Language Point 1
Are you hoping for a long life? Thought so. Are you looking forward to growing old? Thought not. Men have wanted one without the other for thousands of years, and have invariably been disappointed.(Para.1)
Meaning: Are you hoping for a long life? You must have thought so. Are you expecting to grow old? The answer must be no. For thousands of years, men have wanted a long life without having to grow old, but they have always been disappointed.
invariably: a. constantly, changelessly, or unchangeably; without exception; always
It is reported that the productivity in this country has invariably grown for five years. 据报道，该国的生产力在这五年里不断增长。
Their aims and methods are invariably checked by not only the professionals but also their parents. 他们的目的和方法总是受到专业人员和他们的父母的检查。
Language Point 2
The Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon was more famous for his search for the Fountain of Youth than for discovering Florida in 1513. (Para. 1)
Meaning: The Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon was more well-known for trying to find the Fountain of Youth than for discovering the state of Florida.
Language Point 3
He never did find the spring that the natives had told him of, and perished from a poisoned Indian arrow a few years later. (Para. 1)
Meaning: He never found the Fountain of Youth that the natives told him about, and a few years later, he was killed by/died because of an Indian arrow with poison in it.
perish: v. die; pass away completely
The ideal of beauty and morality cannot perish in a healthy society. 在一个健康的社会中，美与德的理念不会消失。
More than 5 percent of these infants perished in spite of the necessary care that was given to them. 尽管给予了这些婴儿必要的护理，仍有超过5％的婴儿死亡。
Language Point 4
The legend of the Fountain of Youth may have originated in northern India. (Para. 2)
Meaning: The story of the Fountain of Youth which has been passed down may have started in northern India.
legend: n. a traditional or popular story coming down from the past
This is only a local legend about the Kitchen God. 这只是当地关于“灶神”的一个传说。
His exploits were really a legend to many people. 他的业绩对许多人来说真是一个传奇。
originate in/from: arise from; have sth./sb. as a cause or beginning
Most back problems originate in this area, but they could be easily avoided by regular exercise. 多数后背痛起始于这个部位，但是通过经常性的锻炼可以很容易地避免这种背痛。
Many of our foods originate from tropical forest species such as rice, fruit, maize and coffee. 我们的许多食物，像水稻、水果、玉米和咖啡，都源于热带森林作物。
Language Point 5
One painter painted a famous picture of the fabulous spring, with wrinkled old women going in at one end and young beauties coming out at the other. (Para. 2)
Meaning: One painter painted a famous picture of the wonderful fountain, showing old women with fold of old skin entering it, and turning into beautiful young ladies when they came out.
fabulous: a.
1) based on a fable
He completed his novel based on a fabulous story that is very common in this area. 他根据这个地区非常流行的一个寓言故事写成了这本小说。
2) extremely good or pleasant; wonderful
Last night I attended a fabulous party. 昨晚我参加了一个极其愉快的聚会。
wrinkle: v. make a small fold, crease or ridge on a surface, or in skin (usu. caused by ageing)
Not being careful enough, he got his new suit wrinkled here and there. 由于不小心，他的那套新西装弄得到处都皱巴巴的。
His face was obviously wrinkled as he was getting advanced in age. 随着进入老年，他的面部明显地出现了皱纹。
Language Point 6
Writers have constantly imagined worlds where people lived to extraordinary ages while holding on to their youthful looks and vigor by various means, mostly foul. (Para. 2)
Meaning: Writers have always written about places in which people lived very long lives without growing old, preserving their young looks and energy by using different methods/ways, and most of these methods/ways were evil.
hold on to: stick to; adhere to; keep; maintain
He was imprisoned for ten years, but he still held on to his belief. 他被监禁了10年，但仍坚持他的信仰。
It was clear that he failed to hold on to our original agreement. 显然，他未能遵守我们原来的协议。
foul：a. very bad; evil; cruel
He was determined to win the game by fair means or foul. 他决心不择手段地获得比赛的胜利。
n. (in sports) an act that is against the rules
The footballer was sent off the field for a severe foul on an opponent. 那个足球队员因对对方队员严重犯规而被罚下场。
a personal foul 侵人犯规； a technical foul 技术犯规
Language Point 7
In the real world too, people are tempted to try all kinds of disgusting things, from bathing in tubs of warm mud to receiving injections of monkey glands, all in the hope of foiling the negative effects of ageing. (Para. 2)
Meaning: In the real world too, people are persuaded to try many different kinds of unpleasant methods, from bathing in huge pails of warm mud to being injected with monkey glands, all because they hope to prevent/obstruct the negative consequences of growing old.
tempt: v. induce; cause to be strongly inclined; attract
Don't be tempted to spend too much money. 不要受诱惑去花太多的钱。
In spring or autumn, the bright moon has sometimes tempted me out to walk the shore. 在春天或秋天，皎洁的月亮有时吸引我到海边散步。
foil：v. prevent from; cause to fail
The thief was foiled in his attempt to enter the house. 小偷进屋的企图未能得逞。
It is regarded as an intelligent means to foil the brute force. 它被看作是挫败暴力的一个聪明的办法。
Language Point 8
Though the probability of living to old age has risen sharply, the individual human lifespan set by nature has remained much the same through most of recorded history. (Para. 3)
Meaning: Though the possibility of living to old age is now much higher, the length of time that a person lives has mostly remained the same throughout history.
probability: n. likelihood; possibility
Unfortunately, each of these probabilities is hedged with practical difficulties. 很不幸，每个可能的措施实行起来都困难重重。
There is a probability that school will close a week earlier than usual. 学校有可能比往常早一周放假。
Language Point 9
It was — even if mainly in theory — 70 years at the time the Bible was written, and it isn't much more now. (Para. 3)
Meaning: In theory, at the time the Bible was written, people's lifespan was 70 years, and right now, it is still not much longer than that.
Language Point 10
Most people died of one thing or another long before their maximum span was up. (Para. 3)
Meaning: Most people died for different reasons before they can live the maximum possible length of time.
Language Point 11
...are now well enough off...(Para. 4)
Meaning: ...now live in sufficiently good conditions or circumstances...
Language Point 12
No longer do they die in large numbers in the first year of life, or later from infectious diseases and medical problems such as a ruptured appendix, or suffer from hunger, or work themselves to death. (Para. 4)
Meaning: Not many of them die before they have lived for a year, or die from diseases which can be passed from one person to another by infection, or medical problems like a burst appendix, or from hunger or overwork.
infectious: a. (of a disease) that can be passed from one person to another by infection
Everyone knows that flu is highly infectious. 人们都知道流感传染性很强。
They have taken precautions against this infectious disease. 他们已经采取措施预防这一传染性疾病。
rupture: v. (cause to) break or burst
A pipeline carrying crude oil has ruptured. 一条输送原油的管道破裂了。
The community support structures have been ruptured and will not be re-established. 社区维持框架已经破裂，不会再重新建立。
Language Point 13
Barring accidents, most people now go on until they die of one of the diseases that afflict the old, such as heart disease or cancer. (Para. 4)
Meaning: Except for accidents, most people now live until they die from diseases which the old suffer from, such as heart disease or cancer.
barring: prep. unless the thing mentioned happens or exists
Barring any last minute problems, we should finish the job tonight. 如果最后不出现什么问题，我们可在今晚完工。
afflict: v. cause trouble, pain or distress to
Severe drought has afflicted the villages around here. 严重的干旱使这一带的村庄深受其害。
Two great problems afflict the chemical industry at the moment — the environment and the recession. 目前有两个主要的问题困扰着化学工业——环境和经济衰退。
Language Point 14
The current emphasis in age research is on finding ways to ensure that the rising number of people who achieve the maximum lifespan do so in optimum health, not just die after extra years of chronic illness and decay. (Para. 5)
Meaning: Nowadays, research on age emphasizes how to make sure that when more and more people live to the longest possible length of time, they are still in the best of health, and not just die after a few extra years during which they are suffering from incurable sickness and becoming less and less healthy and able.
optimum: a. perfect; best
The optimum speed for a launch depends on both the type of glider and the wind strength. 发射的最佳速度取决于滑翔机的类型和风力。
We know exactly how to change their feed day by day to produce optimum growth. 我们确切地知道每天该如何调换饲料，以使它们长得最快。
chronic：a. (of a disease) continual; ceaseless; persistent; of long duration
Asthma is a chronic disease from which many old people are suffering. 哮喘是许多老年人患的一种慢性疾病。
The government has decided to solve the chronic unemployment problem soon. 政府决定尽快解决长期的失业问题。
Language Point 15
Much of the advice handed out is simple common sense: adhere to a healthy lifestyle, eat and drink in moderation, do not smoke, take regular exercise but don't overdo it. (Para. 5)
Meaning: Most advice given is just simple sense: stick to a healthy way of living, eat and drink in a balanced way, not too little or too much, do not smoke, do some exercise every now and then without doing too much at a time.
adhere to: stick to; insist on; hold on to
These countries would adhere to the sanctions resolution passed by the United Nations. 这些国家将遵守联合国通过的制裁决议。
We do not know how many agencies and courts still adhere to this policy and practice. 我们不知道有多少机构和法院仍然遵守这一政策和做法。
Language Point 16
These rules are often ignored, sometimes without apparent ill effect. (Para. 5)
Meaning: People often do not listen to this kind of advice, and sometimes it seems that there are no bad consequences.
Language Point 17
In a speech at his 70th birthday celebration, Mark Twain outlined his own survival strategy. (Para. 5)
Meaning: At his 70th birthday celebration, Mark Twain gave a speech in which he summarized his method/plan for living to an old age.
Language Point 18
In the matter of diet, I have been persistent in not eating the things that didn't agree with me, until one or the other of us got the best of it. (Para. 6)
Meaning: In terms of eating habits, I have been continuing not to eat things which are not suitable for me, unless the food got an upper hand on me in the battle between us.
persistent: a. continuing to do sth. obstinately; continuing to exist, happen, or appear for a long time
They were persistent and finally completed the work on time. 他们坚持不懈，最终按时完成了工作。
Faced with a persistent excess of expenditure over income, they may cut students number or increase income. 面对持续的入不敷出，他们要么削减学生数量，要么增加收入。
Language Point 19
Exercise I despise. (Para. 6)
despise: v. regard as tasteless or worthless
He was despised for his ignorance about the local customs. 他因对当地的习惯一无所知而被人轻视。
He argues that modern composers should not despise the idea of entertainment. 他争辩说现代的作曲家不应该鄙视娱乐观点。
Language Point 20
In 1910, that was much longer than most Americans. (Para. 7)
Meaning: He lived much longer than most Americans of his time.
Language Point 21
But even for those who stick to the rules, all that a healthy lifestyle can do is to improve their chances of staying in reasonable shape for their age; it will not slow down the ageing process. (Para. 8)
Meaning: But even for those who do all the right things, living in a healthy way can only help them remain healthy for their age; it will not slow down the process of growing old.
Language Point 22
And despite all the advertising, none of those highly profitable patented remedies so widely marketed nowadays can achieve this either, at least not for now. (Para. 8)
Meaning: None of the products that have earned a lot of money and have been licensed as original products can slow down the process of growing old though they are heavily advertised.
profitable: a. money-making; rewarding
They agreed that farming in the past was not very profitable. 他们同意这样的说法, 即在过去种田没多少利润。
They had a profitable talk on the issue of the commercial trade. 他们在商务贸易方面进行了有益的对话。
patent: v. obtain a patent for
He has patented his new technique for filtering water. 他已经为他过滤水的新技术取得了专利权。
How much should one pay if an invention is patented? 如果一项发明获得专利权需要支付多少费用？
Language Point 23
The only experiments on laboratory animals that have definitely shown a life-lengthening effect have involved subjecting rats and mice to a severely restricted diet. (Para. 8)
Meaning: The only experiments on laboratory animals which have succeeded in giving them a longer life/making them live longer have done so by limiting/controlling the food intake of rats and mice in a very strict way.
Language Point 24
The fewer calories they eat, short of actual starvation, and the longer they go on doing so, the longer they live. (Para. 8)
Meaning: The fewer amounts of food they eat, almost but not real starving, and the longer they eat this little, the longer they live.
calorie：n. a unit of measurement for the energy value of food
One piece of bread contains about 90 calories. 一片面包约含90卡的热量。
A calorie is the amount of heat that is needed to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one degree centigrade. 1卡是将1克水升高1摄氏度所需的热量。
Language Point 25
But they pay a price; starving rats reproduce less, and starving mice don't reproduce at all. (Para. 8)
Meaning: But there is an undesirable consequence; starving rats cannot reproduce as much as before, and starving mice are not able to reproduce at all.
Language Point 26
A different approach might work. (Para. 9)
Meaning: A different method might be effective.
Language Point 27
...is an inherited trait. (Para. 9)
trait: n. a distinguishing quality, feature, or characteristic
Now people have known that the color of one's skin is a genetic trait. 现在，人们知道人的肤色是一种遗传特征。
This animal has so many traits in common with a tiger. 这种动物与老虎有许多共同特征。
Language Point 28
Experiments with that old friend of science, the fruit fly, have shown that mating flies with long lifespans can produce significantly longer-lasting descendants. (Para. 9)
Meaning: Experiments have shown that if the fruit fly, which is commonly used in experiments, is made to mate with flies with long lifespans, they can reproduce flies which can live very longer.
descendant: n. a relative of a person who lived in the past
They are the descendants of Queen Victoria. 他们是维多利亚女王的后裔。
He has descendants who are still alive today. 他的子孙一直繁衍到现在。
Language Point 29
...even were we ready to choose potentially long-lived mates rather than beautiful or wealthy ones. (Para. 9)
Meaning: ...even if we were ready to choose partners who have the potential to live long rather than those who are healthy or rich.
Please note that this is a sentence of subjunctive mood in its inverted form.
Language Point 30
What, though, if instead of selective breeding for longer-lived descendants, we were to manipulate our genes? (Para. 10)
Meaning: What if, instead of mating with chosen species in order that they will reproduce children with long lifespans, we try to control our genes?
manipulate: vt. control
They try to manipulate the media by the selective release of carefully timed and adjusted information. 他们试图通过有选择地透露在时间和内容上精心安排的消息来操纵舆论界。
Another great aspect of his style is the way he can manipulate your feelings. 他风格的另一大特点是他控制你情感的方法。
Language Point 31
Now, all sorts of gene therapy treatments are beginning to look promising. (Para. 10)
promising: a. giving hope of success
This promising approach to pest control is in its infancy, but more tests are needed. 这种大有希望的虫害控制法还处于初始阶段，仍然需要进行试验。
The agreement between the two countries last week was also seen as a promising step towards the settlement of the difficult issue. 两国间上周达成的协议也被看作是向解决这一难题迈出的有希望的一步。
Language Point 32
The process of ageing is a complex matter in which many different genes appear to be involved, but in time it may become possible to use gene therapy to slow down ageing, if not eliminate it. (Para. 10)
Meaning: The process of growing old is a complex/complicated/not a simple matter which involves many different genes, but eventually it may be possible to repair/control our genes to slow down the process of growing old, if it is not possible to stop ageing.
Language Point 33
Meanwhile, having individuals around for hundreds or even thousands of years would necessitate some radical changes. (Para. 11)
Meaning: In the meantime, if there were individuals who lived for hundreds or even thousands of years, we would need to make some major changes.
necessitate: vt. make necessary
This new plan would necessitate starting all over again. 有了这一新方案，就得从头干起。
Language Point 34
Scientists reckon the planet will have trouble handling just the 8.9 billion people forecast for 2050 under current conditions, not counting a new group of the extremely old. (Para. 12)
Meaning: Scientists think that we will have problems trying to manage just the 8.9 billion people in the world by the year 2050, given our present situation, and this is not counting/excluding a new group of the very very old people.
Language Point 35
Even were there shelter and food, these multitudes of the super-old would face a grim life, unless they could survive without extra medical care and remain fit enough to go on and on working, to avoid having to be maintained by a diminishing minority of younger people. (Para. 12)
Meaning: Even if they were given a place to live and enough food to eat, the huge number of the super-old would have a sad life, unless they did not need extra medical care and could remain strong and healthy enough to continue working all the time, so that they would not have to be looked after by young people who would be smaller in number than the old.
multitude: n. a great number
He explained that failure is due to a multitude of reasons. 他解释说失败是多种原因造成的。
This system is capable of performing a multitude of jobs. 这个系统能够从事多项工作。
grim：a. savage; fierce; unyielding
Their living conditions were grim, and their prospects for the future were bleak. 他们的生活条件非常艰苦，前景也非常黯淡。
You need a grim courage. 你需要坚韧不拔的勇气。
diminish：vt. make smaller or less
In spite of having had no sleep, feelings of fatigue begin to diminish due to the exciting news.尽管一整夜没有睡觉，但激动人心的消息却逐渐驱散了大家的疲倦感。
Modern farming techniques have diminished the number of the wetlands which remain. 现代农业技术的运用已经减少了现存的湿地的数量。
Language Point 36
It is desirable for a man to be terminated at his proper time. (Para. 13)
Meaning: It is good for a man to be made to die at his proper time.
terminate：vt. put an end to; end or stop
His lease in this city will terminate at the end of next year, and he will return to his original land which he still owns. 他在这个城市的租赁期将于明年末结束，届时他将回到他仍旧拥有的原来的那片土地。
During 1942, he decided to terminate diplomatic connections with the country. 在1942年，他决定终止同该国的外交关系。
Language Point 37
For as nature has marked the bounds of everything else, so she has marked the bounds of life. (Para. 13)
Meaning: Because just as nature has decided the limits of everything else, she has also decided the limits of life.
Language Point 38
Moreover, old age is the final scene, as it were, in life's drama, from which we ought to escape when we grow weary and, certainly, when we have had our fill. (Para. 13)
Meaning: Moreover, if life is a drama, old age is the last scene, and we should disappear/leave when we are tired and have had enough.
weary: a. tired; fatigued; which makes one tired
She feels weary, and hopes there will be no more work to do tonight. 她感到很累，希望今天晚上不用再干活了。
It took him twenty hours to get to that area, which was a weary journey to a middle-aged man. 他用了20个小时到达那个地方，这对于一个中年人来说是一次疲劳的旅行。
