Question

fill in the blanks as you listen to the recording.
family feuds
home for the holidays

1. do you spend a lot of time with your family over the holidays?

family ____________ can be fun, but they can also
be ____________.

1. the fear of disappointing a family member is a major source of holiday

stress. you may want to have dinner at your mother’s home, but your
mother - in - law expects you at hers. what happens when step - families
are ____________?

1. we often worry about what our family members will think or say about

our ____________. will they like the gifts we chose for their
kids, and did we spend enough money? what will grandma say if we
don’t ____________ the potatoes her way?

1. in a ____________ family, it’s only natural to notice each

other’s differences. sadly, our familiarity often makes us feel like
we can say whatever we please. hurt feelings can turn into
long - lasting ____________. are we better off talking
____________ each other’s backs?

1. some families argue about the same thing at every get - together.

avoiding your family’s ____________ can be a
____________. which subjects should your family avoid?

1. for many families, get - togethers involve ____________ and

sweet foods. this can make people say and do things that they later
____________. going outdoors and doing something active
together is a good way to avoid these conflicts.

1. do you still tell your adult sibling not to be a ____________?

does your aunt still think of you as a ____________ child?
everyone is getting older, but it can be difficult to forget your family’s
past. perhaps it’s time to let each other grow up.

1. what does your family do to end a family feud? do you sit down

and talk about your ____________, or do you pretend
like nothing happened? some families only address conflicts
by ____________.

Explanation:

This is a listening - fill - in - the - blanks exercise. Since it is a listening task, the answers depend on the content of the recording. Without the audio, we can only analyze the context to predict possible answers:

Question 1

• The first blank: According to the context "spend a lot of time with your family", it is likely to be "gatherings" (family gatherings mean family get - togethers).
• The second blank: The sentence says family gatherings can be fun but also have a negative side. A possible word is "stressful" (because the following content also mentions holiday stress).

Question 2

• The blank: When step - families are "involved" (when step - families are involved in the situation of choosing where to have dinner), it will cause more complex problems.

Question 3

• The first blank: From the following "Will they like the gifts...", we can infer that we worry about family members' opinions on our "choices" (the choices of gifts and other things).
• The second blank: "cook" the potatoes her way (it means to make the potatoes in the way grandma likes).

Question 4

• The first blank: In a "close - knit" family (a family with close relationships), it is natural to notice each other's differences.
• The second blank: Hurt feelings can turn into long - lasting "resentments" (long - term negative emotions).
• The third blank: "behind" each other's backs (talk behind each other's backs means to talk about others when they are not around).

Question 5

• The first blank: Avoiding family's "arguments" (the things that families argue about at every get - together).
• The second blank: Avoiding these arguments can be a "challenge" (it is not easy to avoid family arguments).

Question 6

• The first blank: Family get - togethers often involve "rich" (rich foods, which are usually high - calorie) and sweet foods.
• The second blank: Eating these foods can make people do things they later "regret" (they will feel sorry for what they said or did).

Question 7

• The first blank: Do you still tell your adult sibling not to be a "nuisance" (a person who is annoying).
• The second blank: Does your aunt still think of you as a "spoiled" (a child who is over - indulged) child.

Question 8

• The first blank: Sit down and talk about your "feelings" (talk about your inner feelings to end a family feud).
• The second blank: Some families only address conflicts by "ignoring" them (pretend like nothing happened, that is, ignore the conflicts).

Since this is a listening exercise, the above are just predictions based on context. To get the accurate answers, you need to listen to the recording.

Answer:

This is a listening - fill - in - the - blanks exercise. Since it is a listening task, the answers depend on the content of the recording. Without the audio, we can only analyze the context to predict possible answers:

Question 1

• The first blank: According to the context "spend a lot of time with your family", it is likely to be "gatherings" (family gatherings mean family get - togethers).
• The second blank: The sentence says family gatherings can be fun but also have a negative side. A possible word is "stressful" (because the following content also mentions holiday stress).

Question 2

• The blank: When step - families are "involved" (when step - families are involved in the situation of choosing where to have dinner), it will cause more complex problems.

Question 3

• The first blank: From the following "Will they like the gifts...", we can infer that we worry about family members' opinions on our "choices" (the choices of gifts and other things).
• The second blank: "cook" the potatoes her way (it means to make the potatoes in the way grandma likes).

Question 4

• The first blank: In a "close - knit" family (a family with close relationships), it is natural to notice each other's differences.
• The second blank: Hurt feelings can turn into long - lasting "resentments" (long - term negative emotions).
• The third blank: "behind" each other's backs (talk behind each other's backs means to talk about others when they are not around).

Question 5

• The first blank: Avoiding family's "arguments" (the things that families argue about at every get - together).
• The second blank: Avoiding these arguments can be a "challenge" (it is not easy to avoid family arguments).

Question 6

• The first blank: Family get - togethers often involve "rich" (rich foods, which are usually high - calorie) and sweet foods.
• The second blank: Eating these foods can make people do things they later "regret" (they will feel sorry for what they said or did).

Question 7

• The first blank: Do you still tell your adult sibling not to be a "nuisance" (a person who is annoying).
• The second blank: Does your aunt still think of you as a "spoiled" (a child who is over - indulged) child.

Question 8

• The first blank: Sit down and talk about your "feelings" (talk about your inner feelings to end a family feud).
• The second blank: Some families only address conflicts by "ignoring" them (pretend like nothing happened, that is, ignore the conflicts).

Since this is a listening exercise, the above are just predictions based on context. To get the accurate answers, you need to listen to the recording.