In the Caucasus region（高加索地区）, nearly 50 out of every 100,000 people live to celebrate their 100^th birthday, and many don’t stop at 100! By comparison, in America only 3 people in 100,000 reach 100. But these Caucasus people aren’t alone. The Pakistani Hunzas, who live high in the Himalaya Mountains, and the Vilcabambans of the Andes Mountains in Ecuador seem to share the secret of long life too.

　　These peoples remain healthy in body and spirit despite the passage of time. While many older persons in industrial societies become weak and ill in their 60s and 70s, some Caucasus people aged 110-140, work in the fields beside their great-great-grandchildren. Even the idea of aging is foreign to them. When asked, “At what age does youth end?” most of these old people had no answer. Several replied, “Well, perhaps at age 80.” The very youngest estimate was age 60.

　　What accounts for this ability to survive (live) to such old age, and to survive so well? First of all, hard physical work is a way of life for all of these long-lived peoples. They began their long days of physical labor as children and never seem to stop. For example, Mr. Rustam is 142 years of age. He remembers his life experience: the Crimean War of 1854; the Turkish War of 1878; the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917. His wife is 116 years old. They have been married for 90 years. Mr. Rustam has no plan of retiring from his life as a farmer. “Why? What else would I do?” he asks. Oh, he’s slowed down a bit. Now he might quit (stop working) for the day after 6 hours in the field instead of 10.

　　All these people get healthful rewards from the environment in which they work. They all come from mountainous regions. They live and work at elevations（海拔）of 5,000 to 12, 000 feet(1,660 to 4,000meters) above sea level. The air has less oxygen and is pollution-free. This reduced oxygen environment makes the heart and blood vessel（血管）system stronger.

　　Another factor（因素）that may lead to the good health of these people is their isolation. To a great extent, they are separated from the pressure（压力）and worries of industrial society.

　　Inherited（遗传的） factors also play some role. Most of the longest-lived peoples had parents and grandparents who also reached very old age. Good family genes may, therefore, be one factor in living longer.

　　Finally, although these three groups don’t eat exactly the same foods, their diets are similar. All of them eat little animal meat. Their diets are full of fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, cheese and milk. They never eat more food than their bodies need.

　　It is clear that isolation from urban pressure and pollution, clean mountain air, daily hard work, moderate diets, good genes, and a youthful approach to life all lead to the health and remarkable long life of all these people.

1. What is the main idea of this article?

A．Cause and effect of long-lived life.

B．People in the world enjoying a longer life.

C．Factors leading to the health and long life of people.

D．A description of several societies where people living a long life.

2. “The idea of aging is foreign to them” means that _________.

A．they don’t care much about their age

B．they have no idea of how old they are

C．they won’t say anything about their age until they are asked to

D．the idea of getting old has never come into their mind

3. How do you think the writer feels about these long-lived people?

A．He is much impressed with them.

B．He doesn’t care a bit about them.

C．He hopes that they will live a still longer life.

D．He doesn’t think their life is full of pressure and worries.

 

You don’t need to speak French to understand the Parisians. You just need to know how to make gestures. A new guide has come out by French tourism officials, which is to help foreign visitors understand Parisians with a list of commonly used gestures like “shut up”. “If you use them the next time when you’re in Paris, people will start mistaking you for a native (当地人) in no time,” says the online guide at www.cestsoparis.com.
Some of the city’s rude native people in Paris have been a headache for the tourism authorities(旅游当局) for a long time. They have tried their best to ask Parisians to be more friendly to foreign visitors. They have decided to show visitors commonly used gestures by Parisians at www.cestsoparis.com. Visitors can learn and get help from there.
The website includes the common gestures such as “Bof” and “Camembert”. “Bof” is used to mean “I don’t know” or “I disagree”, and “Camembert” is to tell someone to shut up.
And it also includes a note, which warns visitors not to use the gestures too freely.Otherwise, they may see some even ruder Parisian expressions.
(   )16. The coming out of that new guide in France is　　　 .
A. to help foreign visitors to learn French well
B. to help foreign visitors understand Parisians
C. to make a suitable website in Paris
D. to tell people the importance of speaking French
(   )17. The gesture “Camembert” in the website means　　　 .
A. I don’t know         B. I disagree
C. Don’t speak          D. Don’t stop speaking
(   )18. The underlined word “They” refers to(指代)　　　 .
A. the rude native people in Paris    B. the tourism authorities in Paris
C. the commonly used gestures     D. the foreign visitors in Paris
(   )19. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?
A. Some native Parisians are rude to foreign visitors.
B. The new guide is mainly for foreign tourists.
C. You’ll be regarded as a native if you use the gestures at www.cestsoparis.com.
D. You can use the gestures in Paris as freely as you want.
(   )20. The BEST title for this passage is　　　 .
A. How to learn French          B. What places to visit in Paris
C. Gestures make you a Parisian   D. How rude Parisians are