Azeri Hills Hold Secret of Long Life

    You can see for kilometers from the mountains where Allahverdi Ibadov herds his small flock of sheep amid a sea of yellow, red, and purple wildflowers. The view from Amburdere in southern Azerbaijantoward the Iranian border is spectacular, but Mr. Ibadov barely gives it a second glance.

    Why should he? He’s been coming here nearly every day for 100 years.

    According to his carefully preserved passport, Mr. Ibadov, whose birth was not registered until he was a toddler, is at least 105 years old. His wife, who died two years ago, was even older. They are among the dozens of people in this beautiful, isolated region who live extraordinarily long lives.

    Mr. Ibadov’s eldest son has just turned 70. He lost count long ago of how many grandchildren he has.¹ “I’m an old man now I look after the sheep, and I prepare the wood for winter. I still have something to do. “

    A lifetime of toil, it seems, takes very few people to an early grave in this region. Scientists admit there appears to be something in the Azeri mountains that gives local people a longer, healthier life than most.

    Miri Ismailov’s family in the tinyvillageofTatoniare convinced that they know what it is. Mr. Ismailov is 110, his great-great-grandson is four. They share one proud boast: Neither has been to a doctor. “There are hundreds of herbs on the mountain, and we use them all in our cooking and for medicines”; explained Mr. Ismailov’s daughter,Elmira. “We know exactly what they can do. We are our own doctors.，’

    There is one herb for high blood pressure，another for kidney stones，and a third for a hacking cough. They are carefully collected from the slopes surrounding the village. Experts from the Azerbaijan Academy of Science believe the herbs may be part of the answer. They have been studying longevity in this region for years. It began as a rare joint Soviet-American project in the 1980s，but these studies are not being funded any more.

    Azeri scientists have isolated a type of saffron unique to the southern mountains as one thing that seems to increase longevity. Another plant, made into a paste, dramatically increases the amount of milk that animals are able to produce. “Now we have to examine these plants clinically to find out which substances have this effect,” said Chingiz Gassimov, a scientist at the academy.

    The theory that local people have also developed a genetic predisposition to long life has been strengthened by the study of a group of Russian emigres whose ancestors were exiled to the Caucasus 200 years ago.² The Russians’ life span is much shorter than that of the indigenous mountain folk — though it is appreciably longer than that of their ancestors left behind in the Russian heartland.

    “Over the decades，I believe local conditions have begun to have a positive effect on the new arrivals” , Professor Gassimov said. “It’s been slowly transferred down the generations.”

    But Mr. Ismailov, gripping his stout wooden cane, has been around for too long to get overexcited. “There’s no secret,” he shrugged dismissively. “I look after the cattle and I eat well. Life goes on.”

词汇：

herd /hɜ:d/ vt.放牧 

boast /bəʊst/ vt.以有……而自豪
longevity / lɑnˈdʒɛvɪti/  n.长寿

Caucasus /ˈkɔ:kəsəs/ n.高加索

Dismissively  轻蔑地
spectacular / spekˈtækjələadj. / adj.壮观的

hacking cough 干咳
saffron /ˈsæfr(ə)n/ n.藏红花

indigenous /ɪnˈdɪdʒinəs/ adj.本土的

注释：

1．He lost count long ago of how many grandchildren he has.他很久以前就数不清他有多少个孙辈孩子。lost count：弄不清楚，数不清
2．The theory that local people have also developed a genetic predisposition to long life has been strengthened by the study of a group of Russian emigres whose ancestors were exiled to the Caucasus 200 years ago.当地人已经具备长寿的遗传素质，一组关于俄罗斯移民的研究证实了这一理论。他们的祖先在两百年前被流放到高加索地区。genetic predisposition：遗传素质

Miri Ismailov has never been to a doctor but his great-great-grandson has

A:Right B:Wrong C:Not mentioned

Azeri Hills Hold Secret of Long Life

    You can see for kilometers from the mountains where Allahverdi Ibadov herds his small flock of sheep amid a sea of yellow, red, and purple wildflowers. The view from Amburdere in southern Azerbaijantoward the Iranian border is spectacular, but Mr. Ibadov barely gives it a second glance.

    Why should he? He’s been coming here nearly every day for 100 years.

    According to his carefully preserved passport, Mr. Ibadov, whose birth was not registered until he was a toddler, is at least 105 years old. His wife, who died two years ago, was even older. They are among the dozens of people in this beautiful, isolated region who live extraordinarily long lives.

    Mr. Ibadov’s eldest son has just turned 70. He lost count long ago of how many grandchildren he has.¹ “I’m an old man now I look after the sheep, and I prepare the wood for winter. I still have something to do. “

    A lifetime of toil, it seems, takes very few people to an early grave in this region. Scientists admit there appears to be something in the Azeri mountains that gives local people a longer, healthier life than most.

    Miri Ismailov’s family in the tinyvillageofTatoniare convinced that they know what it is. Mr. Ismailov is 110, his great-great-grandson is four. They share one proud boast: Neither has been to a doctor. “There are hundreds of herbs on the mountain, and we use them all in our cooking and for medicines”; explained Mr. Ismailov’s daughter,Elmira. “We know exactly what they can do. We are our own doctors.，’

    There is one herb for high blood pressure，another for kidney stones，and a third for a hacking cough. They are carefully collected from the slopes surrounding the village. Experts from the Azerbaijan Academy of Science believe the herbs may be part of the answer. They have been studying longevity in this region for years. It began as a rare joint Soviet-American project in the 1980s，but these studies are not being funded any more.

    Azeri scientists have isolated a type of saffron unique to the southern mountains as one thing that seems to increase longevity. Another plant, made into a paste, dramatically increases the amount of milk that animals are able to produce. “Now we have to examine these plants clinically to find out which substances have this effect,” said Chingiz Gassimov, a scientist at the academy.

    The theory that local people have also developed a genetic predisposition to long life has been strengthened by the study of a group of Russian emigres whose ancestors were exiled to the Caucasus 200 years ago.² The Russians’ life span is much shorter than that of the indigenous mountain folk — though it is appreciably longer than that of their ancestors left behind in the Russian heartland.

    “Over the decades，I believe local conditions have begun to have a positive effect on the new arrivals” , Professor Gassimov said. “It’s been slowly transferred down the generations.”

    But Mr. Ismailov, gripping his stout wooden cane, has been around for too long to get overexcited. “There’s no secret,” he shrugged dismissively. “I look after the cattle and I eat well. Life goes on.”

词汇：

herd /hɜ:d/ vt.放牧 

boast /bəʊst/ vt.以有……而自豪
longevity / lɑnˈdʒɛvɪti/  n.长寿

Caucasus /ˈkɔ:kəsəs/ n.高加索

Dismissively  轻蔑地
spectacular / spekˈtækjələadj. / adj.壮观的

hacking cough 干咳
saffron /ˈsæfr(ə)n/ n.藏红花

indigenous /ɪnˈdɪdʒinəs/ adj.本土的

注释：

1．He lost count long ago of how many grandchildren he has.他很久以前就数不清他有多少个孙辈孩子。lost count：弄不清楚，数不清
2．The theory that local people have also developed a genetic predisposition to long life has been strengthened by the study of a group of Russian emigres whose ancestors were exiled to the Caucasus 200 years ago.当地人已经具备长寿的遗传素质，一组关于俄罗斯移民的研究证实了这一理论。他们的祖先在两百年前被流放到高加索地区。genetic predisposition：遗传素质

Elmira Ismailov is a doctor who uses herbs as medicines

A:Right B:Wrong C:Not mentioned

Sleeplessness

    Insomnia or sleeplessness is a common complaint¹ of women as they enter into menopause. Insomnia means having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep or the feeling that your sleep was not adequate for you. For women who are having night sweats, their sleep is broken by frequent awakening and therefore not refreshing. Generally once² the night sweats are controlled a normal sleep pattern returns. If it doesn"t it may be, or have become chronic insomnia.³ How do you know?⁴

    If you suffer from insomnia every night or most nights for a period of one month then you have chronic insomnia. If you"re not having night sweats then it"s time to look for other causes of sleeplessness. Depression and anxiety disorders are the most common causes of chronic insomnia. If you feel depressed you need to be checked by a qualified health care provider⁵. Movement disorders such as restless leg syndrome are second on the list⁶ of insomnia for them； there are new medicines that may help. Other common causes are shift working, and pain.

    In up to⁷ 30% of people with chronic insomnia no cause can be identified. Medical treatment of these people has generally been with sleeping pills. It is estimated that 25% of the adult population in Americatook some type of medicines for sleep last year. It is generally agreed that sleeping pills should only be in the lowest dose⁸ and for the shortest possible time.

    Sleep hygiene⁹ is directed at changing bad sleep habits. The recommendations are： 一 Go to bed only when sleepy. 一Do not wait up to a specified time. 一Avoid caffeine and alcohol in the evening, etc.

 

词汇：

insomnia /ɪn"sɒmnɪə/ n.失眠，失眠症

qualified /"kwɒlɪfaɪd/ adj.有资格的，胜任的，具备必要条件的

syndrome/"sɪndrəʊm/ n.综合病症，综合症状，

identify /aɪ"dentɪfaɪ/ vt.识别，鉴定

dose/dəʊs/ n.(药物等的)(一次)剂量，一剂，一服

hygiene/"haɪdʒiːn/ n.卫生，卫生学，保健学

recommendation /,rekəmen"deɪʃ(ə)n/ /n.劝告，建议；推荐

specify /"spesɪfaɪ/ vt.具体指定，明确说明

caffeine /"kæfiːn/ n.咖啡因，咖啡碱

complaint/kəm"pleint/ n.疾病；抱怨，诉苦

menopause/"menəpɔːz/ n.绝经，绝经期，更年期

refreshing/rɪ"freʃɪŋ/ adj.提神的，凉爽的，清凉的

chronic /"krɒnɪk/ adj.(疾病）慢性的

depression /dɪ"preʃ(ə)n/ 抑郁，沮丧，消沉

disorder /dɪs"ɔːdə/ n.（身，信机能的）紊乱，不适，病

 

注释：       

1.complaint:此处意为“疾病”。

2.once:—旦（引导时间状语从句）

3.If it doesn"t it may be, or have become chronic insomnia.如果正常的睡眠规律不能恢复，则可 能成为或已经成为慢性失眠了。If k doesn"t中的k指上一句提到的normal sleep pattern。

4. How do you know?是 How do you know if it may be or have become chronic insomnia?的省略。

5.a qualified health care provider：—个合格的保健工作者，这里泛指医生或健康咨询专家等。

6.second on the list:在名单上列第二，即从重要性来看位于第二。

7.up to:接近

8.in the lowest dose:用最小剂量

9.sleep hygiene:睡眠的卫生，指与睡眠有关的一系列健康习惯。

The expression “second on the list" in the second paragraph means____

A:the second least important cause of sleeplessness B:the second most important cause of sleeplessness C:the second on the doctor"s list about sleepless people D:the second on the writer"s list recording sleeplessness

Insomnia or sleeplessness is a common complaint of women as they enter into menopause. Insomnia means having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep or the feeling that your sleep was not adequate for you. For women who are having night sweats, their sleep is broken by frequent awakening and therefore not refreshing. Generally once the night sweats are controlled a normal sleep pattern returns. If it doesn’t it may be, or have become chronic insomnia. How do you know
If you suffer from insomnia every night or most nights for a period of one month then you have chronic insomnia. If you’re not having night sweats then it’s time to look for other causes of sleeplessness. Depression and anxiety disorders are the most common causes of chronic insomnia. If you feel depressed you need to be checked by a qualified health care provider". Movement disorders such as restless leg syndrome are second on the list of insomnia for them; there are new medicines that may help. Other common causes are shift working, and pain.
In up to 30% of people with chronic insomnia no cause can be identified. Medical treatment of these people has generally been with sleeping pills. It is estimated that 25% of the adult population in America took some type of medicines for sleep last year. It is generally agreed that sleeping pills should only be in the lowest dose and for the shortest possible time.
Sleep hygiene is directed at changing bad sleep habits. The recommendations are: — Go to bed only when sleepy. — Do not wait up to a specified time. — Avoid caffeine and alcohol in the evening, etc.
The expression " second on the list" in the second paragraph means ______.

A:the second least important cause of sleeplessness B:the second most important cause of sleeplessness C:the second on the doctor’s list about sleepless people D:the second on the writer’s list recording sleeplessness

Insomnia or sleeplessness is a common complaint of women as they enter into menopause. Insomnia means having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep or the feeling that your sleep was not adequate for you. For women who are having night sweats, their sleep is broken by frequent awakening and therefore not refreshing. Generally once the night sweats are controlled a normal sleep pattern returns. If it doesn’t it may be, or have become chronic insomnia. How do you know
If you suffer from insomnia every night or most nights for a period of one month then you have chronic insomnia. If you’re not having night sweats then it’s time to look for other causes of sleeplessness. Depression and anxiety disorders are the most common causes of chronic insomnia. If you feel depressed you need to be checked by a qualified health care provider. Movement disorders such as restless leg syndrome are second on the list of insomnia for them, there are new medicines that may help. Other common causes are shift working, and pain.
In up to 30% of people with chronic insomnia no cause can be identified. Medical treatment of these people has generally been with sleeping pills. It is estimated that 25% of the adult population in America took some type of medicines for sleep last year. It is generally agreed that sleeping pills should only be in the lowest dose and for the shortest possible time.
Sleep hygiene is directed at changing bad sleep habits. The recommendations are: —Go to bed only when sleepy.—Do not wait up to a specilized time.—Avoid caffeine and alcohol in the evening, etc.
The expression "Second on the list" in the second paragraph means ______.

A:the second least important cause of all kinds of sleeplessness B:the second most important cause of sleeplessness C:the second on the doctor’s list about sleepless people D:the second on the writer’s list recording sleeplessness

下面每篇短文后有5道题。请根据短文内容，为每题选定1个最佳选项。
{{B}}第一篇{{/B}}

The expression "second on the list" in the second paragraph means ______.

A:the second least important cause of sleeplessness B:the second most important cause of sleeplessness C:the second on the doctor’s list about sleepless people D:the second on the writer’s list recording sleeplessness

{{B}}第二篇{{/B}}

The expression "second on the list" in the second paragraph means

A:the second least important cause of sleeplessness. B:the second most important cause of sleeplessness. C:the second on the doctor’s list about sleepless people. D:the second on the writer’s list recording sleeplessness.