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

How Long Can People Live?

    She took up skating at age 85, made her first movie appearance at age 114, and held a concert in the neighborhood on her 121 st birthday.

    When it comes to long life, Jeanne Calment is the world’s record holder. 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.

72. 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.

73. 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

74. 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

75. 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

How Long Can People Live?

    She took up skating at age 85, made her first movie appearance at age 114, and held a concert in the neighborhood on her 121 ^st 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.

72. 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.

73. 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

74. 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

75. 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

第一节  （共5 小题；每小题 1.5 分，满分 7.5 分）

听下面5段对话。每段对话后有一个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项，并标在试卷的相应位置。听完每段对话后，你都有10秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。每段对话仅读一遍。

1.What’s the relationship between the speakers?

A. Secretary and boss.          B. Old friends.             C. Husband and wife.

2.What’s the woman’s reaction to the hotel?

  A. She is indifferent to it.        B. She is interested in it.     C. She is against it.

3.What does the man imply?

  A. He didn’t go to the jeweler’s               B. He was too busy to fix the watch  

  C. He doesn’t kwow how to get to the jeweler’s

4.Who will smoke the cigarettes?

  A. The man’s wife.             B. The man.               C. The woman.

5.How often will the woman take the medicine?

  A. Twice a day.                B. Three times a day.        C. Four times a day.

第二节  （共15小题；每小题 1.5 分，满分 22.5 分）

听下面5 段对话或独白。每段对话或独白后有几个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项，并标在试卷的相应位置。听每段对话或独白前，你将有时间阅读各个小题，每小题5秒钟；听完后，各小题将给出5秒钟的作答时间。每段对话或独白读两遍。

听第6段材料，回答第6-8题。

6.What is the woman?

  A. A reporter.              B. A columnist              C. A reporter and columnist

7.Why does the woman come to the man?

  A. She wants to interview him on something.     B. She wants to say “Hello” to him.

  C. She just drops in on him.

8.What is the man probably expert at?

  A. News reports.            B. Forestry.                C. Edition.

听第7段材料，回答第9-11题。

9.Why couldn’t the man sleep last night?

  A. Martin was too noisy.      B. He quarreled with someone.    

C. He was too worried.

10.Who ought to cook tonight?

  A. The woman              B. The man                     C. Martin.

11.What do we know about Martin?

  A. He’s a house builder.    B. He’s the man’s roommate.     C. He’s the woman’s boyfriend.

听第8段材料，回答第12-14题。

12.Who is the woman?

  A. A new university student.     B. An assistant professor.     C. A professor.

13.How many hours of lessons does the man suggest a week?

  A. 4.                        B. 12.                     C. 14.

14.What does the man suggest the woman do?

   A. Take algebra              B. Take a test               C. Take geometry.

听第9段材料，回答第15-17题。

15.Why is the woman unhappy?

   A. The apartment needs a lot of repair work.   

B. The apartment is too far from the campus.

   C. She’s having trouble with the owner of the apartment.

16.What are the woman and her roommate planning to do?

   A. To talk to Ms. Connors.                  B. To find another apartment.     

C. To ask the man to repair the dishwasher.

17.Why does the woman think the man can help her?

   A. He had the same problem.                B. He has some knowledge of the law

   C. He can bring a lawsuit against the owner.

听第10段材料，回答第18-20题。

18.Who is the speaker talking to?

   A. Art lovers         B. Photographers        C. University students.

19.What is Dr. Wilson busy doing now?

   A. Taking photographs for a newspaper.          B. Teaching painting in a university.

   C. Writing a book about art.

20.What can be expected in Dr. Wilson’s talk?

   A. The 19^th century paintings and present-day art. 

B. Her experiences in European countries.

   C. Lifestyle in Italy in the 19^th century.