It is often observed that the aged spend much time thinking and talking about their past lives, rather than about the future. These reminiscences are not simply random or trivial memories, (1)_____ is their purpose merely to make conversation. The old person"s recollections of the past help to (2)_____ an identity that is becoming increasingly fragile: (3)_____ any role that brings respect or any goal that might provide (4)_____ to the future, the individual mentions their (5)_____ as a reminder to listeners, that here was a life (6)_____ living (7)_____, the memories form part of a continuing life (8)_____, in which the old person (9)_____ the events and experiences of the years gone by and (10)_____ on the overall meaning of his or her own almost completed life. As the life cycle (11)_____ to its close, the aged must also learn to accept the reality of their own impending death. (12)_____ this task is made difficult by the fact that death is almost a (13)_____ subject in the United States. The mere discussion of death is often regarded as (14)_____. As adults, many of us find the topic frightening and are (15)_____ to think about it and certainly not to talk about it (16)_____ the presence of someone who is dying. Death has achieved this taboo (17)_____ only in the modern industrial societies. There seems to be an important reason for our reluctance to (18)_____ the idea of death. It is the very fact that death remains (19)_____ our control; it is almost the only one of the natural processes (20)_____ is so.Notes: reminiscence n.回忆。fragile adj.脆弱的。impending adj.即将发生的。

A. encounter
B. confront
C. tolerate
D. expose