Many of the present generation of recent over-18s do not feel like adults, according to a survey by Nationwide Building Society, and those commenting online seem to agree. The study of 2,000 over-18s found more than one in 10 did not think of themselves as fully-fledged (成熟的) grown-ups until they reached the age of 27.
Lisa Daisy, 34, said: “Even after a career for 10 years, it still took being married to make me feel grown-up.”
But 42-year-old Carole Lutringer said she felt like an adult when she was very young. “I had to cook from an early age, because my mother worked as a headteacher,” she said. “My mother came back home late, and my father was pretty useless in the kitchen. I had to be independent from really early on, and that’s probably what made me feel grown-up earlier than most of my peers (同龄人).”
Sana Khalid Khan also had adulthood thrust upon her. She said it was the death of her father that made her grow up, at the age of 17. “Being the eldest child, a lot of responsibility fell on my shoulders,” she said.
Of those 2,000 people asked when they felt like adults, the transition (转变) happened for half in their 20s, while a fifth said it happened in their 30s. One in 20 felt they had not grown up until their 40s. Of those questioned, 55% said being an adult was dependent on major life events, for example having children, moving out of the parental home or getting married.
For others, such as Elaine Smith, in London, adulthood is only a state of mind. “I still don’t feel grown-up,” she said. “I can’t believe I am responsible for looking after a four-year-old. How did that happen? I’m 44 this year, so it may happen soon.” Commenting online, Sophie Caunter agreed. “I’m 42,” she said. “I have an 11-year-old, a seven-month-old, a husband, and I still don’t feel grown-up.” Melinda Wilmot said, “I’m 58 and still waiting to grow up.”
【小题1】What does the survey focus on?| A．What people think aging means. |
| B．How people feel about their childhood. |
| C．Why people grow up earlier than before. |
| D．When people feel they have reached adulthood. |
| A．Losing her dad. | B．Raising her children. |
| C．Being married to her husband. | D．Taking care of herself from an early age. |
| A．Made adulthood encourage her. | B．Forced adulthood on her. |
| C．Was excited about adulthood. | D．Prepared for adulthood. |
| A．Adulthood means responsibility. |
| B．Few people feel grown-up in their 20s. |
| C．Some people don’t feel grown-up even in their 40s. |
| D．Adulthood begins earlier than most people think. |
