Most Americans believe that someone isn’t grown-up until the age of 26 and they should complete their education, have a full-time job, have a family to support and be financially independent. They also believe that becoming a real grown-u
p is a process which begins at about the age of 20 and takes about five years, according to the report from the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center.
The findings are based on a representative sample of 1,398 people over the age of 18 who were surveyed in person. The survey found that people expect the transitions （过度,转变）to grown-up status to be completed at the following ages: age 20.9 self-supporting; age 21.1 no longer living with parents; age 21.2 having a full-time job; age 22.3 education completed; age 24.5 being able to support a family financially; age 25.7 getting married; and age 26.2 having a child.
“There is a l
arge degree of agreement across social groups on the relative importance of the seven transitions,” said Tom Smith, director of the survey. The only obvious pattern of differences is on views about supporting a family, having children and getting married. Older adults consider these more important than younger adults do. This probably shows in large part a change in values across generations away from traditional family values. The most valued step toward reaching adulthood, the survey found, is completing education, followed by full-time employment, supporting a family, financial independence, living independently, and marriage.
1 . According to the first paragraph, someone is a grown-up when he _______.
A. has found a full-time job
B. has finished his study in university
C. can make money and support himself after completing his education
D. can support a family and be financially independent after graduation
2 . A young man of 24 may be busy ________.
A. finding a job B. finding a girl friend
C. making money D. preparing for his wedding
3. From the passage, we learn that _________.
A. being grown-up is just a matter of age
B. being grown-up is a process which takes some time
C. all people think completing education means being grown-up
D. the survey found everyone had a different view about being grown-up
4. The best title for the passage should be “________”
A. It takes a long time to grown up.
B. Are we grown-up yet?
C. Getting married means being grown-up.
D. Completing education means being grown-up.
