“Hey, little buddy, will you support me when I'm getting old?” Han Wenshan, 35 years old, asked his new-born baby as he picked him up at home.
The Chinese tradition of raising sons to support parents in their old age has been weakened by the rapidly growing economy and improved standard of living.As is the case with developed countries, China faces an aging society.People are living longer and having fewer children.Therefore many Chinese families are falling into a 4-2-1 family pattern:a couple raises one child and supports four elderly parents.But few realize this problem.
The aging of the population is a trend that now affects a growing number of countries.Not long ago, the Information Office of the state council, China's cabinet, issued a white paper on measures China is taking to help its elderly population.The paper said China's population entered the aging phase(阶段)at the end of the 20th century as the proportion of people aged 60 and above accounted for over 10 percent of the entire population.By the end of 2005, China had nearly 144 million people over 60, accounting for 11 percent of the population, according to the white paper.
An expanding aged population inevitably means that many issues must be settled, as the problem concerns every aspect of society.It puts more pressure on each family, causing disturbing economic consequences and serious social problem concerns every aspect of society.It puts more pressure on each family, causing disturbing economic consequences and serious social problem.It also challenges the labor force supply and the pension(养老金)system.
“I used to think that it's not an issue for me to provide for the aged.” said Han, whose parents and parents-in-law all enjoy pensions and medical insurance.But last year Han's father suffered a serious illness and afterward Han began to feel the pressure on his shoulders.
(1)
Which of the following is not caused by an aging society?
[ ]
A.
Social problems.
B.
The problem of the pension system
C.
Unemployment
D.
More pressure on the family.
(2)
From the passage we can infer ________.
[ ]
A.
children will not support their parents in an aging society
B.
China will encourage young couples to have more than one children
C.
many people haven't realized the problem of an aging society
D.
the aging problem is one of the concerns for the Chinese government
(3)
Which of the following can be used to replace the underlined w ord “inevitably?”
[ ]
A.
Naturally.
B.
Surprisingly.
C.
Hopefully.
D.
Unluckily.
(4)
From the passage we can see that ________.
[ ]
A.
China is the only country to face an aging society
B.
most of the developing countries face an aging society
C.
developed countries face an aging society
D.
countries with a large population face an aging society
完形填空
People seem not to see that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character.
R.W.E, erson
It was Mother’s Day, but the young mother was a little unhappy, because she was 800 miles away from her parents.In the morning she phoned her mother to 1 her a happy Mother’s Day, and her mother told her about the beautiful 2 in the garden.
Later that day, when she told her husband about the lilacs(丁香),he said, “I know where we can find 3 that you want.Get the children and come on.” So they went, 4 down the country roads.
There on a small hill, they saw a lot of purple lilacs.The young woman ran quickly to 5 the flowers. 6 , she picked a few here and a few there.On their way home there was a smile on her face.
When they were 7 a nursing home, the young woman saw an old granny sitting in a chair.She had no children with her.They 8 the car and the young woman walked to the old woman, put the 9 in her hands, and smiled at her.The old granny 10 her again and again.She smiled happily, too.
11 the young mother came back to her car, her 12 asked her, “Who is that old granny?” “Why did you give our flowers to her?”
“I don’t know her,” their mother said.“But it’s Mother’s Day, and she has no children.I have all of you, and I 13 have my mother.Just think how much those flowers 14 to her.”
Hearing 15 their mother said, all the children were greatly 16 .
As we know, everyone needs love.In our society, only more love is 17 to the people, 18 those who are in great 19 , we will feel happy. 20 by this, can we have a better life, a more humorous world.