Happy birthday! Do birthday really make people happy? Of course they do．Birthday celebrate the day when we were born．Besides, that extra candle on the cake suggest another year of growth and maturity（成熟）—or so we hope．We all like to imagine that we are getting wiser and not just older．Most of us enjoy seeing the wonder of growth in others, as well．For instance, seeing our children develop and learn new things makes us feel proud．For Americans, like people in most cultures, growing up is a wonderful process．But growing old? That is a different story．
Growing old is not exactly for people in youth-oriented（以年轻人为中心）American culture．Most Americans like to look young, act young and feel young．As the old saying goes, “You’re young as you feel．” Older people joke about how many years young they are, rather than how many years old．People in some countries value the aged as a source of experience and wisdom．But Americans seem to favor those that are young, or at least “young at heart”．
Many older Americans find the “golden years” to be anything but golden．Economically, “senior citizens” often struggle just to get by．Retirement at the age of 65 brings a sharp decrease in personal income．Social security benefits usually cannot make up the difference．Older people may suffer from poor nutrition, medical care, and housing．Some even experience age discrimination（歧视）．American sociologist Pat Moore once dressed up like an older person and wandered city streets．She was often treated rudely--even cheated and robbed．However, dressed as a young person, she received much more respect．
Unfortunately, the elderly population in America is increasing fast．Why? People are living longer．Fewer babies are being born．And middle-aged “baby boomers” are rapidly entering the group of the elderly．America may soon be a place where wrinkles（皱纹）are “in”．Marketing experts are ready noticing this growing group of consumer．
Title: Different Opinions About 1._____________Old.
Items / Aspects
| Descriptions / Details
|
General idea
| Growing older, being mature and 3.__________
|
Positive attitude
| 4. About ________
| A wonderful process: children 5.__________ and learning new things, enjoying another birthday party
|
About the old
| Being respected by the young
|
6. Being _______ as a source of experience and wisdom
|
Living happily in the “golden years”
|
2.________
| Never being young again
|
Feeling lonely in a youth-oriented culture
|
7.___________ problem: personal income 8.___________ sharply
|
Health problem: suffering from poor nutrition and other diseases
|
Housing problems: poor and simple
|
9._________ problems: being ill-treated --- experiencing age discrimination, cheating and robbery
|
Solution
| Improving 10._________________ benefits
|
The young caring for and respecting the old
|
