It is an inescapable fact that to most people there comes a time when failing powers of mind or body made it impossible for them to manage their daily lives without some sort of help, and despite the weakened sense of family solidarity (团结), this help comes in many cases from children, other relatives, or occasionally friends. When an old person or old couple gives up an independent home and becomes part of another household it does not mean that all the problems of old age are automatically solved; the problems are different, not so pressing perhaps, and their solution lies more with the younger relatives than with the older people themselves.

Caring for the aged requires skill as well as goodwill. Much advice is now available for those caring for young children and babies, and there are numerous books to help mothers in bringing up their families, but as far as I know little has been written about the day-to-day care of old people. Fortunately the first essentials, sympathy and affection, are very often to be found, and will carry relatives, friends and old people a long way, but not the whole way; without these two virtues the work of caring for the old can be onerous (繁重的) and unrewarding.

Probably the first thing for anyone to learn who has old people to care for is the need to allow them the freedom of action, to realize that their personality is still individual and that social significance is essential to happiness. It is all too easy to take the attitude that the old are past doing anything and to encourage resting and doing nothing. This is mistaken kindness, though it may be an easy way of satisfying the conscience compared with the more exacting way of continual encouragement to be active, to go out, to find worthwhile occupation. The latter course, however, is much more likely to promote happiness.

(1). (单选题) To solve the problems of the old, ________________.( )

A、old people should live in an independent home

B、old people should live with younger relatives

C、younger relatives should visit the old occasionally

D、younger relatives should play a key role

(2). (单选题) Advice about bringing up families is mentioned in the second paragraph to show that _____.( )

A、it is the first essential to care for the old

B、it is easier to care for the young than the old

C、goodwill and skill are required in caring for the old

D、there are not enough suggestions about caring for the old

(3). (单选题) Which of the following statements will the author probably agree with?( )

A、It is mistaken kindness to encourage the old to look for a job.

B、Young people sympathy and affection, caring for the old can still be difficult.

C、Even with sympathy and affection, caring for the old can still be difficult.

D、Younger relatives often, but not always feel sympathy and affection for the old.

(4). (单选题) Which of the following is closest in meaning to the word “pressing” (para. 1)?( )

A、independen

B、essential

C、automatic

D、urgent

(5). (单选题) What is the best title for the passage?()

A、Caring for the Old

B、Housing of the Old

C、Problems of the Old

D、Personalities of the Old