托福閱讀材料之有錢人更長命

　　It is a sad fact of socioeconomics that the wealthy tend to lead healthier, longer lives than do the poor. Now scientists have gone a step further, finding a specific hormone that links wealth with a longer life.

　　社會經(jīng)濟學(xué)里出現(xiàn)了一個讓人難過的事實：有錢人和窮人相比，其生活往往更健康，壽命也更長。如今科學(xué)家又為該事實進一步找到依據(jù)，他們發(fā)現(xiàn)一個人的富裕程度和壽命長短是有關(guān)系的，這種關(guān)系來自一個特定的激素。

　　The hormone is called DHEAS-or dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate-a natural steroid produced by the brain, adrenal glands and sexual organs. Those with higher levels of DHEAS tend to exercise more, have more hobbies and have closer relationships with friends and family. They also tend to live longer.

　　這種激素被稱為脫氫表雄酮硫酸鹽，或簡稱“DHEAS”，是大腦、腎上腺和性器官產(chǎn)生的一種天然類固醇物質(zhì)。DHEAS激素水平較高的人往往運動量較大，愛好較多，與親朋的關(guān)系也較為緊密。另外，這些人的壽命也往往更長。

　　Researchers from the University College London, working on the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, studied thousands of people over the age of 50 and found that wealthier people had higher levels of DHEAS.

　　倫敦大學(xué)學(xué)院(University College London)從事英國老齡化縱向研究(English Longitudinal Study of Ageing)的工作人員對數(shù)千名五十歲以上的老人進行了研究，研究發(fā)現(xiàn)人們的富裕程度越高，其DHEAS激素水平也越高。

　　They also found higher levels of a second hormone-growth factor I (IGF-I)-in those who are wealthier. The two hormones help regulate the body and control reactions to stress.

　　此外，研究人員還發(fā)現(xiàn)，越有錢的人其第二激素──生長因子I(IGF-I)的水平也越高。這兩種激素可幫助調(diào)節(jié)人體機能，控制人體對壓力的反應(yīng)。

　　'A striking new finding is that the hormone dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate [DHEAS] that predicts life expectancy also follows a social gradient: less wealth, lower levels of DHEAS,' said Prof. Michael Marmot of the university's Department of Epidemiology and Public Health.

　　倫敦大學(xué)學(xué)院流行病學(xué)和公共衛(wèi)生系(Department of Epidemiology and Public Health)教授馬爾默特(Michael Marmot)說，一項引人注意的最新研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，可預(yù)測人們壽命長短的DHEAS激素竟然也遵循一種社會變化規(guī)律，即財富越少，激素水平越低。

　　The implication is that wealth brings freedom and time to eat well, exercise, enjoy various past times and stay closer to family and friends.

　　這表明，富裕的人們在合理飲食、運動、打發(fā)各種閑暇方面擁有自由和時間，且使得他們與親朋好友相伴的時間也更長。

　　To some, this might seem like another case where money is destiny. Once again the rich seem to be winning the race and widening the gap, not just in financial terms but also in the far more important measure of life expectancy.

　　可能對有些人來說，這好像是在說金錢是萬能的。好像有錢人再次贏得了賽跑，并拉大了與窮人之間的距離，不僅是在財富的擁有量上，而且是在更為重要的壽命方面。

　　But ultimately the report could be good news for rich and poor alike. If DHEAS can be artificially produced in the future-and if its antiaging properties are real-it could be more widely distributed.

　　不過這個研究結(jié)果最終來說可能是個好消息，無論你窮也罷富也罷。如果未來可人工制造DHEAS激素，且這種激素果真具有防衰老的功效，或許可以將其更廣泛地分配。

　　What is more, people may be able to produce more of their own DHEAS even if they aren't wealthy, by leading more DHEAS-friendly lives - more exercise, more friendships and more hobbies-though, as the article notes, production of DHEAS is greatest in childhood and teenage years, gradually declines thereafter.

　　另外，即使你現(xiàn)在不屬于富人行列，或許也可通過多運動、結(jié)交更多朋友和增加個人愛好等生活方式提高自身的DHEAS激素水平。研究結(jié)果指出，童年和青少年時代產(chǎn)生的DHEAS激素量是最多的，此后就逐漸減少。

　　Of course, if you spend time doing all that, you might not get wealthy.

　　當(dāng)然，如果你花時間嘗試上述每項生活方式，你不一定會因此而富起來。

　　Do you think greater wealth leads to a longer life?

　　你覺得越有錢的人壽命也越長嗎?

　　以上是托福閱讀練習(xí)，大家可以同時積累高分詞匯和句型，為托福口語和托福寫作積累素材。