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.

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

 

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

 “But what if I break my arm again？”My five-year-old daughter asked,looking very　1　.I knew she　2　very much to learn to ride,but ever since she’d fallen off her bike and broken her arm,she’d been afraid.

“Oh,honey,”I said.“I don’t think you’ll break another arm.”“　3　I could,couldn’t I？”“You know,honey,”I said,“　4　everything you do comes with risks.You could get a broken arm in a car　5　and then be afraid to　6　ride in a car again.You could break your arm jumping a rope.You could break your arm at gym.Do you want to　7　going to gym？”“No,”she said.And with a determined spirit,she stood up and　8　to try again.

I spent the rest of the afternoon at the park watching a very　9　little girl overcome a fear,and　10　myself on being a useful single parent after a painful divorce(离婚)．

As we walked home,she asked me about a conversation she’d overheard me having with my　11　the night before.

“Grandma wanted you to find someone to　12　.”“What grandma wants is for someone to　13　my heart again.”“But Mom...”“You’re too young to　14　it,”I told her.“So I guess love isn’t like a broken arm.”she said. 　15　to answer,we walked the rest of the way in　16　.When I got home,I called my mother and　17　her for talking about this to my daughter.Then I did what I’d seen my brave little girl do that very afternoon.I agreed to　18　Steve.

Steve was the man for me.We　19　less than a year later.It turned out my mother and  daughter were　20　.

1．A.surprised             B．disappointed            C．sad                       D．puzzled

2．A.wanted                B．hated                     C．lost                       D．gained

3．A.And                   B．Or                        C．Instead                  D．But

4．A.Almost                B．Hardly                    C．Nearly                   D．Mostly

5．A.trade                    B．sale                        C．accident                  D．show

6．A.ever                    B．never                     C．even                     D．yet

7．A.start                    B．regret                     C．finish                     D．stop

8．A.offered                B．agreed                   C．had                       D．chose

9．A.shy                    B．weak                     C．brave                     D．gentle

10．A.congratulating     B．praising                   C．encouraging           D．celebrating

11．A.father                 B．mother                  C．sister                    D．brother

12．A.like                    B．know                     C．love                     D．teach

13．A.warm                B．feel                       C．buy                      D．break

14．A.understand         B．believe                    C．accept                  D．receive

15．A.Unable               B．Unwilling                C．Uncertain               D．Unhappy

16．A.excitement          B．sorrow                   C．silence                   D．surprise

17．A.punished            B．scolded                   C．thanked                 D．appreciated

18．A.hire                  B．meet                     C．fire                      D．invite

19．A.left                   B．married                   C．moved                  D．quarrelled

20．A.wrong              B．right                       C．clear                     D．clever

 “But what if I break my arm again？”My five-year-old daughter asked,looking very　1　.I knew she　2　very much to learn to ride,but ever since she’d fallen off her bike and broken her arm,she’d been afraid.

“Oh,honey,”I said.“I don’t think you’ll break another arm.”“　3　I could,couldn’t I？”“You know,honey,”I said,“　4　everything you do comes with risks.You could get a broken arm in a car　5　and then be afraid to　6　ride in a car again.You could break your arm jumping a rope.You could break your arm at gym.Do you want to　7　going to gym？”“No,”she said.And with a determined spirit,she stood up and　8　to try again.

I spent the rest of the afternoon at the park watching a very　9　little girl overcome a fear,and　10　myself on being a useful single parent after a painful divorce(离婚)．

As we walked home,she asked me about a conversation she’d overheard me having with my　11　the night before.

“Grandma wanted you to find someone to　12　.”“What grandma wants is for someone to　13　my heart again.”“But Mom...”“You’re too young to　14　it,”I told her.“So I guess love isn’t like a broken arm.”she said. 　15　to answer,we walked the rest of the way in　16　.When I got home,I called my mother and　17　her for talking about this to my daughter.Then I did what I’d seen my brave little girl do that very afternoon.I agreed to　18　Steve.

Steve was the man for me.We　19　less than a year later.It turned out my mother and  daughter were　20　.

1．A.surprised             B．disappointed            C．sad                       D．puzzled

2．A.wanted                B．hated                     C．lost                       D．gained

3．A.And                   B．Or                        C．Instead                  D．But

4．A.Almost                B．Hardly                    C．Nearly                   D．Mostly

5．A.trade                    B．sale                        C．accident                  D．show

6．A.ever                    B．never                     C．even                     D．yet

7．A.start                    B．regret                     C．finish                     D．stop

8．A.offered                B．agreed                   C．had                       D．chose

9．A.shy                    B．weak                     C．brave                     D．gentle

10．A.congratulating     B．praising                   C．encouraging           D．celebrating

11．A.father                 B．mother                  C．sister                    D．brother

12．A.like                    B．know                     C．love                     D．teach

13．A.warm                B．feel                       C．buy                      D．break

14．A.understand         B．believe                    C．accept                  D．receive

15．A.Unable               B．Unwilling                C．Uncertain               D．Unhappy

16．A.excitement          B．sorrow                   C．silence                   D．surprise

17．A.punished            B．scolded                   C．thanked                 D．appreciated

18．A.hire                  B．meet                     C．fire                      D．invite

19．A.left                   B．married                   C．moved                  D．quarrelled

20．A.wrong              B．right                       C．clear                     D．clever