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Every culture has a recognized point when a child becomes an adult, when rules must be followed and
tests passed.
In China, although teenagers can get their ID cards at 16, many only see themselves as an adult when
they are 18. In the US, where everyone drives, the main step to the freedom of adult life is learning to
drive. At 16, American teens take their driving test. When they have their license, they drive into the
grownup world.
"Nobody wants to ride the cheese bus to school," said Eleanor Fulham, 17. She brought the pressure
back to memory, especially for kids from wealthier families. "It's like you're not cool if you don't have a
car," she said.
According to recent research, 41% of 16 to 19yearolds in the US own cars, up from 23% in 1985.
Although, most of these cars are bought by parents, some teens get parttime jobs to help pay.
Not all families can afford cars for their children. In cities with subways and limited parking, some
teenagers don't want them. But in rich suburban areas without subways, and where bicycles are more for
fun than transportation, it is strange for a teenager not to have a car.
But police say 16yearolds have almost three times more accidents than 18 to 19yearolds. This has
made many parents pause before letting their kids drive.
Julie Sussman, of Virginia, decided that her son Chad, 15, will wait until he is 17 to apply for his
learner's permit.
Chad said he has accepted his parents' decision, although it has caused some teasing from his friends. "They say that I am unlucky," he said, "But I'd rather be alive than driving, and I_don't_really_trust_my_
friends_on_the_road,_either."
In China as more families get cars, more 18yearolds learn to drive. Will this become a big step to
becoming an adult?
1. Which may serve as the best title of the article?
A. Cars Helping You to GrowUp
B. Driving into the GrownUp World
C. Teenagers' Driving in America
D. Recognized Point of Becoming an Adult
2. 16yearold drivers have more accidents possibly because________.
A. they want to show themselves off
B. they are never experienced drivers
C. older people always drive better
D. they never drive carefully on the road
3. Which may NOT be taken into consideration when deciding whether to buy a car?
A. How well off the family is.
B. Whether the kid is old enough.
C. What traffic condition there is around.
D. Whether it's practically needed.
4. When Chad said "I don't really trust my friends…", he meant that________.
A. he might run into his friends if he drove
B. he didn't agree with his friends
C. he might not be safe if his friends drove
D. he was afraid that his friends might well lie to him
5. The passage mainly gives information about ________.
A. an American culture
B. a cultural difference between America and China
C. a change in the Chinese culture
D. the relationship between driving and a person's development
