Question

    Literature reflects life. So in ageing Japan there are a large number of hit books by aged authors. “Age 90: what’s so great about it?” is a humorous essay on the difficulties of the elderly, by Aiko Sato, who is 95. It sold one million copies in 2017, making it Japan’s bestselling book that year.

In 2018 the Akutagawa literary prize went to Chisako Wakatake, 63 at the time, for her first novel “Live by Myself”. The books talk about how to live in old age. “Going to Die Soon”, also by Ms Uchidate, features 78-year-old Hana, a former alcohol-shop owner trying to make the most of her remaining years. The novel has been called a book for shukatsu, or preparing for death, making readers think more deeply about what it means to age.

Japan’s population has the world’s highest percentage of over-65s. People are living longer, so many have at least 20-30 years of retirement, for much of which they are energetic.

And although the Japanese have been spending less on books, that is least true for the over-60s. Lawson, a convenience-store chain, recently decided to stock books with the older generation in mind.

But the wrinkly writers’ books are attracting younger readers, too. Some are preparing for their own old age or want to understand the increasing number of old people they see around them. Others find relevance in the themes explored, such as loneliness, a problem that stretches well beyond the silver-haired.

The most notable feature of the new trend is that the vast majority of authors, and main characters, are women. Especially popular, are the ara-hun (“around-hundred” years-old) writers like Ms Sato, whose book, readers say, helps them be more positive. Their popularity also reflects support for strong women who are passionate about their work, a phenomenon that is all too rare in Japan today.

1.“Going to Die Soon” is a book ________.

A.about how to stay positive in old age

B.which won the Akutagawa literary prize in 2018

C.which helps people live the rest of the life to the fullest

D.written by a 78-year-old Hana, an alcohol-shop owner

2.The books by aged authors are popular with younger readers because ________.

A.young readers now have more elder relatives

B.young readers face similar problems as the elderly

C.young readers are worried about becoming old

D.young readers are as lonely as the elderly

3.What can we learn from the passage?

A.Aged writers might be more successful than younger writers.

B.An aging society brings more chances for women writers.

C.People have to work after their retirement in an aging society.

D.Ambitious career women might not be popular with the Japanese.

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。主要介绍了由63岁的Chisako Wakatake所著的小说《独自生活》，讲述如何安度晚年，被称为“为死亡做准备的书”，让读者更深入地思考衰老对人们意味着什么。同时年轻读者因为面临着与老年人相似的问题，所以老朽作家的作品也吸引了年轻读者，而这一新趋势最显著的特点是，绝大多数作者和主要人物都是女性。

1.推理判断题。根据第二段中“Going to Die Soon”, also by Ms Uchidate, features 78-year-old Hana, a former alcohol-shop owner trying to make the most of her remaining years.(《即将死去》也是由Uchidate创作的，书中78岁的Hana是一位前酒馆老板，她试图充分利用自己剩余的岁月)可知，《即将死去》是一本帮助人们充实地度过余生的书。故选C。

2.细节理解题。根据倒数第二段中Some are preparing for their own old age or want to understand the increasing number of old people they see around them. Others find relevance in the themes explored, such as loneliness, a problem that stretches well beyond the silver-haired.(一些人正在为自己的晚年做准备，或者想要了解他们周围越来越多的老年人。另一些人则在书中探讨的主题中找到了相关性，比如孤独，这个问题远远超出了老年人的范畴)可知，老年作家写的书很受年轻读者的欢迎，因为年轻读者面临着与老年人相似的问题。故选B。

3.推理判断题。根据最后一段中Their popularity also reflects support for strong women who are passionate about their work, a phenomenon that is all too rare in Japan today.(她们的受欢迎程度也反映了对热爱工作的女强人的支持，这种现象在今天的日本非常罕见)可知，野心勃勃的职业女性可能不受日本人欢迎。故选D。