- 文本
- 练习
- 答案
When is it time to slow down? Is it when you reach middle age, when you can draw your pension or even later? Queen Elizabeth II turned 90 this year and there are not many signs that she's taking it easy. Last year alone the monarch carried out over 300 engagements.
Longevity has long been a topic of discussion in Britain. What's likely to make us live longer? According to Professor Sarah Harper, from the Oxford Institute of Population Ageing, just over half your chances of living a long life come down to luck. She says: "If you have parents and grandparents who made it into their eighties and nineties there's a chance you have inherited good genes. You are more likely to have a strong immune system and are less likely to develop chronic diseases."
Lucky you, then. But don't rely on that because bad habits can spoil everything. Half of long-term smokers die prematurely. Smoking causes heart disease, lung cancer and other illnesses. A poor diet and lack of exercise can lead to obesity, which reduces your life expectancy by between three and 10 years, says the National Health Service in Britain.
But it's not worth stressing out about how long you're going to stick around. Stress can take years off someone's life. A study published in the British Medical Journal found even low-level stress raises the risk of heart attacks and strokes by 20% and you don't want that, do you?
After you've ticked all the boxes - genes, healthy living, keeping cool - you might have almost guaranteed a long life. But for what? That's the final piece of the jigsaw. Having a purpose in life can also make you live longer. Some people engage in charity work to keep active, others get involved in initiatives in their community. It gives them a reason to wake up in the morning - even if the joints creak a little. Professor Harper says that caring for others can make you feel valued.
It must feel good to be appreciated – by people around you, by a nation. Happy 90th birthday, Your Majesty!
词汇表
middle age 中年
draw your pension 领取退休金
take it easy 放松，不拼命工作
longevity 长寿
ageing 年老的，衰老的
chances 可能性，机会
inherit 继承
immune system 免疫系统
chronic disease 慢性疾病
bad habit 坏习惯
prematurely 过早的
life expectancy （人的）预期寿命
to stick around 停留，（此处指）活着
stroke 中风
tick all the boxes 符合所有条件，满足所有的标准
keep cool 保持冷静
jigsaw 拼图玩具
charity work 公益劳动，慈善工作