Part 1 

Listen to the conversation. Then choose the answer that correctly completes each sentence.

1. Elena says her parents were somewhat …………….. when she was young because they were always worried about her.

2. Elena’s parents have not been as ………………… with her sister as they were with her.

3. Elena’s sister often arrives home later than the ……………….. that her parents have set.

4. Mark thinks that if Elena’s parents are too ……………… with her sister, she may become a troublemaker.

5. Elena says that her sister is never rude or ……………… to her parents.

6. Elena says her sister is used to getting everything she wants, so she is a bit ………………… .

Part 2

Listen to the presentation. Choose all the correct answers.

7. According to the speaker, which of the following are factors for the sandwich generation?

8. According to the speaker, in what ways are older children of the sandwich generation different from children in the previous generation?

9. According to the speaker, what are some factors that make being a member of the sandwich generation particularly stressful?

10. Where does the speaker suggest other members of the sandwich generation can find help?

Part 3

Choose the answer that correctly completes each sentence.

11. ……………………….. people are getting divorced. It is not as common as before.

12. Health care is getting ………………………… these days. More people can get care at affordable prices.

13. The longer people ……………………, the more health problems they develop.

14. ……………………… adults live with their parents now. More of them lived with their parents before.

15. The stricter their parents are, …………………………………… the children become.

16. The older I ………………… the less I understand teenagers.

Part 4

Put the words and phrases in the correct order to make sentences.

17. people live, / care / The longer / they require / the more

18. the less / they will try new opportunities / people get, / The older / likely / it is

19. lives by herself / The longer / the more / my mother / I become / worried

20. high school graduates / to go to college / are deciding / Fewer and fewer

21. their life expectancy / people get, / The more exercise / the higher

22. The more money / their retirement years will be / the less / people save, / stressful

Part 5

Choose the answer that correctly completes each sentence.

23. When my father was young, there was much more emphasis on rules and ………………………. than there is today.

24. In the past, young adults were expected to be far more …………………… than they are today

25. Every ………………. young man was expected to contribute part of his salary to the family.

26. Parents’ rules for sons were often more …………………. than their rules for daughters.

27. There were lower …………………… for women in the workplace.

28. Many women feel there is greater ………………. toward women today than in past generations.

Part 6

Read the article. Then answer the questions. Choose the correct answers.

Demographic Trends in the European Union

Government statistics show that the population in the European Union is growing slowly but going through significant change. The European Commission predicts that by 2060, the population will be about 9.7 million. Both men and women are living longer and longer. In 2060, life expectancy for men in the EU will be 85, and for women, it will be 89. This rising life expectancy means that a larger and larger percentage of the population will be old. Only 5% of the population was over 80 in 2013, but the figure is projected to rise to over 11% by 2060. This shift means that the overall cost of health care, especially long-term health care, is likely to get higher and higher.
The age of women giving birth for the first time is also rising in the European Union. Residents of the EU are waiting longer and longer to have children. In 2015, the age of first-time mothers reached its highest point ever—almost 29—with the youngest first-time mothers in Bulgaria and the oldest in Italy. In Italy and Spain, more than 5% of these first births were to mothers over 40. In most European countries, women’s age at the birth of their first child has climbed about five years since 1950.
Postponing the first birth means that there is less time to have large families, and indeed, fewer and fewer children are being born in EU countries. Finally, more and more women and couples are simply choosing not to have children. Once referred to as “childlessness,” today many people consider this a lifestyle choice, calling themselves “childfree.” More than 25% of EU households consist of couples without children.
The longer these trends continue, the more slowly the population will grow. This demographic shift is creating many challenges for governments across the EU. As the population ages, there are fewer taxpayers to support people who are sick, have a disability, and are retired. Governments and population experts are studying these issues, but they have no ready answers or easy solutions.

29. What is the main idea of the article?

30. What is the most likely meaning of long-term health care?

31. What is the most likely meaning of demographic?

32. What is a result of people having children later?

33. Why will the demographic shift described in the article cause problems in society?

Writing Test

Part 1

What are three ways in which your own childhood was different from that of either your mother or father? Write at least three paragraphs that compare the differences between your childhood and that of one of your parents.

Part 2

Describe two problems in a society with a rapidly aging population. What can be done to address the issues? Write three paragraphs: one paragraph about each problem and one paragraph about possible solutions.