Text b. Youth problems

1. Read and translate the text.

Speaking about modern youth, we can’t but mention some bad habits which are widespread. Among those bad habits we can single out physical inactivity, smoking, drinking alcohol, taking drugs, sleeping too much or too little, snacking between meals and skipping breakfasts. These factors are indicative of dangerously chaotic [kei’Otik] lifestyle of some young men. They cause health problems, lead to numerous troubles and are obstacles on the way leading to future career and success. The only way out is to give up all bad habits, get rid of them and concentrate one’s attention on useful activity.

A few years ago alcohol, fights, killings and other kinds of violence were more problems for adults than for young people.

But now, as official reports admit, violence, AIDS*, drugs and alcohol are more and more associated with youngest. For many children from poor families violence, drinking problems and all that is associated with poverty becomes more real than reality.

The Government surveys show that every fifth teenager who was arrested for criminal actions, was younger that 14 and couldn't be sent to prison. Almost half of teenagers have an experience with drugs, alcohol and sex under age of 16. A lot of teenagers who have drug or alcohol addiction almost never believe that they are dependent. These things are often combined with family and school problems. What has gone wrong? Some specialists explain that the changes of our society, the system of our life force young people to choose their own lifestyle. On the one hand, our society agrees that 15-17-yearold people are old enough to be responsible for what they do and give them quite a lot of freedom and rights. On the other hand, most adults think that teenagers are too young to be taken seriously. This misunderstanding, the so called problem of “fathers and sons” always produces many problems.

AIDS* - Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS or Aids) is a set of symptoms and infections resulting from the damage to the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This condition progressively reduces the effectiveness of the immune system and leaves individuals susceptible to opportunistic infections and tumors. HIV is transmitted through direct contact of a mucous membrane or the bloodstream with a bodily fluid containing HIV, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluid, preseminal fluid, and breast milk.

2. Learn the words to the text:

mention упоминать

habit привычка

single out перечислить, указать

skip пропускать

indicative зд. показатель

to cause health problems вызывать проблемы со здоровьем

to get rid of… избавиться от…

admit зд. свидетельствовать

violence жестокость

to be associated быть связанным

addiction склонность к ч-л, пагубная привычка

to force заставлять

3. Say is it true or wrong:

1. Among bad habits we can name snacking between meals and skipping breakfasts.

2. Sleeping too much or too little is one of the factors of dangerously chaotic lifestyle of some young men.

3. Alcohol, fights, killings and other kinds of violence are more problems for adults than for young people.

4. Drugs and alcohol are more and more associated with youngest.

5. Persons younger that 14 and can be sent to prison.

6. Teenagers who have drug or alcohol addiction believe that they are dependent.

7. Teenagers in our country have no experience with drugs, alcohol and sex under age of 16.

8. The changes of our society, the system of our life force young people to choose their own lifestyle.