D

Who takes care of the elderly in the United States today? Many people wrongly believe that when people reach old age, their families place them in nursing homes. They are left there in the hands of strangers for the rest of their lives. Their grown-up children visit them only occasionally, but more often, they do not have any regular visitors. Actually this is not true. In fact, family members provide over 80 percent of the care that elderly people need.

Prof. Samuel Preston, a sociologist at the University of Pennsylvania, studied how the American family is changing. He reported that by the time the average American couple reaches 40 years of age, they have more parents than children. This statistic (统计) shows the change in life-styles and responsibilities of aging Americans. The average middle-aged couple can look forward to caring for elderly parents some time after their own children have grown up. Moreover, because people today live longer after an illness than people did years ago, family members must provide long-term care. These facts also mean that after care-givers provide for their elderly parents, who will eventually die, they will be old and may require care too. When they do, their spouses (配偶, 指夫或妻) will probably take care of them.

Because Americans are living longer than ever, more psychologists and social workers have begun to study care-giving to improve care of the elderly. They have found that all caregivers share a common characteristic: all caregivers believe that they are the best person for the job, for different reasons. One caregiver said that she had always been close to her mother. Another was the oldest child. In other words, they all felt that they could do the job better than anyone else. Social workers interviewed caregivers to find out why they took on the responsibility of caring for an elderly, dependent relative. They discovered three basic reasons. Many caregivers believed that they had the responsibility to help their relatives. Some stated that helping others made them feel more useful. Others hoped that by helping someone now, they would deserve care when they became old and dependent.

（   ）68. It can be inferred that a middle-aged couple in the US _______.

A. spend more time with their children than with their parents

B. depend on their children’s assistance in caring for the elderly

C. don’t pay more attention to their children than to their parents

D. spend more time taking care of their parents than before

（   ）69. The most common characteristic of caregivers is ______.

A. they all have professional qualifications in care-giving

B. they all believe themselves to be the best caregiver

C. they are the eldest child in the family

D. they are close to their parents

（   ）70. Which of the following is NOT a basic reason for care-giving?

A. Respect from other members of the family.

B. Prepayment for the care they will get in old age.

C. A feeling of being needed and helpful.

D. A strong sense of duty to the elderly.

（   ）71. What is the main idea of this passage?

           A. Most old people in the US are living a happy life.

           B. Most old people in the US live longer today after an illness than people did years ago.

           C. Most elderly people in the US are taken care of by their families, who often find the experience satisfying.

           D. Most elderly people in the US prefer living with their families to living nursing houses.

It was reported that Michael Jackson, died of a cardiac arrest(心脏骤停) in a Los Angeles hospital last night, just weeks before he hoped to resurrect(复活) his four-decade long career with a series of sold-out shows in London. The pop superstar was taken to the University of California at Los Angeles medical centre last night, and doctors tried resuscitation（使苏醒，使复活） in the ambulance. He did not regain consciousness and was reported dead about three hours later.

"My brother, the legendary King of Pop, passed away on Thursday 25 June at 2.26pm," his brother Jermaine said, "We believe he suffered a cardiac arrest at his home, however the cause of his death is unknown until the results of the autopsy(验尸) are known. The personal physician who was with him at the time attempted to resuscitated him."

A spokesman for the UCLA medical centre said, "When he arrived at hospital at approximately 1.14pm, a team of doctors attempted to resuscitate him for a period of more than one hour, they were unsuccessful." Police said they were investigating, which is standard procedure in such cases.

Jackson's death brought a tragic end to a long decline from his peak in the 1980s when he was music's greatest all-around performer, a uniter of black and white music who shattered the race barrier on MTV. His 1982 album Thriller, which included the blockbuster hits, Beat It, Billie Jean and Thriller is still the best-selling album of all time, with an estimated 50m copies sold worldwide.

    The world famous entertainer had planned a series of 50 concerts in London from 12 July. Although in the last two decades his reputation was destroyed by charges of child molestation(骚扰) and his fantastic public behavior, all tickets were sold within hours, proving the King of Pop had enduring appeal.

68.   Where did Michael Jackson die?

 A. At home in Los Angeles.          B. On the stage in London.     

  C. In a Los Angeles hospital.       D. In an ambulance to hospital.

69. What caused Michael Jackson to die according to Jermaine?

     A. Heart disease.          B. It’s unknown before the results of the autopsy.

    C. Working too hard.   D. His personal physician’s improper treatment.

70. Why were the police involved in investigating the death of Michael Jackson?

    A. Because they believed he was murdered.

    B. Because Michael Jackson died suddenly.

    C. Because it was standard procedure in such cases.

     D. Because his brother was suspicious of the truth of his death.

It is widely said that the old in western countries get differently treated from those in most Asian countries, where the old mostly live together with their of f spring （后代）．Many people wrongly think that in the U．S．, when people reach old age, their families place them in nursing homes．They are left in the 　1　 of strangers for the rest of their lives．Their 　2 children visit them only once in a while, but more often, they do not have any 3　 visitors．No longer． The truth is that this idea is an unfortunate myth—an　 4　 story．In fact, family members provide over 80 percent of the care　 5 elderly people need．Samuel Preston, a sociologist, studied　 6　 the American family is changing．He reported that by the time the 7　 American couple reaches 40 years of age, they have more parents than children． 8 , because people today live longer after an illness than people did years 9 , family members must provide long term care．More psychologists have found that all caregivers 10 a common characteristic: All caregivers believe that they are the best 11　 for the job．In other words, they all felt that they　 12 do the job better than anyone else．Social workers 13 caregivers to find out why they took 14 the responsibility of caring for an elderly relative．Many caregivers believed they had 　15　 to help their relative．Some stated that helping others 　16　 them feel more useful．Others hoped that by helping 17 now, when they became old and 18　 they would 19 care．Caring for the elderly and being taken care of can be a mutually satisfying experience for everyone who might be 20 .

1．A．arms　　　　　 B．hands　　　　 C．bodies　　　 D．homes

2．A．grown　　　 　 B．growing　　　 C．being grown　　 　　　　　 D．to grow

3．A．regular　　　 B．lasting　　　　 　　　　　　　 C．constant　　　 　 D．normal

4．A．imagine　　　 B．imaginary　　 C．imagination　 D．imaginable

5．A．those　　　　 B．this　　　　　 C．that　　　　　 D．these

6．A．when　　　　　 B．how　　　　　 C．what　　　　　 D．where

7．A．common　　　　 B．usual　　　　 C．standard　　　 D．average

8．A．Further　　　 B．However　　　 C．Moreover　　　 D．Wherever

9．A．before　　　　 B．ago　　　　　 C．later　　　　 D．lately

10．A．share　　　　 B．enjoy　　　　 C．divide　　　　 D．content

11．A．person　　　 B．people　　　　 C．character　　 D．man

12．A．would　　　　 B．will　　　　　 C．could　　　　 D．can

13．A．questioned　 B．interviewed　 C．negotiated　　 D．compromised

14．A．in　　　　　 B．up　　　　　　 C．on　　　　　　 D．off

15．A．admiration　 B．intention　　 C．necessity　　 D．commitment

16．A．caused　　　 B．enabled　　　 C．made　　　　　 D．got

17．A．someone　　　 B．anyone　　　　 C．everyone　　　 D．anybody

18．A．elderly　　　 B．dependent　　 C．dependable　　 D．independent

19．A．remark　　　 B．preview　　　 C．deserve　　　 D．outline

20．A．considered　 B．concluded　　 C．consumed　　　 D．concerned

An evil man once went to a wise man asking for advice about starting a new life. The wise man asked him to give up at least one of his   36   habits. He gave up telling lies.

That night, when he went to the loyal palace to  37  something, he found in the palace another person ,who said he was a thief. He too  38  that he was a thief and both   39  the treasury (国库)and   40  between themselves the diamonds found there. The other person was none other than the king, he   41  to be a thief. While the diamonds were shared, the real thief   42 the king who was losing his entire stock, he asked his  43  to leave one diamond behind in the safe. And, it was done.

The next morning, when it was   44  that the treasury had been broken into, the Minister was sent by the king to assess the  45  .The Minister found the diamond，thinking that it had  46   the eyes of the thieves. He  47  hid it in his own pocket and reported at the court that all the diamonds were  48  !

The king had got from the real thief his address the previous night while they  49  with their separate bags. So he   50  him and when the thief stood in court before the king, he admitted that   51 but one of the diamonds were stolen by him and his  52  companion. The diamond was discovered in the pocket of the Minister and the king dismissed(免……的职) him for the   53 . The real thief was appointed Minister   54  , and he gave up his other bad habits too.

It is a perfect   55   of how one step in the right direction can lead to another.

36．A．bad                  B．regular             C．social                     D．unfortunate

37．A．return                     B．steal                C．collect             D．exchange

38．A．learned                   B．suggested     C．announced       D．heard

39．A．set up               B．looked into       C．rang up            D．broke into

40．A．hid                         B．divided             C．rewarded         D．treated

41．A．pretended             B．expected          C．hoped              D．appeared

42．A．looked down upon   B．agreed with      C．felt pity for      D．knocked into

43．A．conductor         B．neighbor          C．friend              D．companion

44．A．said                        B．discovered              C． recorded      D．believed

45．A．loss                    B．cost                 C．price               D．number

46．A．attracted                 B．  kept         C．missed             D．filled

47．A． suddenly             B．carefully          C．firmly              D．quietly

48．A．sold                        B．gone             C．damaged       D．packed

49．A．parted                     B．practiced          C．worked            D．rested

50．A．waited for              B．called on         C．sent for           D．thought of

51．A． both                   B．some               C．none                D．all

52．A．impatient                 B．unknown         C．homeless         D．disabled

53．A．puzzle                     B．mistake            C．lie                D．excuse

54．A．instead                 B．indeed              C．too                  D．though    

55．A．match                  B．experience        C．experiment       D．example

       Michael Jackson, the American pop legend, died of a cardiac arrest（心脏骤停） in a Los Angeles hospital last night, just weeks before he hoped to resurrect（复活） his four-decade long career with a series of sold-out shows in London．The pop superstar was taken to the University of California at Los Angeles medical centre last night, and doctors tried resuscitation（使苏醒，使复活） in the ambulance．He did not regain consciousness and was reported dead about three hours later．

       "My brother, the legendary King of Pop, passed away on Thursday 25 June at 2．26pm," his brother Jermaine said, "We believe he suffered a cardiac arrest at his home, however the cause of his death is unknown until the results of the autopsy（验尸） are known．The personal physician who was with him at the time attempted to resuscitated him．"

       A spokesman for the UCLA medical centre said, "When he arrived at hospital at approximately 1．14pm, a team of doctors attempted to resuscitate him for a period of more than one hour, they were unsuccessful．" Police said they were investigating, which is standard procedure in such cases．

       Jackson's death brought a tragic end to a long decline from his peak in the 1980s when he was music's greatest all-around performer, a uniter of black and white music who shattered the race barrier on MTV．His 1982 album Thriller, which included the blockbuster hits Beat It, Billie Jean and Thriller is still the best-selling album of all time, with an estimated 50m copies sold worldwide．

       The world famous entertainer had planned a series of 50 concerts in London from 12 July．Although in the last two decades his reputation was destroyed by charges of child molestation（骚扰） and his fantastic public behavior, all tickets were sold within hours, proving the King of Pop had enduring appeal．

1．Where did Michael Jackson die?

       A．At home in Los Angeles．      B．In a Los Angeles hospital．

       C．On the stage in London．       D．In an ambulance to hospital．

2．What caused Michael Jackson to die according to Jermaine?

       A．Heart disease．      

       B．It’s unknown before the results of the autopsy．

       C．Working too hard．

              D．His personal physician’s improper treatment．

3．Why were the police involved in investigating the death of Michael Jackson?

       A．Because they believed he was murdered．

       B．Because it was standard procedure in such cases．

       C．Because Michael Jackson died suddenly．

       D．Because his brother was suspicious of the truth of his death．

4．It can be inferred that Michael Jackson was ___________．

       A．a King of Pop with good reputation．

       B．a King of Pop still playing on the stage before death．

       C．indeed a bad man with fantastic public behavior．

       D．a popular King of Pop in spite of ill fame．