How old is “old”? The answer has changed over the years. Two Hundred years ago, you were old at 35. At the beginning of the 20th century, the average life span (平均寿命) was 45. In 1950, 70-year-olds were really old. Today, a healthy 70-year-old is still thought young.

          So, how old is “old”? The answer is one you’ve heard many times, from all kinds of people. “You are as old (or young) as you feel.” Your age simply tells you how many years you have lived. Your body tells you how well you’ve lived.

         “Nobody grows old by living a number of years,” wrote a writer. “People grow old when they don’t have their ideals (理想).” People shouldn’t have the wrong ideas about aging. Sometimes, older minds can be as bright as young minds. Alice Brophy once said, “It makes me unhappy when people say, ‘You look young for your age.’ What does that mean? You know you can die old at 30 and live young at 80.”

1.About 100 years ago, the average life span was __________.

A. 35                   B. 45    C. 70  D. 80

2. The meaning of the word “aging” is __________.

A. growing old     B. staying young    C. keeping healthy                  D. feeling unhappy

3.According to the passage, which of the following is true?

A. Old people are not as bright at young people.      

B. All older people are healthy and strong.

C. Aging does not mean you become unhealthy.       

D. Most older people are unhealthy and poor.

4. The passage is mainly(主要地) about _________.

A. the average life span              B. aging

C. the 20th century                     D. older people and young people

完成反意疑问句

1.The girl doesn’t like pop music,　　　       ?

2.The boy looks unhappy,　　　       ?

3.You’ve heard of the man,　　　       ?

4.He’s read the book,　　　       ?

5.Don’t be late again,　　　       ?

6.Let’s stop to have a rest,　　　       ?

7.Let us go home,　　　       ?

8.I don’t think Mary can swim,　　　       ?

9.He’s never been to Japan,　　　       ?

10.Mike read the book,　　　       ?

---- You’ve heard from Jane, right?

---- Yes, I received her e-mail ___________.

A. every day                  B. for two hours         

C. two hours ago               D. in two hours

Many years ago in another country there lived a poor student. He had very little money. He lived in a very small room over a restaurant. His room was at the back of the building over the kitchen. The restaurant owner was a very mean (吝啬的) man. Nobody liked him. But he was good at cooking and many people came to his restaurant.

One day the restaurant owner was working quietly in his kitchen when he heard the poor student talking to his friend by accident.

“You must be very unhappy,” said his friend, “living in a poor room like this.”

“Oh no,” said the student, “I am busy with my studies and I am not interested in my room.” “But you only eat rice – you don’t have money for anything tasty.”

“Yes, it’s true, I eat only rice. But the delicious smells that come from the kitchen make the rice very tasty indeed.”

The restaurant owner was angry on hearing this. This student was stealing his smells from his kitchen. He decided to take him to court (法庭).

Everybody in the court laughed when the mean man accused (控告) the student of stealing his smells. But the judge took him seriously. “Every man should be able to complain to the court,” he said.

When the restaurant owner told the judge everything, the judge said, “You are right. The student is guilty (有罪的).” The restaurant owner was very pleased, but the poor student was very much afraid. What could he do? He had only a few coins in his pocket.

The judge asked the student if he had any money. The student took 5 coins from his pocket and held them out to the judge in his right hand.

“Let the coins fall into your left hand,” said judge.

The courtroom was very quiet. Everyone heard the light ringing sound of the coins as they fell into the student’s left hand.

“Well,” said the judge to the restaurant owner, “you’ve heard his money. You’ve been well paid for your smells.”

93. Where did the poor student live?

   ________________________________________________________

94. When did the owner hear the student talking to his friend?

   ________________________________________________________

95. The poor student was not interested in his room, was he?

   ________________________________________________________

96. Why did the owner decide to take the student to the court?

   ________________________________________________________

97. What was the attitude of the people in the court?

   _______________________________________________________

98. What do you think of the judge?

   ________________________________________________________