Could eternal dictators rule the world? The Chinese and Russian premiers have been caught discussing living forever. But some think this is a pipe dream fuelled by big tech and wishful thinking.
Putin and Xi’s secret immortality chat
Perpetual politicians: Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping show no sign of wanting to hand over leadership to younger figures. Comprehension quiz
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The word immortality most nearly means:
A: A serious illness
B: A short period of time
C: The ability to live forever
D: A type of scientific experiment
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Which word is the closest synonym for decline?
A: Improve
B: Worsen
C: Stop
D: Stay the same
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Add the correct punctuation to the sentence below.
putin has changed russian law so he can rule until at least 2036
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According to the article, which animal appears to live forever because it is made of stem cells that constantly divide?
A: Jellyfish
B: Mammoth
C: Tortoise
D: Hydra
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The article mentions that Donald Trump’s health has been questioned. Give one example from the text that caused these questions.
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According to the article, even if a leader’s body stopped ageing, what might happen to their mind that would make them unable to rule?
Answers
Tap to reveal
1. C 2. B 3. Putin has changed Russian law so he can rule until at least 2036. 4. D 5. Any one of the following: There have been photos of mysterious bruising on his hands. Rumours of his death spread after he was not seen in public for a few days. 6. The article states their mind might decline.
Glossary
Biotechnology - Technology based on biology, integrating natural sciences and engineering.
Immortality - Staying alive forever.
Authoritarian - Enforcing strict obedience to authority.
Rapidly - Very quickly.
Strongman - A leader who is famously for physical strength, or for ruling by showing force.
Term limit - A limit to how long someone, often a prime minister or president, can stay in a certain job.
Blood plasma - The liquid part of blood that carries blood cells and nutrients throughout the body.
Stem cells - Unspecialised cells that have the ability to develop into different types of cell.
Revolution - A sudden change in the way things are done.