Every culture has a recognized point when a child becomes an adult, when rules must be followed and tests  1  .

       In China,  2  teenagers can get their ID cards at 16, many only  3 themselves as an adult when they are 18. In the US, where everyone drives, the main _4_ to the freedom of adult life is learning to drive. At 16,  5 teens take their driving test. When they have their 6 , they drive into the grown-up world.

       “7 wants to ride the cheese bus to school, " said Eleanor Fulham, 17. She recalled the pressure 8  from kids from wealthier families. "It's like you're not cool 9   you don't have a car,” she said.

       10  recent researches, 41 percent of 16 to 19-year-olds in the US own cars, 11 from 23 percent in 1995. Although most of these cars are bought by parents, some teens get part-time jobs to help 12 .

       Not all families can  13  cars for their children. In cities with subways and  14  parking, some teenagers don't want cars. But in rich suburban areas without subways, and where bicycles are more for fun than  15 , it is strange for a teenager not to have a car.

       16 police say 16-year-olds have almost three times more accidents than 18 and 19-year-olds. This has made many parents   17 before letting their kids drive. Julie Sussman, of Virginia, decided that her son Chad, 15, will wait until he is 17 to  18  his learner's permit.

       Chad said he has accepted his parents' decision, although it has caused some teasing (奚落) from his friends. "They say that I am   19 , " he said．"But I'd rather be alive than driving, and I don't really trust my friends on the road either."

       In China  20 more families get cars, more 18-year-olds learn to drive. Will this become an important sign to becoming an adult?

1．A．passed                  B．overcome        C．happened        D．existed

2．A．unless                  B．while                   C．as                      D．though

3．A．rate                      B．insist                  C．see                     D．resist

4．A．entry                    B．step                    C．pace                   D．stage

5．A．few                     B．more                  C．Chinese              D．American

6．A．license                 B．visa                    C．cheque               D．budget

7．A．Someone              B．Anyone               C．Everybody          D．Nobody

8．A．formerly               B．physically           C．especially            D．eventually

9．A．that                      B．unless                 C．once                  D．if

10．A．According to       B．Thanks to           C．Compared to       D．Devoted to

11．A．up                      B．down                 C．almost                D．only

12．A．earn                   B．sacrifice             C．pay                    D．buy

13．A．accept                B．supply                C．gather                D．afford

14．A．limited                B．economical         C．free                    D．vain

15．A．independence      B．convenience        C．transportation      D．Or

16．A．So                     B．Also                   C．But                    D．Besides

17．A．refuse                B．pause                 C．continue             D．promise

18．A．insist on             B．leave alone          C．apply for            D．put out

19．A．fortunate            B．willing                C．greedy                D．unlucky

20．A．with                 B．although             C．as                     D．while