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British teenagers spend most of their time at school. Students in Britain can leave school at 16 (year 11). This is also the age when most students take their first important exams, GCSEs. They take between five and ten subjects and that means a lot of studying. They are spending more time on homework than teenagers have done before.

Visit almost any school in Britain and the first thing you’ll notice is the school uniform. Although school uniform has its advantages, by the time most teenagers are 15 or 16 they are tired of wearing it. When there is more than one school in a town, a school uniform can make differences and rivalries between schools worse.

Music is the number one interest for British teens. But they certainly don’t all like the same music! UK garage, hip-hop and new metal are all popular. Teenagers love going out too. However, finding somewhere to go isn’t always easy. Pubs and clubs have strict rules for under 18-year-olds in Britain. It’s no surprise that British teenagers spend more time online than European or American teens and use chatrooms to make a new friend.

In Britain, teenagers judge you by the shirt or trainers you are wearing. Forty per cent of British teenagers love Nike 110s (trainers that cost $110), but not for sport – for posing!

Fifty per cent of teenagers in Britain say they have been bullied because of their race, looks, accent, intelligence or for no reason at all. Sixteen teenagers in Britain kill themselves every year because of bullying, a problem now called “bullycide”.

Teenagers in Britain worry about their looks and their weight, like in many other western countries. Two-thirds of girls in Britain are on a diet, although only one in eight of them is overweight!

Like teenagers all over the world, British teenagers love to chat. The mobile phone is an essential thing for most British teenagers. More than 90 per cent of 12 to 16-year-olds have one. Many experts believe that mobiles stop teenagers spending money on cigarettes and sweets.

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Carla and Tom’s anniversary

Our anniversary was special this year – we’ve been married for ten years. We decided it would be best to have a more formal celebration. First, we thought we’d have a sit-down dinner with three courses. But we quickly realized it was too expensive. Instead, we had a simple reception with starters that we made ourselves and served on plates we borrowed from friends. Tom’s parents let us use their wonderful garden for the event. It was beautiful!

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Sarah’s reward dinner

I was surprised when my university decided to hold this dinner for me. They gave me a prize for the best scientific research and invited my colleagues and other scientists in my field. It was a grand evening. The room was decorated beautifully, the waiters were smart and the food was delicious. There was a seating plan and speeches. I’ll certainly never forget it – other events I’ve attended were always more casual.

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Samuel’s birthday party

I love the James Bond films, so I decided to ask everyone to come dressed up as their favourite James Bond character for my 18th birthday party. I have some mad friends and they really made an effort with their costumes. My family was there too, and we played music from the movies. Even though everyone was dressed in formal suits and dresses, it was a relaxed party. People didn’t leave until 3 a.m. – we had so much fun dancing.

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Raheem’s graduation

I recently got my PhD in Physics. This is a huge achievement, not only for me but also for my parents who helped me along the way. A lot of the day was spent taking photos of me in my cap and gown. We then went to a fancy restaurant. It was more expensive than the places I normally go to, but I really liked it. There were only a few of us – my siblings, two of my cousins and my parents.

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Katerina’s holiday party

I love Christmas – the tree, the decorations, the biscuits. Last year I was away from home and I decided to throw a Christmas party for my friends. Many of my friends come from different parts of the world and don’t necessarily celebrate Christmas, so I called it a holiday party and asked all my guests to bring a dish they love. It was a great night – lots of food, music and laughter. We were all singing carols by the end.

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Adam is telling Rachel to...

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The people below all want to visit a city market. There are descriptions of eight markets. Decide which market would be the most suitable for the people below.