Task 1
Directions: After reading the following passage, you will find 5 questions or unfinished statements, numbered 36 through 40. For each question or statement there are 4 choices marked A, B, C, and D. You should make the correct choice.
Work is a very important part of life in the United States. Americans spend most of their lives working. For most Americans, their work defines them. They are what they do. What happensd, then, when a person can no longer work?
Most Americans stop working at the age of sixty-five or seventy and retire. Because work is such an important part of life in American culture, retirement can be very difficult for Americans. Retirees often feel that they are useless and unproductive. Of course, some people are happy to retire, but leaving one's job, whatever it is, is a difficult change, even for those who look forward to retiring. Retirement can also bring financial problems. Many people depend on Social Security checks every month. During their working years, employees contribute a certain percentage of their salaries to the government. Each employer also gives a certain percentage to the government. When people retire, they receive this money as income. Sometimes these checks do not provide enough money to live on, because prices are prone to increasing, a process know as 'inflation'. Senior citizens, those over sixty-five, typically have to have savings in the bank or other retirement plans to make ends meet. In addition, many senior citizens have to change their lifestyles after retirement. They have to spend carefully to be sure that they can afford to buy food, fuel and other necessities (必需品).
Of course, many senior citizens are happy with their retirement. They have time to spend with their families or to enjoy their hobbies. Some continue to work part-time, others do volunteer work. Some, like those in the Retired Business Executives Association, even help young people to start new businesses. Many retired citizens also belong to 'Golden Age' groups. These organizations plan trips and social events. There are many other opportunities for retirees.
Which of the following could be the best title of the passage?
A．'Golden Age' Groups
B．The American Opinion of Work
C．The Importance of Work in America
D．The Problems of Retirement in America