2 . How long can human beings live? Most scientists who study old age think that the human body is ___ to live no longer than 120 years. However, 110 years is probably the longest that anyone could hope to live — if he or she is ___ healthy and lucky. Some scientists even say we can live as long as 130 years! Yet, our cells simply cannot continue to reproduce ___. They wear out, and as a result, we get old and ___ die.
Even though we can’t live forever, we are living a ___ life than ever before. In 1900, the average American life span(寿命)was only 47 years, but today it is 75 years!
When does old age begin then? Sixty-five may be out-of-date as the ___ line between middle age and old age. After all, many older people don’t begin to experience physical and mental ___ until after age 75.
People are living longer because more people ___ childhood. Before modern medicine changed the laws of nature, many children died of common childhood ___. Now that the chances of dying ____ are much lower, the chances of living long are much higher due to better diets and health care.
On the whole, our population is getting older. The ____ in our population will have lasting effects on our social development and our way of life. Some people fear such changes will be for the worse, while some see ____, not disaster. Today, many men and women in their "golden years" are healthy, still active, and young in ____ if not in age.
As our society grows old, we need the ____ of our older citizens. With long lives ahead of them, they need to ____ active and be devoted.
1. A.designed | B.selected | C.improved | D.discovered |
2. A.completely | B.generally | C.apparently | D.extremely |
3. A.rapidly | B.harmlessly | C.endlessly | D.separately |
4. A.eventually | B.hopelessly | C.automatically | D.desperately |
5. A.busier | B.longer | C.richer | D.happier |
6. A.finishing | B.guiding | C.waiting | D.dividing |
7. A.stress | B.damage | C.decline | D.failure |
8. A.survive | B.enjoy | C.remember | D.value |
9. A.problems | B.fears | C.worries | D.diseases |
10. A.poor | B.young | C.sick | D.quiet |
11. A.changes | B.recovery | C.safety | D.increases |
12. A.dreams | B.chances | C.strengths | D.choices |
13. A.mind | B.appearance | C.voice | D.movement |
14. A.protection | B.suggestions | C.contributions | D.permission |
15. A.sound | B.appear | C.turn | D.stay |