11．Mature-age university students are annoying，I know．I understand that when you're 18or 19，and already know everything，there's no need to do the readings or show up prepared for class．I also understand that there are these old people in class who should be doing other things-maybe retiring，or gardening in the backyard．They are eagerly asking questions （or worse，answering them） and generally loud．
I understand because I used to be one of them．I dropped out of high school in Year 11and after playing guitar in a band for a few years，I spent the next ten years working different jobs．Then a friend，who thought I was wasting my life，suggested I enrol at his university．Although afraid，I eventually took a university preparation course and a year later became a 35-year-old university freshman．
Like many mature-age students，after completing my degree，I continued studying and eventually attained my PhD．
Now I'm a lecturer at Toronto University in Canada．In fact，I have just finished preparing a group of mature-age students to annoy next year's young first years．My students come from many different backgrounds．But they all share an enthusiasm for knowledge and learning．
I know they are ridiculous and show up to class with folders full of readings，minds overflowing with ideas and concepts they want to discuss．I was the same．But，contrary to the stereotype of the annoying mature-age students occupying the airtime in class，most don't want to control the discussion．
They're likely to be waiting，counting away the seconds silently in the hope that someone will want to talk about all of these amazing ideas we're learning about．Only after waiting for younger voices to speak．（ but which often remain silent） do they begin talking．
Speaking for myself，I love students who come prepared and ready to discuss stuff．So let's celebrate all of those"annoying"mature-age students．
32．According to the article，a mature-age student is a personD．
A．who behaves like an adult
B．studying for a higher degree
C．not yet qualified to enter university
D．who starts university at an older age
33．In the first paragraph，the authorC．
A．shows that he is opposed to mature-age students
B．describes the problems mature-age students create
C．makes fun of the attitude held by many young students．
D．explains why many teachers dislike mature-age students
34．What does the underlined word"them"in Paragraph 2refer to？C
A．Retired people．
B．Early high school leavers．
C．Mature-age university students．
D．University students aged below 20．
35．Why do mature-age students often wait before speaking in class？B
A．They are not very familiar with the topic being discussed．
B．They want to give the younger'students more chances to speak．
C．They lack the ability to give their opinions．
D．They are more interested in hearing others'opinions．
分析 本文属于说明文阅读，作者通过这篇文章主要向我们描述了老年大学生总是认真学习，在课堂上积极发言，这使得许多青年学生们十分厌烦，但其实他们并非想占据课堂，而是希望提出话题给年轻学生们更多说话的机会．
解答 32．D．推理判断题．根据文章第二段"Although afraid，I eventually took a university preparation course and a year later became a 35-year-old university freshman"我最终把大学预备课程学完并在一年后成了一名35岁的大学新生，可知a mature-age student 是指年龄很大的大学生；故选D．
33．C．推理判断题．根据文章第一段"I understand that when you're 18or 19，and already know everything，there's no need to do the readings or show up prepared for class"可知作者用一种调侃的语气表述了青年学生不屑于老年学生认真学习，大声回答问题的方式，显示了青年学生对于老年学生的态度；故选C．
34．C．词义推断题．根据上下文可知第二段"I understand because I used to be one of them"句意为我理解他们因为我曾经是他们中的一个，可知他们指的是下文的老年学生们；故选C．
35．B．细节理解题．根据文章倒数第二段"Only after waiting for younger voices to speak．（ but which often remain silent） do they begin talking"可知老年学生在课堂上经常说话是想给年轻学生们更多说话的机会；故选B．
点评 考察学生的细节理解和推理判断能力，做细节理解题时一定要找到文章中的原句，和题干进行比较，再做出正确的选择．在做推理判断题不要以个人的主观想象代替文章的事实，要根据文章事实进行合乎逻辑的推理判断．
