Strong sense of smell may be linked to longer life 拥有敏锐嗅觉的人会长寿

周恩红

海詞积累

1. ongoing adj. 仍在进行的

2. identify v. 识别;辨认

3. subject n. 被试者

4. investigation n. 调查

5. launch v. 发起

6. sensitive adj. 敏感的

7. make a difference 有影响

Older adults with a poor sense of smell may die sooner than those who have a better sense of smell， a new study suggests.

The study was a project of researchers in the United States that was ongoing for over 13 years. They asked nearly 2，300 men and women to identify 12 common smells. All the subjects were from 71 to 82 years of age. The researchers gave the adults scores， from zero to as high as 12， based on how many smells they identified correctly. During 13 years of follow-up investigation， over 1，200 of the subjects died.

When the study was launched， none of the adults were weak. They could walk a little under half a kilometer， climb 10 steps and inde-pendently complete daily activities. In the latest findings， the researchers noted that those with a weak nose were 30 percent more likely to die by year 13 than people with a good sense of smell.

Honglei Chen was the lead writer of a report on the study. He said the connection between a poor sense of smell and an increased risk of dying was limited to adults who first reported good-to-excellent health. This suggests that a poor sense of smell is an early and sensitive sign of worsening health before it is recognizable in medical tests.

People who took part in the study in good health were 62 percent more likely to die by year 10 if they had a poor sense of smell. But smell did not appear to make a meaningful difference in death rates for people who were in a poor state of health at the start of the study. With a poor sense of smell， people were more likely to die of brain and heart diseases， but not of cancer or breathing disorders.

The results also suggest that a poor sense of smell may be an early warning of poor health in older age. These often signal the beginning of a weakening of the mind or body.

The connection between a poor sense of smell and mortality risk did not appear to change based on sex or race. It also did not change based on individuals other qualities， such as the way they live or ongoing health conditions.

Reading Check

1. What were the subjects basic conditions when they joined the research？

A.They were all in a good state of health.

B.They suffered from a poor sense of smell.

C.They could tell twelve common smells in all.

D.They lived independently from their children.

2. What can a poor sense of smell indicate according to the text？

A.We have to go through medical tests.

B.We are more likely to have a bad mood.

C.We are in the face of dying at an early age.

D.Our physical conditions are becoming worse.

3. Which disease is related to a poor sense of smell？

A.Cancer. B.Depression. C.Heart attack. D.Breathing disorders.

Language Study

Important sentences

1. The researchers gave the adults scores， from zero to as high as 12， __________（base） on how many smells they identified correctly. 研究人员根据成年人能够正确识别的气味种类的多少给成年人从0到12分进行打分。

【点石成金】此空应填入based。be based on为固定词组，意为“以……为基础”，在句中作状语。一般来说，符合“be+过去分词+介词”结构的词组在句中作状语时，其应该用过去分词形式，故正确答案为based。

2. People __________ took part in the study in good health were 62 percent more likely _________ （die） by year 10 if they had a poor sense of smell. 參加研究时身体好的人们如果嗅觉不好的话，有62%的可能性会早10年离世。

【点石成金】第一空应填入who或that，当People为先行词时，关系代词在句中作主语时应该用who或that引导定语从句;第二空应填入to die，be likely to do sth 为固定短语，意为“可能做某事”。