CLASSROOM Grammar Elite
for Junior Secondary Students
Words by Theme

Theme: Teen problems (p.140)

1. 
   Connections (n.): the people you know and who can help you
   
   
   e.g.
   The exchange student has connections (人際關係) here in Hong Kong. He is now living with some of his relatives (親戚) so he need not spend time and money on accommodations (住宿).


2. 
   Idealistic (adj.): having a strong belief in perfect standards and trying to achieve them, even when this is not realistic
   
   
   e.g.
   The life goals set by some youngsters are too idealistic (理想化的) and ambitious (費勁的). They should be more realistic (現實的) when setting goals.


3. 
   Rumour (n.): a piece of information, or a story, that people talk about, but that may not be true
   
   
   e.g.
   Irrational (不理智的) teenagers are inclined to (傾向於) make personal attacks (人身攻擊) based on rumours (傳聞).


4. 
   Isolated (adj.): feeling unhappy because of not seeing or talking to other people
   
   
   e.g.
   Some young people feel isolated (被孤立的). They often feel lonely or depressed (憂鬱的). They can suffer from low self-esteem (自尊心).


5. 
   Antidote (n.): something that makes an unpleasant situation better
   
   
   e.g.
   Building a good relationship with children is an antidote (緩解辦法) to teen risky behaviour.


6. 
   Conducive (adj.): making it easy, possible or likely for something to happen
   
   
   e.g.
   Parents’ love and affection is conducive (有益的) to children’s emotional stability (穩定).


7. 
   Snapshot (n.): a photograph that is taken quickly and casually
   
   
   e.g.
   Some adolescents (青少年) post snapshots (快照) of their brand-name products on social media just for vanity (虛榮心).


8. 
   Satirical (adj.): criticizing people or ideas in a humorous way
   
   
   e.g.
   Some witnesses (目擊者) of the campus violence anonymously (匿名地) seek justice (正義) for the victims (受害者) by posting satirical (諷刺的) posts online.


9. 
   Rational (adj.): making decisions based on clear thought and reason
   
   
   e.g.
   Research has shown that although teenagers have knowledge and reasoning (推理) ability to make rational (理智的) decisions, they lack a key component of wise decision making: they don’t think before they act.


10. 
    World view (n.): a person’s way of thinking about and understanding life, which depends on their beliefs and attitudes
    
    
    e.g.
    If teenagers are not taught to develop (培養) a correct world view world-weary (厭世的) and even do things harmful to society.