Scientists have defined a new age concept and believe it could explain why populations are aging, but at the same time seem to be getting younger.
Instead of measuring aging by how long people have lived, the scientists have factored in how many more years people can probably still look forward to.
"Using that measure, the average person can get younger in the sense that he or she can have even more years to live as time goes on," said Warren Sanderson of the University of New York in Stony Brook.
He and Sergei Scherbov of the Vienna lnstitute of Demography （人口统计学） at the Austrian （奥地利的） Academy of Sciences， have used their method to estimate how the proportion of elderly people in Germany， Japan and the United States will change in the future.
The average German was 39.9 years old in 2000 and could plan to live for another 39.2 years, according to research reported in the journal Nature on Wednesday.
However, by 2050 the average German will be 51.9 years old and will be expected to live another 37.1 years. So middle age in 2050 would occur at around 52 years instead of 40 years as in 2000.
"As people have more and more years to live they have to save more and plan more and they effectively are behaving as if they were younger," said Sanderson.
Five years ago, the average American was 35.3 years old and could plan for 43.5 more years of life. By 2050, the researchers estimate it will increase to 41.7 years and 45.8 future years.
"A lot of our ski/Is, our education, our savings and the way we dear with our health care depend a great deal on how many years we have to live," said Sanderson.
This dimension of how many years people have to live has been completely ignored in the discussion of aging so far.
36 People 40 years of age today seem to be as young as
A their parents were at the same age.
B their parents were at the age of 30.
C their children will be at the same age.
D their children will be at the age of 30.
37 The new age concept was developed out of the notion of
A "future years".
B "average years".
C "past years".
D "school years".
38 In 2000, middle age for the average German occurred
A at 37.1 years.
B at 40 years.
C at 39.2 years.
D at 52 years.
39 By 2050, the average American will live to
A the age of 41.7.
B the age of 45.8.
C the age of 78.8.
D the age of 87.5.
40 Which is NOT affected by the number of years we have to live?
A Our education.
B Our savings.
C The way we handle our health care.
D The number of years we have lived.
第三篇 Is the Tie a Necessity？
Ties, or neckties, have been a symbol of politeness and elegance in Britain for centuries. But the casual Prime Minister Tony Blair has problems with them. Reports suggest that even the civil servants may stop wearing ties. So, are the famously formal British really going to abandon the neckties?
Maybe. Last week, the UK#39;s Cabinet Secretary Andrew Turnbull openly welcomed a tieless era. He hinted that civil servants would soon be free of the costliest 12 inches of fabric that most men ever buy in their lives.
In fact， Blair showed this attitude when he had his first guests to a cocktail party. Many of them were celebrities （知名人士） without ties， which would have been unimaginable even in the recent past.
For some more conservative British, the tie is a must for proper appearance. Earlier, Labor leader Jim Callaghan said he would have died rather than have his children seen in public without a tie. For people like Callaghan, the tic; was a sign of being complete, of showing respect. Men were supposed to wear a tie when going to church, to work in the office, to a party - almost every social occasion.
But today, people have begun to accept a casual style even for formal occasions.
The origin of the tie is tricky. It started as something called simply a "band". The term could mean anything around a man#39;s neck. It appeared in finer ways in the 1630s. Frenchmen showed a love of this particular fashion statement. Their neckwear （颈饰） impressed Charles II， the king of England who was exiled （流放） to France at that time. When he returned to England in 1660， he brought this new fashion item along with him.
It wasn#39;t, however, until the late 18th century that fancy young men introduced a more colorful, flowing piece of cloth that eventually became known as the tie. Then, clubs, military institutions and schools began to use colored and patterned ties to indicate the wearer#39;s membership in the late 19th century. After that, the tie became a necessary item of clothing for British gentlemen.
But now, even gentlemen are getting tired of ties. Anyway, the day feels a bit easier when you wake up without having to decide which tie suits you and your mood.
41 The tie symbolizes all of the following except
A respect.
B elegance，
C politeness，
D democracy.
42 Why does Blair sometimes show up in a formal event without a tie?
A Because he wants to make a show.
B Because he wants to attract attention.
C Because ties are costly.
D Because he wants to live in a casual way.
43 Which of the following is NOT a social occasion?
A Going to church.
B Going to work in the office.
C Staying at home.
D Going to a party.
44 Who brought the Frenchmen#39;s neckwear to Britain?
A Tony Blair.
B Charles II.
C Jim Callaghan.
D Andrew Turnbull.
45 When did British gentlemen begin to wear ties regularly?
A After the late 19th century.
B In the 1630s.
C In 1660.
D In the late 18th century.