雅思口語平時要多練，什麽話題都能說壹點，臨考才不會心裏沒底而慌亂，老年人話題雖然不難，但是有些題目比較生僻，我們得讓知識無死角。例如美國老年人的話題，如果我們對美國老年人的生活不是很了解到話，這個話題就會很難。
老人在中國和西方的生活：
It a common tradition in China that children live together with their
parents until they are married, and often children still live with the parents
after they are married.
在中國，孩子們結婚前壹直與父母生活在壹起是很普遍的，許多人婚後仍和父母***同生活。
In China the grandparents stay on with the family and look after the
grandchildren while the parents are at work.
中國的祖父母壹直和全家人住在壹起，兒女們壹起去上班時的時侯，他們照看孫子孫女們。
In North America, old people usually live alone. If they are too old to
take care of themselves, or if they’re really old, day over 75, then they
usually live in old-folk’s homes, nursing homes, or special apartment complexes
designed for senior people.
在北美，老人們壹般是單獨生活。如果他們年紀太大生活不能自理，或者已逾古稀之年，比如說過了75歲了，他們便住進老人院、療養院或專為老年人設計建造的有綜合設施的公寓。
I do think that living together with the parents when we marry would be
nice for the child’s stability and would also let the parents feel like an
important part of the family.
我的確認為何老人們***同生活可以使孩子有穩定感，同時也讓老人們覺得自己仍是家庭的重要成員。
It looks like it depends on how rich a family is weather to live with the
parent when we marry or not.
婚後是否與父母壹起生活似乎要看壹個家庭的富有程度。
That’s the trouble in some cases. Living with people of different
generations isn’t always easy. It requires some sacrifices and tolerance of
other’s behavior.
在有些情況下，那也很麻煩。幾代人壹起生活並不總是很容易相處的，這需要做出幾點犧牲，並能寬容別人的行為。
In China it’s often the mother-in-law and the daughter-in-law who don’t get
on well enough, until both sides agree to live apart. And it’s socially
acceptable if the younger couple help the old couple in ways that are necessary.
Well, for example, when the parents are strong enough to live on their own the
children are expected to help when needed. When the parents are too old to take
care of themselves, they should be moved back to the children’s home where they
are properly fed, clothed and sheltered.
在中國經常是婆媳關系不好，只要雙方同意分家。社會也能接受這種做法，只要小夫妻能以必要的方式幫助兩位老人。嗯，比如說，父母體力尚好能獨立生活的時候，兒女們只在需要的時候幫忙。父母年事已高不能自理時，讓他們搬回兒女家，衣、食、住都能得到周到的照顧。
A common stereotype of older Americans is that they are usually "put away"
in nursing homes and forgotten about. Actually, only about 5 percent live in
some type of institution. More than half of those 65 or older live with or near
at least one of their children. The vast majority of the elderly live alone and
take care of themselves. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 75 percent own
their own homes. Over a million senior adults live in retirement communities.
These provide residents with meals, recreation, companionship, medical care and
a safe environment.
壹般人對美國老人家的刻板印象是被「遣送到」養護院去，然後被人遺忘。然而事實上，只有百分之五的人住在此類機構中，超過半數的六十五或六十五歲以上老人，是與孩子同住或住在其中壹個孩子的附近。絕大部份的老年人是自己住並自己照顧自己的，根據美國戶口調查局的統計，他們百分之七十五擁有自己的房子，超過壹百萬名老年人住在退休者的社區中，這些社區為其居民提供飲食、娛樂、友誼、醫療照顧、以及安全的環境。
關於代溝：
One important cause of the generation gap in the China nowadays is the
opportunity that young people have to choose their own life-styles. In the past,
China is more traditional, and when children grow up, they are expected to live
in the same area as their parents, to marry people that their people know and
approve of, and often to continue the family occupation. But now, a increasing
number of young people often travel great distances for their education, move
out of the family home at an early age, marry—or live with—people whom their
parents have never met and choose occupations different from those of their
parents.
Also, the speed at which changes are taking place in China is another cause
of the gap between the generations. In the past, elderly people are valued for
their wisdom, but now the knowledge of a lifetime may become obsolete overnight.
The young and the old seem to live in two very different worlds, separated by
different skills and abilities.
關於壹位老人的病逝，看看妳得到什麽啟發：
At 82 he was ready to die, and I was ready to let him go so that his
suffering would end. We laughed and cried and held hands and told each other of
our love and agreed that it was time. I said,“Dad, after you have gone I want a
sign from you that you are fine,” He laughed at the absurdity of that; Dad
didn't believe in reincarnation. I wasn't positive I did either, but I had had
many experiences that convinced me I could get some signal“ from the other
side”.
My father and I were so deeply connected I felt his heart attack in my
chest at the moment he died. Later I mourned that the hospital, in their sterile
wisdom, had not let me hold his hand as he had slipped away.
父親82歲那年，生命垂危，將撒手人寰，我已做好準備，這樣他的痛苦能夠終止。我們開心地笑,我們痛苦地哭，我們牽著彼此的手，我們告訴彼此是多麽地相愛，我們坦然面對這分手的時候。我說，“爸爸，您去後我要您給我個信號，告訴我您壹切都好。”爸爸對這荒唐的想法哈哈大笑;他不相信來世轉生。不過，我也不能說我就相信，但我有很多經歷讓我確信我可以從“那個世界
”得到壹些信號。
父親和我是如此血肉相連，以致他死的那壹刻，我胸中也感到他的心力衰竭。後來我很悲哀：醫務人員為防傳染 ，父親悄然離世時,沒讓我握著他的 手 。
關於老齡化問題(Old-age Boom)
It’s time-honored virtue to respect the elderly. That’s why their own flesh
and blood are supposed to look after them.
Well-being / Farewell is something, because seniors will lead a much more
comfortable life.
關於美國老年人(可以與中國老人比較)
We all like to imagine that we're getting wiser and not just older. Most of
us enjoy observing the miracle of growth in others, as well. For instance,
seeing our children develop and learn new things makes us feel proud.
我們都喜歡想象著自己能夠越來越有智能，而不只是變老，我們大部份人也同時較喜歡觀察別人成長的奇跡。例如：看到我們的孩子長大並學習新的事物使我們感到驕傲。
Growing old is not exactly pleasant for people in youth-oriented American
culture. Most Americans like to look young, act young and feel young. As the old
saying goes, "You're as young as you feel." Older people joke about how many
years young they are, rather than how many years old. People in some countries
value the aged as a source of experience and wisdom. But Americans seem to favor
those that are young, or at least "young at heart."
在美國這個以年輕人為中心的社會中，老化對人們而言並不是壹件愉快的事，大部份的美國人都希望自己看起來年輕、行動年輕、並且感覺年輕，如壹句古老的名言說：「妳感覺自己有多年輕，妳就有多年輕。」老年人說自己的年齡時常開玩笑說自己是多少
years young，而不說多少 years old
。某些文化中的人視老年人為經驗與智能的資源，可是美國人似乎比較喜歡年輕人，或者至少是「心裏年輕」的人。
Many older Americans find the "golden years" to be anything but golden.
Economically, "senior citizens" often struggle just to get by.
Retirement-typically at age 65-brings a sharp decrease in personal income.
Social Security benefits usually cannot make up the difference. Older people may
suffer from poor nutrition, medical care and housing. Some even experience age
discrimination. In 1987, American sociologist Pat Moore dressed up like an older
person and wandered city streets. She was often treated rudely-even cheated and
robbed. However, dressed as a young person, she received much more respect. Of
course, not all elderly Americans have such negative experiences. But old age
does present unique challenges.
許多美國的老年人覺得他們的「黃金年代」壹點都不黃金。在經濟上來說，老年人常是掙紮著勉強度日。退休--通常在六十五歲的時候--使個人收入驟減，而社會保障制度的福利並不能補足差額，老年人常遭遇營養、醫療照顧、和居住環境的問題。有些人甚至曾經碰到年齡歧視的問題，在壹九八七年有壹位美國的社會學家派特·摩爾裝扮成老人在街上遊蕩，結果人們多半對她很粗魯，甚至騙她或搶她的東西，可是當她穿著年輕時，人們就對她尊重多了。當然也不是所有的美國老人家都有這樣糟糕的經驗，不過年紀大確實會遭遇壹些特別的挑戰。
Ironically, the elderly population in America is expanding-fast. Why?
People are living longer. Fewer babies are being born. And middle-aged "baby
boomers" are rapidly entering the ranks of the elderly. America may soon be a
place where wrinkles are "in." Marketing experts are already focusing on this
growing group of consumers. And even now the elderly have a great deal of
political power. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), with over
30 million members, has a strong voice in Washington.
而很不幸偏偏美國老年人口又正在擴增中--很快速地擴增，為什麽呢?因為現在的人越來越長命，嬰孩的出生卻減少，而當初在嬰兒潮時出生現在是中年人的很快地就要進入老年階段了，美國恐怕馬上會成為壹個皺紋「很流行」的國度。行銷專家們已經開始註意這群人口持續增加中的消費者，而這群老年人現今甚至在政治上也相當有力，因為美國退休人員協會擁有超過三千萬的會員，對華盛頓具相當的影響力。
Despite the challenges they face, Americans in their "twilight years"
generally refuse to give up on life. They find a variety of ways to keep
themselves active. To help them stay in shape, they may join mall walkers clubs,
fitness programs and even the "Senior Olympics." They can enjoy hours of
entertainment at senior centers and adult amusement parks. Many enroll in
continuing education programs to maintain their mental skills.
縱然他們遭遇挑戰，處在遲暮之年的美國老年人通常還是不願意放棄他們的生活，他們尋求各種不同的方法使自己更有活力，為了保持強健的身體狀況，他們參加購物中心的競走俱樂部、健身課程、甚至奧林匹克老人運動會。他們可以在老人中心和成人公園裏逍遙好幾個小時，許多人報名參加延伸制教育以維續他們的心智技能。
關於年輕人與老年人：
The young live in the present rather than in the past or future.
The young should feel grateful to the older generation, who has created a
good life for them.
The older generation fought in the two world wars. They faced real
problems, but the young have an easier life.