Text 3. The Problems of Teenagers (Young People)

Vocabulary

to experience — испытывать

assignment— задание

fun— веселье

entertainment— развлечение

eternal— вечный

to compare — сравнивать

The good old days — старые добрые времена

responsibility — ответственность

to solve —решать

to treat like adults — общаться как со взрослыми

dictator — диктатор

to grumble — ворчать

fashion — мода

to criticize — критиковать

to accept — принимать

behaviour— поведение

appearance — внешность

zit— прыщ

to gain weight — набрать вес (поправиться)

to keep promises — держать обещания

to do one's best — сделать все возможное

to date — назначать свидание

expensive — дорого

unfortunately — к сожалению

violence— насилие

AIDS— СПИД

drugs— наркотики

addiction— привыкание

dependent— зависимый

mutual language — общий язык

Teenagers are young people of between thirteen and nineteen years old. They say, it's the most beau­tiful period of life as young people usually experi ence their first great love and they have many friends. They don't have to work and take care of their families. And they are sure they will have a long and happy life. But at the same time it is the most difficult period, as teenagers have many prob­lems at school and at home.

The first problem is school. The last year at school is especially very difficult. Young people learn a lot not only at school, but they also attend different kinds of courses, which will help them to enter colleges and universities. They spend much time to prepare their school homework and to do different assignments for the courses. They don't have much time for fun and entertainment, as usually every teacher considers his subject as the most important one.

Another problem is a generation gap. It is misun­derstanding and difference in views, feelings and interests between younger and older people. It is the eternal problem. Elderly people usually compare their childhood and youth with the present. They always talk about "The good old days". The young, on the other hand usually think that their times are the best. Young people look at the world with fresh eyes. Everything is new, interesting for them, they have no responsibilities and sometimes they can't solve their everyday problems. But they want to be treated like adults. And adults do not want to accept this point of view and act sometimes like dictators, choosing clothes, books, even friends for their chil­dren. Adults grumble about what teenagers do and what they wear. But they have their own fashion, which parents and teachers very often criticize.

Teenagers always try very hard to be accepted by their friends. They want to be "one of them". That's why they follow their special teenager's style in clothes, speech, behaviour. They pay much attention to their appearance. Zits, bad hair, gaining weight — all these things are very serious problems for teenagers.

At these ages young people wanted to be liked and to have friends. Those who make fun of others or laugh if someone makes a mistake can't be the best friend. But those who share things with friends and give them help when in need make others like them, And it's good for a teenager to know that his friend always keeps promises and tries to do his best if it's necessary for him.

Another thing about teenagers is their first love. There is no right age to begin dating. Dating may begin as young as 13-14 years old, but becomes com­mon around 16-18. Teenagers generally date people of they own age, though girls sometimes date boys two or three years older than they are. They may go out with one person one week and someone else the next one. Young people may date several friends at the same time. They go to parties, cinema, dances together. And they are very proud of having a girl or a boyfriend. Dating is not very expensive, but still they should have some money to go to the cinema, disco, to have a cup of coffee, etc. Some teenagers ask their parents for money, others try to earn themselves, doing dif­ferent kinds of work two or three times a week.

Love is such a wonderful feeling, especially the first love. It can make you the happiest person in the world. But sometimes it can bring you real suffer­ings. Teenagers can get upset or depressed very much. That's why it's so important to help teenagers and not to leave them alone in such a situation.

Unfortunately, nowadays we have very serious problems for the young people such as violence, AIDS, drugs and alcohol. A lot of teenagers who have drug or alcohol addiction almost never believe that they are dependent. These things are often combined with family and school problems.

No doubts, that the teenager's problems will increase. And it is necessary for adults to find a mutual language with young people and help them in such a beautiful and not so simple life.

Text 4. Education and Work of Teenagers

Vocabulary

compulsory— обязательный

inclusive — включительно

vocational school — профессиональное училище

academic subject — академический предмет

programme of training in — программы подготовки no какому-нибудь предмету

secondary school — средняя школа

higher education — высшее образование

lyceum— лицей

applicant — (зд.) абитуриент, соискатель

competitive examinations — конкурсные экзамены
higher education institution — вуз

to be funded by the state — финансироваться государ­ством

fee-paying — платный

national system of education — национальная система образования

educational matters — вопросы образования

junior high school — средние классы (первая ступень средней школы)

senior high school — старшие классы (вторая ступень средней школы)

graduate — выпускник

tuition fee — установленная такса за обучение

requirements for admission — требования при поступлении

studies -— учеба

pocket money — деньги на карманные расходы .

independent— независимый

amazing — удивительный, восхитительный

When you are teenagers, it's hard to say that you have much free time during the school year. There is always something to learn. All teenagers as well as other children attend school.

Education in Russia is compulsory up to the 9th form inclusive, After finishing the 9th form one can go on to a vocational school which offers programmes of academic subjects and a programme of training in a technical field or a profession. They can also enter technical schools or colleges.

If a pupil of a secondary school wishes to go on in higher education, he or she must stay at school for two more years. After finishing 11th form of a second­ary school, a lyceum or a gymnasium one can go on in higher education. A11 applicants must take competi­tive examinations. And it's one of the problems for them. They have very hard and nervous time. Sometimes there are 3, 4, 5 times applicants more than the university can admit.

Higher education institutions (institutes and uni­versities) offer a five-year programme of academc subjects. All secondary schools, institutes and univer­sities until recently have been funded by the state. Now there is quite a number of private secondary schools, some universities have fee-paying depart­ments. Not all the teenagers can afford it.

American teenagers also attend school. But the USA doesn't have a national system of education. All educational matters are left to individual states. 50 states are free to determine their own system for their own public school. There are two major types of school in the USA — public and private or fee-pay­ing. Secondary education is provided from the age of 11-12 years. Junior high school is from ages 11 -12 up to 14-15 years. A senior high school is for teenagers from 14-15 up to 17-18 years. High school graduates continue their education at universities. University education is not free and you must pay tuition fees. Usually there are no entrance examinations for can­didates to a university, but the well-known universi­ties such as Harvard, for example, have very strict requirements for admission.

Many of the Russian and American teenagers are very busy with their studies, as they know that good exam results may get them better jobs. But most young people worry more and more about money as well. Many teenagers want to pay for their education themselves or help their parents in it. They also need pocket money to go to the coffee bars, discos, cine­mas, to wear teenage fashion clothes, etc. For many young people life is harder now. Things are so expen­sive and it's difficult to find a job for a teenager. Though last years part-time jobs became very popu­lar not only among American teenagers but Russian young people as well. The most popular jobs for teenagers are washing cars, babysitting, delivering newspapers, work in McDonalds, etc. In many places, for example in McDonalds, you must have an inter­view. And it's very important to get to the interview on time, speak slowly and clearly, show interest for a job you want to get, be polite and, of course, wear clothes suitable for the job. Such behaviour can help to sell yourself in a job.

Some teenagers also do Saturday jobs, for exam­ple, they can work in a shop. Most young people try to save a part of money. They want to be independent from their parents. Some of them dream about their own homes, though it's rather expensive and diffi­cult to find a place to live.

Another problem of the teenagers is free time, as they want not only to study and work, but enjoy themselves. It's nice to have free time, but only if it comes after some hard work. Only then we can appre­ciate what free time is. If you had only free time it would be very boring.

I think it's not so easy being a teenager as there are so many problems around you. But at the same time it's great fun. Life is amazing and you are here to prove it.

Text 5. Teenagers and Money

Vocabulary

to suspect — подозревать

at least — по меньшей мере

survey — исследование

allowance — карманные деньги

to rise — повышаться

cautious attitude — серьезное, внимательное отношение

pocket money — карманные деньги

to respond — отвечать

saving — накопление

average— в среднем

two thirds — две трети

cash— наличные деньги

debt— долг

to save — экономить

access — доступ

irresponsible— безответственный

recession— спад, снижение цен

to encourage — поощрять,

to waste — тратить

wage— заработная плата

account — счет

emergency — необходимость, срочность

addiction— склонность, пагуб­ная привычка

craving — страстное желание

stained finger — испачканный палец

ashtray— пепельница

warning — предупреждение

link — связь

Thirteen-year-olds do not spend as much money as their parents suspect — at least not according to the findings of a recent survey. Money and Change. The survey included three hundred teenagers, 13—17 years old.

By the time they reach their teens, most children see their weekly allowance rise dramatically to an amazing national average of $8. Two thirds think they get enough money, but most expect to have to do something to get it.

Although they have more cash, worry about debt is increasing among teenagers. Therefore, the majority of children make an effort to save for the future.

Greater access to cash among teenagers does not, however, mean that they are more irresponsible for a result. The economic recession seems to have encouraged cautious attitudes to money, even in case of children at these ages. Instead of wasting the pocket money they have on sweets or magazines, the 13-year-olds who took part in the survey seem to respond to the situation by saving more than half of their cash.

Cash card, schemes are available for anyone over the age of 13. So if your youngster's moved on from pocket money to a monthly allowance or if he now earns a wage, then he should think about opening his own account.

So our children are also far more eager to control their own affairs, according to a recent survey by the Britannia Building Society. In fact most teenagers would rather have a monthly allowance than the traditional weekly sum of pocket money They want money in an account that they can control and budget with as they please.

But children are only allowed a cheque book when they reach the age of 16. Until then cash cards, which in general are available on savings accounts for those over 13, seem to be a sensible option and are now being offered by most banks and buildings societies.

Opening a card cash account gives teenagers many advantages. They learn to control their own finances and not spend more than they have, which means they have to budget carefully. They'll also have easy access to their money in a case of an emergency. In some cases they can buy cigarettes or even drugs.

To many teens smoking is not just a kind of pleasure, it is an addiction. They need it, depend on it, can't stop it. If they haven't smoked for some hours, they feel a craving for a cigarette. They often chain smoke, which means they light another cigarette immediately they have put out the other one before. Smoking is often considered antisocial, since many people don't like the smell of cigarettes or the sight of the smoker's stained fingers or ashtrays full of cigarette ends. Above all, smoking is harmful to health and in many countries a warning is printed on every packet of cigarettes. Scientists have proved that there is a link between smoking and a disease, which can be fatal, causing cancer and different diseases of future teenagers' babies.

Answer the following questions:

1. What did the survey show? 2. What do teens do with their money? 3. Do your parents give you pocket money? 4. How much money do your parents give you weekly? 5. What do you do with it? 6. Do you spend much money or try to save it? 7. Do you have your own account? 8. Do you think that it's necessary for teens to have pocket money? Why?