大学英语二级词汇6.docVIP

6 How old is “old”? The answer has changed over the years. Two hundred years ago, you were told at 35. That was the average life expectancy (平均寿命) then. At the turn of this century, as medical knowledge advanced, the average life span increased to 45. In 1950, 70- year-olds were really old. Today, a healthy 70-year-old is looking forward to many more active years. So, how old is old? The answer is one you’ve heard many times, from all sorts of people. “You are old (or young) as you feel.” The calendar simply tells you how many years you have lived. Your bo