Question

How old is “old”? The answer has changed over the years. Two hundred years ago you were old at 35．That was the average life expectancy then. As medical knowledge advanced, the average life span increased to 45 at the turn of last century. In 1950, 70-year-olds were really old. Today, a healthy 70-year-old is looking forward to many more active years.

So, how old is old? The answer is one you’ve heard many times, from all sorts of people. “You are as old (or young) as you feel.” The calendar simply tells you how many years you have lived. Your body tells you how well you’ve lived.

“Youth,” wrote an author, “is not a time of life—it is a state of mind. Nobody grows old by living a number of years; people grow old by deserting their ideals.”

Old is a point of view. Alice Brophy, when she was with the New York City Commission for the Aging, said, “It annoys me when people say, ‘Gee, you look young for your age.’ What does that mean? Is there some model that you’re supposed to look a certain way at 65 and 75 and 85?   You know you can die old at 30 and live young at 80.”

Here are some of the more common myths—and the facts.

Myth: Most older people are in poor health.

Fact: Not so. There are neither biological nor physiological reasons to connect poor health with growing older. Older people are more likely to be affected with illness and physical disabilities than you are, but old age itself is not a disease. It is possible to remain physically fit throughout your life.

Myth: When you get old, you become senile（衰老的）.

Fact: Older minds can be as bright as young minds. Senility is a sign of disease; it is not part of the normal aging process. No evidence was found to show that aging was associated with a decline in intellectual performance, in generally healthy people.

Myth: Older people are rigid, unable to change.

Fact: Older people are as diverse in their life-styles and flexibility as are young and middle-aged people. Despite the many stresses they deal with—death of loved ones or job, financial, and domestic problems—they cope miraculously well. Older people give up smoking and break other bad habits just as successfully as younger people.

1．This passage is mainly about           .

       A．the average life span                          B．old people’s life-styles

       C．aging                                            D．senility

2．According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?         

       A．Aging does not mean you become unhealthy.

       B．Older people are not as smart as young people.

       C．Most older people are physically fit.

       D．Older people are unwilling to change their ideas.

3．Which question is NOT answered in the passage?           

       A．What is the average life span today?

       B．Is senility a normal part of aging?

       C．Do older people have more trouble breaking bad habits?

       D．How long can a person remain physically fit?              

4．The underlined word “rigid” can be explained by        .           

       A．flexible              B．considerate   C．strict           D．fixed

Answer 1

CAAD