The Problems with New Year's Resolutions - Interemediate reading practice

I am back after the long Christmas break - full of energy and plans! Do you like to make New Year's resolutions? Or, even better - are you the kind of people who keep them? :) This year I've decided to become a vegeterian, and for a carnivore like me - it is a revolution :) For the moment it's going great, I'm enjoying cooking new recipes (my boyfriend is less enthousiastic:) ) and I really hope that this New Year's resolution I will keep!

Today's reading is about the promises we make to ourselves with the begining of a new year and  about the failures connected with it :)

As usual - the printable version has some extra warming-up speaking and vocabulary activities. To get it, click HERE.


The Problems With New Year’s Resolutions

A New Year’s resolution is a promise that we make to ourselves to change something in our lives for the better. The changes are supposed to start with the beginning of the New Year, which gives many people an excuse to abuse their bad habits to the limit during the last few weeks of December. People often make commitments to stop smoking or lose weight with the beginning of January, so just before that, they feel excused to smoke 2 packets of cigarettes per day and eat all the food with cheese or gravy on top of it. After all, it’s like an award in advance for all the hard work that they will do during the upcoming year.

The problem with New Year’s resolutions is that they are rarely followed by actions. Motivation is something that does not last for more than a week, especially during the beginning of the year when all of us have so much to do at work or school. Of course, there are these few fighters, with their Nicorette patches on, nicotine infused chewing gums ordered and their year’s gym memberships bought and ready to be used. But… The stress is too big to be beaten with a chewing gum and the gym is too far and the opening hours do not fit our busy lifestyles. So, absolutely ‘not’ by our fault, we postpone the resolutions to the next New Year, when life will be less stressful and days will be longer.

What are the mistakes that we make while planning our resolutions? Are our promises too big or our wills to weak? Maybe instead of telling ourselves to lose 30kilos we should decide to start eating healthier? Maybe instead of quitting smoking we should try cutting down?

                                                                                                               
Questions:

1.       What is a New Year’s resolution?

2.       According to the text, what are the most popular New Year’s resolutions? Would you agree with these choices?

3.       Why is it difficult to keep New Year’s Resolutions? Would you agree with the suggestions given in the text?

4.       Do you ever make New Year’s resolutions? Why/Why not?

5.       If you had to make a list of 10 best New Year’s resolutions, what would there be and why?

                                                                                   
VOCABULARY PRACTICE:

Change the words in bold using their synonyms. Choose between the words given below:

BEATEN     RESOLUTION     CUT DOWN ON     POSTPONED     GRAVY     AWARD     WILL    FIT

 
1.       My determination is not strong enough to continue this diet.

2.       I’ve made a commitment that I will stop gossiping!

3.       I must eat less sweets, I’m getting fat!

4.       I love this sauce! What spices have you added there?

5.       Germany was defeated in the II World War.

6.       The match was delayed because of the rain.

7.       What was the prize she won for the first place?

8.       This job doesn’t suit my life.

 
Fill the gaps with the words given below:

RESOLUTION        EXCUSE       UPCOMING      PATCH       MEMBERSHIP      FAR      FIT    WEAK

 
1.       You are late for the third time this week! What’s your ..........................this time?

2.       I can’t see what is written on the billboard, it’s too ...........................

3.       Mark is wearing a nicotine ............................because he wants to quit smoking.

4.       My ..............................for this year is to eat less; that’s all.

5.       Mary, I don’t think that this kind of language is .................for a young lady!

6.       I feel a bit sad; I don’t have any plans for the ........................summer holidays.

7.       How much is your monthly all-inclusive .............................?

8.       I can’t lift these bags, I’m too ............................!

 

 
 

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