Question

    You’ve heard of the fat suit and the pregnancy suit; now meet AGNES—the old person suit.

AGNES stands for “Age Gain Now Empathy（换位体验）System” and was designed by researchers at MIT’s AgeLab to let you know what it feels like—physically—to be 75 years old. “The business of old age demands new tools, ” said Joseph Coughlin, director of the AgeLab. “While focus groups and observations and surveys can help you understand what the older consumer needs and wants, young marketers never get that ‘Ah ha!’ moment of having difficulty opening a jar, or getting in and out of a car. That’s what AGNES provides. ”

Coughlin and his team carefully adjusted the suit to make the wearer just as uncomfortable as an old person who has spent a lifetime eating poorly and not doing much exercise. Special shoes provide a feeling of imbalance, while braces on the knees and elbows limit joint mobility. Gloves give the feeling of decreased strength and mobility in the hands and wrists, and earplugs make it difficult to hear high-pitched sounds and soft tones. A helmet with straps（带）attached to it presses the spine（脊柱）.

AGNES has been used most recently by a group of students working on a design of an updated walker. By wearing the suit they could see for themselves what design and materials would make the most sense for a physically limited older person. Coughlin said the suit has also been used by clothing companies, car companies and retail goods companies to help them understand the limitations of an older consumer. An unexpected benefit they’ve found with AGNES is that it has become a powerful tool to get younger people to invest in their long-term health.

1.AGNES has been developed mainly to _______.

A.make the users more comfortable B.help old people move more quickly

C.let people understand the old better D.remind the young to take care of their health

2.According to the article, young marketers never _______.

A.ask what old people need and want

B.see the efforts old people make to put on clothes

C.feel the same way as old people do

D.say “Ah ha!” when they meet with difficulty

3.The third paragraph mainly talks about _______.

A.how researchers feel wearing AGNES B.how AGNES has been developed

C.how people act when they are old D.how AGNES works

4.The underlined phrase “an updated walker” in the last paragraph most likely refers to _______.

A.someone who travels a lot

B.a physically limited old person

C.some equipment that helps old people walk

D.a company providing service to the old

Answer

1.C

2.C

3.D

4.C

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。章主要介绍了如果现在不注意锻炼身体，老了以后会怎样？穿上AGNES，现在你就可以感受到老年人的感觉。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段第一句中“…to let you know what it feels like—physically—to be 75 years old.（让你知道75岁时的身体感受。）”可知，AGNES的功能是让人们提前感受人老以后的实际身体状况。故选C。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段中…young marketers never get that ‘Ah ha!’ moment of having difficulty opening a jar, or getting in and out of a car. That’s what AGNES provides. ”（年轻的营销人员却从未遇到打开罐子或进出汽车时遇到困难的"啊哈！"时刻，这就是AGNES所提供的。"）可知，年轻的销售人员在生活中从未感受老年人的难处。故选C。

3.主旨大意题。根据第三段中Special shoes provide a feeling of imbalance, while braces on the knees and elbows limit joint mobility. Gloves give the feeling of decreased strength and mobility in the hands and wrists, and earplugs make it difficult to hear high-pitched sounds and soft tones. A helmet with straps（带）attached to it presses the spine（脊柱）.（特殊的鞋提供了一种不平衡的感觉，而在膝盖和肘部的带子限制了关节的灵活性。手套给人的感觉是手和手腕的力量和灵活性下降，耳塞使人很难听到高音和柔和的音调。头盔上的带子会压迫脊柱。）以及第三段主要介绍AGNES这套服装是如何让人在具体部位有不舒服的感觉，感受年老以后的身体不适。可知.第三段主要讲了AGNES的工作原理。故选D。

4.词意猜测题。根据下文By wearing the suit they could see for themselves what design and materials would make the most sense for a physically limited older person.（通过穿上这套衣服，他们可以自己看到什么样的设计和材料对身体条件有限的老年人最有意义。）可以看出，这些学生在研究一款新的walker，通过试穿他们能够切身感受老年人的身体情况，从而能够确定什么样的设计和材料才最为合适，可知画线部分是指一些帮助老人走路的设备。故选C。