Complete the text using these sentences or parts of senetnces.
a. In addition to responsibility overload
b. What is it like to be a single parent?
c. Dating may also be a problem
d Single parents have most of the responsibility for the upbringing of their children
e. There is no doubt that being a single parent is one of the hardest jobs around
f. Most single parents face a reduction in their income especially when they divorce
g. Now that my children are raised
..... (1) Whether you are a single parent due to divorce, death, or giving birth outside of marriage, you are traveling a tough road. It is equally difficult whether you are a single mother or father, each single parent family has its own unique challenges.
..... (2) In two words, overloaded and understaffed. There are struggles of balancing work, childcare, housework, children’s activities, and visitation schedules. You would also like some free time for your own needs.
"..... (3), I look back and wonder how we survived. I had two children, a low paying job, and an ex-husband who didn’t pay child support -- ever. I often worked two, and at times three, jobs just to keep a roof over our heads and a little bit of food on the table. I still have pangs of guilt. Why? Because I know that my children’s parental attention and guidance left a lot to be desired. I had no family to count on for help. Since I had to work many hours just to survive, I had less time to be there for them. But somehow I managed to find enough strength to endure," says a single mother.
......(4) Many of the major decisions about them must be made without any support and advice of another parent. Since they do most of the disciplining, they may feel what their children are like and how they behave is entirely their responsibility. A heavy burden for anyone to carry.
......(5), single parents face too many taks. Meals have to be cooked, dishes have to be washed, clothes have to be cleaned, runny noses have to be wiped, tears have to be dried, doctor's appointments have to be made and money has to be earned. Certainly, financial struggles are usually among the biggest concerns, particularly for a custodial parent. ......(6) If a single mother has not worked in a number of years, she will probably have fewer skills and less education to get a well paying job or will face lower salaries such as many other women do.
The combination of the task and responsibility overload leads to emotional overload. Single parents do often not have a partner and, if recently divorced, they may have lost also many of their friends. As a result, their emotional resources can become exhausted. ......(7) Feeling guilty for not giving the children enough of their free time, they may oppose their dating. If they decide to look for somone, they are often afraid their children will rejected the new partner.
upbringing – výchova v rodine, visitation – tu: náštevy druhého rodiča, pang – trápenie, endure – vytrvať, burden – bremeno, a custodial parent – rodič, ktorému bolo zverené dieťa do opatery
KEY
1 e, 2 b, 3 g, 4 d, 5 a, 6 f, 7 c
STILL or ALWAYS
1. She´s a keen gardener. She has ......... loved gardening.
2. You can´t go out. It´s ......... very cold.
3. He doesn´t give up. He ......... hopes to hear from her.
4. His dad was angry with him; he ......... asked for money.
5. Will you ......... be here when I come back?
6. She ......... leaves whenever you start talking about Jack.
7. The coffee is ......... hot. You should not drink it.
8. Why do they ......... come late?
9. Tom has ......... been shy.
10. Though she has just turned fifty she ......... looks very well.
11. This product has ............ been much in demand.
12. Back in 1975 I was ............ a student.
13. Do you ......... play with the school band? - No, I sing in the choir.
14. She was not ready yet. She was ......... packing.
15. Are you ......... (a) in love with Irene? - Yes. I will ......... (b) love her.
KEY
stále = vždy: always - 1, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 15b stále= ešte stále: still - 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15a
BETTER, BEST, WORSE, WORST
1. Is this essay _____ _____ my last one?
2. It was _____ _____ film I have ever seen.
3. He likes playing outside. He likes it _____ _____ learning.
4. I love rock music. I like it ______ _____all.
5. My uncles diabetes is ______ _____ it was last year.
6. That is _____ _____ joke you have ever told me.
7. On Fridays the traffic is even _____ _____ on Mondays.
8. _____ all of us, Dan is by far _____ _____ catcher.
KEY
1 better/worse than, 2 the worst/best, 3 better than, 4 best of, 5 worse/better than
6 the best/worst, 7 worse than, 8 of, the best/worst,
FALSE FRIENDS ALEBO SLOVÁ, KTORÉ ZVYKNEME ZLE PREKLADAŤ
ordinárny = vulgar, low
ordinary = bežný, obyčajný ordinary people
partikulárny problém, záujem, riešenie = partial, local, fragmentary, predpona sub-
particular = špeciálny, špecifický, zvláštny a particular preference/case
penzia ísť do penzie = to retire, poslať do penzie = to pension off
pension = penzia t.j. finančný obnos
Telephone Language
How can you make a successful telephone conversation? Here are some tips:
• Prepare the call in advance if possible
• Use the four answering courtesies: Greet the caller, State your organisation (or department), Introduce yourself, Offer your help
• Start and end the call with a small talk
• Show interest, help make the caller feel welcome
• Repeat important numbers, spell important names, summarize important information
• Check your mood – keep your problems to yourself
• SMILE. Nobody can see you are smiling but your voice sounds much more friendly and pleasant.
• Be brief and concise – but don’t be impatient
• Can I , Will/Can you = more informal, May I = more formal, Could/Might I, Would/Could you = formal
There are appropriate and courteous ways of ending a phone call that should always be made.
You should thank the caller, let the caller know you appreciate his/her calling you, provide assurance that any promises will be fulfilled, leave the caller with a positive feeling, let the caller hang up first. This is simple courtesy, plus it gives the caller a final chance to add something.
Tips for non-native English speakers
Ask the person to speak slowly or when taking note of a name or important information, repeat each piece of information as the person speaks. This is effective and it works fast. It automatically slows the speaker down.
Do not say you have understood if you have not. Ask the person to repeat until you have understood.
Remember that the other person needs to make himself/herself understood and it is in his/her interest to make sure that you have understood.
Avoid statements,which can affect the way the customer/partner perceives our organisation e.g.
I hope this will solve your problem.
I don't understand why customer service didn't help you.
The order processing department has had a lot of problems lately.
Mr. King isn´t in. Why don't you call back in an hour?
I'm sorry it took so long. Now what do you want?
Our telephone operators are very slow.”