What does “it” refer to? What does “to heighten” mean?
“It” here refers to the word “struggle” in the previous sentence. “to heighten” means to become stronger or intensified.
Background Information



This text is addressed to college students about what they will experience in their “college years”. It is particularly appropriate now as we are just beginning the second academic year, which is the most important in our college life. With our first year’s experience we can better understand the issues involved and the effective ways to deal with them.
Structure of the Text Part I (para.1-4): theoretical analysis on adolescent’s developmental changes Part II (para.5-9): specific changes that college students would face Part III (para.10): brief summary of importance of college time
Special technical terms

• •
developmental changes (para.1):
a psychological term. It refers to the physiological and behavioral changes throughout the lifespan. Changes take place to people from one life stage to another.
Paraphrase: If they choose to go to college to continue their education, they will face an even more serious struggle between the desire to be independent and the need to depend on the financial support of their parents.
7. Notice the different prepositions: to be independent from / of to be dependent on
8. It may be heightened by their choice to pursue a college education. (para.3)
4. Identity crisis （认同危机）(para.2): It refers to the difficulties, confusions and anxieties that you go through during adolescence when you are not sure who you really are and what your purpose in life is.

2. From adolescence to young adulthood (para.1)



adolescence: a western concept, which means the period between childhood and adulthood. main changes involved are psychological as well as physical. It is full of anxiety and conflict. events that signify adult status: graduation from high school, the right to vote, to drink liquor, and to drive car.
Detailed discussion of the text
1.

Has it ever occurred to you that… (para.1)
It (suddenly / never) occurs to someone that… It (suddenly / gradually) dawned on someone that… It struck someone that…
Erik H. psychologist, most famous for his work in refining and expanding Freud’s theory of developmental stages. taught at Yale, and Harvard. author of many books including Childhood and Society, Identity: Youth and Crisis, and Gandhi’s Truth.
International Encyclopedia of Social Sciences 社会科学百科 全书
6. …identity is determined by genetic endowment (what is inherited from parents), shaped by environment, and influenced by chance events. (para.2)
Lesson One
Your College Years
Consider the following questions:



What’s the difference between middle school life and college life? What important changes have happened to you? What problems /difficulties have you come cross? Were you happy in the past year? List your progress/success and your loss/failure in the past year. Have you had a better understanding of your strengths and your weakness?
Paraphrase: Who we are is determined by three things. First, our genes, or what our parents have given us; second, environment; and third, luck or opportunities.
•

identity crisis (para.2) （Piers &Landau)
1. 2.
3.
determined by genetic endowment shaped by environment Influenced by chance events

psychological independence (para.4)
1. 2. 3. 4.
Functional independence (4 aspects) Attitudinal independence Emotional independence Relationship independence

to internalize their values (para.7) to affirm personal values (para.8)
Also: national identity（民族认同）; political identity; cultural identity; social identity etc
4. Identity crisis （认同危机）(para.2): It refers to the difficulties, confusions and anxieties that you go through during adolescence when you are not sure who you really are and what your purpose in life is. Also: national identity（民族认同）; political identity; cultural identity; social identity etc .
3. going through (para.2) : experiencing; undergoing; suffering Other uses of this phrasal verb:




Harry believed that he could go through walls by saying those magic words. I don’t think this plan will go through the Security council. (be accepted by) We have gone through all these papers. (go over carefully from beginning to end) It’s too late to back out. We just have to go through with it. (do it because you have promised or planned to do it, even though you do not want to)