The problems of the elderly are attracting greater attention largely because the American population is growing steadily older as the proportion of its aged members increase. At the time of the first United States census in 1790, half of the people in the country were 16 or younger. By the turn of the present century the median age (年龄中值) of the population had risen to 22.9 years; by 1970, it was 27.7; and by 1977, it had reached 28.9; the median age will reach 35 by the year 2000, and had reached approach 40 by the year 2030.In time, the burden of the years affects even the healthiest individual. Aging is accompanied by physiological changes; apart from the more obvious signs of age—such as baldness, wrinkling, changes in body form, and stiffness (僵硬) of limbs—there is a general process of atrophy (萎缩) of the cells and gradual degeneration(退化). However, the rate of physiological aging varies greatly from one person to another. Some people show noticeable signs of aging as early as fifty. Others seem relatively young and vital at seventy.In general, however, ill health becomes more common with advancing age. They suffer from some chronic health condition. But ill health need not have only physiological causes; it can have social and psychological causes as well. People tend to follow social expectations to fill the roles that are offered to them. In a sense, all we offer the aged is a sick role—the role of the weak person who has outlived his or her usefulness to society.Unlike the elders in a traditional society, the American aged would no longer lay automatic claim on their kin for support and social participation. They are unwilling to do so. On the contrary, they are more likely to have to try not to be a “nuisance” to their now independent adult offspring.In America, childhood is romanticized, youth is idolized, middle age does the work, has the power and pays the bills, and old age gets little or nothing for what it has already done. For many elderly Americans, old age is a tragedy, a period of quiet despair.1. The statistics in the first paragraph shows that ____.A. the American population is risingB. the definition of middle age is changingC. the American society is becoming older
The problems of the elderly are attracting greater attention largely because the American population is growing steadily older as the proportion of its aged members increase. At the time of the first United States census in 1790, half of the people in the country were 16 or younger. By the turn of the present century the median age (年龄中值) of the population had risen to 22.9 years; by 1970, it was 27.7; and by 1977, it had reached 28.9; the median age will reach 35 by the year 2000, and had reached approach 40 by the year 2030.
In time, the burden of the years affects even the healthiest individual. Aging is accompanied by physiological changes; apart from the more obvious signs of age—such as baldness, wrinkling, changes in body form, and stiffness (僵硬) of limbs—there is a general process of atrophy (萎缩) of the cells and gradual degeneration(退化). However, the rate of physiological aging varies greatly from one person to another. Some people show noticeable signs of aging as early as fifty. Others seem relatively young and vital at seventy.
In general, however, ill health becomes more common with advancing age. They suffer from some chronic health condition. But ill health need not have only physiological causes; it can have social and psychological causes as well. People tend to follow social expectations to fill the roles that are offered to them. In a sense, all we offer the aged is a sick role—the role of the weak person who has outlived his or her usefulness to society.
Unlike the elders in a traditional society, the American aged would no longer lay automatic claim on their kin for support and social participation. They are unwilling to do so. On the contrary, they are more likely to have to try not to be a “nuisance” to their now independent adult offspring.
In America, childhood is romanticized, youth is idolized, middle age does the work, has the power and pays the bills, and old age gets little or nothing for what it has already done. For many elderly Americans, old age is a tragedy, a period of quiet despair.
1. The statistics in the first paragraph shows that ____.
A. the American population is rising
B. the definition of middle age is changing
C. the American society is becoming older
题目解答
答案
解析
本题考查对文章段落内容的理解和推理能力。解题思路是仔细分析第一段中给出的各项统计数据，明确这些数据所反映的核心信息，然后将各选项与该核心信息进行对比判断。
- 首先，明确第一段给出了不同时间点美国人口的中位年龄数据：
- 1790年，美国一半人口16岁或更小。
- 20世纪初，人口中位年龄上升到22.9岁。
- 1970年，中位年龄为27.7岁。
- 1977年，中位年龄达到28.9岁。
- 预计到2000年，中位年龄将达到35岁，到2030年将接近40岁。
- 接着，分析这些数据的变化趋势：中位年龄不断上升，这意味着年轻人口在总人口中的占比逐渐下降，而老年人口的占比逐渐上升，从而反映出美国社会整体上正在逐渐老龄化。
- 然后，对各选项进行分析：
- 选项A：文中仅提及中位年龄的变化，并未给出关于美国总人口是否上升的相关信息，所以该选项不符合段落内容。
- 选项B：段落中没有涉及中年定义变化的任何内容，所以该选项也不正确。
- 选项C：正如前面分析的，中位年龄的上升表明美国社会正在变老，该选项与段落核心内容相符。