Life Without Death Reading Answers

Dec 8, 2023

Life Without Death Reading Answers is an academic topic taken from IELTS Practice Tests: 1. Student's book with answers. It contains sample questions and answers about the life expectancy of humans. The Way the Brain Buys Reading Answers has 14 different questions. Life Without Death Reading Answers contains a yes-no-not-given type, matching each name with the opinion, and completing the following summary types of questions. Candidates are required to read the IELTS Reading passage and answer whether the given statements are true, false, or not given in the passage based on their understanding. Candidates can gain proficiency on diverse topics by undertaking IELTS Reading practice papers to get more topics like Life Without Death Reading Answers.

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Section 1

Read the following passage to answer the questions given below.

Life Without Death Reading Answers

Life Without Death

Until recently, the thought that there might ever be a cure for ageing seemed preposterous. Growing older and more decrepit appeared to be an inevitable and necessary part of being human. Over the last decade, however, scientists have begun to see ageing differently. Some now believe that the average life-expectancy may soon be pushed up to 160 years; others think that it may be extended to 200 or 300 years. A handful even wonder whether we might one day live for a millennium or more.

Behind this new excitement is the theory that the primary cause of ageing lies in highly reactive molecules called free radicals, left behind by the oxygen we breathe. Free radicals react with the molecules in our bodies, damaging DNA, proteins and other cell tissues, and are known to be implicated in diseases as diverse as cataracts, cancer and Alzheimer’s. The body does its best to protect itself against free radicals by producing its own chemicals to prevent ageing, such as vitamins E and C, but it is always fighting a losing battle.

A year ago Gordon Lithgow of the University of Manchester discovered a way to help combat free radicals. Using one of these anti-ageing chemicals, he managed to increase the lifespan of one species of earthworm by 50 per cent. Despite cautionary words from the scientists, many welcomed this as the first step towards a drug which would extend life.

Research involving the mutation of genes has also thrown up fascinating results: after identifying two of the genes that appear to control how long the earthworm lives, similar genes were found in organisms as various as fruit-flies, mice and human beings. When one considers the vast evolutionary distances that separate these species, it suggests that we may have discovered a key to how ageing is regulated throughout the entire animal kingdom.

In June last year a small American company called Eukarion sought permission to carry out the first trials of an anti-ageing drug, SCS, on human beings. Although it will initially be used to treat diseases associated with old age, Eukarion said, that ‘if the effect of treating diseases of old age is to extend life, everyone’s going to be happy.’

Some scientists, however, are quick to discourage extravagant speculation. ‘There is no evidence whatsoever that swallowing any chemical would have an effect on mammals’, says Rich Miller of the University of Michigan. ‘And those people who claim it might need to go out and do some experimenting’. Some research, moreover, has produced alarming results. As well as controlling ageing, these, genes also partly control the hormones which regulate growth. The upshot of this is that although the lives of mutant mice can be extended by up to 80 per cent, they remain smaller than normal.

Quite apart from these sorts of horrors, the ethical implications of extending human lifespan are likely to worry many people. Even if the falling birth-rates reported in the world’s developed nations were to be repeated throughout the world, would this be sufficient to compensate for massively extended life-expectancy, and would we be willing to see the demographic balance of our society change out of all recognition?

David Gems, the head of the Centre for Research into Ageing at University College, London, is enthusiastic about the opportunities opened up by extended life, but even he observes, ‘If people live much longer, the proportion of children would. of course, be very small. It strikes me that it might feel rather claustrophobic: all those middle-aged people and very few children or young people.’

The philosopher John Polkinghorne emphasises that any discussion of the merits of life-extending therapies must take into account the quality of the life that is lived: ‘One would not wish to prolong life beyond the point it had ceased to be creative and fulfilling and meaningful,’ he says. ‘Presumably, there would have to come a point at which life ceased to be creative and became just repetition. Clearly, there are only so many rounds of golf one would want to play.’

But Polkinghorne, a member of the Human Genetics Commission, also observes that so far our experience of extended life-expectancy has not resulted in world-weariness. Throughout the last century, life-expectancy rose consistently, thanks to improved diet, better hygiene, continuous medical innovation and the provision of free or subsidised healthcare. In 1952 the Queen sent out 225 telegrams to people on their 100th birthday; in 1996 she sent out 5218. ‘Consider also, the lives of our Roman and Anglo-Saxon ancestors’ he says. By and large, the doubling of human lifespan we have seen since then has not been a bad thing. Life has not become frustrating and boring. For example, we now live to see our children’s children, and this is good.’

Section 2

Answers and Explanation

Questions 1-5

Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage? In boxes 1-5 on your answer sheet, write YES – if the statement agrees with the writer’s claims NO – if the statement contradicts the writer’s claims NOT GIVEN – if there is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this

Scientific predictions about how much it will be possible to lengthen human life vary greatly.

Answer: Yes.
Supporting statement: By and large, the doubling of human lifespan we have seen since then has not been a bad thing.
Keywords: human life
Keyword Location: 7th line, last Paragraph.
Explanation: The 7th and 8th lines of the last paragraph of this passage mention the doubling of human life. This paragraph also states that “we have seen since then has not been a bad thing. Life has not become frustrating and boring.”

Research into extending life involves both new drugs and changes to genes.

Answer: Yes.
Supporting statement: Identifying two of the genes that appear to control how long the earthworm lives.
Keywords: Genes.
Keyword Location: 2nd line, 4th Paragraph.
Explanation: The 4th paragraph’s second line mentions the research results of the mutation of genes has shown impressive results after they identify two types of genes that appear to control how long the earthworm lives. These genes also control the hormones that regulate growth.

Scientific experiments have not succeeded in making any animals live longer.

Answer: No
Supporting statement: ‘If people live much longer, the proportion of children would
Keywords: longer.
Keyword Location: 3rd line, 8th Paragraph.
Explanation: The 8th paragraph clearly states that the head of the Centre for Research into Ageing at University College, London, is researching about extended life, but even after that they observe, ‘If people live much longer, the proportion of children would. Of course, be very small. It strikes me that it might feel rather claustrophobic.” - it does not mention anything about any animals long live.

Most people in the future will decide not to have children.

Answer: Not Given
Explanation: The 8th paragraph states the research about the opportunities of extended life. and they observe if people live much longer, the proportion of children would be very simple. But this paragraph does not mention anything clearly about how most people in the future will decide not to have children.

Life expectancy has improved partly because people eat better.

Answer: Yes.
Supporting statement: Throughout the last century, life-expectancy rose consistently, thanks to improved diet, better hygiene, continuous medical innovation and the provision of free or subsidised healthcare.
Keywords: Life-expectancy, Diet.
Keyword Location: 3rd line, Last Paragraph.
Explanation: The 2nd and lines of the last paragraph clearly states that life-expectancy rose consistently by improved diet, better hygiene.

Questions 6-9

Look at the following names of people or organisations (Questions 6-9) and the list of opinions (A-F). Match each name with the opinion which the person or organisation expressed. NB. There are more opinions than names, so you will not use them all.

Increases in longevity may cause unwelcome changes in society.
People will live longer but become tired of life.
Past experience shows that people do not lose interest in life as a result of living longer.
There is no scientific proof that any drug can prolong human life expectancy.
One medicine we are developing may have a welcome benefit apart from its original purpose.
Using drugs to treat the diseases of old age is only the beginning.

Eukarion

Answer: E
Supporting statement: Although it will initially be used to treat diseases associated with old age, Eukarion said, that ‘if the effect of treating diseases of old age is to extend life, everyone’s going to be happy.’
Keywords: Eukarion
Keyword Location: 3rd line, 5th Paragraph.
Explanation: The 5th paragraph mentions that the medicine “Eukarion” is initially e used to treat diseases associated with old age, but it “Eukarion” shows effects to extend life.

Rich Miller

Answer: D.
Supporting statement: ‘There is no evidence whatsoever that swallowing any chemical would have an effect on mammals’, says Rich Miller of the University of Michigan.
Keywords: Rich Miller
Keyword Location: 2nd line, 6th Paragraph.
Explanation: The 6th paragraph mentions that Rich Miller says, “There is no evidence whatsoever that swallowing any chemical would affect mammals.”

David Gems

Answer: A.
Supporting statement: David Gems, the head of the Centre for Research into Ageing at University College, London, is enthusiastic about the opportunities opened up by extended life, but even he observes, ‘If people live
much longer, the proportion of children would, of course, be very small. It strikes me that it might feel rather claustrophobic.
Keywords: David Gems
Keyword Location: 1st line, 8th Paragraph.
Explanation: In the 8th paragraph Devid Gems answering the question is mentioned in the last sentence of the 7th paragraph. David Gems says that if people live much longer, the proportion of children would be very small, so it may cause unwelcome changes in society.

John Polkinghorne

Answer: C
Supporting statement: The philosopher John Polkinghorne emphasises that any discussion of the merits of life-extending therapies must take into account the quality of the life that is lived.
Keywords: John Polkinghorne
Keyword Location: 1st and 2nd line, 9th Paragraph.
Explanation: In the 9th paragraph it mentions that John Polkinghorne emphasizes that life-extending therapies must take into account the quality of the life that is lived.

Question 10

Which TWO of the following are characteristics of free radicals?

Choose TWO letters A-E.

They are a partial cause of certain diseases.
They escape into the atmosphere when we breathe.
They are present in two vitamins.
They harm our body chemistry.
They are produced by our bodies.

Answer: A, D.
Supporting statement: To be implicated in diseases as diverse as cataracts, cancer, and Alzheimer’s. The body does its best to protect itself against free radicals by producing its own chemicals to prevent ageing, such as
vitamins E and C, but it is always fighting a losing battle.
Keywords: body, diseases.
Keyword Location: 4th and 5th line, Second Paragraph.
Explanation: The second paragraph states that the body sometimes protects itself against free radicals by producing its own chemicals to prevent ageing, but it is always fighting a losing battle.

Questions 11-14

Complete the following summary of the scientific progress towards extending life expectancy. Choose your answers from the box below the summary. NB There are more words than spaces, so you will not use them all.

In one experiment using anti-ageing chemicals, the life of (11)……………. was extended by half. (12)……………. like the ones which control the ageing process in these animals have also been found in other species. Unfortunately, however, experiments on (13)……………. have been less successful: while they live longer, the (14)……………. controlling their growth are also affected with the result that they grow less.

chemicals
earthworms
fruit flies
genes
hormones
human beings
mice
organisms

Question 11

Answer: Earthworms
Supporting statement: Using one of these anti-ageing chemicals, he managed to increase the lifespan of one species of earthworm by 50 per cent.
Keywords: anti-ageing
Keyword Location: 2nd and 3rd line, Third paragraph.
Explanation: In the Third paragraph, it mentions that using any anti-ageing chemicals is managed to increase the lifespan of one species of earthworm by half.

Question 12

Answer: Genes.
Supporting statement: Research involving the mutation of genes has also thrown up fascinating results: after identifying two of the genes that appear to control how long the earthworm lives, similar genes were found in organisms as various as fruit-flies, mice, and human beings. When one considers the vast evolutionary distances that separate these species.
Keywords: Species.
Keyword Location: 2nd and 3rd line, 4th paragraph.
Explanation: In the 4th paragraph, it clearly states that genes throw up fascinating results, and similar genes have vast evolutionary distances that separate these species.

Question 13

Answer: Mice
Supporting statement: The upshot of this is that although the lives of mutant mice can be extended by up to 80 per cent, they remain smaller than normal.
Keywords: live
Keyword Location: Last line, Sixth Paragraph.
Explanation: In the last line of the 6th paragraph, it mentions that the lives of mutant mice can be extended by up to 80 percent, and they are smaller than normal humans.

Question 14

Answer: Hormones.
Supporting statement: As well as controlling ageing, these, genes also partly control the hormones which regulate growth.
Keywords: growth.
Keyword Location: 5th line, Sixth Paragraph.
Explanation: In the 5th line of the sixth paragraph, it mentions that genes also partly control the hormones that regulate growth.