Question

Like distance runners on a measured course，all of us will move through time in a roughly predictable pattern．

In the first stage of our lives，we develop and grow, reaching toward the top of physical vitality(活力)．

After we grow up，however, the body begins a process of gradually wearing out．

A new awareness of physical fitness may help lengthen our years of health and vitality，yet nothing we do will work to stop the unavoidable force of aging．

Most of the changes of aging take place deep inside the body．The lungs become less able to take in oxygen．Powerful muscles gradually lose their strength．The heart loses power and pumps less blood．Bones grow easier to break．

Finally, we meet a stress，a stress that is greater than our physical resistance．Often，it is only a minor accident or chance infection(a disease caused by virus)，but this time，it brings life to an end．

In 1932，a classic experiment nearly doubled the lifetime of rats，simply by cutting back the calories in their diet The reason for the effect was then unknown．

Today, at the University of California at Berkley, Dr．Paul Seagle has also greatly lengthened the normal lifetime of rats．The result was achieved through a special protein limited diet，which had a great effect on the chemistry of the brain．Seagle showed that within the brain，specific chemicals control many of the signals that influence aging．By changing that chemical balance，the clock of aging can be reset．

For the first time, the mystery of why we age is being seriously challenged．Scientists in many fields are now making striking and far-reaching discoveries．

An average lifetime lasts 75 years，yet in each of us lies a potential for a longer life．If we could keep the vitality and resistance to disease that we have at age twenty, we would live for 800 years．

1.What does the underlined word “it” refer to?

A．Physical vitality．   B．Stress．           C．Aging．           D．Physical resistance．

2.Which of the following is not a change of aging?

A．People gradually lose their muscle strength．

B．Bones tend to break more easily．

C．The heart loses power and pumps less blood．

D．The lungs become unable to take in oxygen．zxxk

3.The author believes the following except that     ．

A．human's life pattern is predictable

B．physical fitness can't stop the force of aging

C．human's lifetime will last longer than 75 years

D．all of the changes of aging take place deep inside the body

4.How did Dr．Paul Seagle lengthen the lifetime of rats in his experiment?

A．By keeping their physical fitness．          B．By cutting the calories in their diet．

C．By resetting their clock of aging．           D．By limiting the protein in their diet．

5.What is probably the best title for the article?

A．Two Great Experiments

B．The Mystery of Human Life

C．The Breakthrough in the Study of Aging

D．Ways to lengthen Human Life

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.D

4.D

5.C

【解析】

试题分析：本文主要介绍了人类变老的过程以及科学家在研究变老的过程中取得的突破性成就。

1.B 推理题。根据本句Finally, we meet a stress，a stress that is greater than our physical resistance．Often，it is only a minor accident or chance infection(a disease caused by virus)，but this time，it brings life to an end说明这里的it就是指本段的stress，正是这样的压力让我们的生命到了尽头，故B正确。

2.D 细节题。根据第4段．The lungs become less able to take in oxygen说明我们的肺不是不能吸吸入氧气，而是吸入的氧气较少。故D项说法错误。这不是变老的变化。

3.D 推理题。根据文章2,3,4,5段内容可知这些变老的症状都是在人的内部演变发生的，故D项的描述正确。故D正确。

4.D 细节题。根据文章倒数第3段2,3行The result was achieved through a special protein limited \diet，which had a great effect on the chemistry of the brain．说明D正确。

5.C 主旨大意题。本文在前部部分讲述的是人的变老的过程，在最后几段都是说明的是人类在研究变老的过程中取得的突破，故C项正确。

考点：考查科普类短文阅读