Question

Task. Read the text and answer the questions. Give the full answers. Megan McCarthy is 14. She lives in Leeds. I’m 14, but I’m 1.83 metres tall. All my friends are shorter than me and I’m the tallest person in my family. Everyone thinks I’m older than 14. On the bus, they think I’m an adult. When I started secondary school, everyone stared at me. People were friendlier and more helpful at primary school. But it’s easier now and I’ve got lots of mates. Clothes are always a problem. I usually buy my clothes at a shop called ‘Long Tall Sally’, but they’re more expensive than ordinaryclothes. Shoes are even worse! There are some advantages. I play basketball and people say I’m the best player in the school. And tall people often get better jobs and earn more money! The most difficult thing is that I’m always different from other people. I just want to be the same as everyone else. But I’m tall and I’ll always be tall, so I try to accept it and be positive about it. 1. Why is she different from her friends? 2. Do you think she likes being different? 3. What is the great problem which she always faces? 4. Are there any advantages being a tall person? 5. Does she want to be the same height as the other children?

Answer 1

1) She is 1.83 metres tall and all of her friends are shorter than her.

2) Not really. She wants to be the same as everyone else.

3) She always faces the problem of finding right clothes that can fit her by the size.

4) "There are some advantages. I play basketball and people say I’m the best player in the school. And tall people often get better jobs and earn more money!"

So, she's the best basketball player in her school, also she says that tall people often get better jobs and earn more money.

5. Yes, she does, but also she tries to accept it and be positive about it.

Answer 2

1. She is different from her friends because she is much taller than them. She is 1.83 metres tall while her friends are shorter.

2. It's not explicitly stated in the text whether she likes being different, but it can be inferred that she has mixed feelings about it. She mentions that she just wants to be the same as everyone else and that she finds it difficult to always be different. However, she also mentions trying to accept her height and be positive about it.

3. The great problem she always faces is the difficulty in finding clothes and shoes that fit her. She mentions that she usually buys her clothes from a special shop for tall people called 'Long Tall Sally', but these clothes tend to be more expensive than regular clothes. She also mentions that finding shoes is even worse.

4. Yes, there are advantages to being a tall person. She mentions that she plays basketball and is considered the best player in school. Additionally, she notes that tall people often have the opportunity to get better jobs and earn more money.

5. No, she acknowledges that she can't change the fact that she's tall and that she'll always be tall. She mentions that she tries to accept her height and maintain a positive outlook about it. She expresses a desire to be the same as everyone else, but she recognizes the reality of her height.