Question

    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”

Answer

1.C

2.C

3.B

4.A

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。文章主要通过引用各大报纸杂志对人类寿命的极限的报道说明人类的寿命极限不应该是500年，而应该是100多年。

1.细节理解题。根据第五段Instead of 500 years, 120 years “might be a real absolute limit to human lifespan (寿命)”, he said.可知，他说，120岁“可能是人类寿命的真正绝对极限”，而不是500岁。由此可知，Colin Blakemore认为人们活过500年不太可能，但是更多的人们有希望活到100多岁。故选C。

2.推理判断题。根据本来段上文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.可知，但是，无论哪个数字是我们生命的上限，120或500年，科学家将需要几年才能使大多数人实现这一点。作者在下文用however，进行了转折：然而，我们不必完全依靠科学突破来长寿。在下文的几段中也举例说明了在中国有很多不是通过科学手段长寿，而是通过自然手段长寿的例子。所以该句子位于③位置最佳。故选C。

3.细节理解题。根据倒数第二段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.可知，通过观察这些人的生活方式，该协会制定出了一份长寿食谱：户外活动、多与他人交流、健康饮食包括大量的水果、蔬菜和低脂肪食物。由此可知，当人们摄入过多高脂肪的食物时，他们可能就不会长寿。故选B。

4.主旨大意题。因为本文主要通过引用各大报纸杂志对人类寿命的极限的报道说明人类的寿命极限不应该是500年，而应该是100多年。由此可知，最佳标题可以是Future lives “shortened”未来的寿命被缩短了。当然这种缩短只是相对文章开头第二段Late last year, US researchers at the Buck Institute of Age Research gave a very exciting answer: 500 years.提出的人类寿命可能长达500年而言。故选A。