There are now 23,548 residents in Italy who are 100-years-old or over, compared with 21,211 in 2024, according to the latest figures from Istat, the national statistics agency. Italy has more than double the number of centenarians than it had in 2009, Istat said. Of those reaching the milestone age this year, 82.6% are women. Women also take the lead among Italy’s 724 semi-supercentenarians – people aged 105 and over – and among the 19 supercentenarians, those in the 110-plus age bracket.

In Italy, the southern region of Molise tops the list of centenarians in relative terms, followed by the Aosta Valley and Liguria, Istat said. Sardinia also boasts a high concentration of centenarians, leading to a cluster of villages on the island being identified in 2004 among the world’s seven so-called “blue zones”, where a significant share of the population live exceptionally long lives. Perdasdefogu, a town tucked high up in the rugged mountains of south-eastern Sardinia accessible only by a narrow, winding road, has twice entered the Guinness World Records book for its centenarians. The first occasion was in 2012, when the nine siblings that made up the Melis family racked up a combined age of 818. In 2021, the town achieved a second record for having the largest concentration of centenarians in the world, with eight people aged 100 and over in a population of 1,778.

The Mediterranean diet has long been thought to be the main ingredient for longevity among Italians, combined with strong social connections and a healthcare system that is generally considered to be good.

Italian centenarians also tend to be sprightly. Anna Possi, who will be 101 on 16 November, still works in her bar in a town overlooking Lake Maggiore, making her Italy’s oldest barista. She told the Guardian in an interview last year that she will “keep going so long as my health permits”. In 2022, Candida Uderzo had her driving licence renewed at the age of 100. She’s among at least four centenarians in recent years to have been deemed fit to get behind the wheel, including Luciano Gulmini, who had his permit renewed in 2024 soon after turning 100.

While Italy’s centenarians are hugely celebrated, the ageing population is causing problems for the government, especially as it coincides with a plummeting birthrate, placing pressure on the pension and healthcare systems. In 2024, just 370,000 new births were recorded, the lowest figure since Italy’s unification in 1861.

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1.1. According to Paragraph 1, which of the following is true about Italian centenarians?

A Their number has doubled since 2024.

B Females constitute the vast majority.

C 724 individuals have surpassed 110.

D A significant rise occurred after 2012.

解析：选B。1.B细节理解题。第一段明确指出，在今年的百岁老人中，82.6%是女性，并且在105岁以上和110岁以上的人群中，女性也占主导地位。因此B项正确。A项错误，文章说的是相比2009年数量翻倍，而非2024年。C项错误，724人是105岁以上的“半超级人瑞”，而非110岁以上。D项错误，文中未提及2012年后有显著增长，2012年是佩尔达斯德福古镇首次创纪录的年份。故选D。

2.2. The phrase “blue zones” in Paragraph 2 most probably refers to regions renowned for their ______.

A exceptional medical systems

B distinctive dietary customs

C concentrated centenarian populations

D spectacular natural landscapes

解析：选C。2.C词义猜测题。第二段中，“blue zones”出现在撒丁岛因百岁老人高度集中而被认定为“蓝色地带”的语境中，并随后解释这些地区有大量人口异常长寿。因此，“blue zones”指的是百岁老人高度集中的区域，C项正确。A项（医疗系统）和B项（饮食习俗）虽是文中提到的长寿可能因素，但并非“蓝色地带”一词的直接指代。D项（自然风光）文中未直接强调。故选C。

3.3. What is implied about Perdasdefogu?

A Its isolation may aid longevity.

B Its large population base.

C Its long-held Guinness record.

D Its world-record holding family.

解析：选A。3.A推理判断题。第二段在描述佩尔达斯德福古镇时，特意强调了其“深藏于崎岖群山”、“仅能通过狭窄盘山路抵达”的偏远地理位置，并紧接着说明该镇拥有极高的百岁老人比例。这两者之间的并置强烈暗示了其隔绝的地理环境可能对长寿有积极作用，故A项是合理的推断。B项“其庞大的人口基数”错误，原文指出该镇人口仅1,778人。C项“其长期保持的吉尼斯纪录”不准确，该镇获得的是两项不同的纪录。D项“其保持世界纪录的家庭”是具体事实，但“世界纪录持有家庭”表述不精准。故选A。D项：表述绝对（sole），且与安娜·波西“只要健康允许就继续工作”的表述逻辑不符。故选A。

4.4. The example of Anna Possi is mentioned in the text to illustrate that ______.

A many Italian centenarians remain physically energetic

B baristas in Italy enjoy remarkably long careers

C Lake Maggiore’s environment fosters longevity

D health is the sole determinant for centenarians’ retirement

解析：选A。4.A例证题。第四段的核心观点（主题句）是“Italian centenarians also tend to be sprightly”。 “Sprightly”一词的核心含义是身体灵便、精力充沛、充满活力的。随后，文章列举了两个例子来具体证明这种“活力”：安娜·波西：101岁仍在酒吧工作。坎迪达·乌德佐等：百岁高龄仍能通过评估，更换驾照。这两个例子共同指向的是百岁老人们能够进行工作、驾驶等需要良好身体和认知能力的活动，这直接证明了他们身体状态依然充满活力（physically energetic）。因此，A项是对“sprightly”一词最直接、最准确的解释，也是这两个例子共同支撑的概括性观点。B项：将例子局限于“酒吧师”这一职业，过于具体和片面，无法涵盖“更换驾照”等其他例证。C项：属于过度推断，文中并未探讨马焦雷湖环境与长寿的因果关系。 D项：表述绝对（sole），且与安娜·波西“只要健康允许就继续工作”的表述逻辑不符。故选A。

5.5. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A Celebrating Italian Centenarians

B Italy’s Aging Crisis

C Longevity in Italy: A Mixed Blessing

D Women and Longevity in Italy

解析：选C。5.C主旨大意题。文章不仅描述了意大利百岁老人数量增长、分布、原因及其活跃生活（积极面），也明确指出了人口老龄化和低出生率带来的社会挑战（消极面）。C项“Longevity in Italy: A Mixed Blessing”（意大利的长寿现象：一件喜忧参半的事）准确地概括了这种双重性。A项“Celebrating Italian Centenarians”（为意大利百岁老人庆祝）只涵盖了积极面。B项“Italy’s Aging Crisis”（意大利的老龄化危机）只强调了问题，忽略了文中对长寿本身的积极描述。D项“Women and Longevity in Italy”（意大利的女性与长寿）仅是文章中的一个细节，不足以概括全文主旨。故选C。