Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 36 to 42.
The word ‘grandparents’ is descriptive of the unique dual parenting role that this generation assume. It emphasises the vital part they play in family life. With a wealth of old world experience behind them, and with the unique ability to metamorphose from advisers or mediators into listeners or friends, they can offer support and stability in an ever-changing world.
The underlying sense of responsibility that goes with this is tremendous. Grandparents perform a balancing act between the needs of their adult children and those of their grandchildren. This role is varied. It is imperial at times, muted at others. It goes underground whenever required, but it is solid and absolutely dependable.
Grandparents often bridge the gap between parents and children. Rebellious, independent children who are trying to find their feet are almost always at loggerheads with their parents. The role of grandparents can be very important provided that they act as impartial judges and arc able to convey this feeling to both parties. Grandchildren, in most cases, prefer to listen to their grandparents rather than their parents, who often end up finding themselves up against a brick wall.
One important thing, which seems to be missing in the lives of children today, is a sense of family, values, beliefs and principles. This is where the grandparents step in. However, instilling beliefs and values is not as easy as it was fifty or sixty years ago. Then, no questions were asked and there was an implicit sense of trust. With changing times and changing outlooks, children have started to question the validity of everything around them. Globalisation has gradually eroded children’s sense of belonging and weakened their identification with their roots. Science and technology force them to doubt every traditional belief.
Parents, who have so many demands on their time, are perhaps not in the best position to instil traditional values in their offspring. Children arc very demanding and grandparents, without appearing to be pushy, have both the time and the experience to deal with tantrums. They can appease, soothe and impart values with tremendous case. Any nation’s traditional culture is rich and varied, but how many children recognise this? Grandparents can teach them to value cultural traditions and thereby inform their moral development.
(Adapted from Cambridge Vocabulary for Advanced by Simon Haines)