Reading Aloud 19

Teen misbehaviour

Many parents like to say that young people behave badly because of the bad influence of others. They lay the blame on their children’s teachers and friends and take no responsibility for their own role in their children’s behaviour.

Family education is crucial in a child’s upbringing. What goes on in the home carries much more weight than what goes on between children and their friends at school. Today’s parents largely neglect their children because they are busy with their own work and have little time for the family.

Parents should spend more time with their children and find out what they really need for their psychological and emotional growth. Financial support – food, clothes and pocket money alone – is not enough.

Chan Kin Fung (7B)
South China Morning Post (October 4, 2007)

Vocabulary

1. teen misbehaviour (n) 青少年不良行為
2. influence (n) 影響
3. lay the blame (phr) 把責任歸咎於
4. responsibility (n) 責任
5. crucial (adj) 重要的
6. upbringing (n) 教養
7. neglect (v) 忽略
8. psychological (adj) 心理的
9. emotional (adj) 感情的
10. financial (adj) 財政的

Useful Sentences

1 behave badly 表現差
 They behaved very badly towards their guests.

2.influence on/over 影響
The Council had influence over many government decisions.

3. lay/put the blame 把某事歸咎於
Citizens are laying the blame on the government for acting too late.

4. take responsibility for sth負責任
Sam has got to take responsibility for the failure of the deal.

5. go on 繼續下去，發生
We can’t go on like this any more. Things have got to change.

6. busy with 忙碌的
 Jane is busy with her schoolwork.