Question

    Older adults with a better sense of smell may live longer than those who have a poor sense of smell, a new study suggests. The study was a project of researchers in the United States that was ongoing for over 13 years. They asked nearly 2,300 men and women to identify 12 common smells. All the subjects were from 71 to 82 years of age. The researchers gave the adults scores, from 0 to as high as 12, based on how many smells they identified correctly.

During the years of follow-up investigation, over 1,200 of the subjects died. When the study was launched, none of the adults were weak. They could walk a little under half a kilometer, climb 10 steps and independently complete daily activities. In the latest findings, the researchers noted that those with a weak nose were 30 percent more likely to die than people with a good sense of smell. The findings were reported last month in the scientific publication Annals of Internal Medicine.

Honglei Chen, a doctor with Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, was the lead writer of a report on the study. He said the connection between a poor sense of smell and an increased risk of dying was limited to adults who first reported good-to-excellent health. This suggests that a poor sense of smell is an early and sensitive sign for worsening health before it is recognizable in medical tests. With a poor sense of smell, people are more likely to die of brain and heart diseases, but not of cancer or breathing disorders.

The results also suggest that a poor sense of smell may be an early warning for poor health in older age that goes beyond dementia or other neurodegenerative(神经变性的) diseases. These often signal the beginning of a weakening of the mind or body.

1.What do you know about the study mentioned?

A.The study involved researchers from the world.

B.All the participants were of different ages.

C.The study began to be performed about 13 years ago.

D.2 ,300 men and women were young and healthy.

2.What was the situation like at the beginning of the study?

A.More than 1,200 of the participants passed away.

B.Many of the subjects were found with health problems.

C.All the subjects were independent of others when walking.

D.One third of the participants had a poor smell sense.

3.What can be inferred from the last two paragraphs?

A.People with a poor sense of smell have heart disease.

B.You should be careful with your health if you smell poorly.

C.People with a poor sense of smell won't suffer from cancer.

D.Most of the elder people may have the dementia disease.

4.Which is the best title for the passage?

A.Strong Sense of Smell May Be Linked to Longer Life

B.Old People Tend to Have a Poor Sense of Smell

C.A Number of Factors Result in Longer Life

D.Being Ill Means Losing the Sense of Smell

Answer

1.C

2.C

3.B

4.A

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。一项新研究表明，嗅觉灵敏的老年人更长寿，嗅觉不灵敏的老年人身体有潜在的健康问题。文章说明了这项研究进行的过程，以及结果表明嗅觉差是健康恶化的早期和敏感信号，在医学测试中可以识别出来。嗅觉差的人更有可能死于脑部和心脏疾病，而不是癌症或呼吸紊乱。

1.细节理解题。根据第一段中The study was a project of researchers in the United States that was ongoing for over 13 years.可知这项研究是美国研究人员进行了13年的一个项目。由此可知，这项研究开始于13年前。故选C。

2.细节理解题。根据第二段中They could walk a little under half a kilometer, climb 10 steps and independently complete daily activities.可知他们可以走不到半公里，爬10级台阶，独立完成日常活动。由此可知，研究开始时的，所有受试者均可以独立行走。故选C。

3.推理判断题。根据倒数第二段中With a poor sense of smell, people are more likely to die of brain and heart diseases, but not of cancer or breathing disorders. 可知嗅觉差的人更容易死于脑和心脏病，但不会死于癌症或呼吸障碍。以及最后一段第一句The results also suggest that a poor sense of smell may be an early warning for poor health in older age that goes beyond dementia or other neurodegenerative(神经变性的) diseases.可知研究结果还表明，嗅觉差可能是老年人健康状况不佳的早期预警信号，其影响范围不仅限于痴呆症或其他神经退行性疾病。由此可推知，如果你嗅觉不好，你应该注意你的健康。故选B。

4.主旨大意题。根据第一句Older adults with a better sense of smell may live longer than those who have a poor sense of smell, a new study suggests.可知一项新的研究表明，嗅觉较好的老年人可能比嗅觉较差的人寿命更长。结合文章主要说明了一项新研究表明，嗅觉灵敏的老年人更长寿，嗅觉不灵敏的老年人身体有潜在的健康问题。文章说明了这项研究进行的过程，以及结果表明嗅觉差是健康恶化的早期和敏感信号，在医学测试中可以识别出来。嗅觉差的人更有可能死于脑部和心脏疾病，而不是癌症或呼吸紊乱。故A选项“嗅觉灵敏的老年人可能更长寿”符合文章标题。故选A。