122 Unit 08 The next chapter ku73wz In this unit you will: think about who you are … and who you want to be in future discuss the risks of plastic surgery come closer to accepting yourself find out about ‘promposals’ get many ideas for your graduation speech In pairs, talk about what you remember when you were a young child. 1 What did you want to learn? 2 What did you think of adults? 3 How has your view of life changed? Read the poem and answer the questions below in note form. SPEAKING 1 READING 2 a Growing up by Mary Spain The day I could no longer walk with ease1 Beneath the table, made it clear to me That I was growing. Soon my parents’ knees Were way below my eye-line. I could see Above the window-sill and out, far out, Into a world where adults knew it all And children yearned2 to grow and be about Such fascinating business. To be tall Held out a promise greater than mere size. When I achieved full stature3 I would know Those peaks of knowledge conquered4 by the wise – All that remained for me to do was grow. Yet wisdom gained shows wisdom still ahead; Grown up, I find I’m growing down instead. 1 What do you think about the contrast between the title of the poem and its last line? 2 Who is talking in this poem? How old is this person? Is he/she happy/sad/angry? Can you think of an adjective that describes the speaker’s mood? Use a dictionary. 3 Are the situations described in the poem realistic? 4 Do you think what the poem addresses is true? Why?/Why not? Find a partner and compare your answers. Where do you agree, where do you differ? b 1 ease: Leichtigkeit, Mühelosigkeit; with ease: mühelos 2 to yearn to do sth.: sich danach sehnen, etw. zu tun 3 to achieve full stature: seine volle Größe erreichen 4 conquered: erobert Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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