普通高等学校招生全国统一考试北京卷 2之四

　　 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 worlds 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 dont entirely agree on the answers. Calment lived to 122, so it wouldnt 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 couldnt live past 110. When Calment blew past that age, they raised the number to 120. So why cant we go higher?

　　 The trouble with guessing how old people can live to be is that its 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.

　　 Wont 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 flys 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? Its 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

　　第二卷（共35分）

　　第四部分：书面表达（共两节，满分35分）

　　第一节 情景作文（满分20分）

　　普通高等学校招生全国统一考试北京卷 2之四

　　 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 worlds 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 dont entirely agree on the answers. Calment lived to 122, so it wouldnt 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 couldnt live past 110. When Calment blew past that age, they raised the number to 120. So why cant we go higher?

　　 The trouble with guessing how old people can live to be is that its 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.

　　 Wont 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 flys 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? Its 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

　　第二卷（共35分）

　　第四部分：书面表达（共两节，满分35分）

　　第一节 情景作文（满分20分）