高三英语限时训练一
班级_________姓名_________得分_____
共65分。
一、完形填空（每空1.5分，共30分）（2018年全国卷1）
During my second year at the city college, I was told that the education department was offering a “free”course, called Thinking Chess, for three credits. I 41 the idea of taking the class because, after all, who doesn’t want to 42 a few dollars? More than that, I’d always wanted to learn chess. And, even if I weren’t 43 enough about free credits, news about our 44 was appealing enough to me. He was an international grandmaster, which 45 I would be learning from one of the game’s 46 . I could hardly wait to 47 him.
Maurice Ashley was kind and smart, a former graduate returning to teach, and this 48 was no game for him; he meant business. In his introduction, he made it 49 that our credits would be hard-earned. In order to 50 the class, among other criteria, we had to write a paper on how we plan to 51 what we would learn in class to our future professions and, 52 , to our lives. I managed to get an A in that 53 and learned life lessons that have served me well beyond the 54 .
Ten years after my chess class with Ashley, I’m still putting to use what he 55 me:“The absolute most important 56 that you learn when you play chess is how to make good 57 . On every single move you have to 58 a situation, process what your opponent (对手) is doing and
59 the best move from among all your options.” These words still ring true today in my 60 as
a journalist.
41.A. put forward B. jumped at C. tried out D. turned down
42.A. waste B. earn C. save D. pay
43.A. excited B. worried C. moved D. tired
44.A. title B. competitor C. textbook D. instructor
45.A. urged B. demanded C. held D. meant
46.A. fastest B. easiest C. best D. rarest
47.A. interview B. meet C. challenge D. beat
48.A. chance B. qualification C. honor D. job
49.A. real B. perfect C. clear D. possible
50.A. attend B. pass C. skip D. observe
51. A. add B. expose C. apply D. compare
52. A. eventually B. naturally C. directly D. normally
53. A. game B. presentation C. course D. experiment
54. A. criterion B. classroom C. department D. situation
55. A. taught B. wrote C. questioned D. promised
56. A. fact B. step C. manner D. skill
57. A. grades B. decisions C. impressions D. comments
58. A. analyze B. describe C. rebuild D. control
59. A. announce B. signal C. block D. evaluate
60. A. role B. desire C. concern D. behavior
二、语法填空（每空1.5分，共15分）（2018年全国卷1）
According to a review of evidence in a medical journal, runners live three years 61 _______ (long) than non-runners. You don’t have to run fast or for long 62 _________ (see) the benefit. You may drink, smoke, be overweight and still reduce your risk of 63 ________ (die) early by running.
While running regularly can’t make you live forever, the review says it 64 _______ (be) more effective at lengthening life 65 _______ walking, cycling or swimming. Two of the authors of the review also made a study published in 2014 66 ________ showed a mere five to 10 minutes a day of running reduced the risk of heart disease and early deaths from all 67 ______ (cause).
The best exercise is one that you enjoy and will do. But otherwise ... it’s probably running. To avoid knee pain, you can run on soft surfaces, do exercises to 68 _____ (strength) your leg muscles (肌肉), avoid hills and get good running shoes. Running is cheap, easy and it’s always 69 ____ (energy). If you are time poor, you need run for only half the time to get the same benefits as other sports, so perhaps we should all give 70 _______ a try.
三、短文改错（共20小题；每小题l分，满分20分）（2018年全国卷1和2）
（一）During my last winter holiday, I went to countryside with my father to visit my grandparents. I find a big change there. The first time I went there, they were living in a small house with dogs, ducks, and another animals. Last winter when I went here again, they had a big separate house to raise dozens of chicken. They also had a small pond which they raised fish. My grandpa said last summer they earned quite a lot by sell the fish. I felt happily that their life had improved. At the end of our trip, I told my father that I planned to return for every two years, but he agreed.
（二）When I was little, Friday’s night was our family game night. After supper, we would play card games of all sort in the sitting room. As the kid, I loved to watch cartoons, but no matter how many times I asked to watching them, my parents would not to let me. They would say to us that playing card games would help my brain. Still I unwilling to play the games for them sometimes. I didn’t realize how right my parents are until I entered high s chool. The games my parents taught me where I was a child turned out to be very useful later in my life.
高三英语限时训练二
班级_________姓名___________得分_____
共55分。
一、完形填空（每空1.5分，共30分）（2018年全国卷2）
Two weeks earlier, my son, Ben, had got in touch. He’d moved to En gland with his mum when he was three and it had been 13 years since I’d 41 seen him. So imagine my 42 when he emailed me saying he wanted to come to visit me.
I was 43 ! I arrived early at Byron Bay where we were supposed to 44 . The bay was
45 in sunshine, and there was a group of kayakers around 150m off the shore. Getting a little
46 , I realized one kayak (皮划艇) was in 47 . “Something’s not 48 !” I took off my T-shirt and 49 into the water. I saw there were two instructors on board and a man lying across the middle. He was 50 violently. Linking arms with one of the instructors，I helped
51 the young man out of the water. He was unconscious and as I looked at his face, something
52 to me. Those brown eyes were very 53 . “What’s his name?” I asked the instructor. “Ben,” he replied, and immediately I 54 . That stranger was my son!
The instructors called for an ambulance. 55 , after a brief stay in hospital, Ben was well enough to be allowed to 56 and later the family met up for dinner. We chatted about everything and then Ben 57 to me. “I just want to say thank you,” he said. “You 58 my life!”
I still can’t believe what a 59 it was. I’m just so glad I was there 60 to help my son.
41. A. also B. often C. even D. last
42. A. delight B. relief C. anger D. worry
43. A. scared B. shocked C. thrilled D. ashamed
44. A. talk B. stay C. meet D. settle
45. A. bathed B. clean C. deep D. formed
46. A. faster B. closer C. heavier D. wiser
47. A. trouble B. advance C. question D. battle
48. A. real B. right C. fair D. fit
49. A. stared B. sank C. dived D. fell
50. A. arguing B. fighting C. shouting D. shaking
51. A. lead B. persuade C. carry D. keep
52. A. happened B. occurred C. applied D. appealed
53. A. sharp B. pleasant C. attractive D. familiar
54. A. agreed B. hesitated C. doubted D. knew
55. A. Fortunately B. Frankly C. Sadly D. Suddenly
56. A. return B. relax C. speak D. leave
57. A. joked B. turned C. listened D. pointed
58. A. created B. honored C. saved D. guided
59. A. coincidence B. change C. pity D. pain
60. A. on board B. in time C. for sure D. on purpose
二、语法填空（每空1.5分，共15分）（2018年全国卷2）
Diets have changed in China – and so too has its top crop. Since 2011, the country 61 ____ (grow) more corn than rice. Corn production has jumped nearly 125 percent over 62 ____ past 25 years, while rice has increased only 7 percent.
A taste for meat is 63 _____ (actual) behind the change: An important part of its corn is used to feed chickens, pigs, and cattle. Another reason for corn’s rise: The government encourages farmers to grow corn instead of rice 64 ______ (improve) water quality. Corn uses less water 65 ______ rice and creates less fertilizer (化肥) runoff. This switch has decreased 66 ______ (pollute) in the country’s major lakes and reservoirs and made drinking water safer for people.
According to the World Bank, China accounts for about 30 percent of total 67 ______ (globe) fertilizer consumption. The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture finds that between 2005 –when the government 68 ______ (start) a soil –testing program 69 _____ gives specific fertilizer recommendations to farmers – and 2011, fertilizer use dropped by 7.7 million tons. That prevented the emission (排放) of 51.8 million tons of carbon dioxide. China’s approach to protecting its environment while 70 _______ (feed) its citize ns “offers useful lessons for agriculture and food policymakers worldwide,” says the bank’s Juergen V oegele.
三、根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。(共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分) （2018年全国卷2）
If you are already making the time to exercise, it is good indeed! With such busy lives, it can be hard to try and find the time to work out. 36 Working out in the morning provides additional benefits beyond being physically fit.
● Your productivity is improved. Exercising makes you more awake and ready to handle whatever is ahead of you for the day. 37
● Your metabolism (新陈代谢) gets a head start. 38 If you work out in the mornings, then you will be getting the calorie (卡路里) burning benefits for the whole day, not in your sleep.
● 39 Studies found that people who woke up early for exercise slept better than those who exercised in the evening. Exercise energizes you, so it is more difficult to relax and have a peaceful sleep when you are very excited.
● 40 If you work out bright and early in the morning, you will be more likely to stick to healthy food choices throughout the day. Who would want to ruin their good workout by eating junk food? You will want to continue to focus on positive choices.
There are a lot of benefits to working out, especially in the mornings. Set your alarm clock an hour early and push yourself to work out! You will feel energized all day long.
A.You will stick to your diet.
B.Your quality of sleep improves.
C.You prefer healthy food to fast food.
D.There is no reason you should exercise in the morning.
E.You can keep your head clear for 4-10 hours after exercise.
F.After you exercise, you continue to burn calories throughout the day.
G.If you are planning to do exercise regularly, or you’re doing it now, then listen up!
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.____________
高三英语试卷2018.4.15 本试卷分第I卷(选择题)和第Ⅱ卷(非选择题)两部分，共150分，考试时间120分钟。 第I卷(选择题共90分) 第一部分听力(共两节，满分30分) 第一节(共5小题；每小题 1.5分，满分7.5分) 听下面5段对话。每段对话后有一个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项，并标在试卷的相应位置。听完每段对话后，你都有10秒钟的时间来回答有关小题和阅读下一小题。每段对话仅读一遍。 1. What does Tom plan to do next week? A. To make a robot. B. To enter a competition. C. To surprise the woman. 2. What is the woman? A. A waitress. B. A tour guide. C. A saleswoman. 3. What is the woman’s problem? A. She forgot her seat number. B. She got on the wrong train. C. She lost her train ticket. 4. Why has the man stopped exercising? A. He is busy moving house. B. He lives far away from the gym. C. He dislikes going to the gym alone. 5. How is Janet probably feeling now? A. Disappointed. B. Confused. C. Stressed. 第二节（共15小题；每小题 1.5分，满分22.5分） 听下面5段对话或独白。每段对话或独白后有几个小题，从题中所给的A、B、C三个选项中选出最佳选项，并标在试卷的相应位置。听每段对话或独白前，你将有时间阅读各个小 题，每小题5秒钟;听完后，各小题将给出5秒钟的作答时间。每段对话或独白读两遍。 听第6段材料，回答第6、7题。 6. How long is the woman going to stay at the hotel? A. Two nights. B. Three nights. C. Four nights. 7. Why are the prices for the two rooms different? A. The rooms are different in size. B. The rooms have different views. C. The rooms are of different shapes. 听第7段材料，回答第8、9题。
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（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.
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
高三英语周练（1）试题 命题人：考试时间：50分钟总分：89分 Ⅰ. 阅读理解(满分39分) A Food festivals around the world Stilton Cheese Rolling May Day is a traditional day for celebrations, but the 2,000 English villagers of Stilton must be the only people in the world who include cheese rolling in their annual plans. Teams of four, dressed in a variety of strange and funny clothes, roll a complete cheese along a 50-metre course. On the way, they must not kick or throw their cheese, or go into their competitors' lane(赛道). Competition is fierce and the chief prize is a complete Stilton cheese weighing about four kilos (disappointingly, but understandably the cheeses used in the race are wooden ones). All the competitors are served with beer or port wine, the traditional accompaniment for Stilton cheese. Fiery Foods Festival—The Hottest Festival on Earth Every year more than 10,000 people head for the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico. They come from as far away as Australia, the Caribbean and China, but they all share a common addiction—food that is not just spicy(辛辣),but hot enough to make your mouth burn, your head spin and your eyes water. Their destination is the Fiery Food and BBQ Festival which is held over a period of three days every March. You might like to try a chocolate-covered habanero pepper—officially the hottest pepper in the world—or any one of the thousands of products that are on show. But one thing's for sure—if you don't like the feeling of a burning tongue, this festival isn't for you! La Tomatina—The World's Biggest Food Fight On the last Wednesday of every August, the Spanish town of Bunol hosts La Tomatina—the world's largest food fight. A week-long celebration leads up to an exciting tomato battle as the highlight of the week's events. The early morning sees the arrival of large trucks with tomatoes—official fight-starters get things going by casting tomatoes at the crowd. The battle lasts little more than half an hour, in which time around 50,000 kilograms of tomatoes have been thrown at anyone or anything that moves, runs, or fights back. Then everyone heads down to the river to make friends again—and for a much-needed wash! 1. In the Stilton cheese rolling competition, competitors on each team must________. A. wear various formal clothes B. roll a wooden cheese in their own lane C. kick or throw their cheese D. use a real cheese weighing about four kilos 2. Where is the Fiery Food and BBQ Festival held? A. In New Mexico. B. In the Caribbean. C. In Australia. D. In China.
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
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.