In the Caucasus region of Russia, nearly 50 out of every 100,000 people live to celebrate their 100th birthday, and many don't stop at 100! By comparison, in America only 3 people in 100,000 reach 100. But these Russian old people aren't alone. The Pakistanis, who live high in the Himalaya Mountains, and the Ecuadorans of the Andes Mountains seem to share the secret of long life, too. These people 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 Caucasians aged 100 to 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." What accounts for this ability to survive 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 people. They begin their long days of physical labor as children and never seem to stop. For example, Mr . Rustam Mamedov is 142 years of age. His wife is 116 years old. They have been married for 90 years. Mr. Mamedov has no intention of retiring from his life as a farmer. "Why?What else would I do?"he asks. 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 of 1,660 to 1,000 meters above sea level. The air has less oxygen and is pollution-free. This reduced-oxygen environment makes the heart and blood vessel system stronger. Another factor that may contribute to the good health of these people is their isolation. To a great extent, they are separated from the pressures and worries of industrial society. Inherited factors also play some role. Most of the longest-lived people had parents and grandparents who also reached very old ages. Good family genes may, therefore, be one factor in living longer. Which of the following factors isn't helpful to people's health and long life? A) Clean mountain air. B) Daily hard work. C) Good genes D) Stress and pressure.
D
Most teens I meet these days lack basic social courtesy when dealing with people. My own son, who basically grew up with his grandmother, the original manners expert, has perfect table manners. This is partly because he was exposed to manners at a very young age. However, when we eat at home, he would not practice manners. So I asked him why. He said, "I behave the way I am supposed to behave when I'm out, but when I am at home I want to be comfortable." That's when I realized that most parents, myself included, do teach their children the proper way to behave outside the home, but they are also brought up to believe that at home, anything goes. My answer to him was "good behavior has nothing to do with where you are or whom you are with". Then he answered, "But I behave properly when I'm with others so that they think better of me ." And that is when I realized that I was doing things all wrong. I explained to him that it had nothing to do with what people think. This confused him even more. So I went on to explain that behavior, whether in your everyday interaction with people or at the dining table at home, is an expression of who you are. Well, at the age of 13, he got it. So basically, what I am saying is that teaching your children manners comes with the underlying lesson that it is not about what to do or not to do, but rather , who they are. This way it is not mechanical : it comes from within. Teach your teens or children the basic courtesy of greeting their friends' parents and introducing themselves when they go to someone's home. Teach teenage boys to open the door of a car, or any door for that matter, for any girl, whether they are their girlfriends or not. This includes holding elevator doors or letting women step out of the elevator first. Just remember that teenage boys who practice good manners and courtesy grow up to become men who respect people in general. Why did "my son" behave differently at home and out of home? A) He wanted to be a special boy. B) He wanted to be more comfortable at home. C) He just followed what his grandmother's said. D) He thought that behavior was very cool.
B
Q: It's time to do something for your father - the man who for many people has been an encouragement and support since birth. The third Sunday of June is Father's Day. The holiday honors not only fathers, but also all men who act as father figures, such as stepfathers, uncles and grandfathers. The idea of Father's Day came from the love and appreciation of American lady called Sonore Smart Dodd in 1909. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. He raised six children by himself on a countryside farm in Washington State after his wife died during the birth of their sixth child. When Dodd became an adult, she realized the selflessness her father has shown in raising his children as a single parent. It was her father who did all for his children. In the eyes of his daughter, William Smart was a courageous, selfless and loving man. Dodd's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Washington on June 19th, 1910. In 1924, US President Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of a national Father's Day. Finally, in 1966, President Lyndon Johnson declared the third Sunday of June as Father's day. So this is a perfect chance to let your father know what he means to you. To show your love and respect, you need not buy an expensive gift. You can send him a home - made card; You can call him every day; Even you can give him a sweet smile when he comes back from work. All these little things are easy for us to do, but they can show your care and love to your father. Father's Day always falls on _ . A) the same day every year B) the 3rd Sunday of June C) the last day of June D) June 16thof each year
A: B
*Question*
Have you ever dreamed about a trip to the space? Seeds of some vegetables and crops are a lot luckier than you, as they have travelled to space and back. China is among the three countries in the world that carry out agricultural research in space. The others are Russia and the US. Since 1987, China has sent about 1,000 species of seeds into space. These include green peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers , carrots, lettuce and wheat. Even on China's first manned spacecraft Shenzhou-V, there were some seeds from Taiwan. "Conditions in outer space such as radiation and low gravity can cause big changes in the seeds," said Chinese researcher Jin Xing. But not all seeds are better after going to space. After returning to Earth, the best seeds are selected.These seeds produce much more and also grow faster than normal seeds. As the safety of genetically modified food is still being debated, some people doubt the safety of these "space vegetables" because some of their genes are changed during the trip to space. But Jin holds a more positive view. He said, "unlike genetically modified crops, no new genes are introduced to the space vegetables, so they are definitely safe." China has also been co-operating with NASA to grow some super size potatoes on the International Space Station. Special growth rooms use computers to control the light, temperature and humidity . Using this technology a new, virus-free potato can be produced every 40 to 50 days instead of the previous yearly crop. Jin has no doubt about the safety of the space vegetables because _ . A) the seeds sent to space are all the same as those of genetically modified food B) the seeds sent to space are the best C) no new genes are brought in them unlike genetically modified food D) the space vegetables have already planted in special growth rooms
**Answer**
C