Just like the young character in Hannah Montana, who so often fights with her father over her desire to be more independent, British teenagers also have their troubles.
A recent survey among 2,000 British parents shows that girls and boys experience similar kinds of stress, with some slight differences .
Girls want to grow up fast, demanding greater freedom. They feel pressure from their peers to be thin and sometimes dangerously experiment with alcohol .
Girls over 14 are more concerned with getting a boyfriend, make-up and going out with friends than with their schoolwork. They are more likely to complain about pocket money .
Parents found they have their toughest time with boys over the age of 15. Their sons are battling bad skin, are reluctant(不情愿的) to speak, and just like girls over 14 are little interested in their studies. Seven out of ten parents said their sons become frustrated(挫败的) when they are not understood .
Unsurprisingly, it isn’t just British teenagers who have such problems.
In a survey published in the US last month, two out of three high school students said their life was tough. There was a universal worry over body image and ability to fit in socially.
Plenty of the teenagers feel great pressures to get good grades, with nearly half regarding this as their top worry. The next biggest issue is pressure they face to get into good college. According to the survey, 66 percent reported saving their money to pay for all or part of college.
“Today’s American teens have witnessed what their families have endured during recent economic challenges, and they are much more aware of the importance of planning ahead,” said Stuart Rubinstein, managing director with TD Ameritrade, which carried out the survey.
What is the article mainly about?
A. What makes the lives of teenagers so hard?
B. How to deal with teen problems?
C. Stress faced by UK and US teenagers.
D. Peer pressure faced by UK and US teenagers.
According to the survey, boys over 15 often feel great pressure to ______.
A. grow up fast B. experiment with alcohol
C. get into a good college D. be more open and communicative
The underlined word “universal” in Paragraph 7 is closest in meaning to ______.
A. global B. common C. average D. reasonable
How have recent economic challenges affected American teens?
A. They have become more concerned about their future.
B. They are now more worried about the ability to fit in socially.
C. They are attempting to learn more about money management.
D. They are spending more time developing their practical skills.