Living aboard

In many of the worlds cities, on canals and rivers or in marinas, you can find people who have chosen to live on the water. The Brown family have lived aboard their boat for fifteen years. Much of that time they have spent sailing around the world. Heres what they had to say about living aboard.

Mary Brown

People sometimes ask me if I think its fair to the children. How could it not be fair? They live in a less polluted, safer environment. They get to travel and become comfortable with and able to deal with people of all ages and from different cultures. This makes them confident and relaxed. Children who live aboard are often better educated because instead of being taught in overcrowded classrooms they learn with their brothers and sisters and with a parent as the teacher.

Susan Brown

People usually dont believe we live on a boat until I show them a photo. It seems so different to the lifestyles they know. Of course living aboard has its advantages and disadvantages. Its fantastic living so close to nature and getting to know other cultures and languages. Its also really exciting to sail off somewhere and know that you will see new places and meet new people, but sometimes I have made new friends somewhere and then they move on or we do. Saying goodbye to people is always hard.

Peter Brown

Ive already decided that Im going to get a boat when Im older and go cruising with my friends. I have had so many experiences and seen so many amazing things: dolphins, whales, fantastic tropical fish and a lot of beautiful places on land as well. My only worry is how I will get on with the kids in a normal classroom and with the school system in general. I want to go to university and I dont know how well Ill do in the final exams. Mum and Dad both say Im ahead of other kids of my age, but Im not so sure.

Q5. Now choose the best alternative(a, b, c or d) to answer the questions.

1. What does the writer of the article want to tell her readers about?

One family's experience of living on a boat.

Why she thinks it's a good idea to live on a boat.

The disadvantages of living on a boat.

Where you can see people living on boats.

2. How does Mary Brown feel about other lifestyles?

She thinks they are unfair to children.

She thinks they do not offer the advantages of living aboard.

She is not sure what she thinks about them.

She thinks they are safer than living aboard.

3. What is the main disadvantage of living aboard according to Susan Brown?

She has to learn foreign languages.

She hasn't made many friends.

They stay in the same place for too long.

She misses her friends.

4. Why is Peter Brown worried?

He does not know as much as other people his age.

His parents think he is behind other people his age.

He thinks he might not get good enough results to get into university.

He wants to go to a normal school.

5. Which of the Browns have the same opinions about the advantages of living aboard?

Mary and Peter agree that the children are better educated.

Peter and Susan agree that meeting new people and getting to know new cultures are important.

Mary and Susan agree that it is good to get away from pollution.

Susan and Peter both think it is wonderful to be in close contact with nature.

6. Which of the Browns mention positive and negative things about living aboard?

Susan, but not Peter or Mary.

Peter and Susan, but not Mary.

Mary, Peter and Susan.

Peter, but not Susan or Mary.

7. What does It (underlined and printed in bold in Susan Brown paragraph) refer to ?

A boat.

A photo.

Living on a boat.

Not believing in their lifestyle.