Good Genes Mean Long Life
Scientists have discovered that living to the age of 100 may have nothing to do with the lifestyle you lead and everything to do with the type of genes you have.
For the lucky carriers of “Methuselah” genes, worries over smoking, eating unhealthily and not getting enough exercise may not be as necessary as to those of us without the special gene pattern (组合).
The “Methuselah” genes could give extra protection against the diseases of old age such as cancer and heart disease. They could also protect people against the effects of the unhealthy lifestyles that we believe will lead us to an early death, scientists say. However, the genes are very rare.
The genes include ADIPOQ, which is found in about 10 percent of young people but in nearly 30 percent of people living past 100. They also include the CETP and the ApoC3 genes, which are found in 10 percent of young people, but in about 20 percent of people over 100 years old.
Some of those genes were discovered by a research group at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, led by Professor Nir Barzilai. The team studied the genes of over 500 people over 100 years old, and their children.
The studies show that tiny mutations (变异) in the make-up of some genes can greatly increase a person’s lifespan (寿命). Barzilai told a Royal Society conference that the discovery of such genes gave scientists clear targets for developing drugs that could prevent age-related diseases, allow people to live longer and stay healthy.
David Gems, a researcher at University College London, believes that drugs to slow ageing will become widespread.
“If we know which genes control longevity (长寿) then we can … target them with drugs. That makes it possible to slow down ageing,” he told The Times.
“Much of the pain and suffering in the world are caused by ageing. If we can find a way to reduce that, then we are obliged (义不容辞的) to take it.”According to the article, which of the following is the most important if a person is to live to the age of 100?
| A．Eating healthy food every day. | B．Having the right types of genes. |
| C．Having a healthy lifestyle. | D．Taking drugs that prevent ageing. |
According to the article, the ApoC3 gene is found in ________ of people over 100 years old.
| A．10% | B．20% | C．30% | D．50% |
Which of the following statements is TRUE of the research led by Professor Nir Barzilai?
| A．The team studied the genes of over 100 people over 100 years of age. |
| B．The researchers found that mutations in certain genes lead to longer life. |
| C．The researchers found ways to develop drugs that could cure age-related diseases. |
| D．The study suggested that most people have genes that could lengthen their lives. |
According to David Gems, ________.
| A．drugs to slow ageing will be very expensive |
| B．modern science will be able to find more longevity genes |
| C．it is the duty of medical scientists to fight the problems of ageing |
| D．scientists can make new genes that will allow longer life |
Stopping teens from smoking is a big challenge many communities face today. Many communities can only watch without being able to act while local businesses continue to sell tobacco products to children, even under the risk of punishment by law.
Recent studies show that a large percentage of teens today are getting their cigarettes from stores, mostly gas stations or convenience stores. As teens continue to be able to buy their own cigarettes, more and more communities begin to punish those who sell cigarettes to the teens.
One community has experienced success in their attempts to stop the sale of tobacco products to children. Woodridge, Illinois, started a program seven years ago which forbade and strictly punished the sale of tobacco products to children. The entire program includes local licensing of vendors (小贩), repeated undercover inspections to see if the sale to children has stopped, and education programs in schools. Woodridge has become a model community as other communities are moving to stop teen tobacco use.
A recent national study showed that 36.5% of females, and 40.8% of males buy their cigarettes from stores, whether it is a gas station or a supermarket. Hopefully, as more and more sellers see the trouble they face if caught selling to children, they will stop selling.
True, tightening down on stores that sell tobacco to children isn’t going to completely stop the problem of teen tobacco use. Teens continue to get them from other sources. But it definitely does prevent their efforts. With more education in schools, and perhaps stronger punishments for teens caught with tobacco, more and more teens will see the problems with the tobacco usage, and will stop the habit.To stop teens from smoking, more and more communities are ________.
| A．punishing those who sell cigarettes to teens more severely |
| B．punishing teens caught with tobacco more severely |
| C．educating those who sell cigarettes about the danger of teen smoking |
| D．stopping the sale of tobacco products in stores |
Which of the following is NOT a way Woodridge uses to stop tobacco sale to children?
| A．Local licensing to tobacco sale. | B．Repeated undercover inspections. |
| C．Education programs in schools. | D．Stronger punishment of teens caught smoking. |
It can be inferred from the passage that ________.
| A．teens can only buy cigarettes from gas stations and convenience stores |
| B．more communities have succeeded in stopping teen tobacco use |
| C．More males than females have the habit of smoking in America |
| D．Punishment alone cannot solve the problem of teen tobacco use |
What attitude does the writer have towards stopping teen tobacco abuse?
| A．Negative | B．Optimistic | C．Uncertain | D．Uncaring |
How often do you change your hairstyle or ask for new dresses? You may be 16 to follow trends（潮流）in Western countries, but young people in the United States don’t care as much about 17 as you do.
A recent survey among high school 18in China, Japan, South Korea and the US found that 19 teenagers care more about their appearance than young people in the US.
This survey was held in 156 high schools in the four countries. More than 7,000 teenagers were 20 about their views on life and the world. South Koreans, at 83 per cent, cared most about their looks. They were 21 by the Chinese and Japanese, while US students showed the least interest in fashion at only 33 per cent.
“The different results show 22 of cultural background,” said Sun Yunxiao from the China Youth and Children Research Centre. He explained that in the US there are many different 23 of beauty, so teens are more 24 to be confident about their appearance.
US teenagers’ high self-confidence is displayed in the 25 . About 85 per cent are happy with themselves. The percentage of self-confident Chinese students stands at only 30 per cent.
What’s 26 , US students showed more individuality, with 88 per cent 27 that “people should follow their own interests rather than 28 of others”. This is much 29 than South Korea’s 69 per cent, China’s 49 and Japan’s 48.
Japanese students, at 52 per cent, are most dissatisfied with modern society. Chinese and Koreans follow at second and 30 most dissatisfied.
“ 31 to the survey, Chinese students are happy and disciplined. They have a strong wish to make a difference. 32 Chinese students need to be more independent and learn how to relax,” said Sun.
The students have different 33 backgrounds. But home and places where friends gather are the favorite places all teens seek happiness.
Exams and worries about life after graduation cause much 34 among most of the teens 35 for the survey.
A．absorbed B．willing C．careless D．unhappy
A．hairstyle B．dresses C．fashion D．culture
A．teachers B．students C．citizens D．colleagues
A．Asian B．American C．African D．Western
A．answered B．requested C．persuaded D．questioned
A．followed B．decreased C．reduced D．compared
A．relations B．attitudes C．customs D．differences
A．awareness B．standards C．duties D．expenses
A．admirable B．confused C．likely D．unbelievable
A．survey B．setting C．reference D．paper
A．worse B．better C．less D．more
A．disagreeing B．observing C．agreeing D．puzzling
A．those B．that C．it D．one
A．lower B．larger C．smaller D．higher
A．first B．third C．fourth D．last
A．Leading B．Devoting C．Appealing D．According
A．But B．And C．So D．Or
A．political B．cultural C．economical D．material
A．expectation B．hesitation C．concern D．conservation
A．interviewed B．advised C．overlooked D．invested
—What’s made Tommy so upset?
— ________the game. It shocked him so much.
| A．For losing | B．Because of losing | C．Lost | D．That he lost |
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