What is the difference between boys and girls ?

Donna’s point of view

Do boys or girls mature faster ?
Girls definitely mature faster ! Some boys behave like absolute babies when they are with their friends.

Do girls worry about their appearance more ?
Yes. They especially worry about their hair and clothes.

Do you act differently when you are with girls ?
I talk about different things but I don’t act differently. There is no point acting differently with boys. You must just be yourself.

What can girls do better than boys ?
Horse-riding and listen to people’s problems.

Do parents treat sons and daughters differently ?
Yes, some fathers treat their sons differently to their daughters. Some mothers treat their daughters differently to their sons. Also, in some families the daughters have more restrictions. The daughters must speak "nicely" and they have to look smart but the boys don’t have to.

What annoys you about boys ?
When they are in large groups they act like idiots but if they are alone, they are nice. lt also annoys me that they try to act brave and never show their feelings.

Barclay’s point of view

Do boys or girls mature faster ?
Girls definitely mature faster ! At fifteen, we (boys) are still joking around and enjoying doing silly things. At fifteen, girls behave like adults and wear smart clothes.

Do girls worry about their appearance more ?
Yes. Boys don’t want to look stupid but they don't worry too much about their appearance. Girls worry a lot more. Perhaps this is the reason why more girls suffer from eating disorders.

Do you act differently when you are with girls ?
I talk about the same things to both boys and girls. However, I probably behave less violently with girls.

What can girls do better than boys ?
Art subjects. Girls are more creative than boys. Girls are also better at looking after children.

Do parents treat sons and daughters differently ?
Not really. Some parents worry more about daughters. I suppose this is fair, especially during puberty. Also, some parents try to encourage their daughters to be more feminine. For example, the daughters must not swear but the sons can.

What annoys you about girls ?
They are impossible to argue with. They ignore you when they don’t want to listen ! Also, some girls are very unforgiving, they don’t forget arguments or mistakes. Another thing I dislike is that girls always expect boys to make the "first move" if a boy and a girl like each other. 

Adapted from TNT, 1995

COMPREHENSION

1- Trouvez dans le texte l’équivalent anglais des mots ou expressions suivants: (BEP: 3pts - CAP 3pts)

a) se comporter, se conduire : .........................................................................................

b) élégant : ......................................................................................................................

c) plaisanter : ..................................................................................................................

d) stupide : ......................................................................................................................

e) se faire du souci : ........................................................................................................

f) le premier pas : ............................................................................................................

2) Dites si les affirmations suivantes sont vraies ou fausses en cochant la bonne case. Dans tous les cas, justifiez votre réponse en anglais avec des éléments du texte. (BEP: 5 pts - CAP : 7,5 pts)

a) D’après les deux adolescents, Donna et Barclay, les filles deviennent mûres moins rapidement que les garçons.

Vrai / Faux :.........................................................................................................................................................................

b) Une des raisons des désordres alimentaires des filles est leur trop grande inquiétude quant à leur apparence physique.

Vrai / Faux :.........................................................................................................................................................................

c) Barclay se comporte de la même façon qu’il se trouve avec des filles ou des garçons.

Vrai / Faux :

.........................................................................................................................................................................

d) Les parents ne traitent pas de la même façon leur fils et leur fille.

Vrai / Faux :

.........................................................................................................................................................................

e) D’après Donna, les garçons montrent trop souvent leurs sentiments.

Vrai / Faux :

.........................................................................................................................................................................

3) Voici trois résumés. Cochez celui qui correspond au texte: "What is the difference between boys and girls ?", dans les deux autres, soulignez les inexactitudes. (BEP : 3 pts - CAP : 4,5 pts)

[ ] This document is an interview with two teenagers, Donna and Barclay, about the differences between boys and girls. Donna and Barclay answer several questions in the same way. For example, they agree about the fact that boys mature less rapidly than girls do. They also think that girls have more restrictions and are encouraged to be more feminine.

[ ]  This document is an interview with two teenagers, Donna and Barclay, about the differences between boys and girls. Donna and Barclay think there are a lot of differences between them. They give opposite answers to all questions. For example, Donna thinks that girls aged 15 behave like babies whereas Barclay thinks they behave like adults.

[ ] This document is an interview with two teenagers, Donna and Barclay, about the differences between boys and girls. Donna and Barclay think there are no differences between them. They give the same point of view on every question. For example, both think that boys mature faster and worry more about their appearance than girls do.

COMPETENCE LINGUISTIQUE

4) Complétez à l’aide d’un comparatif. (BEP 2 pts - CAP: 2 pts)

a- Usually, young girls are ......................................... (mature) than boys.

b- When they are alone, boys are ......................................... (nice) than when they are in large groups.

c- In some families, girls have to look ......................................... (smart) than boys.

d- Girls want to be more feminine because they want to look ......................................... (pretty).

5) Posez la question sur l’élément souligné. (BEP :3 pts - CAP 3 pts)

a- Parents treat sons and daughters differently.

b- Yes, Donna worries a lot about her appearance.

c- When they are with boys, girls talk about different things.

d- Inside the school, girls are imposed more restrictions than boys.

e- Boys act like idiots when they are in large groups.

f- Donna and her friend meet once a week.

EXPRESSION ECRITE

 (BEP 4 pts - 60 mots)

6) Do you think that men and women have the same opportunities in our societies ? (studies / jobs / politics / sports / ...)
Give examples and your own opinion.