Question

Chinese people first encountered the term "empty nest" in a work of famous writer Bing Xin in 1980. In the past three decades, it has become a widespread social phenomenon. And with society and the economy developing at a faster pace, the condition of elderly couples has worsened.

Data shows that over half of the families in China are "empty nest" households, with the figure being as high as 70 percent in some big cities. There were 41.5 million "empty nest" old people aged 65 or above in 2010.Experts even say that "empty nest" families will become the major pattern in Chinese cities and rural areas, dealing a blow to the traditional family support system and requiring the government to take greater care of the material and spiritual needs of senior citizens and to provide them better psychological comfort, proper healthcare and legal aid.

After retirement, people tend to participate in fewer social activities, spending more time at home reading newspapers or watching television. "Empty nest" people, who are not taken proper care of by their children, are bound to feel lonely, and are usually unwilling to engage in recreational activities, which leads to psychological problems. A survey shows that over half of the "empty nest" old suffer from mental problems to different degrees. Loneliness, anxiety and depression are the most common.

Grown-up children are to take care of not only their parents, but also to respect their feelings, by having more heart-to-heart conversations with them. Family love plays an important role in providing mental comfort for the elderly. They should undertake the responsibility of visiting aged parents more often and making them feel wanted.

There is a lot more communities could do to help make senior citizens' life better. To begin with, they could recruit community volunteers, from warm-hearted university students to helpful and devoted middle-aged citizens.

Senior citizens, too, should make an effort to release tension and prepare for a happy life in their twilight years. They should change their mentality and try to be less emotionally dependent on their children, develop hobbies, extend their social circle, and set new goals to make the rest of their life more interesting. (362words)

49. Which of the following are true according to the passage?

A. The elderly take part in the social and entertainment activities actively nowadays.

B. More than half families in big cities are "empty nest".

C. Empty nest families have become the major pattern in China.

D. "Empty nest" people refer to people who are treated badly by their children

50. All of the solutions are mentioned except____________________

A. Children regularly pay a visit to their parents.

B. The local communities take measures to help the old.

C. The elderly should try to obtain employment after retirement.

D. The old should no longer totally depend on their children emotionally.

51. What does the underlined “recruit” mean?

   A. seek to employ    B. show support to      C. appreciate     D. claim

52. The writer writes the passage in order to _____________________

A. Display the happy life of the old in China

B. Compare the difference of life before retirement and after retirement

C. Show the seriousness of "empty nest" problems

D. Appeal to the whole society to take it seriously and try to solve it

Answer 1

BCAD