Lesson 37 The process of ageing 衰老過(guò)程
First listen and then answer the following question.
聽錄音，然后回答以下問(wèn)題。
What is one of the most unpleasant discoveries we make about ourselves as we get older?
At the age of twelve years, the human body is at its most vigorous. It has yet to reach its full size and strength, and its owner his or her full intelligence; but at this age the likelihood of death is least. Earlier, we were infants and young children, and consequently more vulnerable; later, we shall undergo a progressive loss of our vigour and resistance which, though imperceptible at first, will finally become so steep that we can live no longer, however well we look after ourselves, and however well society, and our doctors, look after us. This decline in vigour with the passing of time is called ageing. It is one of the most unpleasant discoveries which we all make that we must decline in this way, that if we escape wars, accidents and disease we shall eventually 'die of old age', and that this happens at a rate which differs little from person to person, so that there are heavy odds in favour of our dying between the ages of sixty-five and eighty. Some of us will die sooner, a few will live longer -- on into a ninth or tenth decade. But the chances are against it, and there is a virtual limit on how long we can hope to remain alive, however lucky and robust we are.
Normal people tend to forget this process unless and until they are reminded of it. We are so familiar with the fact that man ages, that people have for years assumed that the process of losing vigour with time, of becoming more likely to die the older we get, was something self-evident, like the cooling of a hot kettle or the wearing-out of a pair of shoes. They have also assumed that all animals, and probably other organisms such as trees, or even the universe itself, must in the nature of things 'wear out'. Most animals we commonly observe do in fact age as we do, if given the chance to live long enough; and mechanical systems like a wound watch, or the sun, do in fact run out of energy in accordance with the second law of thermodynamics (whether the whole universe does so is a moot point at present). But these are not analogous to what happens when man ages. A run-down watch is still a watch and can be rewound. An old watch, by contrast, becomes so worn and unreliable that it eventually is not worth mending. But a watch could never repair itself -- it does not consist of living parts, only of metal, which wears away by friction. We could, at one time, repair ourselves --well enough, at least, to overcome all but the most instantly fatal illnesses and accidents. Between twelve and eighty years we gradually lose this power; an illness which at twelve would knock us over, at eighty can knock us out, and another 700 for the survivors to be reduced by half again.【參考譯文】
人體在12歲時(shí)是生命力最旺盛的時(shí)期。雖然這個(gè)時(shí)期人的身材、體力和智力還有待發(fā)展和完善，但在這個(gè)年齡死亡的可能性最小。再早一些，我們是幼兒和小孩子，身體較脆弱；再遲一些，我們就要經(jīng)歷生命力和抵抗力逐步衰退的過(guò)程。雖然這個(gè)過(guò)程起初難以覺察，但最終會(huì)急轉(zhuǎn)直下，不管我們?cè)鯓泳恼樟衔覀冏约?，不管社?huì)和醫(yī)生怎樣對(duì)我們進(jìn)行精心照顧，我們也無(wú)法再活下去了。生命力隨著時(shí)間的流失而衰退叫做衰老。人類發(fā)現(xiàn)的最不愉快的一個(gè)事實(shí)是：人必然會(huì)衰老。既使我們能避開戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)、意外的事故和各種疾病，我們最終也會(huì)“老死”；衰老的速度在人與人之間相差甚微，我們最可能死亡的年齡在65至80歲之間，有些人會(huì)死得早一些，少數(shù)人壽命會(huì)長(zhǎng)一些 -- 活到八十幾歲或九十幾歲，但這種可能性很小。不管我們多么幸運(yùn)，多么健壯，我們所希望的長(zhǎng)壽實(shí)際上是有限度的。
衰老的過(guò)程，不經(jīng)提起，正常人容易忘記；一經(jīng)提醒，才會(huì)記起。我們對(duì)人總是要衰老的現(xiàn)象并不陌生，多年來(lái)就已認(rèn)識(shí)到。生命隨著時(shí)間流失而喪失活力，人隨著年齡的增長(zhǎng)而接近死亡，這是不言而喻的，就像一壺?zé)崴t早會(huì)涼不來(lái)，一雙鞋漸漸會(huì)磨破一樣。人們不但認(rèn)識(shí)到所有的動(dòng)物，大概也認(rèn)識(shí)到所有的有機(jī)物。如樹木，甚至宇宙本身，從事物的本質(zhì)上來(lái)說(shuō)都會(huì)“磨損掉”。我們通常看到的大多數(shù)動(dòng)物，即使能讓它們活得足夠長(zhǎng)久的話，也會(huì)像我們一樣衰老的。像上緊發(fā)條的手表那樣的機(jī)械裝置，或太陽(yáng)，也都會(huì)消耗完其能量（整個(gè)宇宙否如此，目前沿有爭(zhēng)論）。不過(guò)，這些衰老的情況同人并不相似。手表停了依然是只手表，還可以重上好發(fā)條。然而一只老掉牙的手表，磨損太厲害，老得一點(diǎn)兒不準(zhǔn)了，最終不值得修理了。但是，手表決不會(huì)自行修理，它不是由有生命的部件組成，而是由金屬組成，而金屬可以隨著磨擦而磨損殆盡。而我們?nèi)?，在一定時(shí)間內(nèi)是可以自行修復(fù)的，除了暴病死或意外事故外，至少足以克服一切疾病和事故。在12歲至80歲之間，我們逐漸喪失這種能力。能使我們?cè)?2歲時(shí)病倒的疾病，到了80歲可能會(huì)使我們一厥不振而進(jìn)入墳?zāi)埂＜偃缥覀兡鼙３?2歲時(shí)的旺盛生命力，那么我們當(dāng)中的一半人過(guò)700年才會(huì)死去，剩下的一半人再過(guò)700年，才會(huì)又減少一半。1.likelihood
n. 可能性
例句：I don't think there is any likelihood of his agreeing to it.
我認(rèn)為不會(huì)有他同意那件事情的可能。
2.infant
n. 嬰兒
3.vulnerable
adj. 脆弱
例句：He volunteered to protect her as she looked so vulnerable.
她看上去很脆弱, 他就主動(dòng)去保護(hù)她。
4.imperceptible
adj. 感覺不到的
例句：He gave me an almost imperceptible nod.
他極輕微地對(duì)我點(diǎn)頭。
5.steep
adj. 急轉(zhuǎn)直下
例句：A car is climbing the steep hill slowly.
一輛汽車正在陡峭的山坡上緩緩爬行。
6.ageing
n. 老化
7.odds
n. 可能性
例句：It's even odds/The odds are even that he'll be late.
他有一半的可能性要遲到。
8.virtual
adj. 實(shí)際上的
例句：This reply is a virtual acceptance of our offer.
這一回答實(shí)質(zhì)上是接受了我們的建議。
9.robust
adj. 強(qiáng)健的
例句：That chair's not very robust; don't sit on it.
那把椅子不太結(jié)實(shí), 別坐它了。
10.organism
n. 有機(jī)體
11.thermodynamics
n. 熱力學(xué)
12.moot
adj. 爭(zhēng)論未決的
13.run-down
adj. 破舊的
例句：We will plan to rehabilitate the run-down neighborhood.
我們計(jì)劃重建這個(gè)破落的街區(qū)。
14.friction
n. 摩擦
例句：Oil can reduce friction.
潤(rùn)滑油能減小摩擦力。1.It has yet to reach its full size and strength, and its owner his or her full intelligence; but at this age the likelihood of death is least.
yet的用法
在現(xiàn)在完成時(shí)的句子中，already常用于肯定句，yet常用于否定句和疑問(wèn)句，但yet還有其他用法。 1. 用于否定句中，意思是還、尚、迄今、到那時(shí)”。例如 he is not yet here. 他還未到。 at three o”clock they had not yet decided whether to play basketball or not. 三點(diǎn)鐘時(shí)他們尚未決定是否去打籃球。 2. 用于疑問(wèn)句中，意思是已經(jīng)”。例如 is everything ready yet ? 一切都準(zhǔn)備好了嗎？ 3. 與比較級(jí)連用，意思是更”。例如 you must work yet harder. 你還需更努力地工作。 4. 與once , again , another 連用，意思是再”。例如 he has made yet another mistake. 他又犯了一個(gè)錯(cuò)誤。 5. 用于肯定句中，意思是仍然、還得”。例如 she is yet a child. 她還是個(gè)孩子。
2.Earlier, we were infants and young children, and consequently more vulnerable; later, we shall undergo a progressive loss of our vigour and resistance which, though imperceptible at first, will finally become so steep that we can live no longer, however well we look after ourselves, and however well society, and our doctors, look after us.
Earlier和later并列，說(shuō)明在這個(gè)年齡之前和之后死亡的可能性更小。which will finally become so steep是定語(yǔ)從句，修飾resistance。though imperceptible at first插入到定語(yǔ)從句中間，是表示讓步關(guān)系的插入語(yǔ)。however表示無(wú)論如何。
3.It is one of the most unpleasant discoveries which we all make that we must decline in this way, that if we escape wars, accidents and disease we shall eventually 'die of old age', and that this happens at a rate which differs little from person to person, so that there are heavy odds in favour of our dying between the ages of sixty-five and eighty.
這句話的主干是It is one of the most unpleasant discoveries。which引導(dǎo)定語(yǔ)從句，修飾discoveries。that we must decline in this way, that……等等都是discoveries的同位語(yǔ)。
in favour of贊成,支持
例句：Are you in favour of hanging?
你贊成絞刑嗎？
differ from與…不同
例句：She differs from her sister in the color of her eyes.
她與她姐姐眼睛的顏色不同。
4. Normal people tend to forget this process unless and until they are reminded of it.
tend to趨向
例句：Arthur's books tend to poverty.
亞瑟的書趨于單調(diào)乏味。
remind of就…提醒(某人)
例句：I've forgotten his name—will you remind me of it?
我忘記了他的名字——請(qǐng)?zhí)嵝盐乙幌潞脝?
He reminded me of visiting the park.
他提醒我已經(jīng)參觀過(guò)這個(gè)公園。
5. They have also assumed that all animals, and probably other organisms such as trees, or even the universe itself, must in the nature of things 'wear out'.
wear out(使)筋疲力盡, 耗盡
例句：It is better to wear out than rust out.
與其懶死, 不如累死。
Looking after four children wears her out.
照看四個(gè)孩子使她筋疲力盡。
6.Most animals we commonly observe do in fact age as we do, if given the chance to live long enough; and mechanical systems like a wound watch, or the sun, do in fact run out of energy in accordance with the second law of thermodynamics (whether the whole universe does so is a moot point at present).
in accordance with與...一致,依照
例句：We should act in accordance with the law.
我們應(yīng)依法辦事。
7.An old watch, by contrast, becomes so worn and unreliable that it eventually is not worth mending.
by contrast相比之下,相反
例句：By contrast, he was much cleverer.
相比之下, 他要機(jī)靈得多。1.At the age of twelve years, the human body is at its most vigorous.
人體在12歲時(shí)是生命力最旺盛的時(shí)期。
2.This decline in vigour with the passing of time is called ageing.
生命力隨著時(shí)間的流失而衰退叫做衰老。
3.It is one of the most unpleasant discoveries which we all make that we must decline in this way,
人類發(fā)現(xiàn)的最不愉快的一個(gè)事實(shí)是：人必然會(huì)衰老。
4.Some of us will die sooner, a few will live longer -- on into a ninth or tenth decade.
有些人會(huì)死得早一些，少數(shù)人壽命會(huì)長(zhǎng)一些 -- 活到八十幾歲或九十幾歲。
5.But the chances are against it, and there is a virtual limit on how long we can hope to remain alive, however lucky and robust we are.
但這種可能性很小。不管我們多么幸運(yùn)，多么健壯，我們所希望的長(zhǎng)壽實(shí)際上是有限度的。
6.They have also assumed that all animals, and probably other organisms such as trees, or even the universe itself, must in the nature of things 'wear out'.
人們不但認(rèn)識(shí)到所有的動(dòng)物，大概也認(rèn)識(shí)到所有的有機(jī)物。如樹木，甚至宇宙本身，從事物的本質(zhì)上來(lái)說(shuō)都會(huì)“磨損掉”。
First listen and then answer the following question.
聽錄音，然后回答以下問(wèn)題。
What is one of the most unpleasant discoveries we make about ourselves as we get older?
At the age of twelve years, the human body is at its most vigorous. It has yet to reach its full size and strength, and its owner his or her full intelligence; but at this age the likelihood of death is least. Earlier, we were infants and young children, and consequently more vulnerable; later, we shall undergo a progressive loss of our vigour and resistance which, though imperceptible at first, will finally become so steep that we can live no longer, however well we look after ourselves, and however well society, and our doctors, look after us. This decline in vigour with the passing of time is called ageing. It is one of the most unpleasant discoveries which we all make that we must decline in this way, that if we escape wars, accidents and disease we shall eventually 'die of old age', and that this happens at a rate which differs little from person to person, so that there are heavy odds in favour of our dying between the ages of sixty-five and eighty. Some of us will die sooner, a few will live longer -- on into a ninth or tenth decade. But the chances are against it, and there is a virtual limit on how long we can hope to remain alive, however lucky and robust we are.
Normal people tend to forget this process unless and until they are reminded of it. We are so familiar with the fact that man ages, that people have for years assumed that the process of losing vigour with time, of becoming more likely to die the older we get, was something self-evident, like the cooling of a hot kettle or the wearing-out of a pair of shoes. They have also assumed that all animals, and probably other organisms such as trees, or even the universe itself, must in the nature of things 'wear out'. Most animals we commonly observe do in fact age as we do, if given the chance to live long enough; and mechanical systems like a wound watch, or the sun, do in fact run out of energy in accordance with the second law of thermodynamics (whether the whole universe does so is a moot point at present). But these are not analogous to what happens when man ages. A run-down watch is still a watch and can be rewound. An old watch, by contrast, becomes so worn and unreliable that it eventually is not worth mending. But a watch could never repair itself -- it does not consist of living parts, only of metal, which wears away by friction. We could, at one time, repair ourselves --well enough, at least, to overcome all but the most instantly fatal illnesses and accidents. Between twelve and eighty years we gradually lose this power; an illness which at twelve would knock us over, at eighty can knock us out, and another 700 for the survivors to be reduced by half again.【參考譯文】
人體在12歲時(shí)是生命力最旺盛的時(shí)期。雖然這個(gè)時(shí)期人的身材、體力和智力還有待發(fā)展和完善，但在這個(gè)年齡死亡的可能性最小。再早一些，我們是幼兒和小孩子，身體較脆弱；再遲一些，我們就要經(jīng)歷生命力和抵抗力逐步衰退的過(guò)程。雖然這個(gè)過(guò)程起初難以覺察，但最終會(huì)急轉(zhuǎn)直下，不管我們?cè)鯓泳恼樟衔覀冏约?，不管社?huì)和醫(yī)生怎樣對(duì)我們進(jìn)行精心照顧，我們也無(wú)法再活下去了。生命力隨著時(shí)間的流失而衰退叫做衰老。人類發(fā)現(xiàn)的最不愉快的一個(gè)事實(shí)是：人必然會(huì)衰老。既使我們能避開戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng)、意外的事故和各種疾病，我們最終也會(huì)“老死”；衰老的速度在人與人之間相差甚微，我們最可能死亡的年齡在65至80歲之間，有些人會(huì)死得早一些，少數(shù)人壽命會(huì)長(zhǎng)一些 -- 活到八十幾歲或九十幾歲，但這種可能性很小。不管我們多么幸運(yùn)，多么健壯，我們所希望的長(zhǎng)壽實(shí)際上是有限度的。
衰老的過(guò)程，不經(jīng)提起，正常人容易忘記；一經(jīng)提醒，才會(huì)記起。我們對(duì)人總是要衰老的現(xiàn)象并不陌生，多年來(lái)就已認(rèn)識(shí)到。生命隨著時(shí)間流失而喪失活力，人隨著年齡的增長(zhǎng)而接近死亡，這是不言而喻的，就像一壺?zé)崴t早會(huì)涼不來(lái)，一雙鞋漸漸會(huì)磨破一樣。人們不但認(rèn)識(shí)到所有的動(dòng)物，大概也認(rèn)識(shí)到所有的有機(jī)物。如樹木，甚至宇宙本身，從事物的本質(zhì)上來(lái)說(shuō)都會(huì)“磨損掉”。我們通常看到的大多數(shù)動(dòng)物，即使能讓它們活得足夠長(zhǎng)久的話，也會(huì)像我們一樣衰老的。像上緊發(fā)條的手表那樣的機(jī)械裝置，或太陽(yáng)，也都會(huì)消耗完其能量（整個(gè)宇宙否如此，目前沿有爭(zhēng)論）。不過(guò)，這些衰老的情況同人并不相似。手表停了依然是只手表，還可以重上好發(fā)條。然而一只老掉牙的手表，磨損太厲害，老得一點(diǎn)兒不準(zhǔn)了，最終不值得修理了。但是，手表決不會(huì)自行修理，它不是由有生命的部件組成，而是由金屬組成，而金屬可以隨著磨擦而磨損殆盡。而我們?nèi)?，在一定時(shí)間內(nèi)是可以自行修復(fù)的，除了暴病死或意外事故外，至少足以克服一切疾病和事故。在12歲至80歲之間，我們逐漸喪失這種能力。能使我們?cè)?2歲時(shí)病倒的疾病，到了80歲可能會(huì)使我們一厥不振而進(jìn)入墳?zāi)埂＜偃缥覀兡鼙３?2歲時(shí)的旺盛生命力，那么我們當(dāng)中的一半人過(guò)700年才會(huì)死去，剩下的一半人再過(guò)700年，才會(huì)又減少一半。1.likelihood
n. 可能性
例句：I don't think there is any likelihood of his agreeing to it.
我認(rèn)為不會(huì)有他同意那件事情的可能。
2.infant
n. 嬰兒
3.vulnerable
adj. 脆弱
例句：He volunteered to protect her as she looked so vulnerable.
她看上去很脆弱, 他就主動(dòng)去保護(hù)她。
4.imperceptible
adj. 感覺不到的
例句：He gave me an almost imperceptible nod.
他極輕微地對(duì)我點(diǎn)頭。
5.steep
adj. 急轉(zhuǎn)直下
例句：A car is climbing the steep hill slowly.
一輛汽車正在陡峭的山坡上緩緩爬行。
6.ageing
n. 老化
7.odds
n. 可能性
例句：It's even odds/The odds are even that he'll be late.
他有一半的可能性要遲到。
8.virtual
adj. 實(shí)際上的
例句：This reply is a virtual acceptance of our offer.
這一回答實(shí)質(zhì)上是接受了我們的建議。
9.robust
adj. 強(qiáng)健的
例句：That chair's not very robust; don't sit on it.
那把椅子不太結(jié)實(shí), 別坐它了。
10.organism
n. 有機(jī)體
11.thermodynamics
n. 熱力學(xué)
12.moot
adj. 爭(zhēng)論未決的
13.run-down
adj. 破舊的
例句：We will plan to rehabilitate the run-down neighborhood.
我們計(jì)劃重建這個(gè)破落的街區(qū)。
14.friction
n. 摩擦
例句：Oil can reduce friction.
潤(rùn)滑油能減小摩擦力。1.It has yet to reach its full size and strength, and its owner his or her full intelligence; but at this age the likelihood of death is least.
yet的用法
在現(xiàn)在完成時(shí)的句子中，already常用于肯定句，yet常用于否定句和疑問(wèn)句，但yet還有其他用法。 1. 用于否定句中，意思是還、尚、迄今、到那時(shí)”。例如 he is not yet here. 他還未到。 at three o”clock they had not yet decided whether to play basketball or not. 三點(diǎn)鐘時(shí)他們尚未決定是否去打籃球。 2. 用于疑問(wèn)句中，意思是已經(jīng)”。例如 is everything ready yet ? 一切都準(zhǔn)備好了嗎？ 3. 與比較級(jí)連用，意思是更”。例如 you must work yet harder. 你還需更努力地工作。 4. 與once , again , another 連用，意思是再”。例如 he has made yet another mistake. 他又犯了一個(gè)錯(cuò)誤。 5. 用于肯定句中，意思是仍然、還得”。例如 she is yet a child. 她還是個(gè)孩子。
2.Earlier, we were infants and young children, and consequently more vulnerable; later, we shall undergo a progressive loss of our vigour and resistance which, though imperceptible at first, will finally become so steep that we can live no longer, however well we look after ourselves, and however well society, and our doctors, look after us.
Earlier和later并列，說(shuō)明在這個(gè)年齡之前和之后死亡的可能性更小。which will finally become so steep是定語(yǔ)從句，修飾resistance。though imperceptible at first插入到定語(yǔ)從句中間，是表示讓步關(guān)系的插入語(yǔ)。however表示無(wú)論如何。
3.It is one of the most unpleasant discoveries which we all make that we must decline in this way, that if we escape wars, accidents and disease we shall eventually 'die of old age', and that this happens at a rate which differs little from person to person, so that there are heavy odds in favour of our dying between the ages of sixty-five and eighty.
這句話的主干是It is one of the most unpleasant discoveries。which引導(dǎo)定語(yǔ)從句，修飾discoveries。that we must decline in this way, that……等等都是discoveries的同位語(yǔ)。
in favour of贊成,支持
例句：Are you in favour of hanging?
你贊成絞刑嗎？
differ from與…不同
例句：She differs from her sister in the color of her eyes.
她與她姐姐眼睛的顏色不同。
4. Normal people tend to forget this process unless and until they are reminded of it.
tend to趨向
例句：Arthur's books tend to poverty.
亞瑟的書趨于單調(diào)乏味。
remind of就…提醒(某人)
例句：I've forgotten his name—will you remind me of it?
我忘記了他的名字——請(qǐng)?zhí)嵝盐乙幌潞脝?
He reminded me of visiting the park.
他提醒我已經(jīng)參觀過(guò)這個(gè)公園。
5. They have also assumed that all animals, and probably other organisms such as trees, or even the universe itself, must in the nature of things 'wear out'.
wear out(使)筋疲力盡, 耗盡
例句：It is better to wear out than rust out.
與其懶死, 不如累死。
Looking after four children wears her out.
照看四個(gè)孩子使她筋疲力盡。
6.Most animals we commonly observe do in fact age as we do, if given the chance to live long enough; and mechanical systems like a wound watch, or the sun, do in fact run out of energy in accordance with the second law of thermodynamics (whether the whole universe does so is a moot point at present).
in accordance with與...一致,依照
例句：We should act in accordance with the law.
我們應(yīng)依法辦事。
7.An old watch, by contrast, becomes so worn and unreliable that it eventually is not worth mending.
by contrast相比之下,相反
例句：By contrast, he was much cleverer.
相比之下, 他要機(jī)靈得多。1.At the age of twelve years, the human body is at its most vigorous.
人體在12歲時(shí)是生命力最旺盛的時(shí)期。
2.This decline in vigour with the passing of time is called ageing.
生命力隨著時(shí)間的流失而衰退叫做衰老。
3.It is one of the most unpleasant discoveries which we all make that we must decline in this way,
人類發(fā)現(xiàn)的最不愉快的一個(gè)事實(shí)是：人必然會(huì)衰老。
4.Some of us will die sooner, a few will live longer -- on into a ninth or tenth decade.
有些人會(huì)死得早一些，少數(shù)人壽命會(huì)長(zhǎng)一些 -- 活到八十幾歲或九十幾歲。
5.But the chances are against it, and there is a virtual limit on how long we can hope to remain alive, however lucky and robust we are.
但這種可能性很小。不管我們多么幸運(yùn)，多么健壯，我們所希望的長(zhǎng)壽實(shí)際上是有限度的。
6.They have also assumed that all animals, and probably other organisms such as trees, or even the universe itself, must in the nature of things 'wear out'.
人們不但認(rèn)識(shí)到所有的動(dòng)物，大概也認(rèn)識(shí)到所有的有機(jī)物。如樹木，甚至宇宙本身，從事物的本質(zhì)上來(lái)說(shuō)都會(huì)“磨損掉”。