AGEISM TURNED ME INTO A LIAR

SPEAKING
DO YOU THINK THERE IS AN UPPER OR LOWER AGE LIMIT FOR THESE ACTIVITIES?
Getting married
Having kids
Learning a new language
Travelling around the world
Worrying about how you look
Leaving home
Starting a new career
Dancing to pop music in public
Learning to ski
Riding a motorbike
Wearing jeans
Playing in a rock band
ARE THERE ANY OTHER ACTIVITIES YOU THINK HAVE AGE LIMITS?
READING AND USE OF ENGLISH
ACTIVITY 1) READ THE TEXT BELOW AND THINK OF THE WORD WHICH BEST FITS EACH
GAP. USE ONLY ONE WORD IN EACH GAP.
For (1)_____of my life, age has seemed unimportant. My friends of (2)______sexes have been
younger, older or the same age. When I was in my early thirties I went out with a man of twentythree. One of the most attractive men I know is (3)_____ his mid-fifties.
The first time I experienced a problem with age was on my fortieth birthday. Much to my
surprise, it was a deeply traumatic (4)______. Forty seemed to be so much (5)_______than thirtynine. Anyway, I slowly got over the shock and tried to convince myself that life begins at forty
I met him (6)________badminton. Hes thirty-one and looks about nineteen he has
(7)______ idea how old I am.
All my life Ive been totally honest. I return extra change to astonished shopkeepers, Ive never
travelled (8)________a ticket and in job interviews I tell them all the (9)_________why they
shouldnt employ me!
So, early on in the relationship I told him the truth about my rocky past my divorce, my
financial difficulties. I even admitted that I dye my hair. I told him Im older than he is, but
something stopped me from (10)________him the whole truth about my age.
And now Im in trouble serious trouble. Silence has made the problem (11)_______greater.
If I had told him before, it wouldnt have become such a big issue. If I had been brave enough to
admit that I was eleven years older than him, I wouldnt be so worried about him finding
(12)_______the truth. The other day, I even hid my passport under a pile of papers.
I know that if I was a man, I would never have got into this mess. (13)_______eleven years
older is nothing for a man. But in my case, its the other way round, the world judges older women
harshly. Im afraid he would do the (14)_________
I have become an ageist and a liar and I have no one to blame but myself.
ACTIVITY 2) WHICH STATEMENTS ARE TRUE FOR THE WRITER?
A) I wish Id never met him.

B) I should have been honest about my age.

C) If I had told him my age at the beginning, it wouldnt have become so important.
D) I shouldnt have told him about my divorce.
E) If I was a man, the age difference wouldnt be a problem.
F) Its all his fault: if I hadnt met him, I wouldnt have turned into an ageist and a liar.
ACTIVITY 3) FOR QUESTIONS 1-5, COMPLETE THE SECOND SENTENCE SO THAT IT HAS
A SIMILAR MEANING TO THE FIRST SENTENCE, USING THE WORD GIVEN. DO NOT
CHANGE THE WORD GIVEN.
1. The first time I experienced a problem with age was on my fortieth birthday.
TURNED
I first experienced a problem with age____________________________________
2. I tried to convince myself that life begins at forty
BEST
I____________________to convince myself that life begins at forty
3. If I had told him before, it wouldnt have become such a big issue.
WISH
I__________________________________before.
4. If I had told him before, it wouldnt have become such a big issue.
SO
If I had told him before, it wouldnt have become_______________________
5. Im really worried about him finding out the truth
THAT
__________________________________________________________
SPEAKING AND LISTENING
ACTIVITY 4) (ROLE PLAY!!!!) WORK WITH YOUR PARTNER. IMAGINE THE
CONVERSATION BETWEEN THE WRITER AND HER PARTNER WHEN SHE TELLS HIM THE
TRUTH. BEGIN LIKE THIS:
Man: You look worried. Whats on your mind?
Woman: Actually, there is something Ive been meaning to tell you

GET READY TO ACT OUT YOUR CONVERSATION IN FRONT OF YOUR CLASSMATES!!

YOU WILL HAVE ABOUT 10 MINUTES TO PREPARE YOUR CONVERSATION! (YOU MAY
JOT DOWN A FEW IDEAS, BUT YOULL NOT BE ALLOWED TO READ FROM A SCRIPT!!!)
YOUR CONVERSATION SHOULD LAST FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES!!
ACTIVITY 5) LISTEN TO THE CONVERSATION AND COMPARE YOUR IDEAS. WHAT
WOULD YOU DO NOW IF YOU WERE IN THE WRITERS POSITION? (TRACK 12)

GRAMMAR: THE SECOND AND THIRD CONDITIONALS

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONAL SENTENCES 1-5 REFER TO:
A. UNREAL EVENT?
B. A HYPOTHETICAL PAST SITUATION?
C. A PLAIN FACT?
D. A HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION?
E. A POSSIBILITY?
1. If you need a world atlas, you will find one on the top bookshelf.
2. If the price of aviation fuel rose, airlines would agree to raise ticket prices collectively.
3. If I were James Bond, I would have the opportunity to travel anywhere in the world.
4. If we had booked our tickets earlier, they would have been cheaper.
5. If perishable cargoes are kept in unsuitable conditions, they deteriorate.
THE SECOND CONDITIONAL
Look at this example:
If more people used recycled paper, fewer trees would be cut down.
The IF event here is possible but much less probable than in a first conditional sentence. The
second conditional is also used for unreal events. For example:
If I had more time, Id help you (=As I dont have enough time, I wont help you)
FORM
IF + PAST SIMPLE OR CONTINUOUS + WOULD, COULD, MIGHT + INFINITIVE
Note that the correct form for the verb TO BE in the IF-clause is WERE (For example: If I were
you, Id complain), but WAS is also possible and is often heard in conversation.
THE THIRD CONDITIONAL
The third conditional refers to the PAST. The IF event is therefore IMPOSSIBLE since we
cannot change the past.
For example:
If I had/(d) told you the truth, you wouldnt have believed me!
I would (Id) have taken you to the station if my car hadnt broken down.
FORM
IF + PAST PERFECT + WOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
If a result is not sure, we can express this element of doubt with would probably, might, and
could. For example:
If you had driven that car, you would probably/might/could have had an accident.

MIXED CONDITIONALS
When we talk about the present result of a past event, we can use a mixed conditional. For
example:
If I hadnt been invited, I wouldnt be here.
I wouldnt be surprised if he had been delayed.
If my parents had never met, I wouldnt be here now.
EXERCISES
EXERCISE 1) PUT THE VERBS IN BRACKETS INTO THE CORRECT FORM TO MAKE
SECOND CONDITONAL SENTENCES.
A. Your uncle would really appreciate it if you (go) to see him.
B. If she (make) more effort to help herself, I (have) more sympathy with her.
C. Chris (not/take) a day off work unless he (be) really ill.
D. If you (know) her as well as I do, you (not/rely) on her at all.
E. We (must) reduce the price if we (want) to sell our house quickly.
F. If electric cars (not/have) such large batteries, they (be) faster to drive.
G. If you (call) the Fire Brigade, how long (it/take) them to arrive?
H. I (not/carry) your wallet around in your pocket if I (be) you?
EXERCISE 2) COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING SECOND CONDITIONAL SENTENCES:
1. You know Id never forgive you if you______________________________________
2. What on earth would you do if you_________________________________________
3. Id sleep better at night if the neighbours_____________________________________
4. Id lend you the money if__________________________________________________
5. Id have no hesitation in accepting if________________________________________
6. If I were a politician, I____________________________________________________
EXERCISE 3) THE PICTURE BELOW SHOWS MARTIN READY FOR AN INTERVIEW FOR A
JOB AS A BANK CLERK. ALTHOUGH HES BOUGHT A NEW SUIT FOR THE OCCASION,
HES NOT LIKELY TO MAKE A VERY GOOD IMPRESSION! MAKE SENTENCES TO EXPLAIN
WHAT HE COULD DO TO IMPROVE HIS CHANCES AT THE INTERVIEW (USE THE SECOND
CONDITIONAL!!!!!) FOR EXAMPLE:
If he had his hair cut, he would/might make a better impression.

EXERCISE 4) COMPLETE THESE EXAMPLES OF THE THIRD CONDITIONAL. TRY TO MAKE

INTERESTING AND NATURAL-SOUNDING SENTENCES.
A. If we had lost the map,_______________________________________
B. He would have been absolutely furious if__________________________________
C. If I had known you were coming,______________________________________
D. If I hadnt seen the police car in time, _____________________________________
E. Would you have resigned from your job if__________________________________
F. If we had listened to his advice,_________________________________________
EXERCISE 5) USING THE INFORMATION IN EACH QUESTION BELOW, WRITE THIRD
CONDITIONAL SENTENCES. (THERE MAY BE MORE THAN ONE POSSIBILITY)
EXAMPLE:
0. Japan attacked the American port of Pearl Harbour in 1941. The US joined World War II.
If Japan had not attacked the American port of Pearl Harbour in 1941, the US would not/wouldnt
have joined World War II.
A. The Incas of Peru had no paper. Their architects had to make models in clay for the builders to
follow.
If the Incas____________________________________________________________________
B. The first photograph was taken in 1826. Napoleon, who died in 1821, never had his photograph
taken.
If Napoleon____________________________________________________________________
OR
If the camera___________________________________________________________________
C. Penicillin was discovered in 1928. It helped to save many lives in World War II.
Many lives_____________________________________________________________________
D. The mariners compass was invented in the twelfth century. Cristopher Columbus reached the
West Indies in 1492.
Christopher Columbus___________________________________________________________
E. Tobacco was imported to Europe in 1553. Many people die of smoking-related problems
nowadays.
If tobacco_____________________________________________________________________
EXERCISE 6) STUDENTS BOOK, PAGE 101, READING AND SPEAKING: 1 AND 2.