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It's about time somebody exploded разражается that hoary почтенный old myth about childhood being the happiest period of your life. Childhood may certainly be fairly happy, but its greatest moments can't compare with the sheer
абсолютным joy of being an adult
. Who ever asked a six-year-old for an opinion? Children don't have opinions, or if they do, nobody notices. Adults
choose the clothes their children will wear, the books they will read and the friends they will play with. Mother and father are kindly but absolute dictators. This is an adult
world, and though children may be deeply loved, they have to be manipulated
so as not to interfere too seriously with the lives of their elders and betters. The essential difference between manhood and childhood is the same as the difference between independence and subjection.
For all the nostalgic remarks you hear, which adult would honestly change places with a child? Think of the years at school: the years spent living in constant fear of examinations and school reports. Every movement you make, every thought you think is observed by some critical adult who may draw unflattering
нелестные conclusions about your character. Think of the curfews
время, после которого ребёнку не разрешается быть вне дома, the martial
law военное положение, the times you had to go to bed early, do as you were told, eat disgusting stuff
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that was supposed to be good for you. Remember how "gentle" pressure was applied with remarks like "if you don't do as I say, I'll..." and a dire ужасное warning would follow.
Even so, these are only part of a child's troubles. No matter how kind and loving adults may be, children often suffer from terrible, illogical fears which are the result of ignorance and an inability to understand the world around them. Nothing can equal the abject
жалкий fear a child may feel in the dark, the absolute
horror
of childish
nightmares. Adults
can share their fears with other adults; children invariably
face their fears alone. But the most painful part of childhood is the period when you begin to emerge выходить from it: adolescence
подросткового возраста. Teenagers may rebel
violently возмущаться against parental authority, but this causes them great unhappiness. There is a complete lack of self-confidence during this time. Adolescents
подростки are overconscious of their appearance and the impression they make on others. They feel shy, awkward
неловкими and clumsy
неуклюжими. Feelings are intense and hearts easily broken. Teenagers experience moments of tremendous
elation or black despair отчаяние. And through this turmoil
суматоху, adults
seem to be more hostile
враждебными than ever.
What a relief it is to grow up. Suddenly you regain your balance; the world opens up before you. You are free to choose; you have your own place to live in and your own money to spend. You do not have to seek constant approval for everything you do. You are no longer teased, punished or ridiculed by heartless adults because you failed to come up подходить to some theoretical standard. And if on occasion you are teased, you know how to deal with it. You can simply tell other adults to go to hell: you are one yourself.
(From: "For and Against" by L.G. Alexander)
2. Formulate the central problem of the text. By what arguments does the au thor support It? Do you agree with them?
Дата публикования: 2014-11-18; Прочитано: 993 | Нарушение авторского права страницы | Мы поможем в написании вашей работы!