status
may change in a given society as social and economic conditions change. Examples of this type of
change are the disappearance of the frontier in the latter part of the nineteenth century in the U-
nited States , and more universally , the industrialization of an agricultural society.
In modern society,ceremonies for adolescence have lost their formal recognition and symbolic signifi-
cance and there no longer is agreement as to what constitutes initiation ceremonies. Social ones have been replaced by a sequence of steps that lead to increased recognition and social status. For example, grade school graduation, high school graduation and college graduation constitute such a sequence, and while each step implies certain behavioral changes and social recognition , the significance of each depends on the socio-economic status and the educational ambition of the individual. Ceremonies for adolescence have also been replaced by legal definitions of status roles, right, privileges and responsibilitis. It is during the nine years from the twelfth birthday to the twenty-first that the protective and restrictive aspects of child-hood and minor status are removed and adult privileges and responsibilitis are granted. The twelve-year-old is no longer considered a child and has to pay full fare for train, airplane, theater and movie tickets. Basically, the individual at this age loses childhood privileges without gaining significant adult rights. At the age of sixteen the adolescent is granted cenain adult rights which increases his social status by providing him with more freedom and choices. He now can obtain a driver' s license; he can leave public schools; and he can work without the restrictions of child labor laws. At the age of eighteen the law provides adult responsibilities as well as rights; the young man can now be a soldier, but he also can marry without parental permission. At the age of twen-
ty-one the individual obtains his full legal rights as an adult. He now can wote, he can buy liquor,
he can enter into financial contracts, and he is entitled to run for public office. No additional basic
rights are acquired as a function of age alter majority status has been attained. None of these legal
provisions determine at what point adulthood has been reached but they do point to the prolonged
period of adolescence .
36 . The period of adolescence is much longer in industrial societies because__.
A. the definition of maturity has changed
B. the industrialized society is more developed
C. more education is provided and laws against child labor are made
D. ceremonies for adolescence have lost their formal recognition and symbolic significance
37. Former social ceremonies that used to mark adolescence have given place to__.
A. graduations from schools and colleges B.social recognition
C. socio-economic status D. certain behavioral changes
38. No one can expect to fully enjoy the adulthood privileges until he
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