When we say older people shrink, we don’t mean they become tiny enough to fit in your pocket! We just mean that it’s common for older people to become a little shorter over time. This kind of shrinking can’t be reversed, although people can slow or stop this process. But why does shrinking happen at all?

Because of gravity (that force that keeps your feet on the ground) , cushions between the bones in the spine (脊骨), get compressed (压缩), which makes a person lose a little height and become shorter.

Another reason why some older people shrink is because of osteoporosis (骨质疏松). Osteoporosis occurs when bone is broken down and not enough new bone material is made. Over time, bone is said to be lost because it’s not being replaced. Bones become smaller and weaker and can easily break if someone with osteoporosis is injured.

Older people — especially women, who generally have smaller and lighter bones to begin with — are more likely to develop osteoporosis. As years go by, a person with osteoporosis can get small breaks in bones that are called compression fractures. These breaks cause collapse of the spine and over time the person with osteoporosis can become hunched over (驼背).

Did you know that every day you shrink a little, too? You aren’t as tall at the end of the day as you are at the beginning. That’s because as the day goes on, water in the disks of the spine gets compressed due to gravity, making you just a tiny bit shorter. Don’t worry, though. Once you get a good night’s rest, your body recovers, and the next morning, you’re standing tall again!

Smoking and drinking alcohol can make this problem worse. Want to do something right now to build strong bones? I believe what I say will help you.

1.Which of the following statements is true?

A．For shrinking, people can do nothing about it.

B．If someone is injured, he will become shorter.

C．Women have smaller and lighter bones than men.

D．We aren’t as tall at the end of the day as we are at the beginning.

2.What should we do if we don’t want to shrink faster?

A．We should try to reduce gravity.

B．We should be careful not to be hurt by others.

C．We should sleep as long as possible.

D．We should keep away from smoking and drinking alcohol.

3.What is the topic of the passage?

A．How can we stop shrinking?

B．Why do we shrink?

C．Some tips on how to keep tall.

D．How to live a healthy life.

4.About osteoporosis we know that _______.

A．gravity is one of the causes of osteoporosis

B．once our bone is broken down, osteoporosis will occur

C．women are more likely to develop osteoporosis

D．if we develop osteoporosis, we are more likely to be shorter

5.What will the author talk about in the paragraph to be followed?

A．Tell us how to grow taller.

B．Tell us how to become healthier.

C．Tell us how to avoid being shrinking.

D．Tell us what to do to have strong bones.

 

When we say older people shrink, we don’t mean they become tiny enough to fit in your pocket! We just mean that it’s common for older people to become a little shorter over time. This kind of shrinking can’t be reversed, although people can slow or stop this process. But why does shrinking happen at all?
Because of gravity (that force that keeps your feet on the ground) , cushions between the bones in the spine (脊骨), get compressed (压缩), which makes a person lose a little height and become shorter.
Another reason why some older people shrink is because of osteoporosis (骨质疏松). Osteoporosis occurs when bone is broken down and not enough new bone material is made. Over time, bone is said to be lost because it’s not being replaced. Bones become smaller and weaker and can easily break if someone with osteoporosis is injured.
Older people — especially women, who generally have smaller and lighter bones to begin with — are more likely to develop osteoporosis. As years go by, a person with osteoporosis can get small breaks in bones that are called compression fractures. These breaks cause collapse of the spine and over time the person with osteoporosis can become hunched over (驼背).
Did you know that every day you shrink a little, too? You aren’t as tall at the end of the day as you are at the beginning. That’s because as the day goes on, water in the disks of the spine gets compressed due to gravity, making you just a tiny bit shorter. Don’t worry, though. Once you get a good night’s rest, your body recovers, and the next morning, you’re standing tall again!
Smoking and drinking alcohol can make this problem worse. Want to do something right now to build strong bones? I believe what I say will help you.
【小题1】Which of the following statements is true?

A．For shrinking, people can do nothing about it.

B．If someone is injured, he will become shorter.

C．Women have smaller and lighter bones than men.

D．We aren’t as tall at the end of the day as we are at the beginning.

【小题2】What should we do if we don’t want to shrink faster?

A．We should try to reduce gravity.

B．We should be careful not to be hurt by others.

C．We should sleep as long as possible.

D．We should keep away from smoking and drinking alcohol.

【小题3】What is the topic of the passage?

A．How can we stop shrinking?

B．Why do we shrink?

C．Some tips on how to keep tall.

D．How to live a healthy life.

【小题4】About osteoporosis we know that _______.

A．gravity is one of the causes of osteoporosis

B．once our bone is broken down, osteoporosis will occur

C．women are more likely to develop osteoporosis

D．if we develop osteoporosis, we are more likely to be shorter

【小题5】What will the author talk about in the paragraph to be followed?

A．Tell us how to grow taller.

B．Tell us how to become healthier.

C．Tell us how to avoid being shrinking.

D．Tell us what to do to have strong bones.

Cultural practices, cultural differences, local manners, and mores: traveling the globe can be a behavioral minefield, even when you have the best intentions. Everything from greeting to eating can be an opportunity to do the wrong thing, and not only embarrass yourself, but offend your host countrymen. Look out for the following cultural mistakes and try to avoid them while going abroad.

1.Touching Someone
Where It's Offensive	Korea, Thailand, China, Europe, the Middle East.
What's Offensive	In Mediterranean countries, if you don’t touch someone's arm when talking to them or if you don't greet them with kisses or a warm embrace, you'll be considered cold. But backslapping someone who isn't a family member or a good friend in Korea will make them uncomfortable. In Thailand, the head is considered sacred--never even pat a child on the head.
What You Should Do Instead	Observe what locals are doing and follow suit. In Eastern countries remember that touching and public displays of affection are unacceptable. In places like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, men and women are forbidden from talking, let alone touching.
2.Blowing Your Nose
Where It's Offensive	Japan, China, Saudi Arabia, France
What's Offensive	Some cultures find it disgusting to blow your nose in public--especially at the table. The Japanese and Chinese also dislike it even with a handkerchief.
What You Should Do Instead	If traveling through Eastern and Asian countries, don’t use handkerchief but choose disposable（可溶解的）tissues. In France and in Eastern countries, if you're dining and need to clear your nose, excuse yourself and head to the restroom.
3.Talking Over Dinner
Where It's Offensive	Africa, Japan, Thailand, China, Finland.
What's Offensive	In some countries, like China, Japan, and some African nations, don't start chatting while everyone else is digging into dinner, because mealtimes are for eating, not talking. Also avoid conversations in places a country might consider sacred or reflective---churches in Europe, temples in Thailand, and saunas in Finland.
What You Should Do Instead	Keep quiet!
4.Removing Your Shoes…or Not
Where It's Offensive	Hawaii, the South Pacific, Korea, China, Thailand
What's Offensive	Taking off shoes when arriving at the door of a London dinner party will be regarded as uncivilized, but failing to remove your shoes before entering a home in Asia, Hawaii, or the Pacific Islands will be considered disrespectful.
What You Should Do Instead	If you see a row of shoes at the door, start undoing your laces. If not, keep the shoes on.
5.Knowing Your Right from Your Left
Where It's Offensive	India, Morocco, Africa, the Middle East
What's Offensive	Many cultures still prefer to eat using traditional methods--their hands. In these cases, food is often shared, which is why it's important to wash your hands before eating and observe the right-hand-is-for-eating and the left-hand-is-for-other-duties rule. If you eat with your left hand, expect your fellow diners to be offended.
What You Should Do Instead	Left-handed? Attempt to be ambidextrous --- even children who are left-handed in these cultures are taught to eat with their right hand.

In which country can you greet someone with a kiss?

       A. Thailand    B. England     C. Qatar  D. Hawaii

If you’re in Japan and you’ve got a bad cold, what should you do at dinner?

       A. Excuse yourself and leave for home.       B. Blow your nose with a handkerchief.

       C. Use some disposable tissues when needed D. Go to the restroom.

Before entering your friend’s house in a foreign country, you’d better ______.

       A. greet the host or hostess first    B. follow others’ behaviors

       C. remove your shoes first     D. respect their customs

To enjoy your dinner in India, you have to ______.

       A. avoid talking over dinner  B. keep your shoes on

       C. share food with others      D. eat with your right hand

My parents were in a huge argument, and 1 was really upset about it. I didn't know who I should talk with about how I was feeling. So I asked Mom to allow me to stay the night at my best friend's house. Though I knew I wouldn't tell her about my parents’ situation, I was looking forward to gelling out of the house. I was in the middle of packing up my things when suddenly the power went out in the neighborhood. Mom came to tell me that I should stay with my grandpa until the power came back on.

I was really disappointed because I felt that we did not have much to talk about. But I knew he would be frightened alone in the dark. I went to his room and told him that I'd stay with him until the power was restored. He was quite happy and said, "Great opportunity."

"What is?" I asked.

"To talk, you and I" he said. "To hold a private little meeting about what we’re going to do with your mom and dad, and what we're going to do with ourselves now that we're in the situation we are in."

"But we can't do anything about it. Grandpa," I said, surprised that here was someone with whom I could share my feelings and someone who was in the same "boat" as I was.

And that's how the most unbelievable friendship between my grandfather and me started. Sitting Acre in the dark, we talked about our feelings and fears of life — from how fast things change, to how they sometimes don't change fast enough. That night, because the power went out, I found a new friend, with whom I could safely talk about all my fears and pains, whatever they may be — suddenly, the lights all came hack on. "Well," he said, "I guess that means you'll want to go now. I really like our talk. I hope the power will go out every few nights!"

56.1 wished to get out of the house because ____

A. I was angry about my parents’ quarrel        B. I found nobody to share my feelings with

C. I wanted to escape from the dark house        D. I planned to tell my friend about my trouble

57. Grandpa was happy to see me because _____.

A. he could discuss the problem with me    B. he had not seen me for a long lime

C. he was afraid of darkness              D. he felt quite lonely

58. What can be inferred from the passage?

A. The grandchild was eager to leave.     B. They would have more chats.

C. The lights would go out again.        D. It would no longer be dark.

You've heard of the fat suit and the pregnancy suit；now meet AGNES—the old person suit．
AGNES stands for “Age Gain Now Empathy(换位体验) System” and was designed by researchers at MIT's AgeLab to let you know what it feels like—physically—to be 75 years old．“The business of old age demands new tools，”said Joseph Coughlin，director of the AgeLab．“While focus groups and observations and surveys can help you understand what the older consumer needs and wants，young marketers never get that‘Ah ha!’moment of having difficulty opening a jar, or getting in and out of a car．That’s what AGNES provides．”
Coughlin and his team carefully adjusted the suit to make the wearer just as uncomfortable as an old person who has spent a lifetime eating poorly and not doing much exercise．Special shoes provide a feeling of imbalance，while braces on the knees and elbows limit joint mobility．Gloves give the feeling of decreased strength and mobility in the hands and wrists，and earplugs make it difficult to hear high—pitched sounds and soft tones．A helmet with straps(带)attached to it presses the spine(脊柱)，and more straps attached to the shoes decrease hamstring flexibility, and shortens the wearer's step．
AGNES has been used most recently by a group of students working on a design of an updated walker．By wearing the suit they could see for themselves what design and materials would make the most sense for a physically limited older person．Coughlin said the suit has also been used by clothing companies，car companies and retail goods companies to help them understand the limitations of an older consumer．
“AGNES is not the destiny of everybody,” he said．“She is a badly behaved lady who didn't eat and exercise very well．A secondary benefit we’ve found with AGNES is that it has become a powerful tool to get younger people to invest in their long-term health．”
【小题1】AGNES has been developed to       ．

A．make the users more comfortable

B．1et us understand old people better

C．help old people move more quickly

D．produce new tools for the old-age business

【小题2】“An updated walker”(underlined)most likely refers to    ．

A．someone who travels a lot

B．a physically limited old person

C．some equipment that helps old people walk

D．a company whose service involves old people

【小题3】Which may be a fact resulting from the “secondary benefit” of AGNES?

A．Young people respect old people．

B．Old-age business improves their service

C．Old people eat and exercise well．

D．Young people eat and exercise well．