Никоненко Тамара Петрівна

   Renata Smith, a divorced mother of two young girls, Sabrina aged ten and Joey aged six, lives in Sheffield. She is typical of today’s one-parent single-in-come families living on the breadline struggling to make ends meet.
   Renata was working as a secretary in the city when she met Tom, a lorry driver, at a party. They went out together for six months and then they decided to get married. At first she and Tom lived with her parents but then, when Renata was expecting Sabrina, they moved into a council flat. Tom had to spend a lot of time away from home and, soon after the birth of their second child, he left Renata to live in another city.
   Renata set about bringing up girls on her own, though her mother was always ready to help when she could. Money was the most pressing problem, and Renata, who had given up her job when Sabrina was born, had to look for work. After two months she managed to find a post as Personal Assistant to the Sales Director of a local company. She has been working there for nearly two years now and enjoys spending her days in the office. When she’s not at work, the girls have priority. They are the most important thing in her life, and she is determined to be both mother and father to them. She doesn’t want them to suffer from the fact that their father does not live with them, and she does everything possible to privide them with a rich and rewarding life.
Vocabulary
divorced – розлучений
income – заробіток
breadline – черга безробітних за безкоштовним харчуванням
to make ends meet – зводити кінці з кінцями
to set about – починати, ставати до чогось
on one’s own – самостійно
to reward – винагороджувати, шанувати

Task 1. True or False Statements
1. Renata Smith has a typical of today one-parent family.
2. She brings up two teenage girls.
3. The daughters are the most important thing in her life.
4. Joey is six years younger than Sabrina.
5. Renata worked for a local company when she met Tom.
6. When Renata and Tom got married they lived with Tom’s parents.
7. Tom left Renata soon after Joey’s birth.
8. Tom helps Renata to bring up the daughters.
9. Renata doesn’t have enough money to provide the girls with a happy life.
10. Renata enjoys the post of Personal Assistant to the Sales Director.

Task 2. Multiple Choice Questions
1. Renata Smith …
A. is Tom’s wife.
B. is Tom’s mother.
C. is divorced.
D. is unemployed
2. The two Renata’s daughters are of…
A. two and seven years old.
B. ten and six years old.
C. ten and seven years old.
D. twelve and six years old.
3. Renata’s husband left her…
A. in six months after the marriage.
B. because of her parents.
C.before the birth of the second child
D. to live in another city.
4. Tom spent …
A. a lot of time to repair his lorry.
B. a lot of money to repair his lorry.
C. a lot of time away from home.
D. a lot of time on brining up the daughters
5. The family moved into a council flat…
A. after Joey’s birth.
B. before Joey’s birth.
C. after Sabrina’s birth.
D. before Sabrina’s birth.
6. Renata works as…
A. a manager
B. a secretary.
C. a Personal Assistant.
D. a driver.
7. The most pressing problem for Renata is …
A. her parents.
B. her divorced husband.
C. her growing up daughters
D. money.
8. Sabrina and Joey get the most of attention and care from their mother when she …
A. is in the city.
B. isn’t at a party.
C. is at work.
D. isn’t at work.
9. Renata Smith …
A. enjoys working at the office.
B. doesn’t like living in a council flat.
C. enjoys living in Sheffield.
D. doesn’t like spending her days in the office.
10. Renata does her best …
A. to help her parents.
B. to make the daughters’ life happy.
C. to forget her husband.
D. to save some money for a living.

Сергєєва Г.Б. Підготовка до олімпіад з англійської мови. 8-9 класи.- Х.: Вид. група “Основа”, 2004. – С. 11- 13