Living for Century

The good news is that we can all expect to live both longer and healthier lives than any other generation in history. How well we age, however, is basically up to us!

The 20^th century will probably be largely remembered for having the highest increase in life expectancy in recorded history. The average lifespan for men and women has now almost doubled. What's more, this seems to be a continuing trend.

Not only are we living longer, but we are also living a far healthier lifestyle. With record numbers of fit, healthy people reaching the age of 90 and over, it is becoming clear that negative predictions of a greying population, troubled by increasing numbers of diseases as well as huge medical bills, have been exaggerated.

Our view of what old age actually means has changed dramatically. Many of today's pensioners, compared to the elderly in days gone by, tend to enjoy a quality of life without stress, travelling here, there and everywhere, learning new skills, taking up different sports, starting businesses and actively looking forward to each new day. Our actual opinion of what is old and what is not old tends to change with the passing of time as well as higher levels of longevity.

We can see that there are many different aspects affecting the ageing process, including lifestyle, attitude, social circumstances and diet. Studies carried out on mice, for example, have shown that intake of fewer calories allowed mice to live up to 40% longer than those who ate as much as they wanted. In human years this is equal to 30 or 40 more years of life. The mice also stayed energetic longer, had better memories and lower levels of cancer. Japanese people living on the island of Okinawa, in fact, consume 20 percent fewer calories than the rest of the population of Japan and, as a result, have the highest population of centenarians anywhere in the world!

The challenge the rest of us now face is how to delay the ageing process. There are, in fact, two different aspects to ageing that we need to be aware of, the one involving the natural passing of time and the other involving the natural, physical ageing of the body. While we have no control over our chronological age, we can, up to a point, do a lot to slow down biological ageing by taking the following advice.

1. Be optimistic.

2. Give up smoking.

3. Learn how to relax.

4. Have a sense of humour.

5. Do yoga to help posture.

6. Have a 30-minute walkeach day.

7. Learn new skills to keep the mind active.

8. Have access to good medical facilities.

9. Avoid stress in order to improve health generally.

10. Mix with a variety of people of different ages.

11. Use suitable creams to protect the skin in summer.

12. Have at least five pieces of fruit and vegetables per day.

13. Improve diet by eating smaller portions, especially at night.

1 According to the writer, life in old age is improving because

A older people are in better health.

B record numbers attend fitness classes.

C the number of diseases is decreasing.

D people pay more for medical treatment.

2 The writer feels the increase in life expectancy

A is something that will continue.

B was completely predictable.

C is a worrying trend.

D has been exaggerated.

3 Nowadays, older people

A tend to be more stressed.

B worry about the quality of life.

C stay active much longer.

D take life as it comes.

4 Research has shown that

A mice live 40% longer if they stay energetic.

B eating fewer calories can help us live longer.

C intake of calories helps older people live longer.

D mice remembered more when they ate what they wanted.

5 Which of the following aspects of ageing can be controlled?

A the passing of time

B our biological age

C our chronological age

D our mental age

6 The writer feels it is wrong

A to go out in the sun.

B for older people to socialize with youngsters.

C for older people to do anything other than walking.

D to finish the day with a heavy meal.

7 Which phrase best sums up the writer's view of growing old?

A It's not age but attitude.

B You're as old as time.

C Act your age at all times.

D Come to terms with it.

Завідувач кафедри __________ Т.І. Крехно Викладачi _______________І.С. Лученцова

_______________ А.О. Пікалова

_____________ C.О. Тимошенко

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