Read the passage and answer the questions A and B.
Children must pass through several stages in their lives to become adults. For most people, there are
four or five such stages of growth where they learn certain things : infancy (birth to age 2), early
childhood (3 to 8 years), later childhood (9 to 12 years) and adolescence (13 to 18 years). Persons 18
and over are considered adults in our society. Of course, there are some who will try to act older than
their years. But, for the most part, most individuals have to go through these stages irrespective of
their economic or social status.
World Health Organisation (WHO) identifies adolescence as the period in human growth and
development that occurs after childhood and before adulthood. This phase represents one of the
critical transitions in one's life span and is characterised by fast-paced growth and change which are
second only to those at infancy. Biological processes drive many aspects of this growth and
development with the onset of puberty marking the passage from childhood to adolescencE- The
biological determinants of adolescence are fairly universal; however, the duration and defining
characteristics of this period may vary across time, cultures, and socio-economic situations. This
period has seen many changes over the past century-puberty, for example, comes earlier than before,
people marry late, and their sexual attitudes and behaviours are different from their grandparents, or
even parents. Among the factors responsible for the change are education, urbanization and spread of
global communication.
The time of adolescence is a period of preparation for adulthood during which one experiences several
key developments. Besides physical and sexual maturation, these experiences include movement
toward social and economic independence, development of identity, the acquisition of skills needed to
carry out adult relationships and roles and the capacity for abstract reasoning. While adolescence is a
time of tremendous growth and potential, it is also a time of considerable risks during which social
contexts exert powerful influences.
Many adolescents face pressure to use alcohol, cigarettes, or other drugs and to initiate sexual
relationships putting themselves at high risk for intentional and unintentional injuries, unintended
pregnancies, and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), including the Human Immunodeficiency Virus
(HIV). Many also experience a wide range of adjustment and mental health problems.
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