Anna Douglas was 72 years old when she started writing her newspaper column. She had been

the director of a school and a camp before she retired, but she needed to keep busy. She was even willing to work without pay. That was the reason she found a volunteer job with an agency. The agency that she chose to work for was a business that helped other businesses find jobs for old people. Every day she talked with other retired people like herself. By talking, she recognized two things. Old people had abilities that were not being used. Old people also had problems -- mostly problems with communication.

Mrs. Douglas found a new purpose for herself. Through the years, from time to time she had written stories about people for national magazines. Now there was a new subject: old people like herself. She began to write a newspaper column called "Sixty Plus," which focused on getting old. She writes about the problems of old people, especially their problems with being misunderstood.

Anna Douglas uses her thinking ability to see the truth behind a problem. She understands the reasons why problems begin. She understands old people and young people, too. For example, one of her readers said that his grandchildren left the house as soon as he came to visit. Mrs. Douglas suggested some ways for him to increase understanding with his grand children. She told him to listen to young people’s music and to watch the most popular television shows.

"It’s important to know something about your grandchildren’s world," says Mrs. Douglas. "That means questioning and listening -- and listening is not what oldsters do best," she continues, "Say good things to them and about them. Never criticize your grandchildren or any other youngsters, teenagers, or young adults. Never tell them that they are wrong. Don’t give them your opinion. They have been taught that they should have respect for old people. The old should have respect for the young as well."

Anna Douglas understands the problems of old people ______.

A．because she likes their music

B．because she has grandchildren

C．because she watches their television programs

D．because she is old herself