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Reading 11

Last updated almost 5 years ago
11 questions

Remembering The Past

As she celebrates her 100th birthday, Maria Morales Cabrillo
talks to Youth2day magazine about growing up.
1
My family didn’t have much money, but my brothers and
I had what we needed. We didn’t feel poor. We were like
everyone else around here. We used to get together with the
other children and play in the street every day. We all got on
well. It was a nice place to be. Everything used to happen in
that street. I got to know my husband in the street. He lived
opposite us. When we got engaged we had a party in the street.
It was wonderful. It’s changed a lot. It’s a lot quieter now. The
children don’t play outside. I know their lives are busier, but
I don’t think the kids are happier. And they’re fatter than we
were! I can’t believe that so many children are overweight
these days.
2
We used to eat three times a day and no more. We had a much
healthier diet. Lots of vegetables, some meat and very little
sugar. There didn’t use to be junk food like crisps and burgers
and no one needed to go on a diet or get fit. Everyone on our
street, children and adults, used to work so hard.
3
It wasn’t all better. Lots of people smoked. We didn’t know
how bad smoking was. My husband was a regular smoker.
Fortunately, he gave up smoking when our children were born.
4
My husband used to work in the local shoe factory. He worked
hard but didn’t get paid very much. It was di cult sometimes.
People are richer and their lives are easier now, especially
with the Internet. But our lives were happier then. I wouldn’t
change my life then for anything.
1

Read the magazine article. Match the paragraphs 1–4 with the titles.

Draggable itemCorresponding Item
Paragraph 4
Playing outside
Paragraph 2
How we used to eat
Paragraph 1
Unknown dangers
Paragraph 3
Not all about the money
1

Choose the correct word and write. Put , between two words.

Maria thinks …
the streets are / used to be much quieter now / in the past.

1

the children are / used to be happier now / in the past.

1

people have / used to have healthier diets now / in the past.

1

more people smoke / used to smoke now / in the past.

1

people are / used to be richer now / in the past.

1

Read the magazine article choose the correct answers.

Maria’s family …

1

There was a party in the street …

1

People didn’t use to go on a diet or need to get fit because …

1

People used to smoke a lot because …

1

Maria thinks …