It is Saturday afternoon．You and your friends are planning to go to the movies and then spend the night together．Just as you start to get ready, you dad reminds you it's your aunt's birthday and the whole family is going out to dinner to celebrate．How can this possibly end without a huge argument?
One of the greatest sources of tension between teenagers and their families is the struggle to balance individual desires with family expectations．As you are getting older, you are becoming more independent and more interested in being with your friends．
However, at the same time, your family is trying to figure out how to deal with these changes．Where you once spent most of your free time with your family, now you are often absent from home．Parents may get their feelings hurt．Or they might feel they are losing control of their family during this period．You might feel angry that so many demands are placed on you．
There are a few things you can try to make it a little easier to ease the tension．
*Make your plans in advance．Ask your parents if there is anything else planned at that time．
*When something with your friends interferes with a family event, try to figure out if there is any way you can do both．In other words, could you spend a little time with each group? Or could you go to the family event and ask if next time you could choose to be your friends? Or you could try inviting a friend to also join in the family event?
*Suggest something you would really like to do with your family．Sometimes parents feel better just knowing their teenager wants to spend time with them．
Some of the time you won't be happy with the outcome．You might either have to disappoint your parents or miss out being with your friends．However, if you show consideration for the feeling of both your family and your friends, you can solve the problem in a tender way．
(1)
According to the writer, what brings about arguments between teenagers and their parents?
[ ]
A．
The fact that teenagers like to stay out all day long but don't want to stay at home．
B．
The fact that parents don't want their children to stay with their friends．
C．
Less and less communication between teenagers and their parents．
D．
The difficulty to strike a balance between friends and family．
(2)
As children grow up, they have an intention to ________．
[ ]
A．
stay with their friends
B．
stay with their family
C．
get more attention from their parents
D．
hurt their parents’ feelings
(3)
How will parents react when they find their kids don't want to stay with them?
[ ]
A．
They can understand that their children have to be independent．
B．
They may feel disappointed about their children．
C．
They may feel very sad about that．
D．
They may give their children a good beating．
(4)
Which of the following is NOT the way the writer suggests to solve the problem?
[ ]
A．
Ask your parents ahead of time to make sure of your schedule．
B．
Try to divide your time equally between your friends and family．
C．
Let your parents know what you like to do with them．
