When you finish high school or university, is learning done? The answer is “no”．In many countries, people continue learning all their lives．Why is lifelong learning important? How can it help you? Let’s look at one example of lifelong learning in Japan．
Why is lifelong learning important?
You go to school and learn．You take tests．But learning doesn’t only happen in schools．And learning doesn’t stop when you graduate from high school or college．You are learning all the time．For example, learning can happen when you go to a museum．It can also happen when you get a job．You learn when you play a sport or when you take a trip．Learning is life! We never stop learning．Every day, you can improve yourself by learning something new．
Lifelong learning in Japan
In Japan, lifelong learning is very important．People in Japan like to try new learning activities．Music, calligraphy, flower arranging, and foreign languages are some of their favorite classes．The Japanese take classes to improve their skills and learn new things．
Conclusion
When we graduate from school, we can continue to learn．Make lifelong learning one of your goals!
(1)
Why is lifelong learning important?
[ ]
A．
It helps you improve yourself．
B．
It’s the best way to learn．
C．
It’s fun and easy．
D．
It’s an important goal．
(2)
Some people in Japan take foreign language classes to _________．
[ ]
A．
get a job
B．
learn new things
C．
get good grades
D．
finish college
(3)
Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
[ ]
A．
Learning only happens in school．
B．
When we graduate from school, learning is done．
C．
You can’t learn anything when you play a sport．
D．
Music, calligraphy, flower arranging and foreign languages are popular classes in Japan．
She took up skating at age 85, made her first movie appearance at age 114, and held a concert in the neighborhood on her 121st birthday．
Whe n 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 it,”he says with a smile．
(1)
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．
(2)
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
(3)
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
(4)
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．
