Why do the Japanese live so long?

How do we know that the Japanese live the longest of any people in the world? We just have to look at world 　1 reports. All the information about the average age of death for every country in the world shows that the Japanese have lived 　2 than any other people in recent years. Right now there are 561 　3 people over the age of 100. This number has increased every year for the last 33 years and it doubled last year. Japanese women can expect to 　4 to the age of 85 and Japanese men can expect to live to the age of 78.

Many people have asked what the secret of their long life is. Some scientists have said that there is a genetic reason for their long life. 　5 , research shows that there isn’t really a genetic reason. In history they have never been known as people that enjoy 　6 life, especially after the Second World War when the Japanese usually 　7 young. This has only changed in the last fifty 　8 .

Some people say it is 　9 the Japanese eat very healthily. It is true that the Japanese diet is very special. The Japanese eat 33% less than the average American. They also eat a lot of seafood, which 　10 healthy oils that are good for the heart. In addition, they eat a lot of tofu and soya products, which help reduce 　11 problems.

Other people also say that the Japanese take more exercise than people from other countries, and are more relaxed. Perhaps this is because their 　12 is very different from American and European lifestyles. For instance, a popular Japanese 　13 is called Zen archery. It is very good exercise and the aim is not to win, but to feel peaceful and relaxed when playing this sport.

Thus, what can we 　14 from the Japanese to help us live longer? It would be difficult for us to change our diet and lifestyle completely, 　15 we should all think about what we eat and make sure that we get enough exercise.

1. A. school　　　　　　 B. news　　　　　　 C. health　　　　　 D. word

2. A. longer　　　　　　 B. better　　　　　 C. worse　　　　　　 D. happier

3. A. English　　　　　 B. European　　　　 C. American　　　　 D. Japanese

4. A. work　　　　　 B. live　　　　　　 C. play　　　　　　 D. sleep

5. A. However　　　 B. So　　　　　　 C. As if　　　　　　 D. As though

6. A. hard　　　　　 B. poor　　　　　　 C. long　　　　　　 D. short

7. A. died　　　　　 B. worked　　　　 C. stopped　　　 D. lived

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

9. A. where　　　　　　 B. because　　　 C. how　　　　　 D. what

10. A. buys　　　　　　 B. sells　　　　　　 C. contains　　　　 D. takes

11. A. eye　　　　　 B. liver　　　　　　 C. head　　　　　　 D. heart

12. A. fruit　　　　　　 B. lifestyle　　　　 C. food　　　　　　 D. house

13. A. sport　　　　　　 B. class　　　　　　 C. way　　　　　 D. book

14. A. read　　　　　　 B. do　　　　　　 C. learn　　　　　　 D. make

15. A. until　　　　　　 B. but　　　　　 C. for　　　　　 D. so

How I Turned to Be Optimistic

    I began to grow up that winter night when my parents and I were returning from my aunt’s house, and my mother said that we might soon be leaving for America .We were on the bus then ,I was crying, and some people on the bus were turning around to look at me . I remember that I could not bear the thought of never hearing again the radio program for school children to which I listened every morning.

   I do not remember myself crying for this reason again. In fact I think cried very little when I was saying goodbye to my friends and relatives ,When we were leaving I thought about all the places I was going to see —the strange and magical places I had known only from books and pictures . the country I was leaving never to come back was hardly in my head then .

The four years that followed taught me the importance of optimism, but the idea did not come to me at once. For the first two years in New York I was really lost –having to study in three schools as a result of family moves. I did not quite know what I was or what I should be. Mother remarried, and things became even more complex for me. Some time passed before my stepfather and I got used to each other. I was often sad, and saw no end to “the hard times”

My responsibilities in the family increased a lot since I knew English better than everyone else at home. I wrote letters, filled out forms, translated at interviews with Immigration officers, took my grandparents to the doctor and translated there, and even discussed telephone bills with company representatives.

   From my experiences I have learned one important rule : almost all common troubles eventually go away ! Something good is certain to happen in the end  when you do not give up, and just wait a little! I believe that my life will turn out all right, even though it not be that easy.

1．How did the author get to know America?

A．From her relatives.                       B．Form her mother.

C．Form books and pictures .                 D．From radio programs.

2．Upon leaving for America the author felt________.    

A．confused                                B．excited

C．worried                                 D．amazed

3．For the first two years in New York, the author_______.

A．often lost her way                        B．did not think about her future

C．studied in three different schools              D．got on well with her stepfather

4．What can we learn about the author from Paragraph 4 ?

A．She worked as a translator                  B．She attended a lot of job interviews.

C．She paid telephone bills for her family.       D．She helped her family with her English.

5．The author believes that___________.

A．her future will be free from troubles

B．it is difficult to learn to become patient

C．there are more good things than bad things

D．good things will happen if one keeps trying