A
(2020·郑州第二次质检)Something strange has been happening to me lately: Women in the street have been telling me I'm brave.
My act of courage isn't much—I just stopped coloring my hair.I had brown hair that started going gray when I was 30.So，like a lot of women，I started dyeing(染)it.It was expensive and timeconsuming.And my hair grows fast，so I needed to go back to the hair salon(美发厅)every 5 weeks.
Many people seem to enjoy holding onto their youth for as long as possible，giving others the impression that they don't have much wisdom or many accomplishments.But our hair starts to turn gray and suddenly we start spending $500 or more a year to cover something our male colleagues don't need to cover.
Of course，people should do what they want to do with their own body—my mother is 91 and still has“blonde” hair，and why not？I just wish more of us would feel that it is OK to be ourselves，because going gray has done more for me than saving me time and money.
I like my natural hair，just as it is.I like how it has got curly again.It is recovering after years of being damaged by chemicals.I also like that it has given me some needed attitude in a society that makes youth seem so important，while being against maturity.It reminds me that I'm not a kid anymore and this isn't a bad thing.Not being a kid anymore means I read the books I want，and not the books I feel I should read.It means not wasting my time at events I don't need to attend when I'd rather be with my family and friends.
When I see my hair in the mirror，it's a reminder that my time is limited，and I should spend it doing what matters.There's nothing shameful about growing older.And pretending it's not happening is a way of giving up our power.
I see my gray hair as a little act of rebellion(反叛)against the idea that people lose value as they age，instead of gaining it.I see gray hair as my “flag” and I'm letting it fly proudly.
[语篇解读] 在文章开头，作者叙述了自己虽然头发变白但不再染发，从而受到别人的好评的经历，接着表达了自己对变老的看法。作者认为染发浪费金钱和时间，追求自然、重视因年龄增长而带来的智慧才是重要的。
1．How does the author feel about coloring hair?
A．It shows people's great courage.
B．It is a good way to hold onto youth.
C．It shows wisdom and accomplishments.
D．It costs much money and it takes much time to do that.
解析：细节理解题。根据第二段，尤其是该段中的“It was expensive and timeconsuming.”可知，作者认为染发花费很多时间和金钱。
答案：D
2．What should we do when we grow old according to the author?
A．Give up our power.
B．Pretend to be still young.
C．Accept it and act positively.
D．Read as many books as possible.
解析：推理判断题。根据第四段，尤其是最后一句“I just wish more of us would feel that it is OK to be ourselves，because going gray has done more for me than saving me time and money.”和第六段中的“I should spend it doing what matters”以及第七段的最后一句可推知，根据作者的观点，当我们变老时我们应该接受它并采取积极的行动。
答案：C
3．What is the author's main purpose in writing this passage?
A．To explain why youth is valued.
B．To share her opinion on growing older.
C．To stress the importance of different attitudes.
D．To analyze the advantages and disadvantages of aging.
解析：写作意图题。本文作者首先叙述自己虽然头发变白但不再染发，从而受到别人的好评的经历，然后表达自己对变老的看法——染发浪费金钱和时间，追求自然、重视因年龄增长而带来的智慧才是重要的。由此可推知，作者写本文的目的是分享她对变老的看法。
答案：B
4．Which can be the best title for the passage?
A．Holding onto Youth
B．Dyeing Your Hair
C．Gaining Value with Age
D．Valuing Wisdom of Age
解析：标题归纳题。根据全文的内容，尤其是最后一段第一句“I see my gray hair as a little act of rebellion against the idea that people lose value as they age，instead of gaining it.”可知，D项“重视因年龄增长而带来的智慧”最适合作文章标题。
答案：D
词汇积累：Para.2：timeconsuming adj.耗时间的；费时的 Para.3：hold onto抓紧，不放开 Para.5：maturity n．成熟
熟词生义：Para.2：color常用义：n.颜色
How did they know the color of my house?
他们是怎么知道我的房子的颜色的？
文章义：v.为……着色
How long have you been coloring your hair?
你染发有多长时间了？
Para.7：age 常用义：n.年龄
She needs more friends of her own age.
她需要更多的同龄朋友。
文章义：v.变老
As he aged，his memory got worse.
随着年事增高，他的记忆力就变差了。
