Question

    Some of the recent scientific studies have found that people who receive higher education live longer than those who do not. According to a new study, reading books extends lifespan(寿命) by up to two years, and the more often you read, the better.

Back in 1975, economists concluded that longer lifespan is linked to the wealth of a person, and that wealth itself increases longevity. It seemed self-evident: everything people need to be healthy from food to medical care costs money. But soon it was realized that the data didn’t always fit that theory. Economic success didn’t always mean longer lives.In the 1980s, researchers found gaining higher education is connected with a greater increase in lifespan than gains in wealth.

One fact is of teachers and college professors: they live longer than the rest of the population. The reason is that they engage in research most of their lives for teaching or publishing, which increases their lifespan and most importantly also retards their aging process.

Let’s look at what benefits educated people. Educated people get routinely involved in social networks, they get access to information because of their ability to understand information. They can easily navigate (导航) the health care system; they have more social support.

Reading helps us understand how other people think and feel. Reading improves our emotional intelligence. This understanding can improve the quality of a person’s life as it would allow the person to act with better judgment and have more insight into the feelings and thought patterns of others. Research has shown that reading changes certain areas of the brain and causes certain other parts to be active. This effect can also be observed in adults who learn to read much later in life. Learning has no age bar. Each and every human is born with the right to be educated. So, don’t hold back your urge to learn. The goal of education is to improve intelligence as well as the lifespan.

1.What did researchers find in the 1980s?

A.Education does affect peoples lifespan.

B.Health has nothing to do with wealth.

C.Economic success always belongs to professors.

D.Children from poor families can rarely gain higher education.

2.What does the underlined word “retards” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A.speeds up B.slows down

C.turns back D.contributes to

3.What is the advantage of educated people according to Paragraph 4?

A.They learn more about human body and medical care.

B.They can set up their own health care system.

C.They are more connected to the society.

D.They are skilled in doing research through social networks.

4.What can we know about reading from the last paragraph?

A.It is effective against cancer.

B.It can change a person’s lifestyle completely.

C.It can help people understand humans brain better.

D.It is beneficial to peoples EQ and brain health.

Answer

1.A

2.B

3.C

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要讲述了最近的一些科学研究发现，接受高等教育的人比不接受高等教育的人活得更长。

1.

细节理解题。根据文章第二段In the 1980s, researchers found gaining higher education is connected with a greater increase in lifespan than gains in wealth.（上世纪80年代，研究人员发现，接受高等教育与寿命延长的关系要大于财富增加。）可知，20世纪80年代，研究人员发现教育确实影响人的寿命。故选A。

2.

词句猜测题。根据划线词所在的句子The reason is that they engage in research most of their lives for teaching or publishing, which increases their lifespan and most importantly also retards their aging process.（原因是他们一生中的大部分时间都在从事教学或出版方面的研究，这可以延长他们的寿命，最重要的是还可以延缓他们的衰老过程。）尤其是 increases their lifespan 可知，retards意为“减缓，减慢”，slow down意为“减慢”，符合语境。故选B。

3.

推理判断题。根据文章第四段Educated people get routinely involved in social networks, they get access to information because of their ability to understand information. They can easily navigate (导航) the health care system; they have more social support.（受过教育的人经常参与社交网络，他们能接触到信息是因为他们有能力理解信息。他们可以很容易地浏览卫生保健系统；他们有更多的社会支持。）可推知，受过高等教育的人与社会的联系更加紧密。故选C。

4.

细节理解题。根据文章最后一段Reading improves our emotional intelligence.（阅读提高我们的情商。）和Research has shown that reading changes certain areas of the brain and causes certain other parts to be active.（研究表明，阅读会改变大脑的特定区域，并使其他特定区域活跃起来。）可知，阅读有利于人们的情商和大脑健康。故选D。