Read the following and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 14 to 20.
Everybody feels irritated by their siblings from time to time. Maybe your younger brother shows off and behaves in an immature way when you invite your friends to your house. Or perhaps your hardworking older sister gets a lot of praise from your parents, making you feel like you are not trying hard enough. At times, your brother or sister can feel like your worst enemy. But your relationship can improve greatly with a bit of effort and understanding.
Sibling relationships can be especially difficult for teenagers, who are experiencing many changes to their preferences and personality. For example, you may now find some of the activities that you used to enjoy doing with your younger brother childish or a waste of time. At times, the age difference can feel bigger than it really is, and this can have a negative effect on your relationship. One way to solve this problem is to make sure you continue to include your brother or sister in your day-to-day life. This can take some time, so it is important to be patient and enthusiastic.
Of course, it is perfectly normal for brothers and sisters to fall out with one another over small things. But you should not try to let incidents like these have too big an effect on your relationship. It is important to learn to forgive your siblings for this kind of behaviour, just as you would forgive your close friends. In situations like these, it is really important to let your sibling know how you feel. Rather than insulting your sister when she takes your things, tell her that it makes you feel angry, and that you would feel much happier if she asked you first. It‟s also crucial that you are sensitive to the feelings of your siblings too.
Finally, it is important to learn how to compromise. It is understandable that you may not want to lend your favourite jumper to your unreliable sister, but maybe you could offer her a less valuable alternative item of clothing. Or if your brother likes to spend all his free time watching football and you find it boring, you could suggest a different sport that you follow regularly together. And if you make the effort to make your sibling happy, he or she will do the same for you.
