CLOZE TEST: COMMUNICATION WITH TEENAGERS

Hello girls,
Here you have a cloze test, the key is below the test.
Have a nice weekend!

COMMUNICATION WITH TEENAGERS

You [0]_____ have a teenager in your house if there is talk about dating, driving, telephone use, curfew, drugs, sex, music, friends....These are common topics, which [1]_____  when children enter their teenage years. They are a lot easier to manage when parents and teens communicate with [ 2]_____ other.

Technically, effective communication occurs when the person sending the message [3]_____  it clear and easy to understand, and the person on the receiving end understands the message [4]_____  the sender intended. In the real world, especially in families, this is not always easy to do. Parents often are busy with work demands, [5]_____  the household, and taking care of responsibilities to family and friends. Teens are [6]_____  in the academic and social demands of school, after school and weekend activities, and spending time with friends. With so much [7]_____  on, it is no surprise that many of us do not take the steps [8]_____  to communicate clearly and to listen carefully. This can lead to problems when talking to teens.

Parents and teens can do two things to reduce communication problems:

Talk more often. The more you talk with each other, the more you have the [9]_____  to share important messages. Good times to talk with your teen are before leaving for the office and school, during dinner, and on weekends. Try to plan at [10]_____  one meal a day as a time when the family sits together and talks. Sometimes it does not matter what you talk about, [11]_____  that you are talking to each other regularly.

Take extra time to share important messages. When you need to tell your teen something important, such as explaining the responsibilities of [12]_____  for a younger sister or brother, take the time to sit down with your teen and talk face to face. You also can write down the important details for your teen. Ask your teen to share with you [13]_____  he understands your message to be. Your teen can use this same approach when he needs to share important messages with you.

As teens get older, they will be spending more time away from parents and family. They will need to make decisions on their own. Teens also will be expected by others to take responsibility for their actions. Although teens are gaining more independence from their parents, they are not experienced and need continuing parental guidance. [14]_____ sensitive to your teen's level of maturity when offering guidance helps in building greater self-confidence.

When you communicate sensitively with your teen,
you are helping your teen grow up to be a responsible adult.

·         You are helping your teen understand that family rules change as he gets older.

·         You are helping your teen to [15]_____  out the kind of person she is becoming as she prepares for adult responsibilities.

·         You are helping your teen have better self-esteem.

·         You are offering your teen good [16]_____  modeling in solving problems with other people.

·         You are helping your teen make important life decisions.

The most important thing parents can do to improve communication with their teens is to listen to them. Listening to their teens helps parents to have more influence in their teens' lives. Teens need to feel that they [17]_____  and that they can depend on their parents to support and protect them. By listening to teens, parents get [18]_____  messages of caring and safety.

Listening helps parents stay in touch with their teens' experiences and feelings even though their teens are spending a lot of time away from them. Ultimately, listening begets listening. Most parents would like their teens [19]_____  listen to them more. By parents listening to their teens, teens are more [20]_____  to listen, on their own, to their parents. The next time you sit down with your teen, ask her to tell you about something and quietly hear what she has to say.

ACROSS	ARISE	AROUND	AS	BEING	CARING	CHANCE
CHOICE	EACH	FIGURE	GOING	INVOLVED	JUST	LEAST
LIKELY	MAKES	MATTER	NEEDED	ONE	PROBABLY	ROLE
RUNNING	THAT	TO	WHAT

KEY

WRITE YOUR ANSWERS HERE:			0.   PROBABLY	1. ARISE	2. EACH
3. MAKES	4. AS	5. RUNNING	6. INVOLVED	7. GOING	8. NEEDED
9. CHANCE	10. LEAST	11.     JUST	12.  CARING	13.  WHAT	14.     BEING
15.     FIGURE	16.     ROLE	17.     MATTER	18.     ACROSS	19.     TO	20.     LIKELY