Lesson 37 The process of ageing 衰老过程

First listen and then answer the following question.

听录音,然后回答以下问题。

What is one of the most unpleasant discoveries we make about ourselves as we get older?

At the age of twelve years, the human body is at its most vigorous. It has yet to reach its full size and strength, and its owner his or her full intelligence; but at this age the likelihood of death is least. Earlier, we were infants and young children, and consequently more vulnerable; later, we shall undergo a progressive loss of our vigour and resistance which, though imperceptible at first, will finally become so steep that we

5 can live no longer, however well we look after ourselves, and however well society, and our doctors, look after us. This decline in vigour with the passing of time is called ageing. It is one of the most unpleasant discoveries which we all make that we must decline in this way, that if we escape wars, accidents and diseases we shall eventually 'die of old age', and that this happens at a rate which differs little from person to person, so that there are heavy odds in favour of our dying between the ages of sixty-five and eighty.

10 Some of us will die sooner, a few will live longer-on into a ninth or tenth decade. But the chances are against it, and there is a virtual limit on how long we can hope to remain alive, however lucky and robust we are.

Normal people tend to forget this process unless and until they are reminded of it. We are so familiar with the fact that man ages, that people have for years assumed that the process of losing vigour with time, 15 of becoming more likely to die the older we get, was something self-evident, like the cooling of a hot kettle or the wearing-out of a pair of shoes. They have also assumed that all animals, and probably other organisms such as trees, or even the universe itself, must in the nature of things 'wear out'. Most animals we commonly observe do in fact age as we do, if given the chance to live long enough; and mechanical systems like a wound watch, or the sun, do in fact run out of energy in accordance with the second law of thermodynamics

20 (whether the whole universe does so is a moot point at present). But these are not analogous to what happens when man ages. A run-down watch is still a watch and can be rewound. An old watch, by contrast, becomes so worn and unreliable that it eventually is not worth mending. But a watch could never repair itself-it does not consist of living parts, only of metal, which wears away by friction. We could, at one time, repair ourselves-well enough, at least, to overcome all but the most instantly fatal illnesses and accidents.

Between twelve and eighty years we gradually lose this power; an illness which at twelve would knock us over, at eighty can knock us out, and into our grave. If we could stay as vigorous as we are at twelve, it would take about 700 years for half of us to die, and another 700 for the survivors to be reduced by half again.

ALEX COMFORT The process of ageing

New words and expressions 生词和短语

likelihood (1.2) $/$ laɪklihʊd $/n$ . 可能性 steep (1.4)/stiːp/adj. 急转直下的

infant (1.3) /’ Infәnt/ n. 婴儿 ageing (1.6) / 'eɪdʒɪŋ/ n. 老化

vulnerable (1.3) $/\prime v \land \ln a$ r $=$ b $\partial //a$ d $j$ . 脆弱的 odds (1.9)/odz/ $n$ . 可能性

imperceptible (1.4) / nmpə'septəbəl/ adj. 感觉不到的 virtual (1.11)/'vɜːtfuəl/adj. 实际上的 robust (1.11) / rəʊbʌst/ adj. 强健的 moot (1.20) /muːt/adj. 争论未决的 organism (1.16) $/\log g \cap 1\mathrm{Z}\partial \mathrm{m}/n$ . 有机体 run-down (1.21) $/,\mathrm{r}\Lambda \mathrm{n} -$ 'daʊn/ adj. 破旧的 thermodynamics (1.19) /, ${\theta 3} : \mathrm{m} = 0\mathrm{\mathrm{I}}^{\prime }\mathrm{n} æ \mathrm{m}\mathrm/n$ . friction (1.23) $/\operatorname{frr}1\mathrm{;{kJ}}\partial \mathrm{n}/n$ . 摩擦热力学

Unit 5 Lesson 37

Two tortoises, both from the Seychelles; the small one is a year old, the large one is over a hundred

Notes on the text 课文注释

1 at its most vigorous, 生命力最旺盛的时候。

2 with the passing of time, 随着时间的流失。

3 It is one of the most unpleasant discoveries ... that ..., that ..., and that ..., 3 个以 that 引导的从句是 discoveries 的同位语。

4 a wound watch, 上紧了发条的表。

参考译文

人体在 12 岁时是生命力最旺盛的时期。虽然在这个时期人的身材、体力和智力还有待发展和完善, 但在这个年龄死亡的可能性最小。再早一些, 我们是幼儿和小孩子, 身体较脆弱; 再迟一些, 我们就要经历生命力和抵抗力逐步衰退的过程。虽然这个过程起初难以觉察, 但最终会急转直下, 不管我们怎样精心照料我们自己, 不管社会和医生怎样对我们进行精心照顾,我们也无法再活下去了。生命力随时间的流失而衰退叫做衰老。人类发现的最不愉快的一个事实是:人必然会衰老。既使我们能避开战争、意外的事故和各种疾病,我们最终也会 “老死”; 衰老的速度在人与人之间相差甚微, 我们最可能死亡的年龄在 65 至 80 岁之间, 有些人会死得早一些,少数人寿命会长一些——活到八十几岁或九十几岁,但这种可能性很小。不管我们多么幸运,多么健壮,我们所希望的长寿实际上是有限度的。

衰老的过程,不经提起,正常人容易忘记；一经提醒,才会记起。我们对人总是要衰老的现象并不陌生,多年来就已认识到。生命力随着时间流失而丧失活力, 人随着年龄的增长而接近死亡, 这是不言而喻的, 就像一壶热水迟早会凉下来,一双鞋渐渐会磨破一样。人们不但认识到所有的动物,大概也认识到所有的有机物,如树木,甚至宇宙本身,从事物的本质上来说都会“磨损掉”。我们通常看到的大多数动物,即使能让它们活得足够长久的话,也会像我们一样衰老的。像上紧发条的手表那样的机械装置,或太阳,也都会消耗完其能量(整个字宙是否如此, 目前尚有争论)。不过, 这些衰老的情况同人并不相似。手表停了依然是只手表, 还可以重上好发

Unit 5 Lesson 37

条。然而一只老掉牙的手表,磨损太厉害,老得一点儿也不准了,最终会不值得修理了。但是,手表决不会自行修理, 它不是由有生命的部件组成, 而是由金属组成, 而金属可以随着磨擦而磨损殆尽。而我们人, 在一定时间内是可以自行修复的, 除了暴病而死或意外事故外, 至少足以克服一切一般疾病和事故。在 12 岁至 80 岁之间, 我们逐渐丧失这种能力。能使我们在 12 岁时病倒的疾病,到了 80 岁可能会使我们一蹶不振而进入坟墓。假如我们能保持 12 岁时的旺盛生命力,那么我们当中的一半人过 700 年才会死去,剩下的一半人再过 700 年,才会又减少一半。

Comprehension 理解

Answer these questions:

1 Why is the likelihood of death least when we are twelve years old?

2 Why are there heavy odds in favour of our dying between the ages of sixty-five and eighty?

3 Which power do we gradually lose between the ages of twelve and eighty?

Vocabulary 词汇

Refer to the text to see how the following words have been used, then write sentences of your own using these words: likelihood (1.2); vulnerable (1.3); imperceptible (1.4); decline in vigour (1.6); rate (1.8); robust (1.11); self-evident (1.15); moot (1.20); fatal (1.24).

Summary 摘要

Drawing your information from the second paragraph (lines 13-27), write a summary of the author's description of the process of ageing. Do not write more than 100 words. Your answer should be in one paragraph.

Composition 作文

A Write a list of ideas in note form which could be used to discuss the following subject: Suggest reasons why we in the twentieth century can expect to live longer than people who lived in bygone times.

B Drawing on your list of ideas, write a composition of about 400 words.

Key structures 关键句型

A Supply the where necessary in the following sentences:

It is one of _____ most unpleasant discoveries which we all make. (II.6-7)

2 _____ most animals we commonly observe do in fact age as we do. (11.17-18)

Death is something which _____ most people fear.

Make _____ most of what you've got.

5 _____ most of the things I've got were bought overseas.

B Compare the use of however in these sentences.

1 There is a virtual limit on how long we can hope to remain alive, however lucky and robust we are. (II.11-12)

2 No one will deny that many of the programmes shown on television are very poor. There are, however, a fair number which are very fine indeed.

Write two sentences using however in the ways shown above. Unit 5 Lesson 37

C Complete these sentences in any way you wish. Then compare what you have written with the sentences in the passage:

1 We shall undergo a progressive loss of our vigour and resistance which, _____, will finally become so steep that _____(II.3-4)

2 We are so familiar with the fact that man ages, that _____(ll.13-14)

3 An old watch, by contrast, becomes so worn and unreliable that _____(ll.21-22)

Special difficulties 难点

A Study the following pairs of words and then write sentences of your own to bring out the difference. 1 infant (1.3) - baby

The State provides a programme of health checks for all infants up to a year old. (infant is only used in official

contexts).

We were innoculated against diphtheria when we were babies.

2 imperceptible (I.4) - unperceived

The changes, at first so small as to be imperceptible, become more obvious as time passes.

So much money was involved that it was impossible for the forgery to remain unperceived.

3 alive- living

It was a surprise to learn that he had just died, since I hadn't realized he was still alive!

Until August 1997, the oldest living person was a French woman from Arles aged a hundred and twenty-two.

B Explain the meaning of the verbs in italics:

1 ... we shall undergo a progressive loss of our vigour ... however well we look after ourselves ... (II.3-5)

2 Look out! There's a bus coming!

3 I am looking forward to the summer holidays.

4 Everybody looks on him as a leader.

5 If there are any words in the passage you don't understand, look them up in the dictionary.

6 Business was very slack before Christmas, but things are looking up now.

7 I shall certainly look up all my old friends when I go back home.

8 Why don't you look in next week. I'm sure he'll be back by then.

C Explain the meaning of the verbs in italics:

1 ... mechanical systems ... run out of energy ... (ll.18-19)

2 My new car hasn't been run in yet.

3 That little boy was nearly run over by a bus.

4 He ran through all the money he had inherited in less than a year.

5 While on holiday in Spain, we ran into our next-door neighbours.

6 Look at that lamp-post. It looks as if a car ran into it.

D Explain the meaning of the verbs in italics:

1 ... an illness which at twelve would knock us over, at eighty can knock us out ... (11.25-26)

2 There's so much work to do in the office these days, I never knock off before six o'clock.

Unit 5 Lesson 37 Multiple choice questions 多项选择题 Choose the correct answers to the following questions.

Comprehension 理解

1 Our first twelve years _____ .

(a) are followed by a rapid decline

(b) represent the peak of our development as human beings

(c) are succeeded by a gradual ageing process

(d) are the time when the human body is at its most vigorous

2 No matter how lucky and robust we are, we _____ .

(a) cannot avoid the ageing process

(b) make unpleasant discoveries

(c) will died between the ages of sixty-five and eighty

(d) will all die at the same time

3 The process in humans and animals of losing vigour with time _____ .

(a) is something we would all like to forget (b) is not something we question very much

(c) is like a watch that wears out (d) follows the second law of thermodynamics

4 Humans could live for very long periods indeed if they _____ .

(a) retained the capacity for self-repair they enjoyed at twelve

(b) didn't become run down

(c) survived the first 700 years

(d) weren’t worn down by friction

Structure 句型

5 _____ reached its full size and strength. (II.1-2)

(a) It hasn’t before (b) It hasn’t even (c) It still hasn’t (d) Yet it hasn’t

6 At this age, the possibilities of death are _____.

(a) few (b) fewer (c) the fewest (d) fewest

7 We can live no longer, _____ we look after ourselves. (ll.4-5)

(a) whatever (b) no matter how much

(c) how much (d) whichever way

8 So familiar _____ with the fact that man ages, that ... (ll.13-14)

(a) have we (b) we have (c) are we (d) we are

Vocabulary 词汇

9 The body has yet to arrive _____ its full size. (1.1)

(a) - (b) to (c) in (d) at

10 They run out of energy

(a) similar (b) in contrast to (c) in line with (d) in harmony with

r1 Whether the whole universe runs out of energy is _____ point. (1.20)

(a) a mute (b) an undecided (c) a lost (d) a big

12 A watch could never repair itself - it is not made _____ living parts. (II.22-23)

(a) out (b) away with (c) over to (d) up of