How Long Can People Live?

    She took up skating at age 85, made her first movie appearance at age 114, and held a concert in the neighborhood on her 121 st birthday.

    When it comes to long life, Jeanne Calment is the world’s recordholder. She lived to the ripe old age of 122. So is 122 the upper limit to the human life span(寿命)? If scientists come up with some sort of pill or diet that would slow aging, could we possibly make it to 150-or beyond?

    Researchers don’t entirely agree on the answers. “Calment lived to 122, so it wouldn’t surprise me if someone alive today reaches 130 or 135, ”says Jerry Shay at the University of Texas.

    Steve Austad at the University of Texas agrees. “People can live much longer than we think, ”he says. “Experts used to say that humans couldn’t live past 110. When Calment blew past that age, they raised the number to 120. So why can’t we go higher? ”

    The trouble with guessing how old people can live to be is that it’s all just guessing. “Anyone can make up a number, ”says Rich Miller at the University of Michigan. “Usually the scientist who picks the highest number gets his name in Time magazine. ”

    Won’t new anti-aging techniques keep us alive for centuries? Any cure, says Miller, for aging would probably keep most of us kicking until about 120. Researchers are working on treatments that lengthen the life span of mice by 50 percent at most. So, if the average human life span is about 80 years, says Miller, “adding another 50 percent would get you to 120. ”

    So what can we conclude from this little disagreement among the researchers? That life span is flexible(有弹性的), but there is a limit, says George Martin of the University of Washington. “We can get flies to live 50 percent longer, ”he says. “But a fly’s never going to live 150 years. ”Of course, if you became a new species (物种), one that ages at a slower speed, that would be a different story, he adds.

    Does Martin really believe that humans could evolve (进化)their way to longer life? “It’s pretty cool to think about, ”he says with a smile.

72. What does the story of Jeanne Calment prove to us?

      A. People can live to 122.                       B. Old people are creative.

      C. Women are sporty at 85.                    D. Women live longer than men.

73. According to Steve Austad at the University of Texas, ______.

      A. the average human life span could be 110

     B. scientists cannot find ways to slow aging

     C. few people can expect to live to over 150

     D. researchers are not sure how long people can live

74. Who would agree that a scientist will become famous if he makes the wildest guess at longevity?

     A. Jerry Shay.         B. Steve Austad     C. Rich Miller     D. George Martin

75. What can we infer from the last three paragraphs?

      A. Most of us could be good at sports even at 120.

     B. The average human life span cannot be doubled

     C. Scientists believe mice are aging at a slower speed than before.

     D. New techniques could be used to change flies into a new species

There is a famous story about British poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. He was writing a poem when he was interrupted by a knock at the door.
This was an age before telephones. Someone was delivering a message. When Coleridge got back to his poem, he had lost his inspiration. His poetic mood had been broken by the knock on his door. His unfinished poem, which could otherwise have been a masterpiece, would now never be more than a fragment (片段).
This story tells how unexpected communication can destroy an important thought,which brings us to the cellphone.
The most common complaint about cellphones is that people talk on them to the annoyance of people around them. But more damaging may be the cellphone’s disruption (中断) of our thoughts.
We have already entered a golden age of little white lies about our cellphones, and this is by and large a healthy, protective development. “I didn’t hear it ring” or “I didn’t realize my phone had shut off” are among the lies we tell to give ourselves space where we’re beyond reach.
The notion of being unreachable is not a new concept – we have “Do Not Disturb” signs on the doors of hotel rooms. So why must we feel guilty when it comes to cellphones? Why must we apologize if we decide to shut off the phone for a while?
The problem is that we come from a long-established tradition of difficulty with distance communication. Until the recent mass deployment (使用) of cellphones, it was easy to communicate with someone next to us or a few feet away, but difficult with someone across town, the country or the globe. We came to take it for granted.
But cellphones make long-distance communication common, and endanger our time by ourselves. Now time alone, or a conversation with someone next to us which cannot be interrupted by a phone, is something to be cherished. Even cellphone devotees, myself usually included, can’t help at times wanting to throw their phone away, or curse the day they were invented.
But we don’t and won’t, and there really is no need. All that’s required to take back our private time is a general social recognition that we have the right to it. In other words, we have to develop a healthy contempt (轻视) for the rings of our own phones. Given the ease of making and receiving cellphone calls, if we don’t talk to the caller right now, we surely will shortly later.
A cellphone call deserves no greater priority (优先考虑的事) than a random (随机的) word from the person next to us. Though the call on my cellphone may be the one–in–a–million from Steven Spielberg–who has finally read my novel and wants to make it his next movie. But most likely it is not, and I’m better off thinking about the idea I just had for a new story, or the slice of pizza I’ll eat for lunch.
【小题1】What is the point of the anecdote(轶事,趣闻) about the poet Coleridge in the first three paragraphs?

A.To direct readers’ attention to the main topic.
B.To show how important inspiration is to a poet.
C.To emphasize the disadvantage of not having a cellphone.
D.To encourage readers to read the works of this poet.
【小题2】What does the writer think about people telling “white lies” about their cellphones?
A.It is a way of signaling that you don’t like the caller.
B.It is natural to tell lies about small things.
C.It is basically a good way to protect one’s privacy.
D.We should feel guilty when we can’t tell the truth.
【小题3】According to the author, what is the most annoying problem caused by cellphones?
A.People get annoyed by the cellphone rings that they fail to notice anything else.
B.People feel guilty when they are not able to answer their cellphones.
C.Cellphones interrupt people’s private time.
D.With cellphones it is no longer possible to be unreachable.
【小题4】What does the last paragraph suggest?
A.A person who calls us from afar deserves more of our attention.
B.Steven Spielberg once called the author to talk about the author’s novel.
C.You should always finish your lunch before you answer a call on the cellphone.
D.Never let cellphones interfere too much with your life.

My two-year-old daughter Kate wanted a dog. But I was too busy to buy one. One day, Kate ran in, shouting, “Mom! Come to see my dog!” Her face was red with __36__.

I followed her to the bush and found a __37__! He was hurt. Seeing me, he stood up __38__!

I could see his teeth! God! My mouth felt __39__. “Don’t be afraid. That’s mom. She loves you, too.” Kate said. Then he became friendly. It was __40__!

I __41__to find my husband and told him about the wolf. We should have killed the wolf, __42__Kate loved him. Besides, he was gentle to Kate. So we called the vet(兽医)finally.

Kate named the wolf Ralph __43__ she carried food to him every day. Later, Ralph got well. They played together in the daytime. At night, Ralph would return to the mountains. Sometimes he __44__but came back several days later.

On Kate’s first day of school, we could see Ralph’s __45__. After the school bus left, Ralph lay by the side of the road and __46__. When Kate returned, he got happy again. This __47__throughout Kate’s school years.

Twelve __48__passed.

One day we heard that a she-wolf was killed. The other wolf was hurt and ran away. We were__49__about Ralph. That night, Ralph returned with a wound(伤口). Sixteen-year-old Kate held his head and __50__him. We hope he could come through. However, he __51__.

Kate cried. I noticed something strange in the bush-----two little yellow eyes! Ralph’s __52__! Before he died, Ralph __53__his child to us ! He knew he would be __54__here, as he had been. Ralph, Ralph... I was __50__.

“Don’t be afraid, little...Ralphie. That’s mom. She loves you, too.”

1.                A.encouragement  B.entertainment    C.excitement    D.agreement

 

2.                A.dog            B.fox            C.wolf D.tiger

 

3.                A.suddenly       B.finally          C.slowly    D.patiently

 

4.                A.hurt           B.dry            C.warmly   D.cold

 

5.                A.wonderful      B.unhappy        C.unbelievable   D.normal

 

6.                A.prepared       B.rushed         C.pretended D.wanted

 

7.                A.however        B.so             C.though   D.but

 

8.                A.and            B.but            C.so   D.or

 

9.                A.disappeared     B.turned         C.passed   D.came

 

10.               A.sadness        B.dream         C.understanding  D.anger

 

11.               A.slept           B.left            C.sang  D.waited

 

12.               A.stopped        B.joined          C.lived  D.continued

 

13.               A.years          B.weeks          C.months    D.days

 

14.               A.surprised       B.hopeful        C.worried   D.careful

 

15.               A.comforted      B.beat           C.washed   D.struck

 

16.               A.succeeded      B.died           C.cried D.woke

 

17.               A.mother         B.father          C.child  D.wife

 

18.               A.posted         B.brought        C.gave  D.threw

 

19.               A.happily         B.safe           C.warm D.friendly

 

20.               A.confused       B.frightened      C.disappointed   D.moved

 

 

A few days ago, I went to school with lots of books,hoping to get a locker (锁柜). Suddenly, it started raining heavily. I hurried to pay for my locker, but I was disappointed when they informed me they only accepted cash. I was $ 7.00 short, which meant I had to carry the books back home. It would be an exhausting (令人精疲力竭的) two-hour journey back home with all those books.

An elderly gentleman nearby noticed my problem. He asked how much cash I needed. When I told him I was $7 short, he quickly took out the money from his wallet .“You don’t have to pay me back ,”he said. I was speechless; I didn't know whether to take the money or come back with the books the next day. A young student who was working there noticed my hesitation. “He’s really nice ,”said the student. I was starving this morning and he bought breakfast for me. He always helps people in different ways.

The next day, I went to him and thanked him for trusting me and lending me the money. He said he forgot about it and didn't expect I would give it back. “I’m very happy,” he said,“not because I’m getting my money back, but because this is the right way to go---whatever you get from this world, give it back as much as you possibly can. Spread kindness around the world with the smallest things you can do.”

Later, I found out he wasn’t involved with any charity(慈善)organizations. He has been performing these types of acts for years. Earlier, someone had done something incredibly kind for him and he has been spreading the kindness ever since.

He taught me a very important lesson in life. We come to this world with nothing and we will leave with nothing. Whatever we own, it will become somebody else’s and whatever we leave, it will become somebody else’s.  

1.Why did the writer need a locker in the school?

A.To help him get away from the sudden rain.

B.To store his large quantity of books.

C.To carry it back home with his books inside.

D.To make it easier for him to go on a trip.

2.When the old gentleman offered the money, the writer was________.

A.touched          B.amazed           C.hesitant           D.embarrassed

3.From Paragraph 3 we learn that ________.

A.the gentleman worked in the school

B.the gentleman was kind but forgetful

C.the gentleman thought it right to give back to society

D.the gentleman refused to take back the money

4.From the passage we can conclude that_______.

A.people shouldn't focus too much on money

B.the writer often takes many books to school

C.there was only $ 7 in the writer's wallet

D.the writer lived not far from the school

 

 

Liu Qian, a magician from Taiwan, cast his spell(魔法)over an audience of thousands on the CCTV Spring Festival Show. Die-hard fans are still trying to work out the secrets behind many of the tricks he performed.

But Liu, 32, when asked, laughed off the idea that there might be an “answer” to his magic. “The most fascinating things about magic is the puzzling process. People enjoy how magicians make the impossible come true,” said Liu.

Few people today believe in the possibility of real magic. They also often fail to consider magicians’ devotion to their art. It can take a magician years’ of practice to perfect a trick before he performs it on stage.

Part of Liu’s star appeal is his astonishing skill. However, when he began in the industry, he was embarrassingly clumsy. “I could practice thousands of times for one single act. It wasn’t much fun,” he said.

No magician’s supernatural powers on stage extend to their life off stage. Liu says his life was no easier or funnier because he was a magician.

He developed an interest in magic at a young age, but didn’t consider making a living out of it until he graduated from university. He had studied Japanese language and found himself unable to find a job. “My parents never considered being a magician as a proper job. To begin with, I had little confidence I would be doing this in the long term,” he said.

Yet Liu felt a powerful calling to become a magician. “For many people, magic somehow means a miracle, which is something we all secretly wish for no matter how hard-bitten or cynical (愤世嫉俗的)we become,” he said.

Liu may be right. A popular modern dream is of the fairy godmother, who waves her magic wand (棒) and makes our dreams come true. But according to Liu, we all have the power to create magic in our lives. As Liu puts it: it’s not the magic that makes it work;it’s the way we work that makes it magic.

1. According to the passage, we can tell that ________.

A. being a famous magician, Liu Qian leads a comfortable life

B. it is a hard job for magicians to perform magic tricks well

C. Liu Qian’s parents supported his wish of earning a living by being a magician

D. Liu Qian showed great talents in performing magic tricks when he first took it up

2. As to whether there’s real magic, Liu Qian believes ________.

A. there is no real magic and what counts in our life is the way we work

B. if we secretly wish for something, magic will turn out to be a miracle

C. the puzzling process of performing magic tricks is the answer to magic

D. there exists a fairy godmother waving her magic wand to make our dreams come true

3. Which of the following sayings is similar to the underlined sentence in meaning?

A. All roads lead to Rome.                B. Easier said than done.

C. Actions speak louder than words.       D. Where there is a will, there is a way.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A. Magic in our lives                     B. The answer to magic

C. A popular magician from Taiwan         D. The way to become a successful magician

 

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