Question

You’ve heard of the fat suit and the pregnancy suit; now meet AGNES — the old person suit.

AGNES stands for “Age Gain Now Empathy System” and was designed by researchers at MIT’s AgeLab to let you know what it feels like — physically — to be 75 years old. “The business of old age demands new tools,” said Joseph Coughlin, director of the AgeLab. “While focus groups and observations and surveys can help you understand what the older consumer needs and wants, young marketers never get that ‘Ah ha!’ moment of having difficulty opening a jar, or getting in and out of a car. That’s what AGNES provides.”

Coughlin and his team carefully adjusted the suit to make the wearer just as uncomfortable as an old person who has spent a lifetime eating poorly and not doing much exercise. Special shoes provide a feeling of imbalance, while braces on the knees and elbows limit joint mobility (机动性). Gloves give the feeling of decreased strength and mobility in the hands and wrists, and earplugs make it difficult to hear high-pitched sounds and soft tones. A helmet with straps (带) attached to it presses the spine (脊柱), and more straps attached to the shoes decrease hamstring flexibility, and shorten the wearer’s step.

AGNES has been used most recently by a group of students working on a design of an updated walker. By wearing the suit they could see for themselves what design and materials would make the most sense for a physically limited older person. Coughlin said the suit has also been used by clothing companies, car companies and retail goods companies to help them understand the limitations of an older consumer.

 “AGNES is not the destiny (天命) of everybody,” Coughlin said. “She is a badly behaved lady who didn’t eat and exercise very well. A secondary benefit we’ve found with AGNES is that it has become a powerful tool to get younger people to invest in their long-term health.” 

56. AGNES is supposed to _____.

     A. make the users more comfortable             

     B. let us understand old people better

     C. help old people move more quickly           

     D. produce new tools for the old-age business

57. According to the text, young marketers never _____.

     A. ask what old people need and want    

     B. see the efforts old people make

     C. feel the same way as old people do           

     D. say “Ah ha!” when they meet with difficulty

58. The 3rd paragraph mainly tells about _____.

     A. how advanced AGNES is           B. how AGNES has been developed

     C. how old people act                    D. how AGNES works

59. The underlined phrase “an updated walker” most likely refers to _____.

     A. a new kind of suit that helps people relax 

     B. a physically limited old person 

     C. some equipment that helps old people get around

     D. a company which serves old people

60. Which might be a fact resulting from the “secondary benefit” of AGNES?

     A. Young people respect old people more.     

     B. Old-age businesses improve their service.

     C. Old people eat and exercise well.

     D. Young people eat and exercise well.

Answer 1

    如果现在不注意锻炼身体，老了以后会怎样？穿上AGNES，现在你就可以感受到老年人的感觉。

56. B。细节理解题。根据第二段中let you know what it feels like — physically — to be 75 years old可知，AGNES的功能是让人们提前感受人老以后的实际身体状况。

57. C。推理判断题。根据第二段While… young marketers never get that ‘Ah ha!’ moment of having difficulty opening a jar, or getting in and out of a car. That’s what AGNES provides可知，年轻的销售人员在生活中从未感受老年人的难处。

58. D。主旨大意题。 第三段主要介绍AGNES这套服装在具体部位是如何让人有不舒服的感觉，感到年老以后的身体不适。

59. C。推理判断题。根据倒数第二段的内容特别是By wearing the suit they could see for themselves what design and materials would make the most sense for a physically limited older person可以看出，这些学生在研究一款新的walker，通过试穿AGNES，他们能够切身感受老年人的身体情况，从而能够确定什么样的设计和材料才最为合适，可知划线部分是指为老年人开发的一种产品。

60. D。细节理解题。根据最后一段中A secondary benefit we’ve found with AGNES is that it has become a powerful tool to get younger people to invest in their long-term health可知，AGNES还能促使年轻人注意保持身体健康。