I recently turned fifty,which is young for a tree,midlife for an elephant,and an

I recently turned fifty,which is young for atree,midlife for an elephant,and ancient for a sportsman.Fifty is a nice numberfor the states in the US or for a national speed limit,but it is not a numberthat I was prepared to have hung on me.Fifty is supposed to be my father’sage,but now I am stuck with this number and everything it means.

A few days ago,a friend tried to cheer me upby saying,“Fiftyis what forty used to be.”He had made an inspirationalpoint.Am I over the hill?People keep telling me that the hill has beenmoved,and I keep telling them that the high-jump bar has dropped from the sixfeet I once easily cleared to the four feet that is impossible for me now.

“You’re not getting older,you’re getting better,”says Dr.Joyce Brothers.This,however,is the kind of doctor whoinspires a second opinion.

And so,as I approach the day when I cannoteven jump over the tennis net,I am moved to share some thoughts on aging withyou.I am moved to show how aging feels to me physically and mentally.Gettingolder,of course,is obviously a better change than the one that brings youeulogies(悼词).Infact,a poet named Robert Browning considered it the best change of all:

Grow old along with me!

The best is yet to be.

Whether or not Browning was right,most of myfirst fifty years have been golden ones,so I will settle for what is aheadbeing as good as what has gone by.I find myself moving toward what is aheadwith a curious blend(混合)of both fighting and accepting my aging,hoping that thephilosopher(哲学家)was right when he said.“Old is always fifteen years from now.”

1.The author seems to tell us in Paragraph 1that         .

A.time alone will tell

B.time goes by quickly

C.time will show what is right

D.time makes one forget the past

2.When the author turned fifty,people aroundhim         .

A.tried to comfort him

B.got inspirations from him

C.were friendlier with him

D.found him more talkative

3.The author considers his fifty years oflife         .

A.peaceful          B.ordinary          C.satisfactory          D.regretful

4.We can infer from the passage that         .

A.the old should lead a simple life

B.the old should face the fact of aging

C.the old should take more exercise

D.the old should fill themselves withcuriosity

试题答案

【答案】

1.B

解析:这是一道归纳题。文章第一段表达了作者对于到达50岁这个年龄的惆怅,通过“Fifty is supposed to be my father’sage,but now I am stuck with this number and everything it means.”表达作者对于时光流逝太快的感慨。

2.A

解析:这是一道推断题。根据第二段和第三段朋友和医生的话“Fifty is what forty used to be.”和“You’re notgetting older.You’re getting better.”可知作者身边的人都在安慰他。

3.C

解析:这是一道推断题。根据最后一段“most ofmy first fifty years have been golden ones,so I will settle for what is aheadbeing as good as what has gone by.”可以推断出作者认为他的50岁是一个黄金时期,将会和已经过去的时期一样满意。settle for就是“满足”的意思。

4.B

解析:这是一道推理题。根据最后一句“I findmyself moving toward what is ahead with a curious blend of both fighting andaccepting my aging.”。暗示着作者认为老年人应该接受年龄,面对现实。