2014年南京大学考博英语真题5

Passage 3

The period of adolescence, i. e. , the period between childhood and adulthood, may be long or short, depending on social expectations and on society’s definition as to what constitutes maturity and adulthood. In primitive societies adolescence is frequently a relatively short period of time, while in industrial societies with patterns of prolonged education coupled with laws against child labor, the period of adolescence is much longer and may include most of the second decade of one’s life. Furthermore， the length of the adolescence period and the definition of adulthood status may change in a given society as social and economic conditions change.

In modem society, ceremonies for adolescence have lost their formal recognition and symbolic significance and there is no longer agreement as to what constitutes initiation ceremonies. Social ones have been replaced by a sequence of steps that lead to increased recognition and social status. For example, grade school graduation, high school graduation and college graduation constitute such a sequence, and while each step implies certain behavioral changes and social recognition, the significance of each depends on the socio-economic status and the education ambition of the individual. Ceremonies for adolescence have also been replaced by legal definitions of status roles, rights, privileges and responsibilities. It is during the nine years from the twelfth birthday to the twenty-first that the protective and restrictive aspects of childhood and minor status are removed and adult privileges and responsibilities are granted. The twelve-year-old is no longer considered a child and has to pay full fare for train, airplane, theater and movie tickets. Basically, the individual at this age loses childhood privileges without gaining significant adult rights. At the age of 16 the adolescent is granted certain adult rights which increase his social status by providing him with more freedom and choices. He now can obtain a driver’s license, he can leave public schools； and he can work without the restrictions of child labor

laws. At the age of 18 the law provides adult responsibilities as well as rights ； the young man can now be a soldier, but he also can marry without parental permission. At the age of 21 the individual obtains his full legal rights as an adult. He now can vote, buy liquor, enter into financial contracts, and he is entitled to run for public office. No additional basic rights are acquired as a function of age after majority status has been attained. None of these legal provisions determine at what point adulthood has been reached but they do point to the prolonged period of adolescence.

39. The period of adolescence is much longer in industrial societies because .

A. the definition of maturity has changed

B. the industrialized society is more developed

C. more education is provided and laws against child labor are made

D. ceremonies for adolescence have lost their formal recognition and symbolic significance

40. Former social ceremonies that used to mark adolescence have given place to •

A. graduations from schools and colleges

B. social recognition

C. socio-economic status

D. certain behavioral changes

41. No one can expect to fully enjoy the adulthood privileges until he is .

A. eleven years old

B. sixteen years old

C. twenty-one years old

D. between twelve and twenty-one years old

42. Starting from 22, .

A. one will obtain more basic rights

B. the older one becomes, the more basic rights he will have

C. one won’t get more basic rights than when he is 21

D. one will enjoy more rights granted by society

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