8．A serious problem for today's society is who should be responsible for our elderly and how to improve their Lives．It is not only a financial problem but also a quashing of the system we want for our society．I would like to suggest several possible solutions to this problem．
First，employers should take the responsibility for their retired employees．To make this possible，a percentage of profits should be set aside for this purpose． But when a company must take life-long responsibility for its employees，it may softer from a commercial disadvantage due to higher employee costs．
Another way of solving the problem is to return the responsibility to the individual．This means each person must save during his working years to pay for his years of retirement．This does not seem a very fair model since some people have enough trouble paying for their daily life without trying to earn extra to cover their retirement years．This means the government might have to step in to care for the poor．
In addition，the government could take responsibility for the care of the elderly．This could be financed through government taxes to increase the level of pensions．Furthermore，some institution should be created for senior daises，which can help provide a comfortable life for them．Unfortunately，as the present situation in our country shows，this is not a trulyviableanswer．The government can seldom afford to care for the elderly，particularly when it is busy trying to care for the young．
One further solution is that the government or social organizations establish some working places especially for the elderly where they are independent．
To sum up，all these options have advantages and disadvantages．Therefore，it is reasonable to expect that some combination of these options may be needed to provide the care we hope to give to our elderly generations．
46．What is the passage mainly about？C
A．The problems faced by the old in society．
B．Why we should take responsibility for the old．
C．How we can improve the lives of the old．
D．Where the old can go to get their pensions．
47．According to the passage，how can the government help to improve the lives of retired people？D
A．Set aside some profits to help people with problems after they retire．
B．Increase savings levels of people during their working years．
C．Increase the discounts for food and transport for the old．
D．Make available pensions for those who have retired．
48．The underlined word"viable"most probably means"B"．
A．impossible
B．practical
C．useful
D．successful
49．What can be concluded from the passage？D
A．Taking care of the old is mainly an issue of money．
B．Employers should allow their workers to retire at a later age．
C．Becoming independent should be the goal of most old people．
D．There is no single solution to the problems of the old．
50．What is the writer's main purpose in writing this article？B
A．To point out the need for government supped for old people．
B．To make general readers aware of the problems of retired people．
C．To discuss some possible solutions to an important social problem．
D．To instruct retired people on how they can have a happier life．
分析 本文是一篇议论文．当今社会需要特别强调的问题是关注老人并改善他们的生活． 文章从四个方面分析了做好这些工作的方法及其可行性，而且指出了这些方法的优点和不足．
解答 CDBDB
46．C．主旨大意题．根据第一段中的"I would like to suggest several possible solutions to this problem"，再结合下文中提到的四个方面的内容；可知C项正确．
47．D．细节理解题．从文章的第四段"…through government taxes to increase the level of pensions…which can help provide a comfortable life for them"可知，D项正确．
48．B．词义猜测题． 根据本句话的意思以及其所在的语境可知该词的意思是"实际的，可实行的"．句意：不幸的是，我们国家目前的状况表明，这不是一种真正可实行的解决方法．因此B项正确．
49．D．综合归纳题．文章给出了四种解决老年人的问题的办法，最后又指出："Therefore，it is reasonable to expect that some combination of these options may be needed to provide the care we hope to give to our elderly generations．"由此可推知，没有一种单一的方法能够解决老年人的问题；故选D．
50．B．意图推断题． 作者提出了关注老人及其生活的问题，并提出了一系列的措施，总的看来，它们都有优缺点，结合使用就会有好的效果．由此可知，作者是讨论一个重要社会问题一些可能的解决方法；故选B．
点评 本文属于政治经济类短文阅读．文章测试考生在阅读基础上的逻辑推理能力，要求考生根据文章所述事件的逻辑关系，对未说明的趋势或结局作出合理的推断；或根据作者所阐述的观点理论，对文章未涉及的现象、事例给以解释．考生首先要仔细阅读短文，完整了解信息，准确把握作者观点．
