Old age may not sound exciting.But recent findings offer good news for older pepole and for people worried about getting older.

Researches found that people become happier and experience less worry after they reach the age of fifty.In fact,they say by the age of eighty—five,people are happier with their life than they were when they were eighteen years old.

The findings came from a survey of more than 340,000 adults in the United States.The Gallup Organization questioned them by telephone in 2008.At that time,the people were between the ages of eighteen and eighty—five.The searches asked questions about emotions like happiness,sadness and worry.They also asked about mental or emotional stress.

Arthur Stone in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Stony Brook University in New York led the study.His team found that levels of stress were highest among adults  between the ages of twenty—two and twenty—five.The findings showed that stress levels dropped sharply after people reached their fifties.Happiness was highest among the youngest adults and those in their early seventies.The people least likely to report feeling negative emotions were those in their seventies and eighties.

The study also showed that men and women had similar emotional patterns as they grew older.Hower,women at all ages reported more sadness,stress and worry than men.Researchers say they do not know why happiness increases as people get older.One theory is that,as people grow older,they grow more thankful for what they have and have better control of their emotion .They also spend less time thinking about bad experiences.

The researchers also considered possible influences like having young children,being unemployed or being single.But they found that influences like these did not affect the levels of happiness and well—being related to age.

1. How did the researchers find older people happier?

A.They did a series of experiments.

B.They made a written survey about the old people.

C.They interviewed people of different ages face to face.

D.They telephoned people between the ages of 18 and 85.

2.When do people feel happier according to the passage?

A.In their twenties         B.In their fifties 

C.After their seventies      D.When they were born

3.Which one is NOT related to the happiness of old people?

A.Less stress            B .Away from working

C.Controlling of emotions  D.More thankfulness

4.Which is the best title for the passage?

A.No Worrying about Getting Older 

B.Older Men are Happier than Older Women

C.The Factors Affecting the Happiness of Old people

D.For Lots of people,Getting Older Means Getting Happy

If you are in a town in a western country, you'll often see people walking with their dogs. It is still true that a dog is the most useful animal in the world. But the reason why one keeps a dog has changed Once upon a time, a man met a dog and wanted it to help him in the fight against other animals, and he found that the dog listened to him and did what he told him to. Later people used dogs for  hunting other animals, and the dogs didn't eat what they got until their master agreed. So dogs were used for driving sheep and guarding chicks. But now the people in the towns and cities do not need dogs to fight other animals. Of course they keep them to frighten thieves, but the most important reason is that people feel lonely in the city. For a child, a dog is his best friend when he has no friends to play with. For a young wife, a dog is her child when she doesn’t have her own. For old people, a dog is also a child when their real children have grown up and left. Now people do not have to use a dog, but they keep it as a friend, just like a member of the family.

1._______are more useful than a dog in the world.

A．No other animals                        B．Some animals

C．Many animals                          D．A few animals

2.In the past, people kept dogs because dogs _________.

A．could fight against other animals            B．met the people

C．did not eat other animals                  D．helped and listened to people

3.Now people keep dogs in the cities because dogs_____.

A．fight other animals                      B．are lonely

C．are like their friends                     D．are afraid of the thieves

4.A dog can be _____.

A．a child's friend only                      B．a young woman's son

C．old people's real child                    D．everybody's friend

Old age may not sound exciting.But recent findings offer good news for older pepole and for people worried about getting older.
Researches found that people become happier and experience less worry after they reach the age of fifty.In fact,they say by the age of eighty—five,people are happier with their life than they were when they were eighteen years old.
The findings came from a survey of more than 340,000 adults in the United States.The Gallup Organization questioned them by telephone in 2008.At that time,the people were between the ages of eighteen and eighty—five.The searches asked questions about emotions like happiness,sadness and worry.They also asked about mental or emotional stress.
Arthur Stone in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Stony Brook University in New York led the study.His team found that levels of stress were highest among adults  between the ages of twenty—two and twenty—five.The findings showed that stress levels dropped sharply after people reached their fifties.Happiness was highest among the youngest adults and those in their early seventies.The people least likely to report feeling negative emotions were those in their seventies and eighties.
The study also showed that men and women had similar emotional patterns as they grew older.Hower,women at all ages reported more sadness,stress and worry than men.Researchers say they do not know why happiness increases as people get older.One theory is that,as people grow older,they grow more thankful for what they have and have better control of their emotion .They also spend less time thinking about bad experiences.
The researchers also considered possible influences like having young children,being unemployed or being single.But they found that influences like these did not affect the levels of happiness and well—being related to age.
【小题1】 How did the researchers find older people happier?

If you are in a town in a western country, you'll often see people walking with their dogs. It is still true that a dog is the most useful animal in the world. But the reason why one keeps a dog has changed Once upon a time, a man met a dog and wanted it to help him in the fight against other animals, and he found that the dog listened to him and did what he told him to. Later people used dogs for the hunting other animals, and the dogs didn't eat what they got until their master agreed. So dogs were used for driving sheep and guarding chicks. But now the people in the towns and cities do not need dogs to fight other animals. Of course they keep them to frighten thieves, but the most important reason is that people feel lonely in the city. For a child, a dog is his best friend when he has no friends to play with. For a young wife, a dog is her child when she doesn’t have her own. For old people, a dog is also a child when their real children have grown up and left. Now people do not have to use a dog, but they keep it as a friend, just like a member of the family.
【小题1】_______are more useful than a dog in the world.

A．fight other animals	B．are lonely
C．are like their friends	D．are afraid of the thieves

A．a child's friend only	B．a young woman's son
C．old people's real child	D．everybody's friend

For the young, ______ should be showed to their parents, teachers and old people.