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.
      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.
【小题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.
【小题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
【小题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
【小题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

As any homemaker who has tried to keep order at the dinner table knows, there is far more to a family meal than food. Sociologist Michael Lewis has been studying 50 families to find out just how much more.

Lewis and his co-workers carried out their study by videotaping(录像) the families while they ate ordinary meals in their own homes. They found that parents with small families talk actively with each other and their children. But as the number of children gets larger, conversation gives way to the parents’ efforts to control the loud noise they make. That can have an important effect on the children. “In general, the more question-asking the parents do, the higher the children’s IQ scores,” Lewis says. “And the more children there are, the less question-asking there is. ”

The study also provides an explanation for why middle children often seem to have a harder time in life than their siblings(兄弟姐妹). Lewis found that in families with three or four children, dinner conversation is likely to center on the oldest child, who has the most to talk about, and the youngest, who needs the most attention. “Middle children are invisible,” says Lewis. “When you see someone get up from the table and walk around during dinner, chances are it’s the middle child.” There is, however, one thing that stops all conversation and prevents anyone from having attention: “When the TV is on,” Lewis says, “dinner is a non-event.”

1.The writer’s purpose in writing the text is to ______.

A.report on the findings of a study

B.teach parents ways to keep order at the dinner table

C.show the relationship between parents and children

D.give information about family problems

2.Parents with large families ask fewer questions at dinner because ______.

A.they are busy serving food to their children

B.they have to pay more attention to younger children

C.they are busy keeping order at the dinner table

D.they are tired out having prepared food for the whole family

3.By saying “Middle children are invisible” in paragraph 3, Lewis means that middle children ______.

A.have to help their parents to serve dinner

B.find it hard to keep up with other children

C.are often kept away from the dinner table

D.get the least attention from the family

4.Which of the following statements would the writer agree to?

A.Parents should talk to each of their children frequently.

B.It is a good idea to have the TV on during dinner.

C.It is important to have the right food for children.

D.Elder children should help the younger ones at dinner.

 

How to protect children Web fans from unsuitable material on-line while encouraging them to use the Internet has long been discussed in the US.

For some parents, the Internet can seem like a jungle, filled with danger for their children. But jungles contain wonders as well as danger. With good guides, some education, and a few precautions(预防 ), the wilds of the Internet can be safely navigated. “Kids have to be on-line. If we tell our kids they can’t be allowed to surf the Internet, we’re cutting them off from their future,” said an expert.

Most kids have started to use search engines. Many of them are great for finding tons of interesting Internet sites, and they can also locate places where you might not want your kids to go. There are search engines designed just for kids. A certain software contains only sites that have been selected as safe. The most popular way would be to use what is known as a “content screener”. But this can’t be wholly reliable(可靠 ), and the best thing parents can do is to talk to their kids and let them know what is OK or not OK to see or do on the Internet. Another way is that mum or dad is nearby when the child is surfing the Internet.

A few other tips:

—Do not put the PC in a child’s room but keep it in an area where mum or dad can keep an eye on things. That also makes the Internet more of a family activity.

—Ask your child what he or she has been doing and about any friends they make on-line.

―Tell your child not to give on-line strangers personal information, especially like address and phone number.

And tell your children never to talk to anyone they meet on-line over the phone, send them anything, accept anything from them or agree to meet with them unless you go along.

1.What is the best way to protect children from improper material?

A.To talk to the children and persuade them to tell right from wrong.

B.To be nearby when the children are surfing the Internet.

C.To fix a content screener on the computer.

D.To buy some search engines for children.

2.Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A.Surfing the Internet is the best way of educating children.

B.Using a content screener is most reliable for keeping children from having ways to the Internet.

C.Searching engines can help children to select materials fit for them.

D.Children’s not having chances to go to the Internet may have effect on their progress.

3.According to the passage, we can infer that ____.

A.softwares that are fit for children who want programming

B.the Internet contains a lot of harmful sites

C.the Internet will be protected by law

D.a child who is on-line is in danger

4.What does the passage tell us most?

A.Education

B.Good guides

C.Precautions

D.Software

 

I went to my favorite restaurant one evening to have supper. I knew the owner very well. __36 _ I was waiting for the soup to arrive, I looked around to see if I knew anyone in the restaurant. It was __37_ that I noticed a man sitting at the corner table __38__ watching in my direction, as if he knew me. The man had a newspaper open __39__him, which he was __40__ to read, though all the while I could see that he was keeping an eye on me. When the waiter brought the soup, the man was clearly __41_ by the familiar way in which the waiter and I talked to each other. He became even more puzzled as time went on and it grew more and more obvious that I was well__ 42__ in the restaurant. In the end he got up and went to the kitchen. After a few minutes he came_ 43__ again, paid his bill and left without__ 44__ looking in my direction.

When I finished and was__ 45__ to pay my bill, I called the owner over and __46__him what the man had wanted. The owner at__47_ didn’t want to tell me. I __48__ “Well”, he said “ that man was a detective.” “__49__?” I said, much surprised. “he followed you here because he_ 50__ you were the man he was looking for,” the owner said. “He showed me a photo of the__51__ man. He certainly looked __52__ you! Of course since we know you here. I was able to make him __53 _that he had made a mistake.” “It’s__ 54__ I came to a restaurant where I’m where I’m known,” I said, “otherwise I __55__have been taken to police station!”

1.A While               B. After               C. Before              D. Until

2.

A.time

B.then

C.here

D.there

 

3.

A.began

B.enjoyed

C.kept

D.stopped

 

4.

A.behind

B.over

C.in front of

D.beside

 

5.

A.pretending

B.seen

C.prepared

D.hold

 

6.

A.frightened

B.surprised

C.puzzled

D.pleased

 

7.

A.treated

B.welcomed

C.received

D.known

 

8.

A.around

B.up

C.in

D.out

 

9.

A.another

B.all

C.any

D.each

 

10.

A.able

B.about

C.willing

D.anxious

 

11.

A.told

B.showed

C.asked

D.gave

 

12.

A.last

B.first

C.least

D.once

 

13.

A.insisted

B.apologized

C.wondered

D.regretted

 

14.

A.Certainly

B.Really

C.Why

D.How

 

15.

A.knew

B.found

C.explain

D.thought

 

16.

A.strange

B.famous

C.wanted

D.curious

 

17.

A.for

B.at

C.after

D.like

 

18.

A.believe

B.agree

C.remember

D.learn

 

19.

A.necessary

B.funny

C.lucky

D.clear

 

20.

A.need

B.will

C.can

D.might

 

When I was a law professor, a student reported that I made an error in grading his exam by giving him too many points. He was   36  , and after thanking him for his honesty, I changed the grade in my   37  . His beaming (欢笑的) face turned to shock. “You’re   38   my grade?” he said angrily. “I would never have come in   39   ……”

He didn’t finish the   40  , but it was obvious that his display of honesty was   41  . He thought he’d have it all—praise and the higher grade.

Several colleagues thought I should have let the higher grade   42   because all I’d accomplished was to discourage him from being   43   in the future. And every time I tell this story some people agree with this   44  .

   But I can’t see how I could give good reason for worsening my   45   in grading by undermining (损害) the honesty of all my grades by failing to   46   an error. The grade itself would be a dishonest   47   of his knowledge and it would have been   48  to other students. How could I   49   give a student a gift of an unearned grade?

   I know  50   reporting an error in one’s favor is unusual, but, like   51   too much change, it’s clearly the right thing to do. People of character, those with real honesty, hate to give up  52_ as much as anyone else. The difference is that for them a good conscience and reputation is  _53  enough to give reason for the cost of doing the right thing.

   Perhaps lowering the student’s grade did   54   him from being honest in the future, but bribing (贿赂) him to be honest so that he does the right thing when it’s cost-free would have _55

him even more. The duty to be honest is about right and wrong, not risks and rewards.

1.A. wise           B. right            C. grateful         D. upset

2.A. files          B. books            C. records          D. notes

3.A. lowering       B. correcting       C. changing         D. making

4.A. though         B. why          C. where                D. if

5. A. sentence      B. work         C. exam             D. lesson

6.A. good           B. false            C. special              D. impressive

7.A. remove         B. change           C. stand                D. add

8.A. brave          B. adventurous  C. successful           D. honest

9. A. remark        B. complaint        C. praise               D. achievement

10. A. crime        B. mistake      C. doubt                D. guilty

11.A. make          B. find         C. correct              D. avoid

12.A. reaction      B. sense            C. sign             D. reflection

13. A. unfair       B. cruel            C. tough                D. funny

14.A. reluctantly   B. responsibly      C. impossibly           D. impatiently

15.A. actively      B. secretly     C. voluntarily          D. curiously

16.. A. receiving   B. paying           C. earning          D. returning

17. A. benefits     B. honors           C. awards               D. gifts

18.. A. pleasure    B. reward       C. content          D. honor

19.A. protect       B. influence        C. discourage           D. separate

20.A. improved      B. encouraged       C. blamed           D. ruined

 

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