Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 26 to 30. The Italian island of Sardinia holds the world record for the highest percentage of people (26) _________ have lived to be over 100 years old. Most of the locals believe that the reason lies in the place itself - the air or the food, for example. But scientists are now investigating another (27) _________. For ...

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 26 to 30.

The Italian island of Sardinia holds the world record for the highest percentage of people (26) _________ have lived to be over 100 years old. Most of the locals believe that the reason lies in the place itself - the air or the food, for example. But scientists are now investigating another (27) _________. For centuries, (28) _________ the islanders have intermarried with outsiders, so it is very likely that Sardinians are genetically similar to each other. Therefore, it’s logical to assume that they share a gene for longevity. A team of doctors and biologists have been analysing the proteins which are contained in the Y chromosome. They are (29) _________ to find the key gene, but the research coordinator confidently expects his team to come up with an answer some time in the near future. As soon as they do, the discovery will certainly (30) _________ a great deal of interest.

(Adapted from Mastermind Use of English)

The Italian island of Sardinia holds the world record for the highest percentage of people (26) _________ have lived to be over 100 years old.