3 Read the article. Match the headings (A–G) to the paragraphs (1–7).

A Don’t waste time wishing for things you can’t have

B How important is money?

C Look after your health

D People don’t always do the right thing

E Learn all the time

F Life isn’t always good

G You are not the only important person in the world


4 Read the article again. Complete the sentences. Use one word in each gap.


1 The article is about the things a(n) should do.

2 If our dreams aren’t realistic, they probably won’t come .

3 The writer thinks that doesn’t end when people graduate from school or university.

Being an adult


1

When you are a child, you’re the most important person in the world to your parents. They do everything for you, so it usually takes many years to realise that other people are important, too. Some people never learn this simple truth – but real adults do.


2

Everyone makes mistakes, but when things go wrong, real adults don’t lie about what happened. They don’t blame someone else and they don’t make excuses. They aren’t afraid or too proud to apologise for their mistakes and try and learn from them.


3

Dreams can come true, but real adults know these dreams must be realistic. If you’re 1.50 metres tall, you can’t be a professional basketball player. But sometimes it doesn’t matter if you’re only 1.50 metres. Can you make things? Then maybe you can be a good carpenter. Are you good with animals? Then maybe you can be a vet. Adults work hard for the things they have.


4

Real adults look after themselves. They know they should eat their vegetables, exercise regularly and get eight hours of sleep every night. They also know that it’s all right to eat sweets, drink cokes and stay up all night – occasionally.


5

Real adults understand about money. They know they can’t go to the supermarket without it, they can’t buy a house or clothes or holidays. They also know that although some money is necessary for a good life, making money should not be our goal in life.


6

Real adults know that education is important. They also understand that education is not only what happens at school or university. It happens all through life. They know that they can get one in many ways: from books, the internet, other people, life, the mistakes they make, travelling, from thinking a little every day.


7

Real adults know that sometimes life is boring and occasionally it’s exciting. It isn’t always happy and it isn’t always sad. Sometimes they must do things that they don’t want to do. At other times they are free to do anything they want. They know that good and bad things happen, but they also know that all things pass.