THE MIRROR - GROWING OLD

Le Miroir is a short film directed by Swiss filmmakers Ramon and Pedro. The concept is simple enough: the audience sees through the subject’s eyes during his daily routine in front of the bathroom mirror, catching glimpses of his life as he grows from a young boy to an old man.What do you think is happening to him in every stage of his life? Has he had a happy life?

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What happens as you age? Click HERE

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Common collocations relating to age

• Disaffected youth – young people who do not accept society’s values
• Juvenile delinquent – a criminal who is still legally a minor.
• Midlife crisis – period of dissatisfaction in the middle of one’s life.
• Going through a phase – going through a period of difficult behaviour.
• Feel their age – when someone feels as old as they are

Idioms

• A ripe old age – A very old age.
• Tender age of – The young age of …
• Act your age!– Behave more maturely (when someone is acting like a child).
• Over the hill – Another way of saying that someone is old

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READING COMPREHENSION

A) SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms:

1. at hand
2. at bay
3. rate
4. rejuvenate
5. deteriorate
6. conducted
7. resembling
8. baffled
9. casts
10. mystery

1. being similar to
2. restore
3. worsen
4. puzzle
5. away
6. puzzled
7. close by
8. throws
9. carried out
10. speed

B) 

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below. 

particular
hand
rejuvenate
key
signs
vision
bay
physical

Help may be at (1) ____________ for those of us who want to keep the wrinkles and grey hair at (2) ____________ and slow down the process of aging. New research suggests that eating green vegetables can ward off the (3) ____________ of aging. Researchers say that broccoli, cabbage and avocado in (4) ____________ contain a compound that helps slow down the rate at which we age. The (5) ____________ compound, present in green fruit and vegetables, is called NMN. It helps slow down the (6) ____________ signs of getting old. Scientists say NMN can also (7) ____________ the metabolism. It helps replenish levels of energy production in our body that deteriorate as we age. It also helps reduce weight gain and the deterioration of (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below. 

way
typical
scientists
light
resembling
decline
reduced
poor

The research was conducted by (9) ____________ at the Washington University School of Medicine in the USA. Researcher professor Shinichiro Imai said: "We have shown a (10) ____________ to slow the physiological (11) ____________ that we see in aging mice. This means older mice have metabolism and energy levels (12) ____________ that of younger mice." Professor Imai said tests on mice showed that NMN reduced (13) ____________ signs of aging, including a decline in the strength of skeletal muscle, (14) ____________ liver function, lower bone density and weakening eyesight. The reason our metabolism changes over time and leads to (15) ____________ energy levels has baffled scientists for decades. This latest research casts new (16) ____________ on this mystery.

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How old is old? Look at the table below. Do you know all the vocabulary? Which ages do you think you should put in the second column?

Age ‘label’	How old?
new-born
baby
toddler
child
teenager
adult
middle-aged
old person

Answer the following questions (about 25 words each)

1.What do you think is the best age?

2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being the age your are at the moment?

3.How are old people treated by society in your country?

 

ESSAY - Choose one of these two topics:

1- Write the story of the protagonist of The Mirror. What was his life like?

2- In the UK, like in many countries around the globe, life expectancy is increasing and more and more people reach their 100th birthday. When you are 100 in Britain the Queen sends you a birthday telegram. In 1952 just 225 people became 100, however nowadays more than 3500 people reach their 100th birthday every year. By 2025 over a third of the population of the UK will be over 55 years old.... What do you think your life will be like when you are in your 70s?