The secret to making old bones? Dr Pepper, apparently.

According to 104-year-old Elizabeth Sullivan, it’s not lots of exercise, healthy eating or avoiding alcohol, but the fizzy drink that’s kept her heart ticking all these years. “I started drinking them about 40 years ago,” said Sullivan, who lives in Texas. “Three a day. Every doctor that sees me says they’ll kill you, but they die and I don’t, so there must be a mistake somewhere.” Weird it might sound, but it does work. The only Dr for Sullivan, it seems, is Pepper.

Inspired by her unusual secret to longevity, we decided to take a look at some of the other recipes to reaching one’s twilight years.

A Hell raiser

An indulgent lifestyle doesn’t always equate to an early death. When asked what he attributed his long life to, WWI veteran Henry Allingham, who lived to 113, said “cigarettes and whisky have made my life meaningful”.

Porridge

Forget sugary cereals, bagels(百吉饼) and the like, the key to reaching a ripe old age, according to Scotland’s oldest man—106-year-old Alf Smith—is a simple breakfast of Porridge. “It’s just what I have always done, simple as that. A bit of brown sugar on top can’t be beat.”

Carefree

Stress is the route to all evil. Overworked, over-worried, overenthusiastic, it’s just not good for the old heart. The best way to ensure becoming a centenarian, says 107-year-old Cordelia Rimmington, who lives in Northern Ireland, is to remain calm: “Just carry on living. Don’t worry about anything—I don’t. I just let things happen. It’s worked quite well.”

Toe the line

England’s oldest woman, 112-year-old Gladys Hooper, says that her impressive years are a result of “living a straight life”. “I have never done stupid things,” says Hooper, “I have never gone beyond the limit.”

Religion

Religion is, says the daughter of Florence Allenet, who was born in 1909, most likely to have aided to her mother’s longevity. “She’s been to church, a practicing Christian all her life and that’s probably helped.”

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1.What does the underlined words “a mistake” refer to in the second paragraph?

A The secret to longevity is more exercise.

B Drinking alcohol can help one live longer.

C Drinking Dr Pepper can shorten one’s life.

D Dr Pepper is beneficial to people’s health.

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据文章第二段的“Every doctor that sees me says they’ll kill you, but they die and I don’t, so there must be a mistake somewhere”可知， Elizabeth Sullivan 认为医生对喝饮料(Dr Pepper) 的见解是错误的，Elizabeth Sullivan 每天喝三听 汽水，几十年如一日，她认为这是她长寿的秘密 所在。故选 C。

2.How did Henry Allingham manage to live to 113?

A Going to church often.

B Never going beyond the limit.

C Having porridge for breakfast.

D Enjoying cigarettes and whisky.

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据文章第四段的“cigarettes and whisky has made my life meaningful”可知，这位一 战老兵认为自己长寿的秘诀是尽情享受香烟和 威士忌带来的快乐。故选 D。

3.What can we conclude from Elizabeth Sullivan and Henry Allingham’s longevity secrets?

A There is a will, there is a way.

B One man’s meat is another man’s poison.

C Rome is not built in one day.

D It never rains but it pours.

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。文章中介绍的 Elizabeth Sullivan 认为自己长寿的秘诀是每天喝三听汽水，Henry Allingham 认为自己的长寿秘诀是尽情地抽烟喝 酒。很明显这两个人的长寿只属于个案，如果每 个人都像他们那样来生活，结果可能适得其反。 由此判断，Ｂ项(彼之蜜糖，吾之砒霜)符合文意。 故选 B。

4.What can we infer from the passage?

A A peaceful mind helps one live a long life.

B Uncontrolled desires contribute to longevity.

C Following the rules makes one outlive others.

D Sugary food helps one reach a ripe old age.

解析：选A。A 推理判断题。根据文章第六段的 “Overworked, over-worried, overenthusiastic, it’s just not good for the old heart.” 可知，过度劳累、过度忧虑和过度 热情都对老年人的心脏不好。由此推断，保持平 和的心态能够使人健康长寿。故选 A。

5.Which column of a newspaper will an editor put this article to?

A World.

B Health.

C Entertainment.

D Food.

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。本文介绍了老寿星们的长寿秘诀，属于健康主题，应该刊发在“健康”栏目里。