完形填空
The transition to adulthood is difficult. Rapid physical growth begins in early adolescence—typically between the ages of 9 and 13—and thought processes start to take on adult characteristics. Many youngsters find these changes distressing because they do not fully understand what is happening to them. Fears and anxieties can be put to rest by simply keeping an open line of communication and preparing for change before it occurs. The main issues that arise during adolescence are: 41 A child's self worth is particularly fragile during adolescence. Teenagers often struggle with an overwhelming sense that nobody likes them, that they're not as good as other people, that they are failures, losers, ugly or unintelligent. 42 Some form of bodily dissatisfaction is common among pre-teens. If dissatisfaction is great, it may cause them to become shy or very easily embarrassed. In other cases, teens may act the opposite—loud and angry —in an effort to compensate for feelings of self-consciousness and inferiority. As alarming as these bodily changes can be, adolescents may find it equally distressing to not experience the changes at the same time as their peers. Late maturation can cause feelings of inferiority and awkwrardness. 43 Young people feel more strongly about everything during adolescence. Fears become more frightening, pleasures become more exciting, irritations become more distressing and frustrations become more intolerable. Every experience appears king-sized during adolescence. Youngsters having a difficult adolescence may become seriously depressed and/or engage in self-destructive behavior. Often, the first clue that a teenager needs professional help is a deep-rooted shift in attitude and behavior. Parents should be alert to the warning signs of personality change indicating that a teenager needs help. They include repeated school absences, slumping grades, use of alcohol or illegal substances, hostile or dangerous behavior and extreme withdrawal and reclusiveness. 44 There is tremendous pressure on adolescents to conform to the standards of their peers. This pressure toward conformity can be dangerous in that it applies not only to clothing and hairstyles; it may lead them to do things that they know are wrong. 45 Adolescence marks a period of increasing independence that often leads to conflict between teenagers and parents. This tension is a normal part of growing up — and for parents, a normal part of the letting-go process. Another normal part of adolescence is confusion over values and beliefs. This time of questioning is important as young people examine the values they have been taught and begin to embrace their own beliefs. Though they may adopt the same beliefs as their parents, discovering them on their own enables the young person to develop a sense of integrity. Although adolescence will present challenges for young people and their parents, awareness and communication can help pave the way for a smooth transition into this exciting phase of life. A. Physical Changes B. Low Self-Esteem C. Conflicts with parents D. Emerging Independence and Search for Identity E. Emotional Turbulence F. Interest in the Opposite Sex G. Peer Pressure and Conformity
问答题
【正确答案】B
【答案解析】该题所在段落即第二段的主题句是第一句，即青春期孩子的自我价值感特别脆弱。后面的内容具体论述其表现。主题句中的关键词是self-worth，它与B项中的self-esteem是同义词。该段中的其他关键词或表达，如nobody likes them，not as good，failures，losers，ugly or unintelligent正好可以用B项low self-esteem一并概括。
【答案解析】第四段首句(主题句)提到，青春期的年轻人对一切的感觉都更强烈。接着文章论述了这种强烈情感的表现：恐惧、兴奋、苦恼、无法忍受、异常沮丧乃至从事自我毁灭行为。最后文章指出父母从孩子态度和行为上的转变应获悉他们需要专业人员的帮助。主题句中的主题词是feel more strongly，它和E项中emotional turbulence对应。而该段中其他的关键词fears，frightening，pleasures，exciting，irritations，distressing，frustrations等显然都和E项中的emotional属于上下义的关系。
【答案解析】第六段没有出现明显的主题句，需要对段落内容进行概括。该段首句提到，青春期标志着一个不断独立的时期。接着，文章从青少年和父母的冲突角度阐述“独立”的含义。该段第三句提到，青春期的另一个必然的经历是对价值观和信念的困惑。接着指出这种经历有利于青少年形成自己完整的人格。该段的主题词包括：increasing independence，embrace their own beliefs，a sense of integrity。它们和D项中的关键词independence和identity相对应。整个段落也围绕青少年的独立和寻求认同展开论述。