Part III Reading Comprehension (40 minutes, 40 points)

Directions: There are 4 passages in this part. Each of the passages is followed by 5 questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are 4 choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the best one and mark your answer on the ANSWER SHEET with a single line through the center.

Passage One

It happens to us all, however hard we may try to delay the process---we grow old. Surgery may remove wrinkles (皱纹), skin which has become less firm may be tightened by a surgical operation on the face, and hair dressers may dye grey hair a more youthful color. But we cannot remain young forever.

Advances in medicine have made it possible for more people to stay alive longer. However what is important is the quality of life, and people age differently. Some people remain quite well and able to look after themselves when they get old. But others of the same age are not so lucky. They have to go into a nursing home in order to receive adequate care.

The worst aspect of ageing is that often the mind becomes less alert. As people grow older,

they often experience loss of short-term memory, although they may well be able to recall quite easily events that happened long ago. Later they may suffer from dementia (痴呆), a disease which gets gradually worse.

By no means all elderly people are in this category. Many senior citizens are in possession of all their faculties and see retirement as a time of freedom. Not only that, if they have a generous retirement pension, they are likely to be quite well off, with money to spend on holidays and other luxuries. Because of this, both businesses and government have a new respect for what is known as grey power.

By no means, however, does everyone treat OAPs with respect. There are some cultures which are noted for the great respect with which they treat their old people, but many people in other cultures regard the old as having a very low status in society and treat them accordingly. They often consider old people as having one foot in the grave. Someone should remind them that they, too, will be old one day.

31. Elderly people who cannot look after themselves go to ______.

A. nursing homes

B. residences close to hospitals

C. community centers

D. homes of their children

32. The worst aspect of ageing is ________.

A. inability to look after oneself

B. low retirement pension

C. getting more and more forgetful

D. inadequate medical care

33. What is the reason that businesses respect the elderly?

A. The elderly are wise.

B. The elderly have knowledge.

C. The elderly are mentally alert.

D. The elderly have spending power.

34. “OAP”( Para.5 ) most likely means “_________”.

A. old age program

B. old age power

C. old age party

D. old age pensioner

35. According to the author, how people treat the elderly relates to _______.

A. their occupations

B. their cultural backgrounds

C. their education levels

D. the amount of their free time