In 1997,25 Japanese citizens,all older than 60,launched Jeeba(the name means"old man-|||-and old woman")to make senior friendly products. They knew they were making history when-|||-they coined their company motto:"Of the elderly,by the elderly and for the elderly."They do-|||-not hire young people,and the oldest of their workers is 75.-|||-Firms run by senior citizens are still a rarity,in Japan and worldwide. But the elderly have-|||-numbers on their side.Healthier and longer-living seniors,bor immediately after World War II,-|||-are reaching retirement age in huge numbers all over the developed world.Extremely low-|||-birthrates in those same countries mean there are far fewer young workers to take their place. One-|||-likely consequence is now clear:shrinking work forces.-|||-While the streamlining effects of international competition are focusing attention on the need-|||-to create and keep good jobs,those fears will eventually give way to worries about the growing-|||-short-age of young workers. One unavoidable solution: put older people back to work,-|||-whether they like it or not.Indeed,advanced economies like those of Finland and Denmark have-|||-already raised their retirement ages.-|||-Others are under severe pressure to follow suit,as both the European Com-mission and the-|||-Organization for Economic Cooperation and Developme have recently warned their members that-|||-their future prosperity depends on a growing contribution from the elderly.Whether these changes-|||-are good or bad news to workers depends on whether they anticipate retirement with eagerness or-|||-dread.In the United States, half of working-age Americans now expect to work into their 70s,-|||-whether by financial necessity or by lifestyle choice, accordi to a new study by Putnam-|||-Investments. Contrary to still widespread assumpti there is very little hard evidence to suggest-|||-that companies cannot stay competitive with a rising share of older workers.At British hardware-|||-chain B&Q, its"elder worker"stores in Manchester and Exmouth were 18 percent more profitable-|||-than its regular outlets-due in part,the company says,to six times less employee turnover and 60-|||-per-cent less shoplifting and breakage.-|||-[文章理解检测]-|||-1.Jeeba`s difference from a conventional company mainly lies in __-|||-A.the age of its employees B.the number of its owners-|||-C.the quality of its products D.the scope of its operations-|||-2.In the developed world,compared with young people,the elderly __ .-|||-A.are better at business B.are greater in number-|||-C.have healthier lifestyles D.have more job opportunities-|||-3.According to the writer, in the current situation companies are faced with the tough task of-|||-__ .-|||-A.creating good positions B.employing retired workers-|||-C.filling vacant positions D.replacing unskilled workers-|||-4.For future prosperity,many European countries will have to __-|||-A.increase the number of young workers B.offer many senior-friendly jobs-|||-C.improve services for seniors D.raise their retirement ages-|||-5.B&Q`s"elder worker"stores are mentioned to show that the employment of older work -ers-|||-__-|||-A.does not reduce a company`s competitiveness-|||-B.does not affect older workers`lifestyle Choices-|||-C.is not a usual practice among competitive firms-|||-D.is not good news to those who are eager to retire
题目解答
答案
解析
本文围绕发达国家老年人口增多、年轻劳动力短缺的现状，讨论了让老年人重返职场的必要性及相关实例。
1. Jeeba与传统公司的主要区别
文章开篇提到“Firms run by senior citizens are still a rarity”（由老年人经营的公司仍很罕见），Jeeba作为此类公司的代表，其核心特点是员工或经营者的年龄特征。传统公司以年轻劳动力为主，而Jeeba的核心差异在于“员工年龄”，故答案为A。
2. 发达国家老年人与年轻人的对比
文中指出“Extremely low birthrates... mean there are far fewer young workers to take their place”（极低的出生率意味着接替退休者的年轻工人少得多），即老年人数量相对更多。A（更擅长经商）、C（更健康的生活方式）、D（更多工作机会）均未在对比中体现，故答案为B。
3. 公司面临的艰巨任务
文章提到“those fears will eventually give way to worries about the growing shortage of young workers. One unavoidable solution: putting older people back to work”（对年轻工人短缺的担忧取代了其他恐惧，唯一解决方案是让老年人重返职场）。A（创造好岗位）是之前的关注重点，而非当前核心；C（填补空缺）未直接点出“雇用退休者”这一具体任务；D（替换非熟练工人）无依据，故答案为B。
4. 欧洲国家为未来繁荣需采取的措施
文中明确“advanced economies like those of Finland and Denmark have already raised their retirement ages. Others are under severe pressure to follow suit”（芬兰、丹麦已提高退休年龄，其他国家面临压力），且“future prosperity depends on a growing contribution from the elderly”（繁荣依赖老年人贡献），故答案为D。
5. 提及B&Q“老年员工店”的目的
文章最后指出“Contrary to... assumptions there is very little hard evidence to suggest that companies cannot stay competitive with a rising share of older workers”（没有证据表明雇用更多老年人会降低竞争力），并以B&Q为例：其老年员工店利润率比普通门店高18%，证明老年人就业不影响公司竞争力，故答案为A。