英语听力精选进阶版 6290

When it comes to running marathons, eight hours, 25 minutes and 16 seconds is not a world record.

This was the time it took Fauja Singh to complete the Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Sunday.

But Singh, born in India, is no spring chicken – he's 100 years old and his recent feat¹ has made him the world's oldest marathon runner.

As an athlete, Singh was a late starter. In his late 80s, after the deaths of his wife and son, he decided² he was not yet over the hill and took up running.

For Singh, being 100 is just a number. There aren't many centenarians in quite such rude health, but they are on the increase. Life expectancy³ in the UK today is around 80 but a total of 12,640 men and women are now centenarians compared with just 2,500 in 1980, according to official statistics.

In Britain, pensioners⁴ that reach this landmark⁵ age receive a congratulatory telegram from the Queen, herself an 86-year-old senior citizen.

Retailers⁶ and public services are having to adapt to this aging society. New figures reveal the amount of money spent annually⁷ by people over 65 in the UK is nearing the ￡100 billion (1 trillion yuan) mark. A whole sector⁸ of the economy is now catering⁹ to the needs of the grey pound.

Why do some people live to such a ripe old age? Scientists in Amsterdam may have come a little closer to discovering the secret to longevity¹⁰; they've encoded the entire DNA¹¹ sequence of a woman who lived to 115.

Of course, they could just ask Fauja Singh what his secret is. The old boy puts his long life down to ginger¹² curry¹³, tea and "being happy".

Quiz 小测验

1. Has Fauja Singh broken a world record for speed? 

No. Fauja Singh's record is for being the world's oldest marathon runner.

2. Did Mr Singh feel old when he started running? 

No. In his late 80s he decided that he was not yet over the hill and took up running.

3. Is this statement true, false or not given: People who reach 86 years old send a telegram to the Queen to congratulate her? 

It is false. People who reach 100 years old receive a telegram from the Queen to congratulate them on their birthday.

4. What expression uses the colour of old people's hair to refer to their age? 

The grey pound.

5. What role does ginger curry play in Fauja Singh's life? 

He believes that it could be one of the secrets of his longevity.

Glossary 词汇表

no spring chicken 原意指童子鸡，(喻）上了年纪的人 

a late starter 起步较晚的人 

to be over the hill 不礼貌的表达，指走下坡路，走向衰老 

(age) is just a number 年龄只是一个数字，喻年龄不代表什么，关键的是一个人的心态 

a centenarian 百岁老人 

to be in rude health 身体健壮 

life expectancy 平均寿命 

a pensioner 领养老金者，委婉指老年人 

a landmark age 有特殊意义的岁数 

a senior citizen 65岁以上的老年公民 

the aging society 老年社会 

the grey pound 灰色英镑，指老年群体的消费力 

a ripe old age 老年，晚年 

longevity 长寿 

an old boy 男性老人 

to put something down to something 为什么事情做出解释

1 feat   

n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的

参考例句：

• Man's first landing on the moon was a feat of great daring.人类首次登月是一个勇敢的壮举。
• He received a medal for his heroic feat.他因其英雄业绩而获得一枚勋章。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 expectancy   

n.期望，预期，（根据概率统计求得）预期数额

参考例句：

• Japanese people have a very high life expectancy.日本人的平均寿命非常长。
• The atomosphere of tense expectancy sobered everyone.这种期望的紧张气氛使每个人变得严肃起来。

4 pensioners   

n.领取退休、养老金或抚恤金的人( pensioner的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He intends to redistribute income from the middle class to poorer paid employees and pensioners. 他意图把中产阶级到低薪雇员和退休人员的收入做重新分配。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I am myself one of the pensioners upon the fund left by our noble benefactor. 我自己就是一个我们的高贵的施主遗留基金的养老金领取者。 来自辞典例句

5 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

6 retailers   

零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
• Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。

7 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。

8 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

9 catering   

n. 给养

参考例句：

• Most of our work now involves catering for weddings. 我们现在的工作多半是承办婚宴。
• Who did the catering for your son's wedding? 你儿子的婚宴是由谁承办的？

10 longevity   

n.长命；长寿

参考例句：

• Good habits promote longevity.良好的习惯能增长寿命。
• Human longevity runs in families.人类的长寿具有家族遗传性。

11 DNA   

(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸

参考例句：

• DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。

12 ginger   

n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气

参考例句：

• There is no ginger in the young man.这个年轻人没有精神。
• Ginger shall be hot in the mouth.生姜吃到嘴里总是辣的。

13 curry   

n.咖哩粉，咖哩饭菜；v.用咖哩粉调味，用马栉梳，制革

参考例句：

• Rice makes an excellent complement to a curry dish.有咖喱的菜配米饭最棒。
• Add a teaspoonful of curry powder.加一茶匙咖喱粉。