ROUND-UP CASE STUDY 1 READING FIRST Read a story of adoption, then choose the best answers from the options given. Adopting our daughter from Russia was the hardest and best thing we have ever done. As a young, then unmarried couple, who wanted to adopt a child we weren9t even sure we would be allowed to. We just knew it was what we wanted and needed to do, so we went to the local social services office. After a not so enthusiastic initial response, thankfully we were redirected to the IAC (Intercountry Adoption Centre) and from that day we believed it could happen. We knew it would take a long time before we were all together, so we decided to make the most of this time and not let the pain of waiting take over. Picking up our daughter from the orphanage on a freezing December day was everything we hoped it would be. We were welcomed with open arms and given gifts to take home for her. Our daughter on my knee smiling and watching out of the window all wrapped up and my husband and I looking at each other finally realising it had happened, she was ours! Getting to know her has been a wonderful journey full of love, laughter, and learning. Learning to be parents, adoptive parents, and everything else that comes with bringing up a little girl. It has been amazing. There have of course been a few curved balls along the way, one that sticks in my mind was during the first few days together when it became apparent that our 2½ year old didn9t know how to chew her food. Weaning a child wasn9t something I had looked up! But we quickly figured it out and were very glad of the extra Russian porridge we had been given to take home as something familiar for our daughter. We feel privileged every day, and we feel immensely proud that we made her ours. When she proudly tells anyone who will listen that she9s Russian, and that she slept on mummy9s lap all the way home on the aeroplane, and that she9s been out in the snow when it was -17°C, I know we are the luckiest people ever. Adapted from: https://www.coramiac.org.uk/adopters/ case-studies/adopting-from-russia/ 1 Why did the couple initially doubt their ability to adopt? A They had no experience with children. B They were not enthusiastic enough. C They were a young, unmarried couple. D They didn9t know whether the social services would help them. 2 What was the couple9s reaction when they were redirected to the IAC? A They were discouraged. B They believed they would be successful. C They considered adopting from a different country. D They felt it would be difficult to adopt. 3 How did the couple handle the waiting period before the adoption was finalised? A They frequently travelled to Russia. B They decided not to be deterred by the waiting. C They felt overwhelmed by the wait. D They started preparing their home. 4 What was an unexpected challenge the couple faced with their daughter? A She didn9t know how to speak English. B They couldn9t eat properly. C She was still used to eating only milk. D She didn9t like Russian porridge. 180 Topic 8 " CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES glossary to chew: masticare curved ball: imprevisto to wean: svezzare to wrap up: avvolgere