Question

Jeanne Calment, a French woman, became a record breaker on 17 October, 1995, when at the age of 120 years and 238 days, she became the longest-lived human being on record. A Japanese man died in 1986 at the age of 120 years and 237 days.

Jeanne Calment lives in a small old people’s home in the south of France; her husband, her only child and her grandson have all died. She is nearly blind and deaf and is always in a wheelchair, but her doctor describes her as being more like a 90-year-old woman in good health than someone of 120. She still has a lively sense of humor. When asked on her 120^th birthday what she expected of the future, she replied: A very short one. She also remarked that she thought the good Lord had forgotten all about her.So what is the key to a long life? According to some doctors, diet, exercise and no smoking are the three important factors. Jeanne Calment has followed two of the tips. She has always eaten a healthy diet, and she used to do exercise every day until she broke her leg at the age of 115. However, until recently she drank two glasses of strong red wine a day, and she does smoke (now only a little). Besides, Jeanne Calment might have got very good genes from her parents. Her father lived to the age of 94 and her mother to 86.

A local lawyer bought her house when she was 80 under an agreement that he would pay her some money every year until her death. It must have seemed a good move at the time, but so far the lawyer has paid her at least three times the value of the house. Every year on her birthday, Jeanne Calment sends him a card saying: Sorry, I’m still alive!

1.How does Jeanne Calment feel about her old age?

A. She is miserable and unhappy.

B. She feels she is going to die very soon.

C. She would like to live much younger.

D. She is cheerful and humorous.

2.Which of the following word could best replace the word “move” in the fourth paragraph?

A. trick           B. deal            C. march            D. sport

3.Why does Jeanne Calment say “Sorry, I’m still alive” to the lawyer every year on her birthday?

A. Because the lawyer has paid her much more money than the value of the house.

B. Because she has asked the lawyer to pay her more rent than they first agreed.

C. Because she had an agreement at 80 with the lawyer which was to her advantage.

D. Because the house she sold to the lawyer is worth the money he has already paid.

Answer

1.D

2.B

3.A

【解析】

试题分析：本文介绍了世界上活得最久的人Jeanne Calment以及她长寿的秘密。

1.D 推理判断题。根据文章内容及第2段第3句 She still has a lively sense of humor 可知虽然在生活中她遇见了很多的困难，但是她并没有失去希望，而是保持积极乐观的心态，同时也很有幽默感。此题答案为 B。

2.B词义猜测题。根据前句A local lawyer bought her house when she was 80 under an agreement that he would pay her some money every year until her death.可知一位律师购买了她的房子，并签署了协议。It must have seemed a good move at the time可知在当时可能这是很合算的交易。故B正确。

3.

【名师点睛】

幽默的语言在阅读理解的考查中也会经常出现，如何理解文章中出现的幽默的语言的言外之意是影响考生能否正确理解文章的关键，在本文中出现了两处很幽默的句子。1.第二段最后两句：When asked on her 120th birthday what she expected of the future, she replied: A very short one. She also remarked that she thought the good Lord had forgotten all about her. 别人问她对未来的期待，她的回答：希望未来很短暂。还说她活这么久是因为上帝忘记了她。本句旨在说明她乐观豁达的性格，说明性格也是她长寿的一个重要原因。2.文章最后一句：Sorry, I’m still alive! 对于购买她房子的律师来说，收到她还活着的消息，对于这位律师来说的确不是什么好的事情：他又要额外付钱了。再次强调她幽默乐观的性格。

果然出题者在35题中考查了“Sorry, I’m still alive”的言外之意。

考点：考查人物介绍类阅读