Do you want to live another 100 years or more? Some experts say that scientific advances will one day enable humans to last tens of years beyond what is now seen as the natural limit of the human life span.

"I think we are knocking at the door of immortality(永生)," said Michael Zey, a Montclair State University business professor and author of two books on the future. "I think by 2075 we will see it and that’s a conservative estimate".

At the conference in San Francisco, Donald Louria, a professor at New Jersey Medical School in Newark said advances in using genes as well as nanotechnology（納米技術(shù)）make it likely that humans will live in the future beyond what has been possible in the past. "There is a great push so that people can live from 120 to 180 years," he said. "Some have suggested that there is no limit and that people could live to 200 or 300 or 500 years."

However, many scientists who specialize in ageing are doubtful about it and say the human body is just not designed to last about 120 years. Even with healthier lifestyles and less disease, they say failure of the brain and organs will finally lead all humans to death.

Scientists also differ on what kind of life the super aged might live. "It remains to be seen if you pass 120, you know; could you be healthy enough to have good quality of life?" said Leonard Pooh, director of the University of Georgia Gerontology(老齡學(xué)) Center. "At present people who could get to that point are not in good health at all."

1.By saying "we are knocking at the door of immortality", Michael Zey means ________.

A．they believe that there is no limit of living

B．they are sure to find the truth about long living

C．they have got some ideas about living forever

D．they are able to make people live past the present life span

2.Donald Louria's attitude towards long living is that ________.

A．people can live from 120 to 180 years

B．it is still doubtful how long humans can live

C．the human body is designed to last about 120 years

D．it is possible for humans to live longer in the future

3.The underlined "it"（paragraph 4）refers to ________.

A．a(chǎn) great push

B．the idea of living beyond the present life span

C．the idea of living from 200 to 300 years

D．the conservative estimate

4.What would be the best title for this text?

A．Living Longer or Not

B．Science, Technology and Long Living

C．No Limit for Human Life      

D．Healthy Lifestyle and Long Living

 

“Just take a deep breath.” “Don’t think about it.” “You’re more likely to die in a car wreck on the way to the airport than you are in a plane crash.” These are just some words given to people with a fear of flying. But as Tom Cruise, playing Lt. Daniel Kaffee in the movie A Few Good Men, said, “I get sick when I fly because I’m afraid of crashing into a large mountain. I don’t think Daniel will help.”
But there’s a new application that just may. Today, the VALK Foundation, a Dutch group that’s a partnership between KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and the University of Leiden, launches the app in the US. The VALK Foundation was one of the first centers for research and fear-of-flying treatment in the world and is the organizer of three world conferences on fear of flying.The foundation said the app, called Flight App VALK, is the first scientifically-developed, web-based treatment for people who suffer from mild to moderate fear of flying.
“The fear of flying application we have created aims to transfer all of the knowledge we have developed through our program into a mobile application that will help ease travelers’ fears,” said Dr. Lucas van Gerwen, director of the VALK Foundation. Dr. van Gerwen is also a psychologist and professional pilot with more than 30 years experience.
The foundation said up to 30% of adults are fearful fliers. The Flight App is designed to help relax passengers before and during flights by educating users about flight safety and turbulence. It explains the sounds and sensations they can expect during departure, flight and landing. And, if a passenger’s flight stress reaches a panic level, they press a special panic button which provides audio and written information to help decrease stress levels. Most importantly, the Flight App can be used during the flight in the airplane mode. Once downloaded, the program does not require Internet connection in the air.
【小題1】By saying the words at the beginning of the passage, people are expected to ______.

A．decrease their fear of flying

B．get rid of their doubt about plane

C．have a good time on their flight journey

D．use some medicine to cure their fear of flying

【小題2】Flight App VALK is aimed to ______.

A．help passengers experience the fear of flying

B．help relax passengers before and during flights

C．treat people who suffer from mild fear of flying

D．teach people the basic knowledge of taking flight

【小題3】According to the passage, the VALK Foundation ______.

A．is a group focusing on psychology on the flight

B．was the first center to do research into fear of flying

C．organize the world conferences on fear of flying annually

D．focuses on researching and offering treatment on fear of flying

【小題4】What does the last paragraph mainly tell us?

A．Many adults are suffering from fear of flying

B．It’s convenient for people to use the Flight App

C．Many planes will be installed with the Flight App.

D．The Flight App can decrease stress levels effectively

【小題5】In which column of a newspaper can we read this passage?

A．Culture

B．Entertainment

C．Technology

D．Education

Like any awards ceremony of its age, the Oscars, now in its 85th year, has been trying hard to change.

So how did that go this year? When host Seth MacFarlane noted in his opening speech that it was the first time the Academy Awards had a theme, I thought: “well, that’s a good start.”

But when he revealed that the theme was a tribute to(向…致敬) musicals, I was less sure. After all, it’s not the first time that musicals have featured at the Oscars.

In 2007, the cast of Dream-girls gave a special performance directed by movie director and musical veteran(經(jīng)驗(yàn)豐富的老手) Bill Condon. Then there was the memorable 2009 show hosted by Hugh Jackman, who screams musicals. With Beyonce Knowles and Anne Hathaway, he performed several hit songs from move musical. And in 2010, how did Neil Patrick Harris introduce the hosts? By performing a musical number.

So I guess the Oscars could have done better this year. But I must admit, there were more music performances in the three-and-a –half-hour show than ever before. This suggests the Oscars has dropped some of its arrogance and wants to offer audiences more entertainment.

It’s a timely move as the Golden Globes, also known as the “big party,” has become a threat to the Oscars, stealing viewers and even its reputation. Just look at the Oscars’ winning list this year.

You can’t blame the academy for wanting to stick it to the Golden Globes. While they hired Tina Fey and Amy Poehler to host the show—certainly more audience-friendly than MacFarlane— and Bill Clinton was invited as a presenter, who did viewers get at the Oscars? The First Lady of the US, Michelle Obama.

Way to go, Oscar! We know you’re struggling to look fresh and young, but don’t lose the pride and dignity that made you one biggest honor in the movie industry. Don’t ever let that change.

1.Examples are given in Para.4 to show that__________.

A．the Oscars has been trying hard to change

B．the Oscars’ theme is a tribute to musicals

C．it is not the first time that the Oscars has had a theme

D．musicals are not a new feature this year

2.What disappoints the writer is that__________.

A．the Oscars didn’t invite Bill Clinton as a presenter

B．the show took as long as three and a half hours

C．the Oscars has lost some pride and dignity to cater to the audiences

D．the Oscars is no longer fresh and young

3. Which of the following is true of the Golden Globes?

A．It gave an award to the First Lady of the US, Michelle Obama.

B．Its host and hostess had better reputation.

C．It has become highly competitive with the Academy Awards.

D．It is more friendly to the audience.

4.Which of the following could be the best title for the passage?

A．Nothing new, but well done

B．So old, still young

C．New start, good change

D．Too old to change

 

Long ago, in a far-away place, an old tribal chief found himself terminally ill. So he called three most promising young villagers to his bedside and said, “As I ____1.____(leave) you soon, I hope you can do one more thing for me. Young men, you three are all ____2.____(usual) strong and resourceful, so I’d like you to strive to climb that high mountain we have always been worshipping _____3._____ a sacred place. Try to reach the top and then turn back to tell me about your findings. 

Three days later, the first young man returned smartly dressed and said ___4.____(smile),

“Lord, I’ve been to the mountaintop____5.____I saw flowers of all sorts, spring water and singing birds. That’s a real nice place.”

The old tribal chief replied with a smile, “Son, I’ve been there before. it's not the mountaintop ____6.____the foot of the mountain. You can leave now.”

A week later, the second young man also returned. “Lord, I’ve been to the mountaintop ___7.___ a forest of tall pine trees and vultures circling in the air. That’s a really nice place.”

“What a pity!” said the chief. “Son, you’ve been halfway up the mountain rather than to the summit. Now you can leave .”

A month later, the third young man showed up in rags, his hair off-colored but his eyes clear and bright. 

“Lord, I succeeded in reaching the summit. There was nothing there but the highland wind and the blue sky ___8.___(hang) over the land.”

“So you saw nothing at all? Not even ___9.___butterfly?”

“No, Lord, nothing. All you can see is yourself. You just feel how insignificant you are in this infinite universe ___10.__ standing at the top!” 

“Son, you’ve reached the real mountaintop. Congratulations! You will be undoubtedly made our new tribal chief!”

 

采訪中有5處需要添加信息。請從以下選項(xiàng)中（A, B, C, D, E和F）中選出符合各段意思的選項(xiàng)。選項(xiàng)中有一項(xiàng)是多余的。

A．Do established musicians have a responsibility to guide and assist young up-and–coming musicians? B．Did anyone promote your musical education when you were growing up? C．What kind of “world music” do you enjoy? D．What’s your comment on pop music? E．Does the contemporary music press give jazz the coverage it deserves? F．What’s wrong with the music on the radio?

An interview with Wynton Marsalis, a noted jazz musician
【小題1】_________________________________
There were the older jazz musicians who hung around our house when I was young．I saw how much they practiced, how serious they were about their art．I knew then I had to work just as hard if I wanted to succeed．Of course, my father inspired me a lot, and many teachers took the time to nurture my talent and the talents of other students in our school．
【小題2】_____________________________
Yes．We’ve done such a poor job with music education because, as a society, we haven’t maintained the kind of education that a true artist and musician needs．Young people haven’t been able to equate romance and talent with music．For instance, most of the people who make it in the music industry today have to look good．How they sound is secondary．Sarah Vaughan, Bessie Smith, Ella Fitzgerald — those big, romantic queens of jazz music wouldn’t make it in today’s music industry, and that’s a shame．We need to teach young people about the alternatives．
【小題3】______________________________
Around the world people make music that, if you listen carefully to it, sounds a little like the cadence of their language．I’d call it folk music．When I’m away from home, I make a point of listening to regional folk music, not what’s on the radio．
【小題4】_______________________________
The same music is on the radio all over the world, and the American sound is overwhelming．Even the pop music that’s produced and created in foreign countries has that American beat, which underscore funk．As a musician, I’m not interested in hearing recycled versions of the same genre over and over．Any music that doesn’t have a development section just isn’t interesting to me．
【小題5】_________________________________
The music press has so much to introduce these days, and jazz is just a small fraction of it．Because some people are intimidated by jazz, they don’t cover it unless it’s a big name．New jazz musicians don’t get much of break．A lot of editors don’t say anything about jazz these days unless it’s Marsalis．That’s a shame．What VH1 is doing with their Save the Music campaign is phenomenal．They’re getting all these instruments out to needy kids．It’s the kind of thing all networks should be doing．