How old is “old”? The answer has changed over the years. Two Hundred years ago, you were old at 35. At the beginning of the 20th century, the average life span (平均寿命) was 45. In 1950, 70-year-olds were really old. Today, a healthy 70-year-old is still thought young.

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

         “Nobody grows old by living a number of years,” wrote a writer. “People grow old when they don’t have their ideals (理想).” People shouldn’t have the wrong ideas about aging. Sometimes, older minds can be as bright as young minds. Alice Brophy once said, “It makes me unhappy when people say, ‘You look young for your age.’ What does that mean? You know you can die old at 30 and live young at 80.”

1.About 100 years ago, the average life span was __________.

A. 35                   B. 45    C. 70  D. 80

2. The meaning of the word “aging” is __________.

A. growing old     B. staying young    C. keeping healthy                  D. feeling unhappy

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

A. Old people are not as bright at young people.      

B. All older people are healthy and strong.

C. Aging does not mean you become unhealthy.       

D. Most older people are unhealthy and poor.

4. The passage is mainly(主要地) about _________.

A. the average life span              B. aging

C. the 20th century                     D. older people and young people

I went home one Saturday afternoon in the autumn of 1993 to get some work done in the garden. While sweeping leaves on the ground, my five-year-old son Nick came over and asked me to write something on a piece of paper to make a sign for him.
"What for?" I asked.
" I’m going to sell some of my stones, " he answered.
Nick was fascinated with stones and had collected many stones from all over.
" I’m too busy to do that for you. Go and ask your mum for help," I said.
A short time later, Nick, returned with a sign, reading, " Stones, One Dollar Each". He took the sign, a small chair and 4 of his best stones and walked to the road in front of our garden. There he put the stones in a line and sat down on the chair.
After half an hour, nobody passed by. I walked to him and asked him to go back, but he didn’t.
Another half hour later, a small car came down the road. I watched as Nick stood up, holding his sign up. A woman rolled down a window and read the sign. I couldn’t hear their talk, but I saw the woman turn to the driver and the man reach for his pocket.
I sat in the yard, as Nick ran to me. Waving the dollar, he shouted, "I told you I could sell one stone for a dollar -- if you believe in yourself, you can do anything. "
【小题1】Why didn’t the writer help his son?

短文填空 （共15小题， 每小题1分； 满分15分）

      As the World Cup is going on, South Africa's football grandmothers are also working hard. The team  1. made up of 35 women, aged from 50 to 84. It was developed 2.  a housewife five years ago to help old women keep fit. The project has been so successful  3.  they will take part in the Veterans Cup competition (元老杯足球联赛) in the USA.

      "We are 4. to play in the Veterans Cup, where many grandmothers from all over the world come  5. and play football, "said the team leader.

      Whatever happens, 6. , the grandmothers have no regrets. Most of them often play football in their aprons (围裙) after  7. .

      "I suffered back pain and sore knees (腰酸腿痛) before joining the team three years ago. Now I am fresh. I don't feel 8.  pain in my body，and I can run．At home I do all the housework by myself!” said 9.  of the grandmothers．