Scientists are as obsessed with the question of why the superold survive and thrive as Ponce de Leon

was to find the Fountain of Youth. They want to understand why the Japanese island of Okinawa are
home to the world's largest population of centenarians, with almost 600 or its 1,3 million inhabitants
living into their second century- many of them active and looking decades younger than their actual
years. Like weekend visitors on the summer ferry to Martin's Vineyard, scientist and sicologist block the
boats to Sardinia and Nova Scotia, Canada, to see why those craggy locales hide vast clusters of the
superold.

As well as studying these populations intensively to unlock their secrets, Scientist have also taken a hard
look at the very old in the US, most notably in the New England Centenarian Study, led by Dr. Thomas
Perbs, a gerlatrician at Boston While the very old are happy to offer homespun explanations for their
longevity. "I never took a drink". "I drank a shot of whiskey every day."-experts are trying to unravel and
understand the biological factors that allow some people to reach 100 while others drop off in their 70's
or 80's Researchers are particularly interested in determining which factors allow up to 30% of those
who reach 100 to do so in sufficient and physical health: a whopping 90% of centenarians, according to
Perls, remain functionally independent up to age 92.

It is pretty obvious even non-scientists that how you get their depends partly on the genes you are born
with and partly on lifestyle-what and how much you eat, where you live and what types of stress and
trauma you experience. How much depends on each factor, through, was unknown until Swedish
scientists tackled the problem in 1998. They it by looking at the only set of people who share genes but
not lifestyle: identical twins who were at birth and reared apart. If genes were most important, you
would expect the twins to die at about the same age. In fact, they do not, and the average difference
convinced the scientists that only about 20% to 30% of how long we live is genetically determined. The
dominant factor is lifestyle.

1) (SNMPTN 2010/346/31)

What is the topic of text above?

A. Long-life span

B. Survival

C. Youth

D. Old age

E. Health secrets

2)SNMPTN 2010/346/32)

According to the information in the passage, people may...

A. Reach an old age if their parents do so

B. Not reach old age unless they live in areas where it is prevalent

C. Reach old age if they are brought up separately fron their siblings

D. Fail to reach an old age unless they are mentally healthy

E. Reach old age if they keep a healthy lifestyle

3) (SNMPTN 2010/346/33)

Which of the following is true about the information in the text?

A. Gene quality contributes much more to life span

B. Okinawa people look younger at their actual age

C. All alcoholic drinks decrease life expectation

D. All of DR. Perls' subjects are self-reliant

E. Supérold people normally can exceed 100

4) (SNMPTN 2010/346/34)

How is the information of the last paragraph in the text organized?

A. Each question is provided with an illustration

B. Scientific question are followed by studies

C. Scientific questions are presented from general to specific

D. Each study is followed by research finding

E. Three related question are followed by one finding.

5) (SNMPTN 2010/346/35) Which of the following best expresses the main idea of the text?

A. Several biological factors are at work affecting life span

B. Genes and lifestyles are essential for a long-life span

C. Elderly cluster in particular part of the world people

D. Biological factors influence mental and physical health

E. The population of the elderly people is increasing

Arenewable-energy "oasis" scheduled to be built more may serve proving ground for new technologies
designed to bring green living to the desert. The planned research center is part of the Sahara Forest
Project which does not mean it will be built in Africa. The center is meant to be a small-scale version of
massive green complexes that project managers. Hope build in deserts around the globe.

Experts are now examining arid sites in Australia, the U.S., the Middle East, and Africa that could the test
facility. "The Sahara Forest Project is a holistic approach for creation of local jobs, food, water, and
energy, utilizing relatively simple solutions mimicking design and principles from nature," said Frederic
Hauge. For instance, special greenhouses would use hot desert air and seawater, make fresh water for
growing crops, solar energy would be collected to generate power, and algae pools would offer a
renewable and easily transportable fuel supply. In addition, planting trees near the complex would trap
atmospheric greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide while restoring any natural forest cover that has
been lost to drought and timber harvesting. "From my perspective as an environmentalist, this could be
a game changer in how we produce biomass for food and energy, and how we are going to provide fresh
water for the future," Hauge said.

But not all experts are as enthusiastic about the project. In terms ofthe reforestation plans, "trying to
grow trees in the Sahara desert is not the most appropriate approach." said a forest ecologist at the
University of California. After all, even though it was literally green in the past, the Sahara was never
heavily forested.

31) (SNMPTN 2012/31)

It is clear from the passage that the author's purpose of writing the passage above is to

A. expose research to change deserts into green living

B. demonstrate the reforesting of deserts into oases

C. explain advances in green technology in deserts

D. describe an experiment to provide fresh water above is to

E. show activities in the Sahara Forest Project

32) (SNMPTN 2012/32)

Unlike the information in paragraph 3, paragraph 2 in the passage contains information on

A. predictive studies

B. opposite outlooks

C. optimistic views

D. positive opinions.

E. strong refusals
33) (SNMPTN 2012/33)

What does the word 'it' in '......... which does not mean it will be built in Africa' (paragraph 1 line 5) refer
to?

A. desert

B. centre

C. project

D. ground

E. research

34) (SNMPTN 2012/34)

Which of the following is relevant with the idea of 'a small-scale version' (Paragraph 1 line 6) described in
the passage?

A. Grade XII students work in groups in the biology laboratory.

B. Budi focuses his research on the physical aspects of the temple.

C. Tina examines the relationship between physical fitness and learning.

D. Anita studies the chance of growing an apple with little water in a pot.

E. The project surveys the number of cars passing by the bridge in a day.

35) (SNMPTN 2012/35)

Obviously the author views that the experts' estimation of success on the project mentioned in the
passage is

A. undeniable

B. inaccurate

C. uncertain

D. mistaken

E. dissimilar