You can choose your friends - Unit 1

C1 Advanced · Multiple Matching · Complete Advanced, Cambridge University Press

You are going to read an article in which young people give their views on their siblings during their teenage years. For questions 1–10, choose from the people A-D. The people may be chosen more than once.

Sarah (18)

When I mention I'm the youngest of five, people tend to come out with all the usual assumptions, like whether everyone looks on me as the baby of the family. I've always hotly denied that. Admittedly, though, my older sister will still warn me a car's coming as we cross busy roads – but with the best of intentions, I know. And thankfully, she's been considerate enough to never once mention in front of my friends the time, aged six, I decorated my face with her makeup. Until recently, too, my brother had a tendency to judge whatever I was watching as far too violent – only to grab the remote off me in what I can only describe as a rather rough manner! And I guess, of my two siblings, he's been the one who's always known exactly how to wind me up – typical older brother! But none of that gets in the way of my close relationships with either of them. Underneath it all, they are both incredibly thoughtful and always make time for me. I'm really lucky to have them.

Andrew (21)

People assume that growing up with a high-achieving sister might have been demoralising somehow, but nothing could have been further from the truth. In fact, if anything, she's been so well organised and conscientious in her approach to studying that it's been hugely motivating for me, as I've become determined to catch up with her. Admittedly, she's often got into bad moods over the years, but I think the rest of the family have always tolerated them and put them down to her frustration in trying to get where she wanted to be, but seeing her ambitions obstructed in some way. Having said that, though, the trigger for her kicking off could just be as simple as my attempting to set the table for dinner while she'd got all her books laid out on it! Anyway, the thing is, she's sometimes seen me at my absolute worst, which she really shouldn't have had to put up with, and yet, she's still stuck by me no matter what! You really can't put a price on that.

Isabella (19)

Growing up surrounded by an incredibly diverse range of people (my father's family are from South America and my step-mother's Swedish) I always felt that family life for me and my brother, Tom, was slightly chaotic – always travelling, never settling anywhere. But as a result, we've experienced a huge range of languages, lifestyles and cultures, so our lives have been by no means limited. And I don't know about Tom, but while I've personally reached a point where I can now appreciate what a privileged life that's been, I also know that chaos is now something I can't do without, to the point where I approach my studies and my personal life in quite a disorderly way – but it seems to work! My ambition's to become a professional artist, but I'm constantly looking for reassurance that my work's worth something. As a last resort, I might even ask my brother, but his response has sometimes been far from what I was hoping to hear. But there you go – flattery's overrated, in my view!

Ibrahim (23)

Being the youngest child was great – until the day that one of my older brothers, the only one left at home, headed off for uni, leaving me alone at home with just my parents, and no-one to complain to or roll my eyes at secretly across the table when there was some discussion going on that we'd heard a million times before! But my brother still sided with me whenever he came back from uni – and he and I still maintained our very effective cheaters' partnership in family card games! We don't always see eye to eye, but it's clear he's always had my best interests at heart – and I've always tried to return that kindness. And even now that he's finally settled down in his own flat nearby, it's still a kind of open house – and a relief to just turn up to unannounced when life with my parents gets a bit too much. So, despite any miscommunication and frustrations over the years, we're still there for each other.

You can choose your friends

Four young people talk about their teenage years, and their siblings.

mentions a downside of seeking an honest opinion from a family member?

is grateful to a family member for providing a place of escape whenever needed?

jokingly accuses a family member of displaying exactly the behaviour they're claiming to protect the writer from?

understands that they tend to incorporate a feature of their upbringing into their current lifestyle?

expresses appreciation for what the writer feels is undeserved support from a family member?

admits that a family member has remained over-protective of the writer?

has finally come to recognise the advantages of their upbringing?

mentions that a family member had an irritated response to something apparently insignificant?

missed having an ally in the family?

acknowledges a family member's positive role in their own development?

Available as a free printable PDF worksheet with an optional answer key.

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