How long could we live in the future?
Late last year, US researchers at the Buck Institute of Age Research gave a very exciting answer: 500 years.
Think about it. If that had been the case many years ago, a person could have lived from the Ming Dynasty until now.
But that idea was challenged by scientists at a recent medical conference in the UK, The Times reported.
Speaking at the conference, British neurobiologist (神经生物学家) Sir Colin Blakemore, 70, claimed there is a limit on how long humans can live, and how much the body can age. Instead of 500 years, 120 years “might be a real absolute limit to human lifespan (寿命)”, he said.
His estimate was based on current statistics (数据) and a look at medical effects.
The number of people living past 100 in the world has increased by 71 percent in the past decade, the Daily Mail reported. Blakemore agreed that this figure would continue to rise. But people living for longer than 120 years is “so rarely exceeded (超过)” that, even with medical and technological progress, it is unlikely that we can expect more than that, he said.
His claims contradict (与……矛盾) those made previously by researchers at the Buck Institute of Age Research in California.
In 2013, they changed two genetic (基因的) pathways in a tiny worm, and the creature lived life five times as long as a normal one. ①
If that technology could one day be used on human beings, it could extend (延长) human lives to 500 years, the Daily Mail reported. ②
But no matter which number is the ceiling (上限) for our lifespans, 120 or 500 years, it would take years for scientists to make that true for most people. ③
On Oct 21, the Gerontological Society of China published a report on centenarians (百岁老人) in China. There are 58,789 people above the age of 100 now in our country, with the oldest being 128 years old. ④
And by looking at these people’s lifestyles, the society worked out a recipe (秘诀) for a long life: outdoor activities, more communication with others, and a healthy diet containing lots of fruit, vegetables, and low-fat food.
So how long do you think you could live? If you play your part, your answer could be a satisfying one.
1.Which of the following statements does Sir Colin Blakemore agree with?
A.It’s impossible for humans to live past 120 years
B.It’s possible to expand humans’ lives to 500 years
C.More people are expected to live past 100 years
D.Chinese people live the healthiest way of life
2.The following sentence “We don’t have to completely rely on scientific breakthroughs to live a longer life, however.” can be placed in ________.
A.① B.②
C.③ D.④
3.According to the passage, people may not live longer if they ________.
A.take part in outdoor activities B.take in high-fat food
C.develop a healthy lifestyle D.talk with others more
4.What might be the best title of this passage?
A.Future lives “shortened” B.500 years, not a dream
C.120 years, the limit ceiling D.Future lives “extended”
①A quarter of women and two-thirds of the men in a study chose to experience an electric shock (电击) rather than do nothing and spend time alone with their thoughts, which shows we hate being alone.
②Solitude (独处) has had a bad reputation (名声) because it is sometimes used as a form of punishment, said Robert Coplan, a professor of psychology at Carleton University.
③The problem is that we forget solitude can also be a choice and it does not have to be full time, because there is so much research showing that humans are social creatures who benefit from communicating with others. “People will try to dismiss that it’s also important to spend time alone,” said Coplan. “It’s hard for them to imagine that you can have both.”
④People often feel inhabited (拘谨的) from enjoying activities alone, especially when they worry others are watching and judging them. It can stop us from doing things that will bring us joy.
⑤Indeed, loneliness hurts — it can even negatively impact your health. But the mere act of being alone with oneself does not have to be bad.
⑥An online survey called “The Red Test” showed that activities considered to be most relaxing are things that are done alone. Spending time alone is actually something our bodies long for and we need to make ourselves feel better.
⑦The freedom of not having to follow the lead of others, with no pressure to do anything, to talk to anyone, or to make plans with people, is a great way to relax, even for highly social individuals. It also helps us discover new interests and ideas without having to worry about the opinions of others.
⑧Developing this sense of being alone and making the choice to be alone can help develop your sense of self. Knowing oneself makes it easier to find other people who share your passions and develop true friendships.
⑨Don’t confuse loneliness with time by yourself. The latter can improve your creativity and confidence, and help you control your emotions so that you can better deal with different situations. Getting started is easy — all you need is yourself.
1.The underlined word “It” in paragraph 4 refers to ________.
A.anxiety about what others think of you
B.social worries about spending time alone
C.imagination of the effects of feeling lonely
D.the choice of feeling lonely or being alone
2.The benefits of being alone do not include ________.
A.exploring our interests B.widening our circle
C.reducing our pressure D.improving our confidence
3.What’s the author’s attitude towards being alone?
A.Disapproving. B.Doubtful.
C.Uninterested. D.Supportive.
4.Which is the structure of the passage?
A.
B.
C.
D.
It may not yet be October, but the world’s biggest beer festival is already happening in Munich, Germany. In spite of its name, Oktoberfest actually begins in the third weekend of September and lasts until the first Sunday in October. This year it started on Sept 21 and will end on Oct 6.
By the end of the two weeks, an estimated (估计) over 6 million people will have arrived at the famous tented fairgrounds for the celebration. While the festival falls in September, the beer is traditionally brewed (酿造) all the way back in March. During Oktoberfest, the rest of the year’s beer is drunk to make room for the new year’s beer.
Each year, over 5 million liter mugs (马克杯) of beer are usually drunk. But even more popular than the beers themselves are the mugs. Security guards take about 150,000 from souvenir hunters every year, but many still go missing. So the fine for stealing the must-have item is up to $60 (368 yuan).
While it may be obvious that Oktoberfest is about drinking massive (大量的) glasses of beer, eating plenty of delicious German foods is another fun festival activity. The most popular meals involve smoked meat and potatoes. Germans often prefer to eat heavy food, using plenty of mustards and sauces. The country has as many as 1,500 different kinds of sausages (香肠). There are also 300 kinds of bread to go with the sausages.
The clothes that Oktoberfest goers wear also make the annual fall festival special. Lederhosen (皮短裤) and tall socks are traditional dress. But no German outfit would be complete without the famous Peter Pan-esque (彼得·潘风格的) hats.
1.Which of the following aspects (方面) about Oktoberfest is not mentioned in the passage?
A.Foods. B.Activities.
C.Clothes. D.Weather.
2.Which of the following statements about Oktoberfest is TRUE?
A.Oktoberfest is the most popular beer festival in the world.
B.People can taste delicious German foods during Oktoberfest.
C.Every Oktoberfest goers must wear the Peter Pan-esque hat.
D.Each year, over 5 million mugs go missing during Oktoberfest.
3.In which column can you probably read the article?
A.Culture. B.Science.
C.Education. D.Sports.
My mom spreads joy wherever she goes. Right now she is probably writing an encouraging note to a friend, ________ someone she has met in the hallway, or reading a newspaper to a sick neighbour.
Growing up, my mom thought about becoming a ________, but she didn’t have the ________ until after retirement. Then she ________ her first group, The Hot Flashes. Once she put on her tap shoes, “Dancing Grammy” was born.
There seems to be no end to her ________ as she tap- dances (跳踢踏舞) her way into people’s hearts, bringing smiles to ________ places. But this is nothing new for my mom.
Being a lifetime educator, she was ________ in 2015 as her school district’s Teacher of the Year. I remember the evening phone calls to her students’ homes, when she took a break from ________ papers. They weren’t the typical bad-news calls many parents would ________. Usually she was calling about something ________. She thought highly of students who made small steps forward.
I was the youngest of seven children and life wasn’t ________ for my mother. I remember sitting on the back of her bike as she ________ me to a daycare center for low-income families on her way to Rosary College, where she was studying for an education degree. At home she was tough (坚强的) ________ she had to be. It wasn’t an easy ________ for us, but we learned from watching her. Her ________ and willpower were passed down to all of us.
I could write a book about my mom, and maybe I will someday._________ still, we may write one together, as her dream to be a writer hasn’t yet been ________. She got one step closer by attending the Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop, where she was ________ to write a book.
From a mother of seven to a grandmother of eighteen, my mom ________ to inspire everyone she meets. She has many titles (头衔), but my favorite is Mom. She has been a symbol (象征) of encouragement, perseverance, selflessness and ________.
1.A.confusing B.defending C.challenging D.praising
2.A.painter B.dancer C.singer D.designer
3.A.support B.right C.chance D.strategy
4.A.joined B.accepted C.donated D.improved
5.A.curiosity B.gift C.desire D.energy
6.A.quiet B.sad C.warm D.safe
7.A.treated B.promoted C.recognized D.invited
8.A.grading B.signing C.writing D.publishing
9.A.admit B.understand C.welcome D.expect
10.A.interesting B.encouraging C.disappointing D.embarrassing
11.A.fair B.happy C.easy D.special
12.A.took B.drove C.pointed D.directed
13.A.if B.or C.so D.as
14.A.neighborhood B.childhood C.achievement D.experiment
15.A.patience B.creativity C.courage D.wisdom
16.A.Larger B.Worse C.Smaller D.Better
17.A.judged B.realized C.discussed D.announced
18.A.allowed B.warned C.inspired D.forced
19.A.continues B.learns C.promises D.begins
20.A.joy B.sadness C.fear D.pride
—Tony hadn’t passed the exam and was afraid of being scolded by his parents.
— ________.
A.Neither had Jim B.So was Jim
C.Nor was Jim D.So it was with Jim
—Could I ________ the table with four seats near the window?
—Terribly sorry, but it has already been taken.
A.preserve B.reserve C.observe D.deserve
