's grandfather c) tired
d) the perfect man
5) What did the show receive a flood
of? 10) What did the couple get a lot of
a) e-mails from their neighbours?
b) water a) abuse
c) letters b) good wishes
d) complaints c) presents
d) hate mail
ROLE PLAY
Role A – Similar Age

You think being the same age is the most important thing for a
successful relationship. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell
them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the others
which is the least important of these (and why): same hobbies,
same dreams or same religion.
Role B – Same Hobbies

You think having the same hobbies is the most important thing
for a successful relationship. Tell the others three reasons why.
Tell them why their things aren't as important. Also, tell the
others which is the least important of these (and why): same
age, same dreams or same religion.
Role C – Same Dreams

You think having the same dreams is the most important thing
hobbies, same age or same religion.
Role D – Same Religion

You think having the same religion is the most important thing
hobbies, same dreams or same age.
AFTER READING / LISTENING
1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates,

other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'age' and
'difference'.
age difference
• Share your findings with your partners.

• Make questions using the words you found.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.
2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down

some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.
• Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.
3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise.

Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new,
interesting, worth learning…?
4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups,

pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.
5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try
to recall how they were used in the text:
• public • two
• big • concerned
• documented • generation
• originally • old
• turned • bear
• normal • city
AGE DIFFERENCES SURVEY
Write five GOOD questions about age differences in the table. Do this in pairs. Each
student must write the questions on his / her own paper.
When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.
STUDENT 1 STUDENT 2 STUDENT 3
_____________ _____________ _____________
Q.1.
Q.2.
Q.3.
Q.4.
Q.5.
• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found
out. Change partners often.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.
AGE DIFFERENCES DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1. What did you think when you read the headline?

2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'age'?
3. Is age just a number?
4. What do you think of the 28-year age difference?
5. What do you think of a 44-year-old man dating a 16-year-old?
6. What do you think of a 44-year-old woman dating a 16-year-old?
7. Would you ever complain to a TV show?
8. What do you know about grooming?
9. Do you think this show is 'normalising grooming'?
10. What advice do you have for the couple?
Anger at TV show with big age difference couples – 31st May, 2019
Thousands more free lessons at breakingnewsenglish.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGE DIFFERENCES DISCUSSION
STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
11. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

12. What do you think of when you hear the word 'couple'?
13. What do you think about what you read?
14. What would you say if you were the 16-year-old's parent?
15. Do you prefer older or younger partners?
16. What is the oldest person you would date?
17. Is a 28-year age gap OK if the people are over 40?
18. What famous people have much younger partners?
19. Should there be a law on the maximum age difference in couples?
20. What questions would you like to ask the couple?
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)
1. ________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________
6. ________________________________________________________
Copyright © breakingnewsenglish.com 2019
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)
1. ________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________
6. ________________________________________________________
LANGUAGE - CLOZE
A TV channel in the UK is (1) ____ fire from members of the public for one of its
programmes that follows the (2) ____ of couples with a big age difference. Viewers
have accused the Channel 5 series Age Gap Love (3) ____ "normalising grooming".
The complaints came after a show that (4) ____ the relationship of a couple who got
together when the man was 44 and his partner was 16. The man was originally a
friend of the 16-year-old's mother. He became friendly with the daughter when she
was a child and started dating her when she (5) ____ 16. After this episode was
aired, the channel received a flood of complaints from viewers who (6) ____ the
show for "making this concept seem normal".
The couple in the show are married and have two children. He is now 47 and she is
19. The man said: "I was (7) ____ what people would think. It's a big gap. It's a
generation gap. So it's like, what are people going to think?" His wife also spoke
about the relationship. She said: "The age doesn't really (8) ____ me. It never has
done. I don't see him as an old man, or my dad, or anything like that. He's just
sensitive - like a big (9) ____ bear." She added: "I've always wanted to have a
family, so I just thought he would be the (10) ____ man." Life has not been easy for
the couple. When they first started (11) ____, they received a lot of (12) ____ from
neighbours and the local community and had to move to another city.
Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.
1. (a) over (b) beneath (c) under (d) above
2. (a) lives (b) lively (c) livelihood (d) lifers
3. (a) of (b) to (c) at (d) on
4. (a) documented (b) documentary (c) document (d) documents
5. (a) revolved (b) twisted (c) span (d) turned
6. (a) slimed (b) slimmed (c) slummed (d) slammed
7. (a) concerned (b) cornered (c) conned (d) coerced
8. (a) rather (b) mother (c) wither (d) bother
9. (a) teddy (b) grin and (c) cannot (d) tiny
10. (a) perfectly (b) perfect (c) perfected (d) perfective
11. (a) doting (b) dating (c) dittoing (d) doubting
12. (a) abuse (b) abusive (c) abused (d) abused
SPELLING
Paragraph 1
1. the lives of eloupcs
2. normalising ioggomrn
3. The tanmosiclp came after a show
4. After this edospei was aired
5. received a foodl
6. making this pcctoen seem normal
Paragraph 2
7. doecnrcen what people would think
8. It's a otneigrena gap
9. spoke about the prhtnielsoia
10. He's just itevenssi
11. a lot of ubaes from neighbours
12. the local unmctoimy
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER
Number these lines in the correct order.
( ) of couples with a big age difference. Viewers have accused the

Channel 5 series Age Gap Love of "normalising
( ) together when the man was 44 and his partner was 16. The man
was originally a
( ) grooming". The complaints came after a show that documented the

relationship of a couple who got
( ) man." Life has not been easy for the couple. When they first started
dating, they received a lot of abuse
( ) to think?" His wife also spoke about the relationship. She said: "The
age doesn't really bother me. It never has
( ) complaints from viewers who slammed the show for "making this
concept seem normal".
( ) dating her when she turned 16. After this episode was aired, the
channel received a flood of
( ) done. I don't see him as an old man, or my dad, or anything like

that. He's just
( ) The couple in the show are married and have two children. He is
now 47 and she is 19. The man said: "I was
( ) sensitive - like a big teddy bear." She added: "I've always wanted
to have a family, so I just thought he would be the perfect
( ) friend of the 16-year-old's mother. He became friendly with the

daughter when she was a child and started
( ) concerned what people would think. It's a big gap. It's a generation
gap. So it's like, what are people going
( 1 ) A TV channel in the UK is under fire from members of the public for

one of its programmes that follows the lives
( ) from neighbours and the local community and had to move to

another city.
PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER
1. fire . A TV in channel England under is
2. lives of The with big age differences . couples
3. of together . The relationship got a who couple
4. friend the mother . 16-year-old's of a Originally
5. a received The flood complaints . of channel
6. what I concerned think . people would was
7. spoke wife about His also relationship . the
8. would the he thought man . perfect be I
9. couple . been not has the easy Life for
10. received lot abuse of They from neighbours . a
CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)
A TV channel in the UK is under firing / fire from members of the public for
one of its programmes that follows the lives of couplets / couples with a big
age difference. Viewers have accused the Channel 5 series / cereal Age Gap
Love of "normalising grooming". The complaints came post / after a show
that documented the relationship of a couple who / whose got together when
the man was 44 and his partner was 16. The man was originally / original a
friend of the 16-year-old's mother. He became friendliness / friendly with the
daughter when she was a child and started dating her when she turns /
turned 16. After this episode was aired / airy, the channel received a flood of
complaints from viewers who slammed the show for "making this conceptual
/ concept seem normal".
The couple in the showing / show are married and have two children. He is
now 47 and she is 19. The man said: "I was concerned / cornered what
people would think. It's a big gap. It's a generation / generator gap. So it's
like, what are people going to think?" His wife also spoken / spoke about the
relationship. She said: "The age doesn't really bother / bothering me. It
never has done. I don't see him as an olden / old man, or my dad, or
anything like that. He's just sensitive / sensitively - like a big teddy bear."
She added: "I've always wanted to have a family, so I just thought he would
be the perfection / perfect man." Life has not been easy for the couple.
When they first started dating, they received a lot / lots of abuse from
neighbours and the local community and had to move to other / another
city.
Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and
why the correct word is correct.
INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)
A T V c h_n n_l _n t h_ U K _s _n d_r f_r_ f r_m

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r_m v__ w_r s w h_ s l_m m_d t h_ s h_w f_r "
m_k_n g t h_s c_n c_p t s__ m n_r m_l " .
T h_ c__ p l_ _n t h_ s h_w _r_ m_r r__ d _n d h_v_

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t s__ h_m _s _n _l d m_n , _r m y d_d , _r _n y
t h_n g l_k_ t h_t . H_' s j_s t s_n s_t_v_ - l_k_ _
b_g t_d d y b__ r . " S h_ _d d_d : " I ' v_ _l w_y s
w_n t_d t_ h_v_ _ f_m_l y , s_ I j_s t t h__ g h t
h_ w__ l d b_ t h_ p_r f_c t m_n . " L_f_ h_s n_t
b__ n __ s y f_r t h_ c__ p l_. W h_n t h_y f_r s t
s t_r t_d d_t_n g , t h_y r_c__ v_d _ l_t _f _b_s_ f
r_m n__ g h b__ r s _n d t h_ l_c_l c_m m_n_t y _n d
h_d t_ m_v_ t_ _n_t h_r c_t y .
PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS
a tv channel in the uk is under fire from members of the public for one of its
programmes that follows the lives of couples with a big age difference
viewers have accused the channel 5 series age gap love of normalising
grooming the complaints came after a show that documented the
relationship of a couple who got together when the man was 44 and his
partner was 16 the man was originally a friend of the 16yearolds mother he
became friendly with the daughter when she was a child and started dating
her when she turned 16 after this episode was aired the channel received a
flood of complaints from viewers who slammed the show for making this
concept seem normal
the couple in the show are married and have two children he is now 47 and
she is 19 the man said i was concerned what people would think its a big
gap its a generation gap so its like what are people going to think his wife
also spoke about the relationship she said the age doesnt really bother me it
never has done i dont see him as an old man or my dad or anything like that
hes just sensitive like a big teddy bear she added ive always wanted to
have a family so i just thought he would be the perfect man life has not been
easy for the couple when they first started dating they received a lot of
abuse from neighbours and the local community and had to move to another
city.
PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE
ATVchannelintheUKisunderfirefrommembersofthepublicforoneofits
programmesthatfollowsthelivesofcoupleswithabigagedifference.Vie
wershaveaccusedtheChannel5seriesAgeGapLoveof"normalisinggro
oming".Thecomplaintscameafterashowthatdocumentedtherelation
shipofacouplewhogottogetherwhenthemanwas44andhispartnerwa
s16.Themanwasoriginallyafriendofthe16-year-old'smother.Hebe
camefriendlywiththedaughterwhenshewasachildandstarteddatingh
erwhensheturned16.Afterthisepisodewasaired,thechannelreceived
afloodofcomplaintsfromviewerswhoslammedtheshowfor"makingthi
sconceptseemnormal".Thecoupleintheshowaremarriedandhavetwo
children.Heisnow47andsheis19.Themansaid:"Iwasconcernedwhatp
eoplewouldthink.It'sabiggap.It'sagenerationgap.Soit'slike,whatare
peoplegoingtothink?"Hiswifealsospokeabouttherelationship.Shesai
d:"Theagedoesn'treallybotherme.Itneverhasdone.Idon'tseehimasa
noldman,ormydad,oranythinglikethat.He'sjustsensitive-likeabigt
eddybear."Sheadded:"I'vealwayswantedtohaveafamily,soIjusttho
ughthewouldbetheperfectman."Lifehasnotbeeneasyforthecouple.W
hentheyfirststarteddating,theyreceivedalotofabusefromneighbours
andthelocalcommunityandhadtomovetoanothercity.
FREE WRITING
Write about age differences for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.
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ACADEMIC WRITING
Age is just a number. Discuss.
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HOMEWORK
1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the

text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to
build up more associations / collocations of each word.
2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news
story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
3. AGE DIFFERENCES: Make a poster about age differences. Show

your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar
things?
4. LEGAL DIFFERENCE: Write a magazine article about having a

maximum legal age difference. Include imaginary interviews with people
who are for and against this.
Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any
new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next

stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the
next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on age differences in relationships.

Ask him/her three questions about this. Give him/her three of your opinions
on age differences. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson.
Your partner(s) will answer your questions.
ANSWERS
VOCABULARY (p.4)
1. d 2. f 3. b 4. g 5. c 6. e 7. a
8. k 9. i 10. m 11. h 12. l 13. n 14. j
TRUE / FALSE (p.5)

a F b F c T d F e T f F g T h T
SYNONYM MATCH (p.5)

1. channel a. station
2. difference b. gap
3. accused c. blamed
4. originally d. initially
5. aired e. broadcast
6. concerned f. worried
7. bother g. trouble
8. sensitive h. thoughtful
9. perfect i. ideal
10. move j. relocate
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.9) WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER (p.20)
1. Members of the public 1. A TV channel in England is under fire.

2. Age Gap Love 2. The lives of couples with big age differences.
3. Sixteen 3. The relationship of a couple who got together.
4. The 16-year-old's mother 4. Originally a friend of the 16-year-old's mother.
5. Complaints 5. The channel received a flood of complaints.
6. Two 6. I was concerned what people would think.
7. A generation gap 7. His wife also spoke about the relationship.
8. A teddy bear 8. I thought he would be the perfect man.
9. The perfect man 9. Life has not been easy for the couple.
10. Abuse 10. They received a lot of abuse from neighbours.
MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.10)

1. c 2. a 3. a 4. b 5. d 6. b 7. a 8. c 9. d 10. a
ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

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Breaking News English.

“1,000 IDEAS & ACTIVITIES Thousands more free lessons

Level 6 - 31st May, 2019

Please try Levels 4 and 5 (they are easier).

"normalising grooming". The complaints came after a show that

16-year-old's mother. He became friendly with the daughter when she

slammed the show for "making this concept seem normal".

TV channel / under fire / couples / complaint / relationship / dating / concept / normal

4. DIFFERENCES: Do differences in these things matter? What problems might

Do The Differences Matter? What Problems Might They Have?

• similar age • same dreams

1. under fire a. Severely criticized.

2. viewer b. Said that someone has done something

3. accused c. A statement that a situation is

4. grooming d. Being criticized a lot.

5. complaint e. Passed the age or time of.

6. turned f. A person who watches television or a movie.

7. slammed g. Preparing a child for a meeting, especially

8. generation h. Insulting and offensive language.

9. bother i. Worry, disturb, or upset.

10. sensitive j. A group of people living in the same place or

11. abuse k. A great difference in age between people.

12. local l. Belonging or relating to a particular area.

13. neighbour m. Having or displaying a quick and delicate

14. community n. A person living near or next door to the

a. There was a fire at a TV channel in the UK. T/F

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1. A TV channel in the UK is under a. relationship of a couple

A TV channel in the UK is under (1) ____________ from members relationship

documented the (4) ____________ of a couple who got together concept

episode was aired, the channel received a (7) ____________ of

(8) ____________ seem normal".

couple. When they first started (15) ____________, they received

a lot of (16) ____________ from neighbours and the local

community and had to move to another city.

1) A TV channel in the UK is under fire from members ______

A TV channel in the UK is (1) ___________________ members of the public

difference. Viewers (2) ___________________ Channel 5 series Age Gap

Love of "normalising grooming". The complaints came after a

(3) ___________________ the relationship of a couple who got together

(4) ___________________ friend of the 16-year-old's mother. He became

as an old man, or my dad, or anything like that. (10) ___________________

I just thought he would be (11) ___________________." Life has not been

abuse from neighbours and the (12) ___________________ had to move to

1. Who is a TV channel under fire from?

2. What is the name of the TV programme?

4. Who was the man a friend of?

5. What did the show receive a flood of?

6. How many children do the couple have?

8. What did the woman liken her husband to?

9. What did the woman think the man would be?

1) Who is a TV channel under fire 6) How many children do the couple

Role A – Similar Age

Role B – Same Hobbies

Role C – Same Dreams

Role D – Same Religion

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates,

• Share your findings with your partners.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down

_______ _ _______