W: That's right. Well, the report basically look into the various beliefs that people hold about old age and tries to prove them.

M: And what do you think your report can achieve?

W: We hope that it will somehow help people to change their feelings about old age. The  problem is that far too many of us believe that most old people are poor, lonely, and unhappy. As a result, we tend to find old people, as a group, unattractive. And this is very dangerous for our society.

M: But surely we cannot escape the fact that many old people are lonely and many are sick.

W: No, we can't. But we must also remember that the proportion of such people is no greater among the 60-70 age group than among the 50-60 age group.

M: In other words, there is no more mental illness, for example, among the 60s-70s than among the 50s-60s.

W: Right!

M: Are people's mental abilities affected by old age?

W: Certain changes do take place as we grow older, but this happens throughout life. These changes are very gradual and happen at different times with different people, but, in general, if you know a person well in his middle age and have seen how he deals with events and problems, you will easily recognize him in an old age.

M: So that someone who enjoys new experiences, travel, education, and so on in his middle years will usually continue to do so into old age?

W: Exactly.

What was said before this conversation?


M: Today, we have Professor McKay on our morning talk show. Good morning, Professor McKay. I've heard that you and your team have just completed a report on old age.