Thirty-one million Americans are over 60 years of age, and twenty-nine million of them are healthy, busy, productive citizens. By the year 2030, one in every five people in the United States will be over 60. Elderly people are members of the fastest-growing minority in this country. Many call this the "graying of America".
In 1973, a group called the "Gray Panthers" was organized. This group is made up of young and old citizens. They are trying to deal with the special problems of growing old in America. The Gray Panthers know that many elderly people have health problems: some cannot walk well, others cannot see or hear well. Some have financial problems; prices are going up so fast that the elderly can't afford the food, clothing, and housing they need. Some old people are afraid and have safety problems. Others have emotional problems. Many elderly are lonely because of the death of a husband or a wife. The Gray Panthers know another fact, too. Elderly people want to be as independent as possible. So, the Gray Panthers are looking for ways to solve the special problems of the elderly.
The president of the Gray Panthers is Maggie Kuhn, an active woman in her late 70s. She travels across the United States, educating both young and old about the concerns of elders. One of the problems she talks about is where and how elders live. She says that Americans do not encourage elders to live with younger people. As far as Maggie Kuhn is concerned, only elders who need constant medical care should be in nursing homes.
Maggie Kuhn knows that elders need education, too. She spends lots of time talking to groups of older Americans. She encourages them to continue to live in their own houses if it is possible. She also tells them that it is important to live with younger people and to have children around them. This helps elders to stay young at heart.
- What health problems do many elderly have
- They feel lonely. B. They are suffering from cancer.
- They cannot walk or see or hear well. D. They have got heart problems.
- Nursing homes _________
- are good for elders who need constant medical care B. help keep elders young
- are set up for training nurses D. are places where small children are taken care of
- Maggie Kuhn travels across the United States in order to ________ elders.
- collect money for B. show concerns for
- find houses for D. educate people to help
- One of the problems Maggie Kuhn talks about is ________
- why elders should be taken care of B. where and how elders live
- who needs medical care D. how to improve education in the USA
- Maggie Kuhn encourages elders to __________
- live in nursing homes B. travel more
- live with younger people D. do some house work
核心词汇注释
productive adj．生产性的，生产的；能产的，多产的
minority n．少数：少数民族
panther n．豹，黑豹
elderly adj．过了中年的，稍老的
financial adj．财政的，金融的
emotional adj．情绪的，情感的
solve vt．解决，解答
concern vt．涉及，关系到 n．(利害)关系：关心，关注
encourage vt．鼓励，怂恿 v．鼓励
nursing n．看护，养育
长难句剖析
she travels across the United States，educating both young and old about the concerns of elders．
[结构分析]本句的主干是She travels across the United States。现在分词短语educating…elders作主句的目的状语。
[参考译文]她到美国各地，教育年轻人和老年人，告诉他们老人们的问题。
One of the problems she talks about is where and how elders live．
[结构分析]本句是主系表结构，one of the problems是主语，where和how引导的是表语从句。she talks about是定语从句修饰主语，
[参考译文]她所谈到的问题之一就是老人在哪儿居住和怎样生活。
全文参考译文
已年逾60的美国公民有3,100万，其中2,900万身体健康，忙碌而又能干。到2030年美国人口的1／5将超过60岁。在这个国家当中，老人将是增长最快的一个少数群体。许多人把这称之为“美国的灰色化”。
一个名为Gray Panthers的团体于1973年成立了。这个团体的成员既有年轻的又有年老的。他们正尝试着解决美国日益增加的老人所存在的特殊问题。Gray Panthers了解许多老人有健康问题：有些人行动不便，有些人眼神和听力都不太好。有些老人经济困难；物价上涨以至于老人负担不起他们必需的食品、衣服和栖身之所。有些老人害怕并且有安全隐患。其他一些老人还有情感问题。许多鳏寡老人很孤单。Gray Panthers也了解另外一个情况：老人们都想尽可能的独立。所以Gray Panthers正在寻找能够解决这些老人的特殊问题的方法。
Maggie Kuhn是Gray Panthers的主席，她是一位年届七旬，但仍很活跃的女士。她到美国各地，教育年轻人和老年人，告诉他们老人们的问题。其中她所谈到的一个问题就是老人在哪儿居住而且怎样生活。她说美国人不鼓励老人和年轻人住在一起。在她看来，只有那些需要长期医疗护理的老人才应该住在敬老院。
Maggie Kuhn懂得老人也需要教育。她用了大量的时间和很多群体的美国老年人交流。她鼓励他们尽可能继续在自己的家里生活。她也告诉他们，和年轻人一起生活，和孩子们在一起，这很重要。这可以帮助老人保持一颗年轻的心。
题目答案与解析
1． 很多老年人在健康方面有什么问题 [答案]C
A．他们感到孤独。 B．他们受到癌症的折磨。
C．他们不能走路、看或者听。 D．他们的心脏有问题。
[解析]本题的依据是文章第2段的第4句话：The Gray Panthers know that many elderly people have health problems：some cannot walk well，others cannot see or hear well。从中可知C项是正确答案。
2． 养老院________。 [答案]A
A．对经常需要医疗保健的老年人有益 B．有助于让老年人保持年轻
C．是为培训护士创建的 D．是照看小孩的地方
[解析]本题的依据是文章第3段的最后一句话：…only elders who need constant medical care should be in nursing homes．从中可知A项为正确答案。
3． Maggie Kuhn走遍整个美国目的是_______。 [答案]D
A．为老人筹款 B．对老人表示关心
C．为老人找房子 D．教育人们给予老人帮助
[解析]本题的依据是文章第3段的第2句话：…educating both young and old about the concerns of elders．从中可知，Maggie Kuhn走遍整个美国的目的是为了教育不同年龄层次的人去关心、帮助老年人。因此D项为正确答案。
4． Maggie Kuhn谈及的众多问题之一是________。 [答案]B
A．为什么老人们需要被照看 B．老人们生活在哪里，怎样生活
C．谁需要医疗保健 D．怎样改善美国的教育水平
[解析]本题的依据是第3段的第3句话：One of the problems she talks about is where and how elders live．从中可知B项为正确答案。
5． Maggie Kuhn鼓励老年人_________。 [答案]C
A．住在养老院 B．多去旅游 C．和年轻人住在一起 D．做一些家务
[解析]本题的依据是最后一段的第3、4句话：She encourages them to continue to live in their own houses if it is possible．She also tells them that it is important to live with younger people and to have children around them．从中可知，Maggie Kuhn鼓励老年人与年轻人和小孩子共同 生活。因此C项为正确答案。