A serious problem for today’s society is who should be responsible for our elderly(老年人) and how to improve their lives. It is not only a financial problem but also a question 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 suffer 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（养老金）. Furthermore, some in-situation should be created for senior citizens, which can help provide a comfortable life for them. Unfortunately, as the present situation in our country shows, this is not a truly viable answer. 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（选择）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.
【小题1】What is the passage mainly about?

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.

【小题2】According to the passage, how can the government help to improve the lives of retired people?

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.

【小题3】The underlined word “viable” most probably means “__________”.

A．impossible

B．practical

C．useful

D．successful

【小题4】What can be concluded from the passage?

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.

【小题5】What is the writer’s main purpose in writing this article?

A．To point out the need for government support 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.

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 question 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 suffer 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 institutions should be created for senior citizens, which can help provide a comfortable life for them. Unfortunately, as the present situation in our country shows, this is not a truly viable answer. 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.
【小题1】What is the passage mainly about?

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.

【小题2】 The underlined word "viable" most probably means"       ".

A．impossible

B．practical

C．useful

D．important

【小题3】What is the writer's main purpose in writing this article?

A．To point out the need for government support 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.

【小题4】The text is most likely to be found in a book about____.  

A．social science	B．historical events
C．political problem	D．political systems

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 question 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 suffer 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 institutions should be created for senior citizens, which can help provide a comfortable life for them. Unfortunately, as the present situation in our country shows, this is not a truly viable answer. 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.

1.What is the passage mainly about?

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.

2. The underlined word "viable" most probably means"       ".

A．impossible         B．practical          C．useful            D．important

3.What is the writer's main purpose in writing this article?

A．To point out the need for government support 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.

4.The text is most likely to be found in a book about____.  

A．social science                          B．historical events

C．political problem                        D．political systems

 

A serous 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 question 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 suffer 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 citizens, which can help provide a comfortable life for them. Unfortunately, as the present situation in our country shows, this is not a truly viable answer. 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.

1．What is the passage mainly about? 

A．The problem 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.

2．According to the passage, how can the government help to improve the lives of retired people?

       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.

3．The underlined word “viable” most probably means         .

       A．impossible.          B．practical.             C．useful.                D．successful

4．What can be concluded from the passage?   

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.

5．What is the writer’s main purpose in writing this article? 

A．To point out the need for government support 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.

　 When I entered Berkeley, I hoped to earn a scholarship．Having been a Straight-A student，I believed I could l6 tough subjects and really learn something. One such course was World Literature given by Professor Jayne．I was extremely interested in the ideas he l7 in class．

　 When I took the first exam，I was l8 to find a 77，C-plus, on my test paper,19 English was my best subject，I went to Professor Jayne, who listened to my arguments but remained 20．　

　 I decided to try harder, although I didn’t know what that 21 because school had always been easy for me．I read the books more carefully, but got another 77，Again，I 22 with Professor Jayne．Again，he listened patiently but wouldn’t change his 23．

　 One more test before the final exam．One more 24 to improve my grade．So I redoubled my efforts and for the first time 25 the meaning of the word "thorough”. But my 26 did no good and everything 27 as before.

　 The last hurdle(障碍)was the final．No matter what 28 I got, it wouldn’t cancel three C-pluses．I might as well kiss the 29 goodbye．

　 I stopped working hard．I felt I knew the course material as well as I ever would．The night before the final，I even 30 myself to a movie．The next day I decided for once I'd have 31 with a test．

　 A Week later．I was surprised to find I got an A．I hurried into Professor Jayne's office. He 32 to be expecting me．“If I gave you the As you 33，you wouldn’t continue to work as hard．’’

　 I stared at him，34 that his analysis and strategy were correct. I had worked my head 35, as I had never done before．

I was speechless when my course grade arrived：A-Plus．It was the only A-plus given．The next year I received my scholarship．I've always remembered Professor Jayne’s lesson：you alone must set your own standard of excellence．

16．A．take　 B．discuss 　　　　C．cover 　　　 D．get

17．A．sought　 B．presented　　 C．exchanged　 D．obtained

18．A．shocked　 B．worried　　 C．scared 　　　D．anxious

19．A．but　 B．so　　　　　　 C．for 　　　　 D．or

20．A．unchanged 　 B．unpleasant C．unfriendly D．unmoved

21．A．reflected　 B． meant 　　C．improved D．affected

22．A．quarreled　 B．reasoned　 C．bargained D．chatted

23．A．attitude　 B．mind　　　 C．plan 　　 D．view

24．A．choice　 B．step　　　　　 C．chance 　D．measure

25．A．memorized　 B．considered C．accepted 　D．1earned

26．A．ambition　 B．confidence　 C．effort 　 D．method

27．A．stayed　 B．went　　　 C．worked D．changed

28．A．grade　 B．answer　　 C．lesson 　D．comment

29．A．scholarship　 B．course C．degree 　D．subject

30．A．helped　 B．favored　 C．treated 　D．relaxed

31．A．fun　 B．luck　　　　 C．problems D．tricks

32．A．happened　 B．proved　 C．pretended 　D．seemed

33．A．valued　 B．imagined　 C．expected　 D．welcomed

34．A．remembering B．guessing C．supposing　 D．realizing

35．A．out　 B．over　　 C．on 　　　　D．off