Scientists have discovered that living to the age of 100 may have nothing to do with the lifestyle you lead and everything to do with the type of genes you have.

For the lucky carriers of “Methuselah” genes, worries over smoking, eating unhealthily and not getting enough exercise may not be as necessary as to those of us without the special gene pattern.   The “Methuselah” genes could give extra protection against the diseases of old age such as cancer and heart disease. They could also protect people against the effects of the unhealthy lifestyles that we believe will lead us to an early death, scientists say. However, the genes are very rare.

The genes include ADIPOQ, which is found in about 10 percent of young people but in nearly 30 percent of people living past 100. They also include the CETP and the ApoC3 genes, which are found in 10 percent of young people, but in about 20 percent of people over 100 years old.

Some of those genes were discovered by a research group at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, led by Professor Nir Barzilai. The team studied the genes of over 500 people over 100 years old, and their children.

The studies show that tiny mutations (变异) in the make-up of some genes can greatly increase a person’s lifespan. Barzilai told a Royal Society conference that the discovery of such genes gave scientists clear targets for developing drugs that could prevent age-related diseases, allow people to live longer and stay healthy.

David Gems, a researcher at University College London, believes that drugs to slow ageing will become widespread.

“If we know which genes control longevity (长寿) then we can... target them with drugs. That makes it possible to slow down ageing,” he told The Times.

“Much of the pain and suffering in the world are caused by ageing. If we can find a way to reduce that, then we are obliged to take it.”

Which genes could give extra protection against the diseases of old age? (No more than 3 words) (2 marks)

__________________________________________________________________________ 

Whom did Barzilai’s team study? (No more than 10 words) (2 marks)

__________________________________________________________________________

What can greatly increase a person’s lifespan? (No more than 10 words) (3 marks)

__________________________________________________________________________

What can scientists do if they are aware which genes control longevity?(No more than 6 words) (3 marks)

__________________________________________________________________________. 


The great Alaskan explorer John Muir once wrote that to have dinner with a glacier (冰川) on a sunny day is an excellent thing. It is better to sleep beside one, on an Antarctic island,  with just a sleepifig bag for warmth and the sky as your tent.
Our camp-out was in early January of this year on Danco Island, along the Antarctic Peninsula.  Midway through a 10-day Antarctic journey, conditions were near perfect.  We started our voyage from the Akademik Ioffe in Zodiacs,  landing on the wide beach with its fist-sized rocks.  At the height of the Antarctic summer, the shore was clear of snow, with plenty of room for the 40 adventurers to spend the night.
Danco Island was charted in 1898 by the Belgian explorer Adrien de Gerlache, who was the first to prove that you could overwinter in Antarctica and survive.  De Gerlache paved the way for Lt.  Robert Scott's first expedition in 1901.  De Gerlache mapped the archipelago (群岛).  He later named the island after his team member mile Danco,  a geophysicist who died that winter.  For one year in the mid-1950s, Danco was known as Base O by the British, who kept a scientific research station there, although all that. remains of it is a foundation and a pile of coal.
Our expedition was organized by Australian tour operator Peregrine Adventures. The weather was extraordinary -- sunny with daytime temperatures of about 1't2.  The camping was easy and accessible to all ages.  Sleeping under the stars in Antarctica,  in just a sleeping bag is pretty amazing.
1. Whom did Adrien de Gerlache have a direct effect on?
A. John Muir.           B. Lt. Robert Scott.
C. The tourists.          D. The author. 
2. What was Danco Island named after?
A. A place.             B. A glacier.
C. A person.           D. An ocean.
3. It can be inferred from the passage that        .
A. old people can't go 'camping in Antarctica
B. the author went to the Antarctica in winter
C. John Muir might have visited an Antarctic island
D. Lt. Robert Scott built a station in the Antarctic
4. What would be the best title for the passage?
A. Danco Island
B. An expedition to Antarctica
C. Explorers of Antarctica
D. Sleep under the stars in Antarctica

 

     The great Alaskan explorer John Muir once wrote that to have dinner with a glacier (冰川) on a sunny day is an excellent thing. It is better to sleep beside one, on an Antarctic island,  with just a sleepifig bag for warmth and the sky as your tent.

     Our camp-out was in early January of this year on Danco Island, along the Antarctic Peninsula.  Midway through a 10-day Antarctic journey, conditions were near perfect.  We started our voyage from the Akademik Ioffe in Zodiacs,  landing on the wide beach with its fist-sized rocks.  At the height of the Antarctic summer, the shore was clear of snow, with plenty of room for the 40 adventurers to spend the night.

     Danco Island was charted in 1898 by the Belgian explorer Adrien de Gerlache, who was the first to prove that you could overwinter in Antarctica and survive.  De Gerlache paved the way for Lt.  Robert Scott's first expedition in 1901.  De Gerlache mapped the archipelago (群岛).  He later named the island after his team member mile Danco,  a geophysicist who died that winter.  For one year in the mid-1950s, Danco was known as Base O by the British, who kept a scientific research station there, although all that. remains of it is a foundation and a pile of coal.

     Our expedition was organized by Australian tour operator Peregrine Adventures. The weather was extraordinary -- sunny with daytime temperatures of about 1't2.  The camping was easy and accessible to all ages.  Sleeping under the stars in Antarctica,  in just a sleeping bag is pretty amazing.

1. Whom did Adrien de Gerlache have a direct effect on?

    A. John Muir.           B. Lt. Robert Scott.

    C. The tourists.          D. The author. 

2. What was Danco Island named after?

    A. A place.             B. A glacier.

    C. A person.            D. An ocean.

3. It can be inferred from the passage that        .

    A. old people can't go 'camping in Antarctica

    B. the author went to the Antarctica in winter

    C. John Muir might have visited an Antarctic island

    D. Lt. Robert Scott built a station in the Antarctic

4. What would be the best title for the passage?

    A. Danco Island

    B. An expedition to Antarctica

    C. Explorers of Antarctica

    D. Sleep under the stars in Antarctica

 

Scientists have discovered that living to the age of 100 may have nothing to do with the lifestyle you lead and everything to do with the type of genes you have.

For the lucky carriers of “Methuselah” genes, worries over smoking, eating unhealthily and not getting enough exercise may not be as necessary as to those of us without the special gene pattern.   The “Methuselah” genes could give extra protection against the diseases of old age such as cancer and heart disease. They could also protect people against the effects of the unhealthy lifestyles that we believe will lead us to an early death, scientists say. However, the genes are very rare.

The genes include ADIPOQ, which is found in about 10 percent of young people but in nearly 30 percent of people living past 100. They also include the CETP and the ApoC3 genes, which are found in 10 percent of young people, but in about 20 percent of people over 100 years old.

Some of those genes were discovered by a research group at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, led by Professor Nir Barzilai. The team studied the genes of over 500 people over 100 years old, and their children.

The studies show that tiny mutations (变异) in the make-up of some genes can greatly increase a person’s lifespan. Barzilai told a Royal Society conference that the discovery of such genes gave scientists clear targets for developing drugs that could prevent age-related diseases, allow people to live longer and stay healthy.

David Gems, a researcher at University College London, believes that drugs to slow ageing will become widespread.

“If we know which genes control longevity (长寿) then we can... target them with drugs. That makes it possible to slow down ageing,” he told The Times.

“Much of the pain and suffering in the world are caused by ageing. If we can find a way to reduce that, then we are obliged to take it.”

1.Which genes could give extra protection against the diseases of old age? (No more than 3 words) (2 marks)

__________________________________________________________________________ 

2. Whom did Barzilai’s team study? (No more than 10 words) (2 marks)

__________________________________________________________________________

3. What can greatly increase a person’s lifespan? (No more than 10 words) (3 marks)

__________________________________________________________________________

4.What can scientists do if they are aware which genes control longevity?(No more than 6 words) (3 marks)

__________________________________________________________________________. 

 

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