1、The Age of Majority 成年成年 In most countries,turning 18 marks the start of adulthood. But what does reaching this milestone, the age of majority, really mean? will you be completely in charge of your your own life and able to express yourself in a new and exciting ways? What new responsibilities will
2、this freedom bring? Here, three young people tell us what turning 18 means, or meant to them. mark - mean- symbolize turn : to pass or reach a particular age or time milestone 里程碑 in charge of - take charge of 负责 responsibility - duty I cant wait to be 18. One reason is that although Ive been workin
3、g ever since leaving school, I wont be voting in the next general election. Why? Because I still wont be old enough. Surely, if youre old enough to earn a wage and pay taxes, you should be allowed to have a say on how the government spends on them! Ive also been taking driving lessons, and in fact I
4、 will be taking my driving test on the very day I turn 18. general election 大选 cant wait to do - be eager to do election 选举，推选，当选 elect 选举 ，推选 V. elective 选举的，可选择的have a say 有发言权 the day you went away the moment he arrived the day 相当于连词 My mum worries about me being behind the wheel. As an ambulance
5、 driver, shes seen a lot of car accidents involving teenagers and thinks the legal age for getting a driving licence should be 21. But I think Im already mature enough to understand that driving a car also means taking responsibility for my life and the lives of other people. involve: 牵涉，牵连，涉及 behin
6、d the wheel - drive a car legal : allowed or required by law take responsibility - shoulder responsibility I celebrate my 18th birthday just before I went to university. I expected to feel instantly different, as if I had closed the door on my childhood and stepped into a whole new adult world. But
7、it wasnt like that. When I woke up the next day, there were still rules to obey and lessons to attend. In fact, the change has been more subtle and gradual than I imagined. Instead of being the selfish teenager I used to be, I have begun to feel more aware of other people and develop and a stronger
8、sense of social responsibility. expect to do: 预料，预计，期待 unexpected：出乎意料的，始料不及的 instantly - immediately attend ：出席，参加 attend school/lessons/wedding/funeral/meeting 照料，处理，对付 attend to sb/sth subtle: not very noticeable or obvious feel/become/be aware of 意识到，注意到 raise the awareness 提高意识 To give an examp
9、le,I will be signing an organ donation agreement this time tomorrow. This was a big dcision for me and I made it without asking my parents(although I knew they would approve). Turning 18 also changed the way that society viewed me. I was really surprised when a bank contacted me with a credit card o
10、ffer. Of course, I would like to have more freedom with money and no doubt I will be getting a credit card at some point, but I currently dont have a steady income, so getting a credit card might tempt me to spend more money than I have. approve of - be in favour of sign an agreement 签署协议 approve -
11、approval view: to think about sb in a particular way no doubt - undoubtedly currently - at present tempt sb to do sth 诱惑某人做 resist the temptation 抵制诱惑 People say that 18 marks a new chapter in our lives, and that we should become more independent. I used to believe this, but the reality for me has b
12、een very different. I assumed Id already have a well-paid job and that Id be moving into a rented apartment as soon as I turned 18, but how wrong I was! My libarians salary means that Ill be living at home with my parents for a while longer. assume: 假定，认为 第二个宾语从句前的that不省略 It is assumed that 普遍认为 on
13、the assumption that =assuming that 假设 People say that = It is said that 据说 as soon as - immediately/directly - the instant Because I contribute to the household bills and my commute to work is quite expensive, I find it hard to save any money. Ill be starting a new job next month, however, so maybe
14、things will get easier. I know I could get a bank loan to pay the deposit on my very own apartment, but I dont feel ready to make that kind of commitment, and I do like my moms cooking. I guess some responsibilities are more about attitude than age. commute: the journey that a person makes when they
15、 travel to work. contribute to 1.增加，为.做贡献 2.是. 的原因，导致 3.投稿，撰稿 4.捐赠 上下班路程 things: the general situation deposit: a sum of money that is given as the first part of a larger payment commitment: promise Read the passage and find out the meaning of “the age of majority” The age of majority means the mome
16、nt when you turn 18, which is a milestone marking the start of adulthood. Choose another suitable title for the passage and give your reasons. 1.Eighteen the Age of Indecision 2.Teenagers Hopes for the Future 3.The Right to Vote Your Views 4.Turning Eighteen What Does It Mean? Organise information f
17、rom the passage and complete the table . 1. driving lessons 2. Im old enough to earn a wage and pay taxes 3. how the government spends taxes 4. understand that driving a car also means taking responsibility for my life and the lives of other people 5. signing an organ donation agreement 6. rules to
18、obey and lessons to attend 7. move into a rented apartment 8. the household bills 1. Surely, if youre old enough to earn a wage and pay taxes, you should be allowed to have a say on how the government spends them! _ 2. I will be taking my driving test on the very day I turn 18. _ 3. When I woke up the next day, there were still rules to obey and lessons to attend. _ 4. I guess some responsibilities are more about attitude than age._ O; F; F; O Thanks a lot.
