Teen’s World – Being a Teen Today

The end task you are expected to do is to write a text entitled “Being a teen in Portugal today”
to be published in an online magazine. Activities A, B and C1 will provide you with input for
Activity C2.

Activity A
1. Identify in the box below the words that refer to positive personality features and the ones
that refer to negative features. Write the corresponding letters under the appropriate
headings and use each one only once. (15 points)

a) outgoing b) passive c) dull d) loud e) boring

f) tense g) outspoken h) amusing i) fickle j) warm

Positive Negative

2. Complete the following text with the words from the box below. Write only the
corresponding letter in each gap. (15 points)

a) Internet b) activities c) perform d) world e) born

f) Millennials g) creations h) everywhere i) mobile j) history

The ……………………….. are a generation characterised by its own patterns of behaviour. They
were ……………………….. between 1982 and 2000 and they’re the biggest and most diversified
generation in America ……………………….. . They’re able to ……………………….. many different
……………………….. at the same time. In fact, they’re immersed in a ……………………….. of
technology, and most of it is ……………………….. : iPods, USV pens, mobile phones, MP3 players,
etc., which they take ……………………….. they go. The……………………….. plays a special role in their
lives and not only as users: 33% of online teens share their own ……………………….. online, such
as artwork, photos, stories or videos.

3. Complete the following text with either the simple present or the simple past of the verbs
in brackets. (10 points)

In the 1950s, a new style of music and fashion ……………………………. (to become) popular in the
UK. The music ……………………………. (to be) rock and roll, and the male fans of this music were
called Teddy Boys. Their heroes were rock and roll singers like Elvis Presley. The Hippies
appeared in the 1960s. They ……………………………. (to have) long hair and ……………………………. (to
wear) bright colours. They talked about peace and love and they ……………………………. (to listen)
to The Beatles.
Dance music ……………………………. (to turn) out to be really popular in the 1990s. This style
……………………………. (to be) still popular today, but there are also many other styles of music

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 Teen’s World – Being a Teen Today

and fashion in the UK: Nu metallers, Indie kids, Goths, and so on. However, not all young
people ……………………………. (to follow) a style – sometimes, they create their own personal
styles!

Activity B
Read carefully the following text and do the tasks that follow.
Being a Teen Today
British teenagers spend most of their time at school. Students in Britain can leave school at
sixteen. This is also the age when most students take their first import exams, the GCSEs. Most
teens take between 5-10 subjects – which means a lot of studying. They are spending more
time on homework than their ancestors did. Forget watching TV: teenagers in Britain now
spend 2.5-3 hours on homework after school.
Visit almost any school in Britain and the first thing you’ll notice is the school uniform.
Although school uniform has its advantages, when they are 15 or 16 most teenagers are tired
of wearing it. When there is more than one school in a town, school uniform can make
differences between schools worse. In London there are many cases of bullying and fighting
between pupils from different schools.
In Britain, teens judge you by the shirt or trainers you are wearing. 40% of British teenagers
believe it’s important to wear designer labels. If you want to follow the crowd you need to
wear Paul Smith, Mecca and Diesel. Teenage feet in Britain wear Nike or Adidas and the more
expensive, the better.
Like teenagers all over the world, British teenagers love to chat. The mobile phone is an
essential gadget for British teenagers. More than 90% of 12-16s have one. Many experts
believe that mobiles stop teenagers spending money on cigarettes and sweets. However,
mobile phones aren’t all good news. They cause 35% of teenage crime. Text-bullying is also
new and worrying trend.
Music is the number one interest for British teens. But they certainly don’t like all the same
musical UK garage, hip-hop and nu-metal are all popular. Teenagers love going out too.
However, finding somewhere to go isn’t always easy. Pubs and clubs have strict rules for
under-18s in Britain. It’s no surprise that British teenagers spend more time online than
European or American teens and use chat rooms to make new friends.

1. The text you’ve just read is organized in five paragraphs. Each paragraph is summarised by
headings included in the list below. Choose the heading that best sum up each paragraph, and
write the corresponding letter under each paragraph number. Note that there only five
correct headings. (10 points)

paragraph 1 paragraph 2 paragraph 3 paragraph 4 paragraph 5

a) teen’s technology f) generation gap

b) uniform g) clothes and looks
c) holidays h) university
d) school i) watching TV
e) free time j) being 18

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 Teen’s World – Being a Teen Today

2. What do the following words refer to in the text? (10 points)

2.1 their (line 1) - …………………………………….. 2.5 it (line 8) - ……………………………………..
2.2 their (line 2) - …………………………………….. 2.6 one (line 16) - ……………………………………..
2.3 they (line 3) - …………………………………….. 2.7 they (line 18) - ……………………………………..
2.4 its (line 7) - …………………………………….. 2.8 they (line 20) - ……………………………………..

3. Complete the following sentences according to information from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd
paragraphs. (4x10 points)
1. British students take their first important exams when they ………………………………………………….
2. British students don’t ……………………………………….. because they …………………………………………….
doing homework after school.
3. When they are 15 or 16 British want to stop ………………………………………………………………………….
4. Wearing designer labels is ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

4. Match the words on the left with their equivalents on the right. (10 points)
1. tired of a) that causes anxiety
2. trainers b) to do the same as everybody else
3. to follow the crowd c) having enough of something
4. worrying d) gradual change
5. trend e) shoes that people wear for fashion or sports

5. Identify the verb tense of the following phrase and justify its use in context. (10 points)
“(…) than their ancestors did” (line 4)

Verb tense: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Justification: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………......
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Activity C
1. Complete the table below with ten words or expressions on Portuguese teens’ dreams and
worries. (15 points)
DREAMS WORRIES
1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

4. 4.

5. 5.

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 Teen’s World – Being a Teen Today

2. Write a text on the topic “Being a teen in Portugal today” to be published in an online teen
magazine. You may use the input from activities A, B and C1 to help you in this end task. Use
between 100 and 120 words. (65 points)

Being a Teen in Portugal Today

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