1AgeBeginner A: How old is Keith? B: Hes 21. How old is James？ A: Hes a year older than Keith, but he looks younger. B: Hows your father? A: Hes fine. He retired last week. Its a turning point in his life. Now he can relax and enjoy his retirement. B: He can spend more time with his grandchilden. A: Oh, I dont think he wants to. He wants to travel to several different countries around the world. B: So, he wants to have a more active retirement. Good idea! A: How do you want to spend your old age? B: In the same way, probably. Intermediate A: Whats the life expectancy in your country? B: Im not sure, but probably about 75 years. How about in your country? A: About 70, I think. This newspaper article talks about the problems of an aging population. Its a problem that will soon affect most of the world. B: I heard that the government might need to increase the retirement age, because otherwise there will not be enough workers to support the young and the elderly. A: Perhaps we need to have more babies! Tina gave birth to a baby boy yesterday. B: Did she? Thats great. However, if we have too many children, that will have a bad effect on the environment. A: Hows your son these days? B: Oh, hes fine. Kids seem to grow up very quickly nowadays. A: Hell be a teenager before you know it! Teenagers are often rebellious! When do you think it is a good age to have a child? B: I had mine when I was 24. Thats a little young.Id suggest you wait until you are in your late twenties, or even in your early thirties if you have a good career. A: Yes, I think youre right. Im thinking about having a child, but not just yet. B: Is there a big generation gap between parents and their children in your country? A: Yes, there is. Teenagers do not want to live traditonal lives. They want to go out, have fun, and explore the world. They want to develop their own view of life. Parents usually try to discourage them, but they dont often succeed.B: Parents usually give their children more freedom in my country. Sometimes they give them too much freedom. A: Its almost impossible to get the right balance. If you are too strict, kids might ignore you. If you are too lenient, they might go wild. Words .expectancy ikspektnsi n.( pl. expectancies ) 期望;预期/期望之事物 life expectancy 平均寿命 (= expectation of life ) affect fekt vt. ( affected; affected; affecting )1. 影响;对.发生作用 The amount of rain affects the growth of crops. 雨量影响作物的生长effect ifekt n.( pl. effects )1.结果 2.效果,效力;作用;影响 This had a great effect upon the future of both mother and son. 这对母子俩的将来影响很大。 vt. ( effected; effected; effecting )3.造成;产生;招致 Rose tried to effect a reconciliation. 罗丝试图进行调解。 4.实现,达到(目的) He effected several important changes. 他完成了几项重要的改革。 rebellious ribeljsadj.造反的;不法的/难控制的;难治疗的 rebel ribel vi. ( rebelled; rebelled; rebelling )1. 造反;反叛;反抗 The people rebelled against the tyrant. 人民起来反抗暴君。 2. 嫌恶,反感 We rebelled at having to stay in on so fine a day. 天气这么好却要呆在家里,我们对此非常反感。rebl n. ( pl. rebels ) 造反者;反抗者;反叛者 Adj. 反叛(者)的,造反(者)的;反抗(者)的,反对(者)的 give birth to 生(孩子) She gave birth to a fine healthy baby. 她生了个漂亮健康的婴儿。explore ikspl vt. ( explored; explored; exploring )1.探测;探勘;在.探险 They explored this desert region in 1923. 他们于一九二三年在这荒漠地区探险。 3. 探究,探索The conference explored the possibility of closer trade links. 大会探讨了在贸易上进一步加强联系的可能性。ignore ign vt. ( ignored; ignored; ignoring )不顾,不理会;忽视 His letters were ignored. 他的信无人理会。 Even the best of men ignored that simple rule. 甚至最优秀的人也忽略了那条简单的规则。 lenient linjnt adj. 宽大的;仁慈的;温和的 the judge who often passes lenient sentences 一位常从轻判刑的法官 She was very lenient towards him. 她对他很宽厚。 Words .Young /old/ middle-aged /elderly /childhood /adulthood/ teenager /Generation /retire /early-twenties/ mid-thirties/ late-forties /baby /toddler /Adolescent/ kid /life expectancy /21 years old /look(older)/ turning-point/ mature Child/ youth /life/ middle /old /age /pension adulthood dlthud n. 成年(期) Toddler : is a common term for a young child who is learning to walk or toddle , generally considered to be the second stage of development after infancy and before childhood occurring predominantly during the ages of 12 to 36 months old.adolescent dlesnt n. ( pl. adolescents )青少年 ( being of the age 13 through 19 )adj. 青春期的 / 青少年的;幼稚的,未成熟的 Her remarks seemed a bit adolescent. 她的这番话似乎有点幼稚。youth: the time of life between childhood and maturitymature mtju adj. ( maturer; maturest )1.成熟的;酿熟的 This is the most mature of his plays.这是他最成熟的一部剧作。 2.成年人的 She has the figure of a mature woman. 她有成年女性的体型。 3.稳重的;慎重的,周到的Cant you behave in a mature way? 你的举止不能稳重一点吗? maturity