在雅思考试中,词汇的多样性和准确性直接影响分数，无论是口语、写作还是阅读，掌握描述不同人群的词汇都至关重要，老年人是社会重要组成部分，如何用英语精准表达他们的特征、状态和品质，是许多考生需要提升的部分，本文将系统梳理适用于雅思的高阶词汇，帮助考生在表达时更加地道、精准。
描述年龄与生命阶段的词汇
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Senior citizens – 最常用的正式表达，指年长者，适用于正式场合。
- 例句：The government has introduced new policies to support senior citizens.
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The elderly – 中性词，泛指老年群体，但需注意语境，避免显得刻板。
- 例句：Healthcare services for the elderly need improvement.
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Aged – 较正式，常用于学术或政策文件。
- 例句：The aged population is increasing globally.
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Golden agers – 带有积极色彩，强调晚年生活的美好。
- 例句：Many golden agers enjoy traveling after retirement.
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Octogenarian (80多岁) / Nonagenarian (90多岁) / Centenarian (百岁老人) – 精确描述高龄人群。
- 例句：My grandmother is a sprightly nonagenarian who still gardens daily.
形容外貌与健康的词汇
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Wrinkled – 形容皮肤皱纹，中性词。
- 例句：His wrinkled face reflected a lifetime of laughter and wisdom.
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Silver-haired / Grey-haired – 描述白发，比“white-haired”更自然。
- 例句：The silver-haired professor shared fascinating stories from his youth.
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Frailty – 指身体虚弱，需注意语气是否合适。
- 例句：With age comes a degree of frailty, but her mind remains sharp.
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Spry – 形容老人依然灵活、有活力。
- 例句：At 75, she’s remarkably spry and hikes every weekend.
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Hale and hearty – 形容健康硬朗的老人。
- 例句：Despite his age, he remains hale and hearty, swimming daily.
描述性格与智慧的词汇
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Sage – 形容充满智慧的老人，比“wise”更高级。
- 例句：The village often sought advice from the sage elder.
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Astute – 形容敏锐、精明的老人。
- 例句：Her astute observations on politics impressed everyone.
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Resilient – 强调坚韧不拔的品质。
- 例句：His resilient spirit helped him overcome many challenges.
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Gregarious – 形容社交活跃的老人。
- 例句：Even in her 80s, she’s gregarious and loves hosting gatherings.
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Stoic – 形容坚忍、冷静的性格。
- 例句：He faced illness with a stoic attitude.
社会角色与贡献的表达
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Patriarch / Matriarch – 形容家族中的长辈领袖。
- 例句：As the family matriarch, she united everyone during tough times.
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Mentor – 强调指导年轻一代的角色。
- 例句：Many young professionals credit their success to a wise mentor.
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Pillar of the community – 形容对社会有重要贡献的老人。
- 例句：The retired teacher was a pillar of the community for decades.
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Elder statesman – 形容德高望重的资深人士。
- 例句：The elder statesman offered invaluable advice during the crisis.
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Keeper of traditions – 强调文化传承者的角色。
- 例句：She is the keeper of traditions, passing down stories to the next generation.
避免刻板印象的表达
在雅思写作和口语中,需注意避免对老年人的刻板描述。
- 避免过度使用“weak”或“dependent”，可替换为“experiencing mobility challenges”或“relying on support”。
- 用“experienced”代替“old-fashioned”以体现尊重。
- 用“living with dementia”而非“suffering from dementia”以体现人文关怀。
雅思高分句型示例
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对比年轻与年老：
- While youth is often associated with energy, old age brings a different kind of strength—wisdom forged through experience.
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讨论老龄化社会：
- The rising number of senior citizens presents both challenges and opportunities for healthcare systems.
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描述个人品质：
- Her decades of work as a doctor have made her not just skilled, but profoundly compassionate.
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表达尊重：
- Society must value the contributions of the elderly, not merely view them as a demographic to be managed.
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强调积极老龄化：
- Many seniors today redefine aging by embracing new hobbies, careers, and relationships.
在雅思考试中,词汇的选择直接影响表达的精准度和分数，通过掌握这些高阶词汇，考生可以更自如地讨论老龄化、社会角色或个人故事，展现语言能力和思维深度。
