19．Until late in the 20th century most Americans spent time with people of different generations．Now middle-aged Americans may not keep in touch with old people until they are old themselves．
That's because we group people by age．We put our three-year-olds together in day-care centers，our 13-year-olds in schools and sport activities，and our 80-year-olds in senior citizen homes．Why？
We live far away from the old for many reasons．Young people sometimes avoid the old to get rid of fears of becoming old and dying．It is much harder to watch someone we love disappear before our eyes．Sometimes it's got hard that we stay away from the people who need us the most．
Fortunately，some of us have found our way to the old．And we have discovered that they often save the young．
A reporter moved her family into a block filled with old people．At first her children were disappointed．But the reporter made banana bread for the neighbors and had her children send it and visit them．Soon the children had many new friends，with whom they shared food，stories and projects．"My children have never been lonely，"the reporter said．
The young，in turn，save the old．Once I was in a rest home （an organization where old people are cared for） when a visitor showed up with a baby，she was immediately surrounded．People who hadn't gotten out of bed in a week suddenly were ringing for a wheelchair．Even those who had seemed asleep woke up to watch the child．Babies have an astonishing power to comfort and cure．
Grandparents are a special case．They give their grandchildren a feeling of security and continuity．As my husband put it"My grandparents gave me a deep sense that things would turn out right in the end．"Grandchildren speak of attention they don't get from worried parents．"My parents were always telling me to hurry up，and my grandparents told me to slow down，"one friend said．A teacher told me she can tell which pupils have relationships with grandparents：they are quieter，calmer and more trusting．
24．Now in an American family，people can find thatB．
A．children never live with their parents
B．not all working people live with their parents
C．old people are supported by their grandchildren
D．grandchildren are supported by their grandparents
25．Seeing a baby，the old people got excited becauseC．
A．they had never seen a baby before
B．the baby was clever and beautiful
C．the baby brought them the image of life
D．the baby's mother would take care of them
26．Why are some children quieter，calmer and more trusting？A
A．Because they have relationships with their grandparents．
B．Because their worried parents ask them to act like that．
C．Because they have nothing to worry about．
D．Because their teachers ask them to act like that．
27．Which of the following can show the fact that the old often save the young？A
A．The old can become friends of the children and the children may not feel lonely．
B．The old get excited when they see a baby．
C．The old can cure the young when they are sick．
D．Babies have an astonishing power to comfort and cure．
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孩子们不怎么和父母生活在一起的原因，而实际上和老年人相处很容易，对孩子和老人都很有好处．
解答 24．B．细节理解题：从第一段的这一句：Now mid-aged Americans may not keep in touch with old people until they are old themselves．可知孩子们不怎么和父母生活在一起．选B
25．C．推理判断题．文章的句子：Babies have an astonishing power to comfort and cure．和生活中的常识，结合文中描述的情景，便可以判断C就是答案！我们经常看到老人一见到婴儿就高兴得不得了，对一个垂暮之人来说，婴儿象征着生命和重生．所以选项C是正确答案．
26．A．细节理解题．根据最后一段，"one friend said．A teacher told me she can tell which pupils have relationships with grandparents：they are quieter，calmer and more trusting可知有些孩子更安静、更安静、更信任人因为经常和祖父母待在一起；故选A．
27．A．推理判断题．根据最后一段Grandparents are a special case．They give their grandchildren a feeling of security and continuity．As my husband put it"My grandparents gave me a deep sense that things would turn out right in the end可知老人可以成为孩子的朋友，孩子们可能不会感到孤独；故选A．
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．
