CTOB For parents, it can be a difficult time when the children leave home to go to university. ? The first signs of my daughter's imminent departure appeared soon after she received confirmation of her university place. The carpet in Marie-Claire's bedroom, unseen since the start of A-levels', began to reappear after she recycled piles of magazines 5 and put her rubbish into the bin. For the first time in 18 years our house was nearly tidy, and I wasn't sure that I liked it. In this new period in your life as a parent, you have to be able to let your children 10 know they have your support but at the same time allow them to be independent - often easier said than done. A lot of parents also suffer from what is referred to as empty-nest syndrome: you are proud of the successes of your sons and daughters and share their sense of excitement but at the same time you feel sad that they have left. Judy Hobson, adapted from The Guardian, Wednesday 8 October 2003 A-levels: the exam at the end of high school. A-Circle the correct answer. 1) The article expresses the point of view of a-parents. b-children. c-university teachers. 2) Marie-Claire is a- a journalist working for a magazine. b-Judy Hobson's daughter. c- the person who cleans the house. syndrome' 3) 'Empty-nest concerns a-parents who want their children to be tidy. b-parents who suffer from their children's departure. c-children who would like to live with their parents. B-The following statements are TRUE. Justify by quoting from the text. a-The journalist's house has been messy for a long time. b-Parents have to accompany their children in making their own decisions.