Passage One

The ups and downs of life may seem to have no predictable plan. But scientists now know there are very definite life patterns that almost all people share. Today, when we live 20 years longer than our great-grandparents, and when women mysteriously outlive men by seven years, it is clearer than ever that the “game of live” is really a game of trade-offs. As we age, we trade strength for ingenuity, speed for thoroughness, and passion for reason. These exchanges may not always seem fair, but at every age, there are some advantages. So it is reassuring to note that even if you’ve passed some of your “primes”, you still have other prime years to experience in the future. Certain important primes seem to peak later in time.

When are you healthiest? For men, from 15 to 25; for women 15 to 30. “A man is in his best shape in the decade before age 25,” says New York internist Dr.Donald Tomkins.“His muscles are firmest, his resistance to colds and infection is highest, and his body is most efficient in utilizing nutrients.” Women, for reasons scientists do not understand, get a five-year bonus. Peak health begins to decline when the body process called anabolism (cell growth) is overtaken by the opposite process, catabolism (cell death). “Cells have been dying since birth,” says Tomkins, “but in our late 20's, they start dying faster than they are replaced.” Also, muscle is replaced with fat.

Women also get an additional bonus of good health later in life. The figures of National Institute of Health show that the onset of such “old age” diseases as arthritis, rheumatism and heart ailments denies the generally greater fitness of women: Life expectancy for men is now 68.3; for women 75.9. U. S. aging authority William Kannel says, “Older women with low blood pressure are practically important.” However, psychologists believe that by entering the competitive job market in increasing numbers, women may eventually give up their statistical advantage.

When are you most likely to develop mental disorder? From 30 to 35. This surprisingly narrow peak is very real. The National Institute of Mental Health(NIMH) reports that more than half of the patients in mental hospitals, male and female, in this age group (men leading women by about 20 %).

But if we are most neurotic between 30 and 35, apparently we recover quickly. Admissions to mental hospitals drop sharply around age 40 and stay down until age65. Yet, say psychologists, between 40 and 55, more people report they “feel” on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Relatively few actually occur. “We become veterans at coping,” says psychologist Marvin Karlins.

Quе?t?оn? 1-5 аrе bа?еd оn Ра??аgе Опе.

“The ups and downs of life may seem to have no predictable plan.”This statement means that____.

Animal life first appeared on the earth about 400 million years ago. Through the passing millennia, thousands of animal species have come and gone. Until recently, this process was gradual, the result of changes in climate, in habitat, or in the genes of the animals themselves. (46. But the tremendous expansion of modern civilization now threatens to upset this natural balance, putting unprecedented pressure on the survival of our wildlife. )

This imbalance can be traced to many causes. Most arise in the greed and poor planning of man himself. (47. With each increase in man's population the wilderness areas where the animals live get smaller. The use of pesticides to control injurious insects also harms wild birds and animals.) Water pollution kills fish in our rivers, lakes, and oceans. Hunters have almost exterminated many of the larger animals like the bighorn sheep and the grizzly bear. And farmers destroy smaller animals like the prairie dog and the coyote. As a result of this unrelenting pressure, our wildlife is disappearing at the rate of one species or subspecies per year.

(48. Of all the continents. the most drastic reduction in wildlife has occurred in North America. where the transition from a rural to a highly industrialized society has been most rapid.) Among the victims are birds, mammals, and fish. We will never again see the passenger pigeon or the eastern elk. They have been wiped out. Of, many other species, only a few representatives still survive in the wild. The U.S. Department of the Interior has put no fewer than 109 species on the endangered species list. (An endangered species is one with poor prospects for survival and in need of protection.) This list includes everything from the timber wolf to the whooping crane. Even the bald eagle, our national symbol, is threatened.

Animals that kill other game for food are called predators. The predators include the wolf, mountain lion, fox, bobcat, and bear. (49. Attack against these animals began with the arrival of the first European settlers. who wished to protect their livestock. Eventually, a reward was offered to hunters for every predator that was killed.) This reward is called a bounty. Ironically, the Federal government is the chief funder of predator-control programs.

The settlers also brought with them their Old World fears and superstitions concerning predators. Whether preying on livestock or not, predators were shot on sight. This attitude continues to this day for coyotes, eagles, foxes, mountain lions, and bobcats, and is largely responsible for placing the eastern timber wolf, grizzly bear, and bald eagle on the endangered species list.

Yet every animal, including the predator, has its place in nature's grand design. Predators help maintain the health of their prey species by eliminating the diseased, young, old, and injured. Predators like the mountain lion and the wolf help to keep the deer herds healthy. (50 Their kill also provides food for scavengers that feed on carrion. Occasional loss of livestock must be weighed against the good these animals do in maintaining the balance of nature.)

Paragraph Ten

When you wear cap and gown at ceremony of conferring degrees or diplomas, you will be following a custom that is many centuries old. The use of caps and gowns in college and universities goes back to medieval times. Nearly all gowns are made of black cloth.

Some doctoral gowns use other colors, but the vast majorities are black.The dresses at g______.

Paragraph Eight

There is generally a certain proportion between a living creature's length of life and the time it takes to grow to full size. There also exists some relationship between the growing body and the growing brain. The animals with more complicated bodies and brains develop more slowly, and are dependent longer upon their mothers than do creatures with simpler systems.

The c_____ of the growth of animals.

Paragraph Seven

There is one kind of pain for which nobody has yet found a cure — the pain that comes from the ending of a relationship. The relationship could be a marriage, a love affair or a deep friendship; in fact any strong emotional tie between two people. Such a relationship may come to an abrupt but premeditated end.

The g_____ caused by ending of a relationship.

Paragraph Nine

Mark Twain remarked that he could live for two months on one good compliment. How true! Haven't we all repeated someone's admiring words over and over in our minds, without losing the inspiration they give? There are people everywhere in need of a good word, that is, an inspiring compliment to fire their hopes and dreams.

The power of e______.

Paragraph Five

To achieve a favorable outcome from the negotiations, an exporter should draw up a plan of action beforehand, which addresses a few key issues. Experienced negotiators consider that as much as 80% of their overall time devoted to negotiations should go to such preparations.

Preparations are vital to the s____ of negotiations.

Paragraph Six

A good solution to the waste and energy problems would be one which solves them both, according to modern scientists. The possible solution would be to generate energy from wastes. Municipalities with large waste-disposal problems are likely to be attracted to incinerators that convert combustion heat to usable energy.

I______ use of waste for energy production.

Paragraph Four

Healthy families maintain parental authority and flexibility. They listen to their children's wishes, complaints and feelings and make decisions based on what they believe is best for the child. They don't give in when society or children object. Instead, the parents state expectations and explain rules clearly and reasonably. Such parents also tend to allow children a voice in rules and consequences as they mature.

P_____ of good parenting.

Paragraph One

The relationship between a sales person and a client is important as both parties want to feel satisfied with their deal and neither wants to feel cheated. A sales person should believe that his product has certain advantage over the competition. A customer wants to be sure that he is buying a product that is of good value and high quality.

M______ benefit of business deals.

Paragraph Three

Tears have a more complex chemical composition than was imagined and they might act as one of the body's waste disposal system. Evidence from tear research may warrant a drastic change in our thinking about crying. Although there is such a thing as people weeping to excess, crying in response to various emotions is a natural physical process that we should not be ashamed of.

It is not a shame to let the tears f_____.