Young men are becoming more reluctant to leave the family nest and find
their own home according to government figures. Nearly one-third of young men between 20 and 35 still live with their
parents, compared with one-quarter in 1977-78.
Giles, 29, is typical, having left home several times since finishing
university at 22. He is currently back at home while he writes a book.
The pressure on children to leave home and start a career as soon as they
are qualified can be damaging, he says. "It is a very modern attitude
that you must do everything immediately. Before, people stayed at home
until they got married and had time to think about what to do with their
lives. our 20s are a time when you should be having fun and making friends.
If you spend all your money on a mortgage you regret it later."
The report found that twice as many men as women stayed at home. "Young
women are more likely to cohabit with older partners," said Carol
Summerfield, author of the report. "Some young people may be delaying
leaving home because of difficulties entering the housing market,"
she said.
Giles is living at home for the fourth time since leaving university.
"I had entrepreneurial ambitions and so I left my student digs and
went to live at home while I ran my own business. When that collapsed,
my only choice was to stay there." Eventually he became a driving
instructor and moved in with his girlfriend. But when they separated he
went back home again. Later still he returned while saving money for a
tour of the Continent. By the time he came back, his parents had split
up and he moved in to his father's home. "I want to be a writer and
I shall stay here while I write the book. I get on much better with my
parents now. I am looking after my father and he is looking after me so
it is symbiotic. Once the book is done I will move out because now I know
what I want to do."
Giles' father, said: "I love him dearly but I would like to see him
independent. The problem is that when you live in a nice house with all
your expenses paid it is hard to find the motivation to move out."
Tom, 26, an internet web designer, has only just left home to be closer
to work. "I moved back home after college because I was working for
an internet start-up company and didn't have enough money to move out.
I get on really well with my parents," he said. "I know many
people who have lived at home for a long time and it's often for financial
reasons apart from the fact that it is comfortable. My parents were understanding
and let me have my own space as well as doing the washing and sorting
out the bills," he said.
Part one: reading comprehension
Answer the following questions according to the information in the text
"Young men staying at home even into their thirties". (1 point
each correct answer).
1. What does Giles think about leaving home as soon as you finish your
studies?
2. Name three reasons why Giles returned to live with his parents?
3. Why did Tom go back to live with his parents after college?
4. Which of the following sentences (a, b, c) summarises the text best?
a) Parents complain that their children refuse to leave home.
b) Lack of money forces young people to live at home.
c) Increasing numbers of young men are still living with their parents.
Part two: vocabulary
Explain next words in English, write the phonetics and also an example:
reluctant, to get on, to split up, to dealy
Part three: writing
Write an article for a magazine describing the advantages and disadvantages
of living at home with your parents.
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