NSC English HL Comprehension: 1. 'Youth' is hard to define. Wh

Question

1. 'Youth' is hard to define. While UN legal standards consider individuals under 18 as children, youth is usually understood as a much 'looser' concept, generally encompassing the age group 15 to 24. Others consider age-based definitions arbitrary due to cultural differences. Some argue that Western definitions of age do not align with non-Western definitions of childhood and youth. In traditional African societies for instance, youth includes younger ages such as 12 and older ages up to 35.

2. One can hardly speak about youth as a uniform category when across the world the disparity of access to resources and lifestyles between different groups of youth is so different. In many parts of the world, young people are still suffering from hunger, as well as a lack of access to education, health services and job opportunities. To a large extent, the quality of life for the next generation and society will depend on how today’s young people manage their transition to economic independence in difficult environments, such as countries hit by economic recession, war or famine, or in areas plagued by HIV/Aids.

3. While most acknowledge the tremendous progress that has been achieved to improve young people’s lives and ability to become catalysts for change, there remain many obstacles for the next generation to overcome. These obstacles include the plight of the estimated 14 million children orphaned by Aids and the growing human trafficking business. Another area of concern is the growing rate of urbanization that is taking place, mostly in developing countries, which drastically changes their way of life, but there are also many limitations on opportunities that accompany this change, such as insufficient infrastructure, school and health facilities for all.

4. Violence remains a very real and poignant concern for youth and young adults. In many parts of the world, violence is often driven by boredom, and many have been killed in conflicts in the last decade. Over three million children and six million women have suffered as a result of violence. There are great international efforts to combat this violence but the Youth want to see opportunities when we get older: "whether we go to school", a group of youth said poignantly.

5. The frustration of youth is all the more poignant when it comes to migration policies, both for them – and for others who exploit thousands of young people in developing nations who are denied upward socio-economic mobility.

1. 'Youth' is hard to define - NSC English HL - Question 1 - 2016 - Paper 1

Worked Solution & Example Answer:1. 'Youth' is hard to define - NSC English HL - Question 1 - 2016 - Paper 1

1.1 The term 'youth' is hard to define:

1.2 Poverty has an adverse effect on the youth's struggle:

1.3 They have to become agents of change:

1.4 The statistics provided by the writer shock the reader:

1.5 They give credibility to the writer's argument:

1.6 The writer wishes to appeal to the reader on an emotional level:

1.7 YES

1.8 The argument that education is essential for economic success is refuted:

1.9 YES

1.10 C: apathetic

1.11 Although the characters are in an academic setting:

1.12 TEXT A has a greater impact:

Join the NSC students using SimpleStudy...