1.
The old do not have to look exclusively to the past. Relieved of some of life's
responsibilities and fortified by many years of experience and knowledge, they
may have a much better idea of how to spend their time enjoyably than they did
in their youth. And not all enjoyment is restricted to the mental or
philosophical. Healthy physical activity remains quite possible for most of us
well into our later years. 2. Old people sometimes display
surprising freedom and forthrightness in the expression of their thoughts and
feelings, and an ability to transmit affection. It is as though some of the
rituals which constrict us in earlier life fall away. 3. But a
higher percentage of people suffer from emotional distress in old age than at
any other time in adult life, and the gap between need and care is often filled
by dubious measures, such as heavy-handed prescription of medicine. For many
years it was assumed that old people were not appropriate candidates for
psychotherapy. But a few clinicians have risen to the challenge and discovered
that individual and group psychotherapy is just as effective with the old as
with the young. 4. It is easy to understand why an earthquake
causes terror. Yet in old age there may be terror of a very private nature, a
sense of disintegration sometimes stemming from inner conflicts, sometimes from
a premonition of death or the fear of becoming dependent. 5.
Dependency is a grim choice: insecurity and deprivation must be weighed against
loss of autonomy and integrity. But if there is nothing shameful about the
dependency of a baby or a young child, there should be nothing shameful about
the dependencies natural with old age and diminishing physical
resources. 6. The complexity and impersonality of the
bureaucratic establishments, which have the means to provide help, are often
threatening to old people. The younger generation today, on the other hand, will
have had many decades to interact with "the system" by the time they reach old
age. 7. Many of us, including healthcare providers, assume that
we know what old people and dying people want, but our assumptions are often a
reflections of our own thoughts and feelings based on personal interpretations
of scanty bits of observation. Such assumptions are really an excuse to avoid
close contact with the terminally ill. Assuming we "know" what they want, we
observe ourselves from being with them, and sharing their thoughts about the end
of life. 8. We sometimes assume, wrongly, that old people are
too confused or senile to be aware of the nearness of death. In consequence,
communication between a dying and others is subject to extraordinary omissions
and distortions. "Protecting" the dying from knowledge of their condition often
serves to protect us from the uncomfortable prospect of talking about dying and
death. Evasions like this only lead to increasing isolation at a time when
emotional honesty and understanding are most needed. A. Knowing
Better How to Enjoy Life B. Freedom in Expression
C. Psychotherapy Effective with Some of the Old D.
Period of Greater Emotional Distress E. Dependency. a Grim
Choice F. Guiltiness. Dependency
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Paragraph 1 ______
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Paragraph 2 ______
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Old people may well be active in ______.
A. how to show love to others
B. how to show anger to others
C. yet we know we are wrong
D. various kinds of sports
E. but we are often wrong
F. that old people depend on others
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Old people sometimes know better ______.
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It is a natural thing ______.
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We often think that we know the feeling of a dying person, ______.