考研英语核心词汇速成胜经Unit 11
一、 真题文章
Many theories concerning the causes of juvenile delinquency (crimes committed by young people) focus either on the individual or on society as the major contributing influence. Theories centering on the individual suggest that children engage in criminal behavior because they were not sufficiently penalized for previous misdeeds or that they have learned criminal behavior through interaction with others. Theories focusing on the role of society suggest that children commit crimes in response to their failure to rise above their socioeconomic status, or as a rejection of middle-class values.
Most theories of juvenile delinquency have focused on children from disadvantaged families, ignoring the fact that children from wealthy homes also commit crimes. The latter may commit crimes for lack of adequate parental control. All theories, however, are tentative and are subject to criticism. Changes in the social structure may indirectly affect juvenile crime rates. For example, changes in the economy that lead to fewer job opportunities for youth and rising unemployment in general make gainful employment increasingly difficult to obtain. The resulting discontent may in turn lead more youths into criminal behavior.
Families have also experienced changes these years. More families consist of one parent households or two working parents; consequently, children are likely to have less supervision at home than was common in the traditional family structure. This lack of parental supervision is thought to be an influence on juvenile crime rates. Other identifiable causes of offensive acts include frustration or failure in school, the increased availability of drugs and alcohol, and the growing incidence of child abuse and child neglect. All these conditions tend to increase the probability of a child committing a criminal act, although a direct causal relationship has not yet been established.
二、 译文
很多关于青少年犯罪成因的理论把该问题主要归结为两类，一类归咎于社会，一类归咎于个人。归咎于个人的观点认为青少年之所以犯罪是因为社会没有严厉惩罚他们之前所犯的过失，或者通过与别人的交往他们学会犯罪。归咎于社会的观点认为青少年犯罪是由于不能提高自己的社会经济地位或为了表示对中产阶级价值观的叛逆。
大多数研究青少年犯罪的理论强调这些儿童出自贫穷家庭而忽略了出身富裕家庭的儿童也会犯罪这一事实。这部分儿童可能是由于缺乏父母的管教而犯罪。不过,所有的理论都是不确定的，并且都遭到了批评。社会结构的变化也会间接影响青少年犯罪率。例如，社会经济的变化使得青少年就业机会减少；总的来说，不断上升的失业也使得好工作越来越难找。而由此产生的不满又会导致更多的青少年犯罪。
这些年来家庭也在发生着变化。单亲家庭或父母都工作的家庭越来越多。这样一来，在家里儿童所受到的监管就可能比过去传统家庭要少。人们认为缺乏父母管教是影响青
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