It is often observed that the aged spend much time thinking and talking about their past lives,【C1】______about the future. These reminiscences(回忆)are not simply random or trivial memories,【C2】______is their purpose merely to make conversation. The old Person's recollections of the past help to【C3】______an identity that is becoming increasingly fragile(脆弱的):【C4】______any role that brings respect or any goal that might provide【C5】______to the future, the individual mentions their past as a reminder to listeners, that here was a life【C6】______living.【C7】______, the memories form. part of a continuing life【C8】______, in which the old person【C9】______the events and experiences of the years gone by and【C10】______on the overall meaning of his or her own almost completed life.
As the life cycle【C11】______to its close, the aged must also learn to accept the reality of their own impending(即将发生的)death,【C12】______this task is made difficult by the fact that death is almost a【C13】______subject in the United States. The mere discussion of death is often regarded as【C14】______. As adults many of us find the topic frightening and are【C15】______to think about it--and certainly not to talk about it【C16】______the presence of someone who is dying. Death has achieved this taboo【C17】______only in the modern industrial societies. There seems to be an important reason for our reluctance to 43 the idea of death. It is the very fact that death re- mains【C19】______our control; it is almost the only one of the natural processes【C20】______is so.
【C1】

A. better than
B. rather than
C. less than
D. other than