مکالمه ی فعالانه قسمت الف

ACTIVE SPEAKING / PART A

AGE IS JUST A NUMBER

Jeanne Calment holds the world record for the oldest person to have ever lived.

What record does Jeanne Calment hold? Jeanne Calment holds the world record for the oldest person to have ever lived.

She passed away in 1997, and according to her birth certificate, she was born in 1875 in the town of Arles, France.

When did she pass away? She passed away in 1997. According to her birth certificate, when was she born? According to her birth certificate, she was born in 1875.

Her life stretched across centuries.

Did her love stretch across centuries? No, her love didn’t stretch across centuries. Her life stretched across centuries.

She was born before the telephone, and she lived through two world wars.

What invention was she born before? She was born before the telephone.

What did she live through? She lived through two world wars.

She even remembers meeting Van Gogh at the age of 12.

Who does she remember meeting? She remembers meeting Van Gogh at the age of 12.

In 1888, he visited her father’s store to buy art supplies.

When did he visit her father’s store to buy art supplies? He visited her father’s store to buy art supplies in 1888.

She says, he was “dirty, badly dressed and disagreeable.” Was he clean, well dressed and agreeable? No, he was not clean, well dressed and agreeable. He was dirty, badly dressed and disagreeable.

Calment lived a full life and hardly slowed down in her golden years.

Did Calment live an empty life? No, Calment didn’t live an empty life.

Calment lived a full life. Did she slow down a lot in her golden years? No, she didn’t slow down a lot in her golden years. She hardly slowed down in her golden years.

She was known for her quick wit.

What was she known for? She was known for her quick wit.

When a departing visitor once said goodbye to the elderly Calment with “Until next year, perhaps,” she replied: “I don’t see why not! You don’t look so bad to me.”

What did a departing visitor once say to the elderly Calment? A departing visitor once said to the elderly Calment “Until next year, perhaps.” Did Calment reply: “I don’t see why not! You don’t look so bad to me.” Yes, Calment replied: “I don’t see why not! You don’t look so bad to me.” In addition to being mentally sharp as a tack, physically, she was a dynamo.

Was she mentally dumb as a sack? No, she wasn’t mentally dumb as a sack.

She was mentally sharp as a tack. Physically, what was she? Physically, she was a dynamo.

She picked up fencing at the age of 85.

What sport did she pick up at the age of 85? She picked up fencing at the age of 85.

And she still rode a bicycle at 100.

What did she still do at 100? She still rode a bicycle at 100.

Ironically, she did not seem to be a health nut.

Did she seem to be a health nut? No, she didn’t seem to be a health nut.

She smoked until two years before she died.

How long did she smoke? She smoked until two years before she died.

And she didn’t kick the habit for any health reasons.

Did she kick the habit for health reasons? No, she didn’t kick the habit for health reasons.

She simply couldn’t see well enough to light her cigarettes.

Why couldn’t she light her cigarettes? She couldn’t see well enough to light her cigarettes.

When she was laid to rest at the age of 122, she was internationally recognized as the oldest human to have ever lived.

What age was she when she was laid to rest? She was laid to rest at the age of 122. What was she internationally recognized as? She was internationally recognized as the oldest human to have ever lived.

Calment believed that her love of wine and laughter kept her young.

What did Calment believe kept her young? Calment believed that her love of wine and laughter kept her young.

Others have credited her using olive oil to moisturize her skin and her habit of eating 2 pounds of chocolate a week.

Have others credited her using olive oil to moisturize her skin and her habit of eating 2 pounds of chocolate a week? Yes, others have credited her using olive oil to moisturize her skin and her habit of eating 2 pounds of chocolate a week.

Before we all pour another glass of wine and order a truckload of chocolate, know that not everyone is on board with Calment’s recipe for old age.

Is everyone on board with Calment’s recipe for old age? No, not everyone is on board with Calment’s recipe for old age.