Chapter 1: The Age of Adulthood Unit 10: Growing Older Chapter 1: The Age of Adulthood

In the United States, sixteen, eighteen, and twenty-one are important ages in a person’s life. There are no special celebrations for these birthdays, but each is a time when a person can do new things that show that he or she is no longer a child and has made the transition to adulthood.

In the United States, after turning sixteen a person can work, get a drivers license, and leave home. Many high school student learn to drive and get part-time jobs soon after celebrating their sixteen birthday.

Sometimes the laws don’t seem to make sense: at eighteen people in the United States can vote in governmental elections and join the army, but they are prohibited from going into many nightclubs, buying drinks like beer or wine, or gambling until they are twenty-one.

In many Latin American countries, a young woman’s fifteenth birthday is important. At this age, she is no longer considered to be a girl, but rather a woman. To mark this special day, families with fifteen-year-old daughters have a celebration called a Quinceanera. The day begins with the young woman and her family going to church. Later, there is a party and many guests are invited.

In Japan, boys and girls are considered to be adults at the age of twenty. At this age, they are allowed by law to vote, drink alcohol, and smoke. The second Monday in January is a national holiday called “Coming of Age Day.” On this day, twenty-year-olds celebrate by first going to a shrine with their families. Later, they listen to speeches given by city and school leaders. After that, many celebrate with family or friends late into the night.

In some countries, birthday celebrations continue throughout adulthood In some countries, birthday celebrations continue throughout adulthood. Some people celebrate their fortieth and fiftieth birthdays, or the year that they retire, with a big party.

Vocabulary Adulthood: n. [u] state of being adult Celebration: n. (act or occasion of) celebrating Transition: n. changing from one state or condition to another Driver’s license: n. license to drive a motor vehicle Make sense: 1. have an understandable meaning 2. be sensible Vote: n. or v. formal expression of one’s opinion or choice by ballot or show of hands Governmental: adj. of or connected with government Election: n. (instance of) choosing or selection by vote (of candidates for a position, esp a political office)

Vocabulary Prohibit: v. forbid sth or sb from doing sth esp by laws, rules or regulations. Gambling: n. playing games, etc for money. No longer: after a certain point in time. Consider: v. think about sb or sth, esp in order to make a decision; contemplate sb/sth. Allow: v. permit (sb/sth) to do sth. Alcohol: n. colorless liquid that can cause drunkenness, contained in drinks such as beer and wine. Speech: n. a talk to a group of people. Retire: v. give up one’s regular work, esp because of age.