Until late in the 20th century, most Americans spent time with people of generat

Until late in the 20th century, most Americans spenttime with people of generations. Now mid-aged Americans may not keep in touchwith old people until they are old themselves.That’s because we group people byage. We put our three-year-olds together in day-care center, our 13-year-oldsin school and sports activities, and our 80-year-olds in senior-citizen homes.Why?

We live away from the old for many reasons: youngpeople sometimes avoid the old to get rid of fears for aging and dying. It ismuch harder to watch .someone we love disappear before our eyes. Sometimes it’sso hard that we stay away from the people who need us most.

Fortunately, .some of us have found our way to theold. And we have discovered that they often save the young.

A reporter moved her family onto a block filled withold people. At first her children were disappointed. But the reporter bakedbanana bread for the neighbours and had her children deliver it and visit. Soonthe children had many new friends, with whom they shared food, stories andprojects. “My children have never been less lonely,” the reporter said.

The young, in turn, save the old. Once I was in a resthome when a visitor showed up with a baby. She was immediately surrounded.People who hadn’t gotten out of bed in a week suddenly were ringing for awheelchair. Even those who had seemed asleep wake up to watch the child. Babieshave an astonishing power to comfort and cure.

Grandparents are a special case. They givegrandchildren a feeling of security and continuity. As my husband put it, “mygrandparents gave me a deep sense that things would turn out right in the end.”

Grandchildren speak of attention they don’t get fromworried parents. “My parents were always telling me to hurry up, and mygrandparents told me to slow down,” one friend said. A teacher told me she cantell which pupils have relationships with grandparents: they are quieter,calmer, more trusting.

1.Now in an American family, people can find that____.

A．childrennever live with their parents

B．not allworking people live with their parents

C．aged peopleare supported by their grandchildren

D．grandchildrenare supported by their grandparents

2.The reason why old people are left alone may be that____.

A．the old don’t like to live in a big family

B．the young can’t get enough money to support the old

C．differentgenerations have different lifestyles

D．the old aretoo weak to live with the young

3.The fact that the reporter told us shows that ___.

A．old people inAmerica lead a hard life

B．old people inAmerica enjoy banana bread

C．she had no timeto take care of her children

D．old peopleare easy to get along with

4.Seeing a baby, the old people get excited because____.

A．they hadnever seen a baby before

B．the baby wasclever and beautiful

C．the babybrought them the image of life

D．the baby’s mother would take care of them

5.Why do children not get attention from theirparents?

A．Because theyoften make trouble and make their parents disappointed.

B．Because theirparents are too busy to take care of them.

C．Because theirparents have to take care of their grandparents.

D．Because theirparents have been out of work for a long time.

试题答案

【答案】

1.B

2.C

3.D

4.C

5.B 

【解析】

试题