UNIT 1 课时跟踪检测（三） 阅读写作融会练（word练习）-【新课程学案】新教材2023-2024学年高中英语选择性必修2 （外研版）

UNIT 1 课时跟踪检测（三） 阅读写作融会练 Ⅰ.阅读理解 Japan recently lowered its voting age from 20 to 18. This decision was in part to help young people feel more engaged in politics. But it may also signal the change of social views regarding the beginning of adulthood. Adulthood has traditionally been defined by a combination of age and the achievement of social milestones. Most countries have a legally defined age to determine when a person becomes an adult — the age of majority. In Australia, most states consider a person to be an adult in court at 18. The age of 18 is also consistent with other adult privileges, such as the right to purchase alcohol and to marry. However, 17-year-olds can serve in the army and get a driver's license. The law defines adulthood on the basis of age and it also recognizes the process of becoming an adult as involving gradually in social responsibility. This legal approach to adulthood is mirrored in other countries, where there are differences between the age of majority and social responsibilities given to young people. Socially, determinants of adulthood traditionally focus on a person taking increasing responsibility for their lives in various ways. Completing school, taking full-time employment, getting married and parenthood — these are all observable indicators to determine when a person is viewed as an adult. Since the 1980s, however, people have achieved some of these observable milestones at later ages. Increased access to education has delayed young people leaving home and develop romantic relationships. Economic changes have also resulted in unstable employment markets and increases in costs of living, prompting many young people to remain at home and depended on parents. Due to these social changes, our expectations of young people and their level of social responsibility have also changed. The recognition of a new life stage — emerging adulthood — has been recommended to account for the changes to social milestones that have traditionall