Vocabulary Exercises

Ex. 1. Match the words and word combinations in the left column with the correct definitions in the right column.

1) nest a) to have a lively time; to take great delight in smth

2) to clip a person’s wings b) addition to a task, burden, etc., that makes it intolerable

3) exorbitant c) slang to abandon or desert smb

4) to skyrocket d) to recognize smth and deal with it,

honestly and bravely

5) hassle e) to try to do smth which is difficult

6) to take a crack at smth f) (of a price, charge or demand) much too high or great

7) bogged down g) to doom, send, appoint (to smth painful or unwelcome)

8) to revel in smth h) a disagreement; an argument

9) godsend i) to limit smb’s movements, activities, expenditure, etc.

10) intermittent j) to grow rapidly; to accelerate; to escalate

11) to face up to smth k) fig. shelter; hiding-place; secluded retreat

12) to have/take/make l) stuck; slowed down; overwhelmed

a go of it m) stopping and starting again

13) the final/last straw n) anything unexpected and needed or

14) to walk out on smb desired that comes at the opportune moment,

as if sent by God

15) to condemn smb to smth o) Am. colloquial to succeed

Ex. 2. Match the attributes on the left with nouns and phrases on the right, focusing on the use of the key vocabulary. Use each word only once.

put-upon rates

the final space

cooling-off mat

exorbitant straw

the empty-nest act

failed expenses

bad footing

well-earned parents

heaven-sent syndrome

equal period

the boomerang patch

soaring marriage

breaking effect

welcome point

balancing solution

Ex. 3. Read the text and fill in the blanks with suitable words or word combinations in the correct form from the box below.

delicate balancing act be bogged down feel one’s wings clipped

have a say be condemned run a family of one’s own

empty-nest go to pieces be unhappy with more equal footing

full-nest socially acceptable safe ground

have a go at be supportive confronted with

bad patch face up to avoid hassles

the sandwich generation independent lifestyle take a crack

Is Your Nest Too Full?

By John Casey

While many middle-aged couples are dealing with the (1) … syndrome, others have the opposite problem – their elderly parents and children live at home, – called the (2) … syndrome. As many of us reach middle age, we are (3) … a double dilemma: caring for young children and ageing parents at the same time, which makes us (4) … a serious bind. Add to that the stress of (5) … , and many in (6) … , i.e. the generation-between-generations, (7) … with the stress of an overfilled life. But that living arrangement was born of necessity.

“A lot of families (8) … to live that way in the past because they had to,” says Anna Beth Benningfield, PhD, clinical director of the Family Therapy Program at Virginia State University. “In other cultures, it is (9) … . Even in Europe, they think we’re crazy for expecting 18-year-olds to support an (10) … .”

Even though many Americans (11) … the multigenerational living, Benningfield says the situation can adopt a (12) … . Here are some tips to help pass through a (13) … .

1. Care for Yourself. You can’t (14) … of other people if you are tired and irritable. If your role in the family makes you (15) … , make sure you get to a therapist.

2. Set Rules. To (16) … , make a list of all the chores that need to be dome and assign them to individuals. “To be on (17) … , any plan should be reassessed every 60 days,” says Benningfield. “That way people don’t feel trapped and can (18) … at a fresh activity.”

3. Weekly Family Meetings are one way to make sure everyone (19) … in the household. Attendance should be mandatory. “If families can talk about the things that they see as working or (20) … , then they can (21) … resolving differences quickly,” says Benningfield. “Try to view children and parents living with you as a (22) … , a chance to get to know your family in a way you haven’t known them before.”

Ex. 4. Read the following text and decide which option (A, B or C) fits each gap.