In the United States, sixteen, eighteen, and twenty-one are important ages in a person’s life. There are no special celebrations for these birthdays, but each is a time when a person can do new things to mark their transition(转变) into adulthood.
After turning sixteen a person can work, get a driver’s license and leave home. Many high school students learn to drive and get part-time jobs soon after celebrating their sixteenth birthday.
At the age of eighteen a person in the United States can vote and smoke, but they are prohibited from going into nightclubs, buying wine or gambling(赌博) until they are twenty-one.
In many Latin(拉丁的) cultures, a young woman’s fifteenth birthday is important. At this age, she is regarded as an adult. To mark this special day, families with teenage daughters have a celebration called a Quinceanera. The day begins with the young woman and her family going to church. Later, there is a party and many guests are invited.
In Japan, young people became adults at twenty. At this age, they can legally(合法地) vote, drink wine and smoke. The second Monday in January is a national holiday called “Coming of Age Day”. On this day, twenty-year-old celebrates by first going to church to pray with their families. Later, they listen to speeches given by city and school leaders. Afterward, they may celebrate with family or friends late into the night.
In some countries, birthday celebrations continue through adulthood. Some people celebrate their fortieth and fiftieth birthdays, or their retirement(退休) year, with a huge party.
【小题1】 In the United States, age sixteen marks the time when you can ___________.

We were standing at the top of a church not far from my home. I didn’t know why.

“Look down,” Father said. I tried and saw the square in the center of the village. And I saw the streets to the square. “See, Elsa,” Father said. “There is more than one way to the square. If you can’t get where you want to go by one road, try another.”

Earlier that day, I asked Mother to do something about what we had for lunch at school. But she didn’t think the food was as bad as I said. When I turned to Father for help, he brought me to the church.

At school the next day, I filled a bottle with the soup for our lunch and took it home. I told the cook to pour the soup in a plate and bring it to Mother. She drank it and cried out, “What’s the matter with the soup today?” I at once told her what I had done , and Mother said that she would take up the matter of lunches at school the next day .

Now I really understood why Father had taken me to the church. I began to work as a fashion designer two years ago. I wouldn’t stop working until I tried every way to my goal.

1.The writer’s father took her to the church to.

2.Elsa really wanted her mother to.

3.Why did Elsa’s mother agree to do something about the matter?

4.What Elsa’s father said means?

5.When the writer really understood what his father had said.