JANUARY 2009
Strange as it may sound to some, men spend more time doing the dishes.
Language Function: discussing issues; reading comprehension
Vocabulary/Topic: pocket money; children; parenting; raising children; materialism;
MANNER, MANNERS, BEHAVIOUR
PRINT & TEACH LESSON
K
FEBRUARY 2010
BRIBED TO BE GOOD
advanced
upper-intermediate
intermediate
pre-intermediate
‣ Giving pocket money is wrong because it could lead to
fights between children.
‣ Pocket money can give children experience in handling
money and teach them to budget.
‣ Parents giving pocket money encourage unhealthy
competition among children.
‣ By giving pocket money, parents lose control over how
their children’s money is spent.
‣ Children should get pocket money as a reward for good
work at school.
‣ Children should earn their pocket money by doing
chores - they have to learn that money doesn’t grow on
trees.
‣ Children who receive pocket money can learn that they
need to choose between their various desires.
‣ Children shouldn’t be given any weekly allowance
because they could waste it.
‣ Giving pocket money to children teaches them
responsibility and makes them feel important in the
family because they get a part of the family’s income.
‣ Children should be given pocket money but they
mustn’t get complacent and expect it for nothing.
focus on talking
Activity 1. Here are some views on the topic of pocket money.
Which of them do you share?
www.english-4u.com page 1
$
€£

JANUARY 2009
Strange as it may sound to some, men spend more time doing the dishes.
BRIBED TO BE GOOD
www.english-4u.com
Activity 2. Read the article to find out why a well-mannered child can cost £6,000.
focus on reading
Good manners cost nothing, so the saying goes. But for parents these days, it seems, having a polite child
can come at quite a price. Research shows that almost half of youngsters are bribed with pocket money to
be on their best behaviour.
More than a third are also having to earn their weekly allowance by doing household chores, while one in
five is rewarded for helping to clean and feed pets.
The survey, by the Child Trust Fund, also found about a fifth of children received cash for finishing
homework on time, accumulating points on a reward chart and for getting good marks at school.
It comes as children are being given record amounts of pocket money and the
Government is proposing that, from 2012, pupils as young as five will be
taught personal finance.
In November, the Daily Mail revealed children were receiving so much
money that they had 'unprecedented spending power'.
A report by the London School of Economics showed that in spite of the
recession Britain's young had never had it so good.
Children who received on average £1.18 a week in 1987 now get £6.84 -
a rise of almost 600 per cent. If their pocket money had gone up in line
with inflation, it would have been around £2.50.
Fraser Campbell, head of O2 Money, said: 'The research underscores
the economic importance of young people.
'Their unprecedented spending power means these youngsters
are handling more cash than any generation before them.'
On average, seven- to ten-year-olds get £4.92 in pocket
money each week, rising to £8.22 for those aged 11 to 15.
Between seven and 15, they will spend £6,000, according
to the LSE report.
With extra money coming from gifts and Saturday jobs,
this means their spending power is £10.27 a week for
seven- to ten-year-olds and £15.25 for 11- to 15-year-
olds.
Overall, the report estimated young people contribute
nearly £5billion each year to the economy - with sweets
the most popular purchase across all age groups.
Why a well-mannered child can cost you £6,000
source: Mail Online, 9 January 2010

JANUARY 2009
Strange as it may sound to some, men spend more time doing the dishes.
BRIBED TO BE GOOD
www.english-4u.com page 3
1. According to the research, polite children get more pocket money.
2. One in three children earns their pocket money by doing household chores.
3. Children don’t get as much money as they used to because of the recession.
4. A typical British child receives around £2.50 a week from his/her parents.
5. The older the children, the more money they spend.
6. Only young children spend their pocket money on sweets.
focus on comprehension
Activity 3. Read the article again and decide whether the following statements are true or false.
common errors
1. Good manner costs nothing, so the saying goes.
........................................................................................................................................
2. Youngsters are bribed with pocket money to be on their best behaviours.
........................................................................................................................................
Activity 4. The sentences below contain errors. Correct them.
focus on vocabulary: MANNER, MANNERS, BEHAVIOUR
MANNER (singular) is the way someone behaves towards other people
He was well known for business-like manner.
MANNERS (plural) is the way someone behaves towards other people, especially when
we talk about what is accepted as polite behaviour.
Your son has very good manners.
BEHAVIOUR is an uncountable noun and has no plural form.
We were shocked by their behaviour.

JANUARY 2009
Strange as it may sound to some, men spend more time doing the dishes.
BRIBED TO BE GOOD
www.english-4u.com page 4
focus on talking
Activity 5. Discuss the following questions in pairs or small groups.
‣ Are youngsters in your country “bribed” with pocket
money? Does a typical child receive a regular allowance?
How much does a typical child get from his/her parents?
‣ In your opinion, why are Britain’s youngsters given record
amounts of money in spite of the recession?
to be expensive
to make illegal payments to someone in exchange for
favours or influence
money given to someone regularly
never done or known before
in the same way as something else; in accordance with
something
to emphasize
to give, provide something
something bought
1. .....................................................
2. ....................................................
3. ....................................................
4. ....................................................
5. ....................................................
6. ....................................................
7. .....................................................
8. .....................................................
LET’S TALK
focus on vocabulary
Activity 6. Find these words and expressions in the text on page 2.