高三英语限时练习
高三英语晚练2010-8-4
第一节完形填空（时间：10分钟）
Basketball is a sport enjoyed by millions of people. It began in 1891.
Dr. James Naismith, the father of basketball, was a teacher of a YMCA training 21 . It trained the people to work in YMCAs. Officials at the school were 22 about the low attendance during the 23 months. They felt that people didn’t attend then because the school did not have a good sports 24 in the winter. So they asked Dr. Naismith for help. He came up with a new indoor game.
Naismith studied games being played at that 25 . he found that the most 26 game was a ball. So a ball would be part of his new game, he decided. But kicking the ball or hitting it would be too rough for indoors. So he put two 27 up on the poles. The players have to try to 28 a ball into them. Naismith then made thirteen 29 for the game. Twelve of them are still in use today. Just seven years after the game began professional basketball teams were 30 . and that’s how bask etball was born.
21. A. school B. game C. team D. club
22. A. interested B. worried C. eager D. dangerous
23. A. summer B. spring C. autumn D. winter
24. A. suit B. team C. progress D. program
25. A. game B. school C. time D. place
26. A. popular B. practical C. excellent D. skilled
27. A. bags B. baskets C. flags D. sings
28. A. push B. throw C. send D. kick
29. A. persons B. poles C. rules D. balls
30. A. formed B. called C. dismissed D. stationed
第二节语法填空（时间：7分钟）
There was a tradition in Europe that if a dove（鸽）flew around a house 31 someone was dying, then his soul would be at peace. And there are legends which say that Satan (撒旦) can turn himself 32. any bird except for a dove. 33. it was Pablo Picasso who made the dove a modern symbol of peace when he used 34. on a poster for the World Peace Congress in 1949.
The rainbow is another ancient and universal symbol, 35. (represent) the connection between human beings and their gods. In Greek mythology it was associated with Iris, the goddess who 36. (bring) messages from the gods on Mount Olympus. In Scandinavian mythology(神话) the rainbow was 37. bridge between the gods and the earth. In the Bible a rainbow showed Noah that the Biblical flood was finally over, and that God had forgiven his people. In the Chinese tradition, the rainbow is often taken 38. a common symbol for marriage.
Nowadays the rainbow 39. (use) by many popular movements for peace and the environment, which represents the 40. (possible) of a better world in the future and promising sunshine after the rain.
第三节：阅读理解（时间：21分钟）
A
Daban town is famous for girls and windmills , while Loulan is a myth(神话) in the desert. Two thousand years ago, beside the beautiful and rich Loubu Lake, there lay Loulan ancient city of the Silk Raod. Businessmen from every country gathered and there were dancing parties. Everything shows that people in Loulan lived a rich life then.
However, two thousand years later, this rich land suddenly disappeared from the map of China. It became an area covered with sand and dead tree trunks.
Loulan was fi rst“discovered” by a Swedish man named Sven Hedin in 1900. People from America, British , Japan and Sweden, all set foot here. Then in the 1930’s, a Chinese man named Huang Wenbi came to Loulan for the first time. He visited and studied this area and found many relics that were beautifully and carefully made.
It is recorded that the ancient city of Loulan was the capital of the Loulan Kingdom during the Han and Jin Dynasties, and covered an area of some 100,000 sq. metres. Inside the city , there are the ruins of government offices, temples and other old buildings. Outside the city there are some dried-up rivers and much farmland. In the past century, many things have been dug up there including Han Dynasty coins, mirrors and many others of Greek and Roman times. All these things show that a lot of business between the East and West once took place there.
Lying on the northwest of the Lop Nur area, the Loulan Kingdom is now a lifeless area with endless “forests” of mounds( 小丘) which aren’t easily seen in other parts of the world. Its mystery has been attracting many people from many countries.
41.The first person to set foot in Loulan in the 20th century was______.
A. a European
B. an American
C. an Englishman
D. a Japanese
42.Before Loulan disappeared, ________.
A. people from America and Japan had set foot there.
B. much business between the East and West had taken place there.
C. a lifeless area with lots of mounds could easily be seen there
D. there were no government offices or temples
43. We can infer from the passage that_______.
A. Loulan was destroyed by the terrible weather there
B. wars between Dynasties made Loulan disappear
C. foreigners came to Loulan and destroyed it
D. how Loulan disappeared is still unknown to us
44. What makes so many people visit the Loulan Kingdom now?
A. Its beautiful scenery .
B. Its developing business.
C. Its mystery.
D. The treasures.
45. The title for this passage might be_______.
A. Famous Town, Daban
B. Ancient Town in the Desert
C. Business in Ancient Loulan
D. Cities in Ancient China
B
In the United States, friendships can be close, constant, intense, generous, and real, yet fade away in a short time if circumstances change. Neither side feels hurt by this. Both may exchange
Christmas greetings for a year or two, perhaps a few letters for a while — then no more. If the same two people meet again by chance even years later, they pick up the friendship where it left off and are delighted.
In the S tates, you can feel free to visit people’s homes, share their holidays, enjoy their children and their lives without fearing that you are taking on a lasting obligation. Do not hesitate to accept hospitality because you cannot give it in return. No one will expect you to do so for they know you are far from home. Americans will enjoy welcoming you and be pleased if you accept their hospitality easily.
Once you arrive there, the welcome will be full and warm and real. Most visitors find themselves readily invited into many homes there. In some countries it is considered inhospitable to entertain at home, offering what is felt as “merely” home cooked food, not " doing something" for your guest. It is felt that restaurant entertaining shows more respect and welcome. Or for various other reasons, such as crowded space, language difficulties, or family customs, outsiders are not invited into homes.
In the United States, both methods are used, but it is often considered more friendly to invite a person to one’s ho me than to go to a public place, except in purely business relationships. So, if your host or hostess brings you home, do not feel that you are being shown inferior(次等的) treatment.
Don’t feel neglected if you do not find flowers awaiting you in your hotel room either. Flowers are very expensive there, and hotel delivery is uncertain that the arrival times are delayed, changed, or canceled—so flowers are not customarily sent as a welcoming touch. Please do not feel unwanted. Outward signs vary in different lands; the inward welcome is what matters, and this will be real.
46. In the United States, you will find friendships if circumstances change.
A. die suddenly
B. pass away
C. disappear gradually
D. last forever
47. Americans their foreign friends to make a return for their-hospitality.
A. ask
B. wish
C. never allow
D. don't expect
48. In some other countries, giving a dinner party at home is considered than in a restaurant.
A. less friendly
B. less hospitable
C. more natural
D. more popular
49. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
A. Flowers are available at all times.
B. Flowers are expensive.
C. Flowers are signs of outward welcome.
D.Flowers are not necessarily sent to guests.
50. Which of the following is the best title for this passage?
A. American Hospitality.
B. American Friendship.
C. American Invitation.
D. American Welcome.
C
Vacations are a chance to take a break from work, see the world and enjoy time with family. But do they make you happier?
Researchers from the Netherlands set out to measure the effect that vacations have on overall happiness and how long it lasts. They studied happiness levels among 1,530 Dutch adults, 974 of whom took a vacation during the 32-week study period. The study showed that the largest lift in happiness comes from the simple act of planning a vacation. In the study, the effect of vacation anticipation lifted happiness for eight weeks.
After the vacation, happiness quickly dropped back to baseline levels for most people. How much stress or relaxation a traveler experienced on the trip appeared to influence post-vacation happiness. There was no post-trip happiness benefit for travelers who said th e vacation was “neutral” or stressful.”
Surprisingly, even those travelers who described the trip as “relaxing” showed no additional jump in happiness after the trip. “They were no happier than people who had not been on holiday,” said the lead author, Jeroen Nawijn, tourism research lecturer at Breda University. The only vacationers who experienced an increase in happiness after the trip were those who reported feeling “very relaxed” on their vacation. Among those people, the vacation happiness effect last ed for just two weeks after the trip before returning to baseline levels.
One reason vacations don’t increase happiness after the trip may have to do with the stress of returning to work. And for some travelers, the holiday itself was stressful. “In commen ts from people, the thing they mentioned most referred to disagreements with a travel partner or being ill,” Mr. Nawijn said.
The study didn’t find any relationship between the length of the vacation and overall happiness. Since most of the happiness boost comes from planning and anticipating a vacation, the study suggests that people may get more out of several small trips a year than one big vacation, Mr. Nawijn said.
51. What’s the best title for this passage?
A. Post-vacation happiness
B. Pre-vacation planning
C. Influence to vacations
D. Research on vacations
52. The study implies that _________.
A. The longer the vacation is, the happier the travelers will be.
B. The better you get your vacation planned, the more happiness you will get.
C. It will make you happier if you divide a big vacation into small ones.
D. None of the travelers were happier than those who had not been on holiday,
53. Which of the statements is not mentioned in the passage?
A. People never have additional jump in happiness after the trip.
B. For most people, happiness quickly dropped back to baseline levels after the vacation.
C. The largest lift in happiness comes from the simple act of planning a vacation.
D. Vacations are a chance to get relaxed from work.
54. Which of the following is NOT the reason for not increasing happiness after a trip?
A. You got different ideas with your partners on holiday.
B. You caught a bad cold during the trip.
C. The worry about whether could return to work or not.
D. The holiday itself could get you stressed.
55. During the 32-week study period _______of the people involved took a vacation.
A. about one seconds
B. about two thirds
C. more than one third
D. less than three fifth
高三英语晚练2010-8-4
班级姓名得分
二语法填空1.5X10=15
31. ___________ 32. ____________ 33. ____________ 34. ____________ 35. ___________ 36. ___________ 37. ____________ 38. ____________ 39. ____________ 40. ___________
四. 句子（共20分）
1. 保持教室清洁很重要。(不定式作主语)
2. 每天运动是好的。(ing短语作主语)
3. 他明天过来这里是肯定的。（that从句作主语）
4. 使他做得更好的是他的努力。（what从句作主语）
高三英语晚练2010-8-4
21～25 ABDDC 26～30 ABBCA
31. where 32. into 33. But 34. it 35. representing 36. brought 37. a 38. as 39. is used 40. possibility
41-45 ABDCB 46-50 CDBAB 51-55 ACACB56-60 ECBFA
高三英语30分钟限时训练2
高三英语限时训练二（30分钟，满分100分） 一．（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）(2018全国III卷) 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。 I’m not sure 1 is more frightened, me or the female gorilla (大猩猩) that suddenly appears out of nowhere. I’m walking on a path in the forest in the Central African Republic. Unexpectedly, I’m face-to-face with the gorilla, who begins screaming at 2 top of her lungs. That makes her baby scream, and then a 400-pound male appears. He screams the 3 (loud) of all. The noise shakes the trees as the male beats his chest and charges toward me. I quickly lower myself, ducking my head to avoid 4 (look) directly into his eyes so he doesn’t feel 5 (challenge). My name is Mireya Mayor. I’m a 6 (science) who studies animals such as apes and monkeys. I was searching 7 these three western lowland gorillas I’d been observing. No one had seen them for hours, and my colleagues and I were worried. When the gorillas and I frightened each other, I was just glad to find 8 (they) alive. True to a gorilla’s unaggressive nature, the huge animal 9 (mean) me no real harm. He was just saying: “I’m king of this forest, and here is your reminder!” Once his message was delivered, he allowed me 10 (stay) and watch. 1.____________ 2.____________ 3.____________ 4.____________ 5.____________ 6.____________ 7.____________ 8.____________ 9.____________ 10.____________ 二．（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分）(2018年6月浙江卷) Few people I know seem to have much desire or time to cook. Making Chinese 1 (dish) is seen as especially troublesome. Many westerners 2 come to China cook much less than in their own countries once they realize how cheap 3 can be to eat out. I still remember 4 (visit) a friend who’d lived here for five years and I 5 (shock) when I learnt she hadn’t cooked once in all that time. While regularly eating out seems to 6 (become) common for many young people in recent years, it’s not without a cost. The obvious one is money; eating out once or twice a week may be 7 (afford) but doing this most days adds up. There could be an even 8 (high) cost on your health. Researchers have found that there is a direct link between the increase in food eaten outside the home and the rise in 9 (weigh) problems. If you are not going to suffer this problem, then I suggest that the next time you go to your mum’s home 10 dinner, get a few cooking tips from her. Cooking food can be fun. You might also begin to notice the effects not only on your health but in your pocket. 1.____________ 2.____________ 3.____________ 4.____________ 5.____________ 6.____________ 7.____________ 8.____________ 9.____________ 10.____________
高三英语 限时训练6
华美实验学校 高三英语限时训练（六） 第一部分阅读理解（共9小题；每小题2分，满分18分） 第一节: 阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项中选出最佳选项。 Planning a visit to the UK? Here we help with ways to cut your costs. AVOID BIG EVENTS Big sporting events, concerts and exhibitions can increase the cost of accommodation and make it harder to find a room. A standard double room at the Thistle Brighton on the final Friday of the Brighton Comedy Festival (19 Oct.) cost ￡169.15 at https://www.360docs.net/doc/1111941552.html,. A week later, the same room cost ￡118.15. If you can be flexible and want to know dates to avoid—or you?re looking for a big event to pass your time—check out sites such as https://www.360docs.net/doc/1111941552.html,, which allow you to search for events in the UK by city, date and category. STAYAWAY FROM THE STATION If traveling to your destination by train, you may want to find a good base close to the station, but you could end up paying more for the sake of convenience at the start of your holiday. Don?t be too choosy about the part of town you stay in. Booking two months in advance, the cheapest room at Travelodge?s Central Euston hotel in London for Saturday 22 September was ￡95.95. A room just a tube journey away at its Covent Garden hotel was ￡75.75. And at Farringdon, a double room cost just ￡62.95. LOOK AFTER YOURSELF Really central hotels in cities such as London, Edinburgh and Cardiff can cost a fortune, especially at weekends and during big events. As an alternative consider checking into a self-catering flat with its own kitchen. Often these flats are hidden away on the top floors of city center buildings. A great example is the historic O?Neill Flat on Edinburgh?s Royal Mile, available for ￡420 for five days in late September, with rooms for four adults. GET ON A BIKE London?s …Boris bikes? have attracted the most attention, but other cities also have similar programmers that let you rent a bicycle and explore at your own pace, saving you on public transport or car parking costs. Among the smaller cities with their own programmers are Newcastle (casual members pay around ￡1.50 for two hours) and Cardiff (free for up to 30 minutes, or ￡5 per day). 1. The Brighton Comedy Festival is mentioned mainly to show big events may ________. A. help travelers pass time B. attract lots of travelers to the UK C. allow travelers to make flexible plans D. cause travelers to pay more for accommodation 2. The passage shows that the O?Neill Flat ________. A. lies on the ground floor B. is located in central London
高三英语限时练习九(含答案)
高三英语限时练习九 完形填空（时间：10分钟） A seeker asks, “I want to make a difference in the world, but there are so many causes crying for attention that I feel deeply confused. I don't know where to put my energy to have the greatest 21 . Where do I begin?” Lynn Answers: There is no one “ 22 ” place to begin. Each of us has a different 23 place, and the place where we will be of greatest service has to do with where we most want to 24 . If we want to have an effect on the world around us, it's important to 25 what I think of as our "Area of Power." Our Area of Power is where we feel the most passion to act and have the most 26 that results are 27 . If we pray for world peace, but have no vision of what this would look like and no faith that our 28 will help, our effect is less than if we pray for peace and harmony in our own 29 with a clear picture of what this means and excitement that healing is possible. Without faith that we can 30 , our power to help is decreased. 21. A. power B. ease C. effect D. result 22. A. right B. real C. similar D. exact 23. A. amusing B. ending C. starting D. finishing 24. A. give B. live C. act D. dream 25. A. work B. regard C. consider D. identify 26. A. power B. peace C. faith D. energy 27. A. visible B. possible C. reasonable D. accessible 28. A. prayers B. players C. seekers D. watchers 29. A. language B. way C. world D. family 30. A. make an effort B. make it C. make a difference D. make ends meet
高三英语限时练4(40分钟)
高三英语限时练（40分钟） （四） 一、语篇填空（共10小题；每小题1.5分，满分15分） 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。 If you’re a grandparent, shaking a leg with your grandchild might benefit both of you. That’s the conclusion of a new study from Israel, where researchers examined how dancing together 1 (positive) affected 16 grandmas and granddaughters. They’ve discovered it can encourage exercise and can also 2 (deep) ties between the two generations. Dancing “promoted physical activity even when the body was tired and weak,” said the study author. “This emphasizes the significance of the close and familiar relationship as 3 means to promote new experiences, 4 can occasionally seem impossible for the older person.” The granddaughters teamed 5 their grandmas for three free-form dance sessions. They danced once a week for 10 to 15 minutes in their grandmother’s home. Granddaughters 6 (tell) to mirror their grandmas’ movements, encourage their abilities and let them rest when 7 (need). Videos of the dance sessions, 8 (person) diaries and interviews showed that the sessions led to positive feelings and better mood for the grandmothers. The granddaughters, meanwhile, got a new view on 9 (age). Both groups were grateful and said the dance sessions strengthened 10 (they) bonds, according to the study published recently in the journal Frontiers in Psychology. 1. ______________ 2. ______________ 3. ______________ 4. ______________ 5. ______________ 6. ______________ 7. ______________ 8. ______________ 9. ______________ 10. ______________ 二、读后续写(25分) 阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。 Kevin had been eagerly waiting for the holidays to arrive. His mother had kept on hinting that there would be a big surprise for him during the vacation. Kevin took out his scrapbook (剪贴簿). The exams had just finished, and summer vacation had just started. Now he was free as a bird — free to draw, paint, play basketball, and watch television…anything he wanted to do. Suddenly, the doorbell rang, startling (使惊吓) him. It was his pain of a cousin, Max. “Hi!” screamed Max as he jumped on Kevin’s bed. “I have come to stay here for the holidays.” Kevin had never expected his mother’s surprise to be this bad. If this was the start of his vacation, then the next few weeks were going to be the worst experience of his life. The next few days were horrible for Kevin. After breakfast, Kevin decided to make a painting. Luckily, Max was not around. Kevin spread out all his art supplies and started painting some beautiful scenery. When he was doing the finishing touches, Max entered the room with a Pepsi bottle. He slipped on some water, spilling Pepsi all over the painting and totally ruining it. The next day was even worse. Everything was peaceful until the evening. It all started when Max put the dirty clothes in the washing machine. After some time, Kevin heard some strange sounds from the washing machine. He went to check and found that Max had put his best pair of shoes into the machine, along with the clothes. One day, Kevin was looking through the newspaper when some interesting news caught his attention. He read it aloud: “The world famous philatelist (集邮家) Dick Brown’s stamps were stolen last week from his house. Several other stamp robberies also have taken place, and police suspect that all the robberies are linked.” This piece of news concluded by warning all stamp collectors to keep their stamps safe.
2013高考英语二轮 阅读理解25分钟限时训练(3)
2013高考英语二轮（阅读理解）25分钟限时训练（3）及答案 阅读理解 A篇 Bayfield Shopping Coupons （赠券） If you spend $100 or more in our stores you will receive six hours of free Offer until November 14. Win your choice of $1,000 worth of CDs from JB Music Store. Just buy any two Competition ends November 14. Prize drawn on November 21. Check store for more information. Buy one shirt or tie at Daniel’s Menswear, and get another shirt or tie of Choose from any of our dress shirts and we will give you another one at no Hurry! Offer ends November 14. Offer limited to one per customer. Present this coupon at The Book Store to get a 10 We have lots of books to choose from, including children’s books, novels, enjoy. Shop now for Christmas. We have plenty of toys as gifts for you and
高三英语二轮复习完形+阅读限时训练
限时完形+阅读套题训练 第二节完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，共30分） 阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，从每题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。 One Bite at a Time Stephen was on campus（校园）to register when I first met him. One summer day 36 I was headed over to the administration building, I heard someone call my name. I 37 around and saw Philip, one of my colleagues standing with another young man. As Philip introduced me to the young man, named Stephen, he reminded him that he would be taking one of my 38 , Introduction to Literature. With a somewhat 39 expression, Stephen asked if my class was going to be “hard”. Would he be able to pass? I 40 he was concerned about failing before the 41 day of classes. We talked about what the class would 42 and I saw Stephen’s eyes getting b ig with 43 . Then I remembered a bit of classical dialog: Question: “How do you eat an elephant?” Answer: “One bite at a time.” I told him to 44 his work that way. To do his assignment（作业）, all of them, and to get them in on time. I added that most 45 students I knew made a timetable of all the assignment so they could 46 their workload. As time went on, I learned more of Stephen’s story. He had 47 in middle school. It had taken him longer to finish than most young people. Family members, including his mother, kept reminding him that he was a 48 . Now, in the face of their negative-saying he had been admitted into college. He told me that before coming to our campus no one had believed he had much 49 . S tephen didn’t become an “A”student. He didn’t make any honor rolls. Still, he managed to 50 most of his courses by being in class every day, turning in all of his assignment on time and breaking down his studying into 51 digestible parts. By passing course after course he began to gain a measure of self-respect. He was a great singer and he was 52 the school’s cross-country team. Every time I saw him on campus, he would brighten up and say, “O ne bite at a time.”Whenever he introduced me to his friends, he would tell them that he was 53 when he was supposed to be failing. His 54 , he said, was that he was 55 what I taught him before classes ever started: “Take it one bite at a time.” 36. A. after B. when C. until D. once 37. A. turned B. sat C. moved D. went 38. A. jobs B. tests C. classes D. projects
高三英语40分钟限时练习一
高三英语限时练习一 姓名得分 I. 完形填空（时间：10分钟） The term home schooling means educating children at home or in places other than a normal setting such as a public or private school. There are many reasons why parents choose home schooling for their children. Some parents are __21__ with the quality of education in the public schools. Others do not want their children to have to worry about “peer pressure”, or social pressure from friends. They say it may have a(n) __22__ effect on the child’s studies. These parents __23__ this type of pressure will lead to bad behavior such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and taking drugs. Bullying(欺负) from other students is another concern. Still other parents choose this type of __24__ for religious reasons. Whatever the __25__ may be, it is evident that more and more children are being taken out of normal schools every year. __26__, many questions have emerged, encouraging the debate over home schooling against public schooling. What then is the future of education? Will this new model of schooling replace normal schools? Will computers and the Internet __27__ our classrooms and teachers? As the debate continues, so do the questions about what home schoolers are studying at home. How can parents ensure that their children are prepared __28__ for college? How are home schoolers assessed to make sure they are getting the same educational standards that school students must have? Finally, there are questions regarding the children’s emotional development. Are they too __29__ their fellow students? Are they __30__ the opportunity to get the social benefits of being in a large classroom of students? As with any debatable issue, the answers to these questions are neither simple nor one-sided. 21. A. patient B. familiar C. pleased D. dissatisfied 22. A. active B. contrary C. important D. negative 23. A. care B. fear C. wish D. deny 24. A. activity B. education C. behavior D. belief 25. A. effects B. suggestions C. reasons D. pressures 26. A. As a result B. On the whole C. After all D. On the contrary 27. A. replace B. reserve C. represent D. release 28. A. gracefully B. emotionally C. academically D. financially 29. A. free from B. isolated from C. related to D. close to 30. A. providing B. making C. taking D. losing II. 语法填空（时间：10分钟） Carrying Faggots to Put Out a Fire In the last years of the Warring States period, the State of Qin attacked the State of Wei ____31_____ a large scale repeatedly and occupied large areas of land. In 273 B.B., the Qin army launched another attack upon the State of Wei. The king of the State of Wei summoned ____32_____officials, and asked with a ____33_____ (worry) look if anyone could propose a way to defeat the Qin army. Most of the officials persuaded the king to sue for peace, at the cost of giving away to the State of Qin the large area of land. However, Su Dai, a counsellor, did not agree. "Once there was a man ____34_____ house was on fire. People told him to put out the fire with water, but he would not listen. ____35_____, he carried a faggot to put out the fire, only to make the fire ____36_____ (fierce). That was ____37_____ he didn't know that, instead of putting out the fire, faggots could only make it burning more vigorously. Isn't it equal to ____38_____ (carry) faggots to put out a fire
浙江省杭州市萧山区第三高级中学高三英语限时训练1月日 含答案
A Famous centenarians (百岁老人) still active in arts, science are in no mood to retire. "Those who stand still, die," is one of Oliveira's favorite phrases. He knows from experience what it means, as the Portuguese film director has reached the age of 102 and is still active in his profession. Every year, Oliveira shoots a film and is currently working on his next project. "You have to work, work, work in order to forget that death is not far away," he said. When asked about his age, Oliveira said with some humility: "It's down to mother nature. It gave to me what it took from others." Being both mentally and physically fit in old age is partly a matter of luck, but it also has something to do with character. Not every white-haired person is wise and social skills, openness and the ability to train the brain are essential for senior citizens. Along with the architect Oscar Niemeyer (103), Nobel laureate Montalcini (101) and director Kurt Maetzig (100), Oliveira is one of those people of whom it would be very wrong to think as members of a listless elderly generation. Another master in his profession is the architect Oscar Niemeyer. The 103-year-old Brazilian is best known for his futuristic-looking（未来派的）buildings in Brasilia, but he also speaks out on behalf of the poor. "The role of the architect is to struggle for a better world where we can develop a form of architecture that serves everyone and not just a privileged few," said Niemeyer recently. He spends almost every day working in his office in Copacabana, and even when he falls ill he keeps working on ideas: After a gallbladder (胆囊) operation he composed a samba tune (桑巴舞曲) in the clinic. Another man who could sing a song about age is 107-year-old Heesters. The Dutch-born opera singer spent most of his life performing in Germany, where he still works. Recently Heesters said: "I want to be at least 108-years-old." He also plans to keep performing. "Should I just sit at home and wait until they come and pick me up?" Heesters has not given up trying to add to his tally of awards and is looking for a "good stage role". Italian scientist Rita Levi-Montalcini, who is 101-year-old and is still active in medical science, has described the force that keeps driving her on: "Progress is created through imperfection." In 1986 she and her lab colleague were awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine for their work on nerve growth factor. She's convinced that humans grow on challenges.