2022年山西省吕梁市公共英语五级(笔试)真题一卷(含答案)

2022年山西省吕梁市公共英语五级(笔试)真题一卷(含答案)学校:________班级:________姓名:________考号:________

一、1.ListeningComprehension(15题)1.WhatistheeffectoftheWomen'sMovement?

2.Physicalexercisesandfreedomfromworrymightbethetwomostimportantsecretsoflongevity.

A.RightB.Wrong

3.PartC

Directions:Youwillhearatalk.Asyoulisten,answerthequestionsorcompletethenotesinyourtestbookletforQuestions21-30bywritingNOTMORETHANTHREEwordsinthespaceprovidedontheright.YouwillhearthetalkTWICE.

Younowhave1minutetoreadQuestions21-30.

听力原文：Imagineyouareahighschoolprincipal．Ateacherburstsbreathlesslyintoyouroffice．“There'safistfightinthedining-room．”shegasps．Theresponsibilityisyourstostopthefight．Howdoyoumeetit?

(1)Perhapsyou，asayoungster，tookpartinfightsandyourpresent-daytieswithstudentsarewarmandstrong．Youcanstopthefightbecauseyourprestigeishighamongthem．

(2)Youhaveaplanprepared．Otherschoolshavebeendisruptedsoyouhavealreadyplannedawaytostopanyfight．

(3)Youaretotallyconfidentofyourabilityinacrisis．Youarereadytostrideintothelunchroomandtakechargewithoutasinglequalm．Stoppingthefightwillbeeasy．

(4)Youferventlywishthatyoucoulddelegatethejobsinceyouknowthatyou'renotatalentedpeacemaker．Youwishyoucouldreturntothejobofplanningfortheschool'sneedtenyearshence．

Oneofthesefourreactionswouldbethefirstyou'dfeel．butonlyone—nottwoorthreeofthem，saythreepsychologists．Thesepsychologists—Dr.HarrietMann,Dr.HumphreyOsmondandMiriamSiegler—havecomeupwithaschemeforsortingpeopleregardlessoftheireducation，ageorsituation．

Theconceptisbasedonthepremisethatallpeoplehaveabasicwayofseeingtime．Eachofusispredisposedtoseealleventsfromtimevantagepoint．Eitheritremindsyouofthepast(past-oriented)，howtheeventfitsintotoday，yesterday，andtomorrow(timeline)，whatitistoday(present)，orhowitwilldevelop(future)．

Thethreebeganworkingin1968whenDr.MannandMrs.SieglerwereassistantstoDr.Osmond,director，attheBureauofResearch，NewJerseyNeuro-PsychiatricInstituteinPrinceton．Dr.OsmondiscurrentlydevisingwaystomakeempiricalstudiesofthetheoryandDr.MannisinCambridge，Massachusetts，writingabookontheWorldsofTime．Theirtake-offpointwasaninterestinobservationsmadebySwisspsychologistCarlGustavJung，whodescribedinthe1920sthetemperamentaldifferencesoffourpsychologicaltypes．Jungisknownasthefounderofanalyticpsychology．SinceJung'sworkin1921，however，noonehadconceivedofatheoreticalframeworkthatwouldaccountforthefourtypes．Withoutsuchaframework，therewasnopossibilityofsubstantiatingthatpeopleofdifferenttypesexperiencetheworldverydifferently．

Timeandspacearethetouchstonesinthesystem．Eachperson，afterall，useshistimesomehowandexistswithinandactsuponthespacearoundhim．Dr.Mann，andcompanyproposethatcertaintraitsaresharedbypersonsfallingineachofthefourcategories．

Thefirsttype，thepasttype，seestimeasbeingcircular．Forhim，thepastcropsupinthepresentandthenreturnstothepastasamemory．Heenjoyscollectingsouvenirsandkeepingdiaries．HetellsstoriesaboutGreatAuntHattieandalwaysremembersyourbirthday．

Pasttypesarepeggedbythissystemasemotionalpeoplewhoseetheworldinahighlysubjectiveway．Forinstance，SchoolPrincipalI(pasttype)couldidentifywiththefightandknowhowtohandleitbecauseofsomepastexperience-whetheritbesimilarfightsasachildhimselforonespreviouslydealtwithastheschoolprincipal．Inaddition，pasttypesusuallyfollowstrictmoralcodesandoftenarevaluedmoreforwhattheyarethanforwhattheydo．Thisqualityitself-becauseitlendsauthoritarianstrengthtoonewhopossessesit-mightcausethestudentstoquitfighting．Pasttypesoftenhavebeenfoundtobeskillfulatassessingtheexactemotionaltenorofaneventandareadeptatinfluencingothers'emotions，accordingtotheMann

4.Ifamanlosestheabilitytorecognizehisleftsidehewilllosefeelingonhisbothsides.

A.TrueB.Fasle

5.Whichofthefollowingcanbecalledasa"lameduck"?

A.Adisabledlittlechild.

B.Ahard-workingfarmer.

C.Apoliticianwhohastocometotheendofhispower.

D.Anabsent-mindedoldprofessor.

6.ThejoboftheBoardofDirectorsistoadministratethecompany．

A.RightB.Wrong

7.Whatdoesthespeakerrefertheactivityofanyorganizationto?

8.Womenhavemorefatcellssowomenhavelesswater.

A.TrueB.Fasle

9.Afterdeliveringthenewinformation,whyshouldthespeakeralsogivehisaudiencesometime?

10.Whatwillshemostlikelydoeventually?

A.Dobasicelectronics.

B.TeachEnglishliterature.

C.Produceeducationalgames.

D.Writecomputerprograms.

11.听力原文：Todayit'smyturntogivetheweeklyoralpresentation,andthetopicthatProfessorMayhadassignedtomeis"thelifeofthepoet,EmilyDickinson".ComparedwithWaltWhitmanwhomwediscussedlastweek,IfoundEmilyDickinsonstrikinglydifferent.SheseemedinfacttobethecompleteoppositeofWhitmaninherlifeandinherwork.Iwouldliketosharebrieflywiththeclasssomeoftheessentialfactsofherbiography.EmilyDickinsonwasbornin1830inAmherst,Mass,barelyadecadeafterWhitman.Inherearly20'sforreasonswhichstillremainamysteryshebegantowithdrawfromherordinarycontactwiththeworld.Fortheremaining30yearsofherlifeshewasseldomseenoutsideherhome.InthisrespectshewasquiteunlikeWhitmanwholovedthegreatoutdoors.EmilyDickinsonspenthersolitarydayscorrespondingwithherfriendsandwritinghundredsofremarkablepoems,notably"Iheardaflybuzz"andthepoemwehavereadfortoday"I'mnobody".Althoughsheshowednoneofherpoemstoherfamilyandsentsomeofherletterstofriends,onlyfourwerepublishedinherlifetime.Mostofthem,almost1,200poemswerediscoveredinherroomaftershediedin1886.attheageof56.Thesepoemshaveestablishedherasamajorpoet,andseveralmodemcriticsconsiderherthegreatestwomanpoetintheEnglishlanguage.Eh,that'saboutallIhave.Isthereanyquestion?Ifnot,weshouldprobablybegintalkingaboutDickinson's"I'mnobody",thepoemProfessorMayassignedforthisweek'sclassdiscussion.

Whoisthespeaker?

A.Apoet.B.Ateacher.C.Astudent.D.Anartist.

12.WhatwerethetwothingsthatinterestedDr.Huber?

13.PartA

Directions:Youwillhearatalk.Asyoulisten,answerQuestions1-10bycirclingTRUEorFALSE.YouwillhearthetalkONLYONCE.Younowhave1minutetoreadQuestions1-10.

听力原文：W：Comein,please.

M：Goodmorning,Dr.Wilson.

W：Goodmorning,Wang.Hownicetomeetyouagain.Takeaseat…whydon'tyou,please.Whendidyougettotheuniversity?

M：Iarrivedyesterday.

W：Well…areyoulivinginthecollege?

M：No,IamwithanEnglishfamily…actually…becauseIwanttoimprovemyspeaking.

W：Oh,fine.Right,didyoutakealanguageproficiencytestbeforeyoucame?

M：Yes.Uhh…myOverallBandis6,but…unfortunatelymyspeakingscoreisonly5.

W：OK,youknow,hereinthisuniversity,youhavetotakeourownEnglishtestbeforeyouattendanylectures.So,firstofau．whatwe'vegottodois,wehavetomakeanarrangementforthetestdate.Umm…willtomorrowbeallfightforyou?

M：Yeah,Ihavetimetomorrowmorning.

W：Good,then．Tomorrowatten.Idon'tthinkthetestwillbeanyproblemforyou.Now,let'smakesureyoumakegooduseofyourtimehere.Let'sputitlikethis.Whatexactlydoyouwanttoaccomplishinthenext12months?

M：I'minterestedincomputerlanguagetranslation,Imean,fromEnglishtoChineseandChinesetoEnglish.I'lltry,ifpossible,toproducesoftwareoradevicewhichcanserveasaninterpreter.

W：Yes,couldyoubeabitmorespecificabout…er…thedevice?

M：Forinstance,whenyoutalktothedeviceinEnglishitwilltranslateyourwordsintoChineseandviceversa.

W：Uhuh…doyoumeanit'llbeascompetentas…er…ahumaninterpreter?

M：Yes…well,I'llletitdealwithgeneralsituations,atleast.

W：Fascinating…andhowbigwillthedeviceitselfbe,doyouthink?

M：Thesizeofacigarettepack,Ithink.Sopeoplecanputitintheirpocket.

W：Really?Well,thatcouldbeaPh.Dproject.Tellmewhatyouhavedonesofar.

M：Inmyfouryearsofundergraduatestudy,Istudiedelectronics,advancedmathematics,hardwaredesigning,somecomputerlanguagesandprogramwriting.

W：Yes,buthaveyoudoneanypracticaljobs?Imean,haveyouwrittenanyprogramsforpracticaluse?

M：IhadbeeninvolvedinaprojectforCADinashipyard.

W：Computeraideddesign.Thatwasprobablyagoodexperience,but,unfortunately,itmaynothelpyourpresentprojectmuch.AreyoufamiliarwiththeC-language?

M：No.

W：Uhuh…thephoneticprocessingsystem,doyouknowhowsuchasystemworks?

M：Whatdoyoumeanby“phoneticprocessingsystem”?

W：Well,youknow,Englishisspokenbydifferentpeoplewithdifferentaccents.YourEnglishaccentisdifferentfrommine,andofcoursemineisnotthesameasmycolleagues.SoasIseeit．yourdevicewouldhavetobeabletorecogniseandunderstanddifferentaccents.

M：Oh,Isee.IthinkIcanlearntheC-languageandthephoneticprocessingsystemhere.

W：Well,that'sprobablytrue,butyou'vegotonlytwelvemonthsandyouwantadegree,don'tyou?

M：Yes.

W：OK,sothere'retwowaysofstudyingforadegreehere.Youeithertakesixcourses,passtheirexamsandhaveyourdissertationacceptedortheotherwayisyoudosomeresearchworkandsubmityourprojectreport.

M：IthinkI'lltakethesecondway.

W：Fine,butareyousureyoucallfinishyourprojectintwelvemonths?

M：Idon'tknow.butIcanworktwelvehoursperdayandsevendaysperweek.

W：Well,I'dsuggestyouspendsometimeinourlibrary,tryingtofindoutwhatotherstudentshavedonebeforeandperhapsreconsideryourownproject,tosomeextent.Youmightnarrowyourresearcharea,concentratingonsolvingoneortwomajorproblems.And,it'dbeagoodideatotalktoyourcolleaguesinthelab,first.Anyway,I'msurewecanworkoutsomethinggood.ShallIseey

A.RightB.Wrong

14.Whatwasthediscussiontopicofthepreviousclassmeeting?

A.NewEnglandmysterystories.

B.Eighteenth-centuryEnglishcriticism.

C.AcomparisonofpoemsofDickinsonandWhitman.

D.ThepoemsofWaltWhitman.

15.Strokevictimssometimesrefusetoregardtheirinjuredsidesaspartsoftheirbodiesbecausetheyareunwillingtoadmittheirdisabilities.

A.TrueB.Fasle

二、2.UseofEnglish(10题)16.

【C8】

17.

【C18】

18.

【C14】

19.

【C10】

20.(32)

21.(48)

22.

【C13】

23.

【C12】

24.(38)

25.(33)

三、3.ReadingComprehension(15题)26.(73)

27.PartA

Directions:ReadthefollowingtextsandanswerthequestionswhichaccompanythembychoosingA,B,CorD.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.

Aslongasherparentscanremember,13-year-oldKatieHarthasbeentalkingaboutgoingtocollege.Hermother,Tally,afinancial-aidofficerataCaliforniaUniversity,knowsalltoowellthedauntingthingofpayingforacollegeeducation.Lastyeartheaverageyearlytuitionataprivate,four-yearschoolclimbed5.5percenttomorethan$17,000.TheHartshavestartedsaving,andfiguretheycanaffordapublicuniversitywithoutaproblem.ButwhatifKatieappliestoPrinceton(she'sthreatening),whereoneyear'stuition,roomandboard—almost$34,000in2007—willcostmorethansomeluxurycars?EvenanumbercruncherlikeTallyadmitsit'salittlescary,especiallysinceshe'11retireandKatiewillgotocollegeataroundthesametime.Payingforcollegehasalwaysbeenahardendeavor.Thegoodnews:lastyearstudentscollected$74billioninfinancialaid,themostever.Mostfamiliespaylessthanfullfreight.Sixtypercentofpublic-universitystudentsandthreequartersofthoseatprivatecollegesreceivesomeform.offinancialaid—mostly,thesedays,intheform.ofloans.Butthosenumbersarenotasencouragingastheyappearforlower-incomefamilies,becauseschoolsarechangingtheirformulasfordistributingaid.Eagertoboosttheirmagazinerankings,whicharebasedinpartonthetestscoresofenteringfreshmen,they'rethrowingmoreaidatsmarterkids—-whethertheyneeditornot.

Thebestwaytoprepareistostartsavingearly.Anewlawpassedlastyearmakesthateasierforsomefamilies.So-called529plansallowparentstosockawayfundsinfederal-tax-free-investmentaccounts,aslongasthemoneyisusedfor"qualifiededucationexpenses"liketuition,roomandboard.Theplansaren'tforeveryone.Fortaxreasons,somelowerandmiddleincomefamiliesmaybebetteroffchoosingotherinvestments.Butsavingisvital.When'sthebesttimetostart?"Sometime,"saysJackJoyceoftheCollegeBoard,"betweenthematernitywardandmiddleschool."

Aidpackagesusuallycomeinsomecombinationofgrants,loansandjobs.Thesedays60percentofallaidcomesintheform.oflow-interestloans.Allstudentsareeligiblefor"unsubsidized"federalStaffordloans,whichletthemdeferinterestpaymentsuntilaftergraduation.StudentswhocandemonstrateneedcanalsoqualifyforfederalPerkinsloansor"subsidized"Staffords,wherethegovernmentpaystheinterestduringschool.Fortunately,thisisaborrower'smarket."Interestratesareattheirlowestlevelinthehistoryofstudentloans,"saysMarkKantrowitz,publisherofFinaid.Kantrowitzexpectsratestofallevenfurtherwhenthey'rereviewedthissummer.

Traditionalscholarships,academicorathletic,arestillapartofmanyfamilies'planning.MackReiter,a17-year-oldnationalwresdingchampion,getssomanyrecruitinglettershethrowsmostaway.He'11almostcertainlygetafreeride.Withoutit,"wewouldreallybeinabind,"sayshismother,Janet.Foreveryoneelse,it'sworththeefforttopickthroughlocalandnationalscholarshipofferings,whichcanbefoundonWebsiteslikecollege-board,com.

WhatdoestheauthorintendtoillustratewiththeexampleoftheHarts?

A.Thedifficultyofpayingthetuition.

B.Thefar-sightoftheparents.

C.ThepromisingfutureofKatie.

D.Theincreasingtuitionintheuniversity.

28.

WhatdoesMacDonaldwarnpeoplewhentheyintendtobuylifeinsuranceproducts?

A.Itisexpensivetoinvestonlifeinsuranceproducts.

B.Someinsurancehassomespecificterms.

C.Someinsurancecompanieswillnotprovidesatisfactoryterms.

D.Peopleshouldnotuseinsurancepoliciespurelyasaninvestment.

29.PartC

Directions:Answerquestions71-80byreferringtothefollowinggames.

Note:AnswereachquestionbychoosingA,BorCandmarkitonANSWERSHEET1.Somechoicesmayberequiredmorethanonce.

A=BewitchedB=SavingPrivateRyanC=TeamAmerica:WorldPoliceD=GodfatherWhichmovie.

tellsthestoryaboutthelastgreatwar?71.______

illustrateshowviolencecandestroyahumansoul?72.______

describestheimageofAmericaasthedominatefigureintheworld?73.______

influencesmostmoviesconcerningthecriminalelementsnowadays?74.______

representsthetensionrelationbetweenAmericaandFrance?75.______

isconsideredasthetopfivemoviesallthetime?76.______

tellsthestoryaboutretrievingthelastoneoffourbrothersinthewar?77.______

describesthestoryofarealwitchwhowasaskedtoacttheroleofanimaginarywitchaccidentally?78.______

wassimplyregardedasamovieaboutgangstersonce?79.______

wasadaptedfromaclassicTVsituationcomedy?80.______

A

Bewitched

"Bewitched"isapainfullyembarrassingremakeoftheclassicTVsitcomthatranonABCfrom1964-1972.Theseries,abouta"mixed"marriagebetweenahigh-flyingsorceressandanearthboundmortal,boastssomeofthemostfamiliarandiconicimagesintelevisionhistory.

WriterNoraEphronhasover-thoughttheconcepttosuchanextentthatshehasmanagedtostripawaymostoftheelementsthatmadetheseriesworkinthefirstplace.Themovieisn'ttechnicallya"remake"of"Bewitched"sincethewitchplayedbyNicoleKidmanisn'ttheSamanthaStevensoftheseriesbutratherasinglewomannamedIsabelBigelowwhogetstoplaySamanthaStephensonTV.It'sallverychicandcomplicated,yousee,butthestorygoessomethinglikethis:tiredofthelifeofinstantgratificationthatwitchcraftsoeasilyaffordsher,Isabelhasdecidedtostrikeoutonherownasatotallyself-reliantmortal,movingintoatracthomeintheSanFernandoValleyandvowingtogetthroughtheremainderofherdayswithoutthebenefitofwitchcraft.Oneafternoonwhileatabookstore,sheisspottedbyoneJackWyatt,apompous,self-centeredmovieactorwhosecareerandpersonallifehavebothbeeninthetankoflateandwhoishopingtoatleastjumpstarttheformerbytakingontheroleofDarrinStevensinanewversionoftheoldseries.OneglimpseofIsabel'snose-twitchingabilityconvinceshimthatthisnon-actresswouldbeperfectforthepart,sowewindup,intruePirandellianfashion,withafictionalTVwitchbeingplayedbyanhonest-to-Godreallifewitch.

B

SavingPrivateRyan

WorldWarIIwasapivotaleventofthe20thcenturyandadefiningmomentforAmericaandtheworld.Itshiftedthebordersoftheglobe.Itforeverchangedthosewholivedthroughit,andshapedgenerationstocome.Ithasbeencalled"thelastgreatwar".

NothingcouldhavepreparedthesoldiersatOmahaBeachforthebattletheyareabouttowage.Filledwithhopeandresolve,noneofthemknowsiftheywillsurvivethesmallstripofbeachaheadofthem.AshiseyesscantheNormandycoast,CaptainJohnMiller(TOMHANKS)believesthatgettinghimselfandhismenpastthegauntletisthegreatestchallengehehasfacedinthewar.Buthismostdifficulttaskstillliesahead.

EvenasthealliedforcesbegintogetafootholdatOmaha,Millerisorderedtotakehissquadbehindenemylinesona

30.

FromDr.Dustan'sstudywecaninferthat______.

A.alow-saltdietmaybeprescribedforsomepeople

B.theamountofsaltintakehasnothingtodowithone'sbloodpressure

C.thereductionofsaltintakecancureahypertensivepatient

D.anextremelylow-saltdietmakesnodifferencetoanyone

31.

Accordingtothepassageitiscommonlybelievedthatbraindifferencesarecausedby______factors.

A.biologicalB.psychologicalC.physicalD.social

32.

WhatisNOTtrueabouttheeightgirls?

A.Theyareallbetween12and17.

B.Theyhavetriedavarietyofmeasures.

C.Theyattendasuicidesquad.

D.Alltheirattemptstocommitsuicidearevital.

33.(78)

34.(67)

35.

Whycanmanypeoplesee"silverlinings"totheeconomicshowdown?

A.Theywouldbenefitincertainways.

B.Thestockmarketshowssignsofrecovery.

C.Suchaslowdownusuallyprecedesaboom.

D.Thepurchasingpowerwouldbeenhanced.

36.

WhichofthestatementsabouttheteensisNOTtrue?

A.Theyareill-bredstudentsinschool.

B.Someofthemtake"realdrugs".

C.Teensneedsattention.

D.Afewcasuallydisplayscarsontheirarms.

37.PartC

Directions:Answerquestions71-80byreferringtothefollowinggames.

Note:AnswereachquestionbychoosingA,BorCandmarkitonANSWERSHEET1.Somechoicesmayberequiredmorethanonce.

A=WashingtonD.C.B=NewYorkCityC=ChicagoD=LosAngelesWhichcity...

istheheadquarteroftheSupremeCourt?71.______

wasdiscoveredasearlyas1524?72.______

hasservedasthecapitalofthecountry?73.______

isnowthelargestindustrialcityinthecountry?74.______

leadsthecountryinthemanufactureofaircraftandspareparts?75.______

isthelargestcity?76.______

isthesecondlargestcityinpopulationinU.S.A.?77.______

hasbecomeoneoftheworld'sbusiestports?78.______

coversanareaofover69squaremiles?79.______

isnowconsideredthecenterofindustry,transportation,commerceandfinanceinthemid-westarea?80.______

A

WashingtonD.C.

Washington,thecapitaloftheUnitedStates,isinWashingtonD.C.andissituatedonthePotomacRiverbetweenthetwostatesofMarylandandVirginia.Thepopulationofthecityisabout800,000anditcoversanareaofover69squaremiles(including8squaremilesofwatersurface).ThesectionwasnamedtheDistrictofColumbiaafterChristopherColumbus,whodiscoveredthecontinent.ThecityitselfwasnamedWashingtonafterGeorgeWashington,thefirstpresidentofU.S.A.

Thebuildingofthecitywasaccomplishedin1800andsincethatyear,ithasservedasthecapitalofthecountry.ThomasJeffersonwasthefirstpresidentinauguratedthere.IntheWarof1812,theBritainarmyseizedthecity,burningtheWhiteHouseandmanyotherbuildings.

WashingtonistheheadquartersofallthebranchesoftheAmericanfederalsystem:Congress,theSupremeCourtandthePresidency.

Apartfromthegovernmentbuildings,therearealsosomeotherplacesofinterestsuchastheWashingtonMonument,theLincolnMemorial,theJeffersonMemorial,theLiteraryoftheCongressandMt.Vernon,homeofGeorgeWashington.

B

NewYorkCity

NewYorkCity,locatedinNewYorkState,isthelargestcityandthechiefportoftheUnitedStates.

ThecityofNewYorkhasapopulationofover7million(1970)andMetropolitan,12million.

Thecitywithitsgoodharborwasdiscoveredasearlyas1524,anditwasestablishedbyDutchwhonamedthecityNewAmsterdam.In1664,thecitywastakenbytheEnglishanditgotthenameNewYorkasitbearsnow.DuringtheAmericanRevolutionin1776,GeorgeWashingtonhadhishead-quartersforatimeinNewYorkCity.TheDeclarationofIndependencewasfirstreadthereinJuly4th,1776.Thecityremainedthenation'scapitaluntil1790.

NewYorkbecameanimportantportearlyinthelastcentury.AlargeportionofthenationalexportspassedthroughNewYorkHarbor.NewYorkhasbecomeoneoftheworld'sbusiestportsandalsothefinancial,manufacturing,andtravelcenterofthecountry.Someoftheplacesofinterestinthecityare:theStateofLiberty(152metershigh)whichwasgivenbytheFrenchpeopletotheAmericanpeopleasagiftin1877.ItwaserectedonLibertyIslandinthemiddleofNewYorkHarbor.Broadway,WallStreetandFifthAv

38.

"Itwaslikeofferingtodropasafeonmyheadtocuremyheadache"inthelastbutoneparagraphmeansthat______.

A.dietechnician'sproposalwouldmaketilingsevenworse

B.thetechnician'sproposalcouldeventuallysolvetheproblem

C.filesstoredonhercomputerwerelikeasafe

D.erasingtheentiresystemwaslikecuringaheadache

39.PartB

Directions:Inthefollowingarticlesomeparagraphshavebeenremoved.ForQuestions66-70,choosethemostsuitableparagraphfromthelistA-Ftofitintoeachofthenumberedgaps.Thereisoneparagraphwhichdoesnotfitinanyofthegaps.MarkyouranswersonANSWERSHEET1.

Thepressisconstantlyremindingusthatthedramaticincreaseintheageofourpopulationoverthenext30orsoyearswillcausenationalhealthcaresystemstocollapse,economiestocrumpleunderthestrainofpensiondemandsanddisintegratingfamiliestobuckleunderincreasingcarecommitments.YetresearchatOxfordisbeginningtoexposesomeofthewidespreadmythsthatunderliethisrhetoric.Demographicageingisundoubtedlyareality.Lifeexpectancyindevelopedcountrieshasrisencontinuouslyoverthepastcentury,increasingthepercentageofthoseovertheageof60relativetothoseundertheageof15.By2030halfthepopulationofWesternEuropewillbeovertheageof50,withapredictedaveragelifeexpectancyofafurther40years.Bythen,aquarterofthepopulationwillbeover65andby2050theUK'scurrentnumberof10,000centenariansarepredictedtohavereachedaquarterofamillion.SomedemographershaveevensuggestedthathalfofallbabygirlsbornintheWesttodaywilllivetoseethenextcentury.

66.______

Indeed,ifthiscouldbeachievedthroughouttheworld,itwouldsurelycountasthesuccessofcivilization,forthenwewouldalsohaveconqueredthekillersofpoverty,disease,famineandwar.

Decreasingmortalityrates,increasinglongevityanddecliningfertilitymeansmallerpercentagesofyoungpeoplewithinpopulations.Overthepast20yearslifeexpectancyatbirthintheUKhasrisenbyfouryearsformen(to75)andthreeyearsforwomen(to80).MeanwhilefertilityratesacrossEuropehavedeclinedmoreorlesscontinuouslyoverthepast40yearsandremainwellbelowthelevelsrequiredforEuropeanpopulationstobeabletoreplacethemselveswithoutsubstantiveimmigration.Butagain,ratherthanseeingthisasadoomandgloomscenario,weneedtoexplorethepositiveaspectsofthesedemographics.Thenext50yearsshouldprovideuswithanopportunitytoenjoythemanyadvantagesofasocietywithamaturepopulationstructure.

67.______

ThefirstoftheseisthecurrentpoliticalrhetoricwhichclaimsthathealthservicesacrosstheWesternworldarecollapsingunderthestrainofdemographicageing.

68.______

Thesecondmythistheviewthattheratioofworkerstonon-workerswillbecomesoacutethatWesterneconomieswillcollapse,compoundedbyamassivegrowthinpensiondebt.Whilethereareundoubtedconcernsovercurrentpensionshortfalls,itisalsoclearthatworkingliveswillthemselveschangeoverthenextfewdecades,withapredictedincreaseinflexibleandpart-timeworkandtheprobableextensionofworkinglifeuntiltheageof70.Indeed,wehavetorecognizethatwecannotexpecttoretireattheageof50andthenbeabletosupportourselvesforanother40orsoyears.Neitherasolidpensionschemenorsavingscancarrypeoplethatlong.

69.______

Afurthermythisthatwewillallliveinloose,multigenerationalfamilies,experiencingincreasedemotionaldistancingfromourkin.Evidencefromavarietyofstudiesacrossthedevelopedworldsuggeststhat,ifanything,themodernfamilyisactuallybecomingmoreclose-knit.WorkcarriedoutbytheOxfordInstituteinScandinaviaandinaPan-EuropeanFamilyCareStudy,forexample,showsthatdespitedieinfluenceofthewelfarestate,overthepast10years,peoplehavecometovaluefamilyrelationshipsmorethanpreviously.

70.______

Inthedevelopedworld,therefore,wecanseeactualbenefitsfrompopulationageing:abetterbalancebetweenagegroups,matureandlessvolatiles