MULTIPLE MATCHING: PAPER 1, PART 3
You are going to read an article about a family choosing a name for a baby. For questions 1-10 choose from the people (A-D). The people may be chosen more than once.
Which person:
- does not like their name?
- is not concerned about other people's opinion of the name?
- wants to make a change from tradition?
- had trouble because of their name?
- is happy to give the baby a name which doesn't come from their own country?
- doesn't suggest a name for the baby?
- says their name is not very modern?
- wants the baby to have the first name of another family member?
- has changed their opinion of the name beca use of recent events?
- has a name which is not understood in other countries?
The Name Game
Steven and Maria have been married far two years and now Maria is expecting their first child. They know the baby will be a boy, but now they have a dilemma which is very familiar to couples who come from different countries. Steven is from Scotland and Maria from Greece, and they hove to decide whether to give their baby a British or a Greek name. We spoke to Steven's family in Inverness and Maria's family in Thessaloniki.
A Dimitra, Maria's mother
Of course I'm just happy that I'll be a grandmother! Maria is my only child. My husband was from a different generation and his parents were very proud of our Greek heritage, so they gave him the name Aristotélos. He was a wonderful man and I've been a widow for ten years now, so I'd be thrilled if they named the baby after his grandfather. It would be a bit unusual though because, here in
Greece, we normally give the first-born baby a name from the father's side of the family.
B Hamish, Steven's brother
Steven and Maria said that they think the baby needs to have a name that works in both countries, something very international. I personally don't think that should be a big issue. Take my name: it's very common here in Scotland, but when I go overseas, people don't understand it because
they've never heard it befare. But that's only a problem when you meet people. I'm Scottish and I'm proud I have a Scottish name. I think they should just choose a name that's interesting.
C Hilary, Steven's uncle
It's always a problem naming a baby and everyone has an opinion. But I can only give my personal experience. My parents gave me a name that's quite old-fashioned and could be a man or a woman's name, and I've never been fond of it. I had a lot of bullying when I was at school because of it. So that's what they have to be most careful about. What's wrong with James or John? They're common names.
D Maria
Everybody keeps asking me what name l'm going to give my baby and I just don't know what to do. Practically everyone I know has suggested a name to me, except Steven! He's as worried as I am. Originally, I was worried because our plan was to live in Britain and I was worried that the baby wouldn't know about his own culture. Luckily, Steven has just found a job in Athens and I now know our child will grow up here in Greece. So, I think it would be fine for him to have a British name, if we can think of a·nice one. I have told Steven though that we must give the baby Aristotélos as a
middle name. That's very important for my family.
Now read the text again and find words that mean the following:
- pregnant (introductory paragraph)
- a difficult decision (introductory paragraph)
- the history and culture of a nation or people (paragraph A)
- very pleased or excited (paragraph A)
- to other countries (paragraph B)
- when people attack or laugh at someone in an unkind way (paragraph C)
- almost (paragraph D)
- become an adult (paragraph D)