In the Caucasus region（高加索地区）, nearly 50 out of every 100,000 people live to celebrate their 100^th birthday, and many don’t stop at 100! By comparison, in America only 3 people in 100,000 reach 100. But these Caucasus people aren’t alone. The Pakistani Hunzas, who live high in the Himalaya Mountains, and the Vilcabambans of the Andes Mountains in Ecuador seem to share the secret of long life too.

　　These peoples remain healthy in body and spirit despite the passage of time. While many older persons in industrial societies become weak and ill in their 60s and 70s, some Caucasus people aged 110-140, work in the fields beside their great-great-grandchildren. Even the idea of aging is foreign to them. When asked, “At what age does youth end?” most of these old people had no answer. Several replied, “Well, perhaps at age 80.” The very youngest estimate was age 60.

　　What accounts for this ability to survive (live) to such old age, and to survive so well? First of all, hard physical work is a way of life for all of these long-lived peoples. They began their long days of physical labor as children and never seem to stop. For example, Mr. Rustam is 142 years of age. He remembers his life experience: the Crimean War of 1854; the Turkish War of 1878; the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917. His wife is 116 years old. They have been married for 90 years. Mr. Rustam has no plan of retiring from his life as a farmer. “Why? What else would I do?” he asks. Oh, he’s slowed down a bit. Now he might quit (stop working) for the day after 6 hours in the field instead of 10.

　　All these people get healthful rewards from the environment in which they work. They all come from mountainous regions. They live and work at elevations（海拔）of 5,000 to 12, 000 feet(1,660 to 4,000meters) above sea level. The air has less oxygen and is pollution-free. This reduced oxygen environment makes the heart and blood vessel（血管）system stronger.

　　Another factor（因素）that may lead to the good health of these people is their isolation. To a great extent, they are separated from the pressure（压力）and worries of industrial society.

　　Inherited（遗传的） factors also play some role. Most of the longest-lived peoples had parents and grandparents who also reached very old age. Good family genes may, therefore, be one factor in living longer.

　　Finally, although these three groups don’t eat exactly the same foods, their diets are similar. All of them eat little animal meat. Their diets are full of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, cheese and milk. They never eat more food than their bodies need.

　　It is clear that isolation from urban pressure and pollution, clean mountain air, daily hard work, moderate diets, good genes, and a youthful approach to life all lead to the health and remarkable long life of all these people.

1. What is the main idea of this article?

A．Cause and effect of long-lived life.

B．People in the world enjoying a longer life.

C．Factors leading to the health and long life of people.

D．A description of several societies where people living a long life.

2. “The idea of aging is foreign to them” means that _________.

A．they don’t care much about their age

B．they have no idea of how old they are

C．they won’t say anything about their age until they are asked to

D．the idea of getting old has never come into their mind

3. How do you think the writer feels about these long-lived people?

A．He is much impressed with them.

B．He doesn’t care a bit about them.

C．He hopes that they will live a still longer life.

D．He doesn’t think their life is full of pressure and worries.

完形填空

One evening I went to have dinner with my uncle and aunt. They had 　l invited another person, a young woman, so that there would be four people at 2　 . Her face was familiar (面熟的). I was quite 　3 　that we had met 4 , but I could not 　5 　where I had seen her face. In the course of the talk, however, the young woman 　6 　to tell us that she had lost her purse the other day. All at once I remembered where I had seen her face. She was just the young girl in the photo in the purse I had picked up while walking down the street that afternoon, although she looked much older. She was 　7 　, of course, when I was 　8 　to describe her purse to her. Then I explained (解释) that I had recognized (认出) her from the photo I had found in the purse. My uncle insisted on going to the police station immediately to fetch the purse.

As the policeman handed it 　9 , he said I had found not 　10 　the purse, but the person who had lost it.

What should you think about when trying to find your career? You are probably better at some school subjects than others. These may show strengths that you can use in your work. A boy who is good at mathematics can use that in an engineering career. A girl who spells well and likes English may be good at office work. So it is important to know the subjects you do well in at school. On the other hand, you may not have any specially strong subjects but your records show a general satisfactory standard. Although not all subjects can be used directly in a job, they may have indirect value. A knowledge of history is not required for most jobs but if history is one of your good subjects you will have learned to remember facts and details. This is an ability that can be useful in many jobs.
　　Your school may have taught you skills, such as typing or technical drawing, which you can use in your work. You may be good at metalwork or cookery and look for a job where you can improve these skills. If you have had a part-time job on Saturdays or in the summer, think what you gained from it. If nothing else, you may have learned how to get to work on time, to follow instructions and to get on with older workers. You may have learned to give correct change in a shop, for example. Just as important, you may become interested in a particular industry or career you see from the inside in a part-time job.
　　Facing your weak points is also part of knowing yourself. You may be all thumbs when you handle tools; perhaps you are a poor speller or cannot add up a column of figures. It is better to face any weakness than to pretend they do not exist. Your school record, for instance, may not be too good, yet it is an important part of your background. You should not be apologetic about it but instead recognize that you will have a chance of a fresh start at work.
【小题1】We can infer from the first paragraph that ________.

　　Jack was a rich young man. One day, he was 1 very happily down a street. Suddenly from his car came a terrible sound. He felt 2 , so he stopped his car and looked around. He saw a child standing nearby with a few small stones（石子）in his hand. He jumped 3 the car and found a dent（凹痕）in the door. He was so 4 that he caught the boy and shouted at him, “Who are you? 　　5 did you throw a stone at my new car?”

　　“Please, sir, please... I'm sorry! But I didn't know what else to do!” said the child. “I threw the stone 6 I wanted to get you to notice me. I need your 7 !”

　　Tears（眼泪）were running down the child's face. He said, “My brother 8 out of his wheelchair（轮椅）and was almost under it. He is hurt and too 9 for me. Could you give me 10 to get him back into his 11 ?”

　　After hearing this, Jack was moved（感动）and 12 to help him. He lifted the child's brother 13 back into his wheelchair. He looked over the boy carefully to make sure that he was OK. Then he watched the child 14 his brother towards their home. Suddenly the child 15 and bowed（鞠躬）to him. Jack looked at the dent in his car and smiled.

完形填空

One evening I went to have dinner with my uncle and aunt. They had 　l invited another person, a young woman, so that there would be four people at 2　 . Her face was familiar (面熟的). I was quite 　3 　that we had met 4 , but I could not 　5 　where I had seen her face. In the course of the talk, however, the young woman 　6 　to tell us that she had lost her purse the other day. All at once I remembered where I had seen her face. She was just the young girl in the photo in the purse I had picked up while walking down the street that afternoon, although she looked much older. She was 　7 　, of course, when I was 　8 　to describe her purse to her. Then I explained (解释) that I had recognized (认出) her from the photo I had found in the purse. My uncle insisted on going to the police station immediately to fetch the purse.

As the policeman handed it 　9 , he said I had found not 　10 　the purse, but the person who had lost it.