Passage 3

Wear down

(phr v); /weər daʊn/; To make something gradually disappear or become thinner/weaker; Làm mòn/Suy yếu dần; Constant stress can … the body's immune system.

Ageing

(n); /ˈeɪ.dʒɪŋ/; The process of growing old; Quá trình lão hóa; … is a biological mystery that scientists are trying to solve.

Thermodynamics

(n); /ˌθɜː.məʊ.daɪˈnæm.ɪks/; The science of the relationship between heat and other forms of energy; Nhiệt động lực học; The second law of … says that closed systems tend toward disorder.

Inexorable

(adj); /ɪˈnek.sər.ə.bəl/; Impossible to stop or prevent; Không thể lay chuyển/Chắc chắn xảy ra; The … process of time affects every living thing.

Dynamic equilibrium

(n.phr); /daɪˌnæm.ɪk ˌiː.kwɪˈlɪb.ri.əm/; A state of balance between continuing processes; Cân bằng động; Life exists in a state of …, constantly repairing itself.

Mutation

(n); /mjuːˈteɪ.ʃən/; A change in the genetic structure; Sự đột biến; Some …s can lead to diseases like cancer.

Optimal

(adj); /ˈɒp.tɪ.məl/; Best or most favorable; Tối ưu; A healthy diet is … for a long life.

Immortality

(n); /ˌɪm.ɔːˈtæl.ə.ti/; The ability to live forever; Sự bất tử; Some organisms, like certain jellyfish, seem to achieve …

Striking

(adj); /ˈstraɪ.kɪŋ/; Very unusual or easily noticed; Gây ấn tượng mạnh/Nổi bật; There is a … difference between the lifespan of a mouse and an elephant.

Parameter

(n); /pəˈræm.ɪ.tə(r)/; A limit or boundary that defines how something should be done; Thông số/Giới hạn; Scientists study various …s to measure the rate of ageing.

Wear and tear theory

(n.phr); Lý thuyết về sự hao mòn; This theory suggests that bodies simply "use up" over time like machines.

Unicellular

(adj); /ˌjuː.nɪˈsel.jə.lə(r)/; Consisting of a single cell; Đơn bào; … organisms divide to produce new, "young" individuals.

Mammoth

(adj); /ˈmæm.əθ/; Extremely large; Khổng lồ/Đồ sộ; Investigating the causes of ageing is a … task for researchers.

Metabolic rate

(n.phr); /ˌmet.əˈbɒl.ɪk reɪt/; The speed at which the body uses energy; Tốc độ trao đổi chất; Animals with a high … usually have shorter lifespans.

Frugally

(adv); /ˈfruː.ɡəl.i/; In a way that uses only as much money or food as is necessary; Một cách tiết kiệm/Căn cơ; Living … (eating less) might help prolong life.

Captivity

(n); /kæpˈtɪv.ə.ti/; The condition of being kept in a place and not being free; Tình trạng bị giam cầm (vườn thú); Animals in … often live longer than those in the wild.

Hibernation

(n); /ˌhaɪ.bəˈneɪ.ʃən/; A state of deep sleep during winter; Sự ngủ đông; During …, an animal's heart rate drops significantly.

Lethargy

(n); /ˈleθ.ə.dʒi/; A lack of energy and enthusiasm; Trạng thái lờ đờ/Mệt mỏi; Extreme … can be a sign of a slow metabolism.

Cardiovascular

(adj); /ˌkɑː.di.əʊˈvæs.kju.lə(r)/; Relating to the heart and blood vessels; Thuộc tim mạch; … exercise is essential for keeping the heart young.

Equable

(adj); /ˈek.wə.bəl/; Calm and not easily upset (or stable); Điềm tĩnh/Ổn định; An … climate can reduce the stress on an organism's body.

In inverse proportion to

Tỉ lệ nghịch với; Lifespan is often …, which means the faster you live, the sooner you die. (Dùng để giải thích mối liên hệ giữa 2 yếu tố đối lập).

Energy consumption

Sự tiêu thụ năng lượng; High … leads to a faster build-up of metabolic waste. (Dùng trong các bài về sinh học/vật lý).

A closed system

Một hệ thống kín; According to thermodynamics, a … must eventually run out of order.

The course of nature

Quy luật tự nhiên; Death is seen as the inevitable …, but scientists want to delay it.

To be predisposed to

Có khuynh hướng dễ bị (bệnh); Some species are … certain genetic mutations that cause ageing.

A byproduct of

Một sản phẩm phụ của; Ageing is thought to be … the very chemical reactions that keep us alive.

Biological clock

Đồng hồ sinh học; Every cell may have an internal … that dictates its lifespan.

The upper limit

Giới hạn trên/Mức tối đa; Scientists are trying to push … of human life expectancy.

To be spared from

Được miễn khỏi/Tránh được; Animals in zoos are … the harsh conditions of the wild.

Natural selection

Chọn lọc tự nhiên; … favors organisms that reproduce early and efficiently.

Intensive care

Chăm sóc chuyên sâu; Proper nutrition and … can significantly prolong an animal's life.

Keep sth in check

Kiểm soát/Kiềm chế cái gì; Our body has mechanisms to … the damage caused by free radicals.