4 . Adults generally dislike getting older. 1 It’s no surprise, then, that many kids look forward to their birthdays, especially the 16th birthday. For girls in America, a “Sweet 16” birthday is an important rite (仪式) of passage that celebrates approaching adulthood.
In the United States, the 16th birthday is a mark that a girl has come of age. She is not a legal adult yet, but at 16, many girls can begin to learn to drive. 2 For many youths, the 16th birthday is a celebration of womanhood and marks the end of the girl’s childhood.
Society and media often put great importance on a girl’s 16th birthday. 3 Both of them have great personal importance. They think of their 16th birthdays like women think of their weddings.
4 The event can be held in a garden, a park or somewhere else. Often, a girl has been planning her 16th birthday party for long and has a very specific idea about what she wants and who she wants to invite. As long as she doesn’t waste money, letting a girl plan her 16th birthday is a great way to let her creativity and personality shine.
There are many theories about how the sweet 16th birthday came into being. Most connect the birthday celebration with the Mexican Quinceanera, which takes place on a girl’s 15th birthday, or European ancient coming-of-age celebrations. 5
| A．She is still just a little kid. |
| B．Many parties show a girl’s interest. |
| C．However, kids find “growing up” exciting. |
| D．The big part of a sweet 16th birthday is the party. |
| E．They can get jobs and take other adult responsibilities. |
| F．No matter where the celebration began, it has become a tradition. |
| G．Many movies show girls’ 16th birthdays are just as important as graduations. |
