Navigate Upper-Intermediate / Life Stages / slide 118, ex 10, ex 11a
Watch the Vox Pop Life Stages and answer the questions in written form
Navigate Upper-Intermediate Reading: Our greatest regrets of all. slide 119

10. Complete the second sentence in each pair so that is has the same meaning as the first.

1. My brother emigrated to New Zealand, so our kids don’t see each other much.
   If my brother hadn’t emigrated to New Zealand, our kids would be closer now.
2. I had no idea how physically exhausting bringing up kids was, and I had them late.
   If I knew how physically exhausting bringing up kids was, i would have had them earlier.
3. I didn’t have children because I really value my independence.
   If I didn’t value my independence I would have children.
4. We need a big house because we’re such a large family.
   If we weren’t such a large family we wouldn’t need a big house.
5. Maybe having no siblings has made me an independent person.
   If I’d had siblings I wouldn’t be as independent as I am.

11a. You are going to ask your partner the questions. Complete the questions with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

1. How would your life be different if you have had 3 siblings?
2. If you had been brought up in Egypt how would your life had been different when you were a child, and how would it be different now?
3. What would you do in your free time if you lived in 16th century?
4. If you were a member of the opposite sex, would people treat you differently as a child? Would you have a different job now?

Who do you take after most in your family? In what ways?

I’m not sure I take a lot after someone in my family, but I think I take after my parents. We have similar interests like biology and everything linked to that. Also I have some personality traits that are similar to theirs.

What do you think is the ideal family size? Why?

I’d say the ideal family size is with two kids. Growing up the only child can be boring, so this way you can have a sibling to interact with and play. The parent’s attention is only directed on two people. But for me personally the ideal family is without children.