【听力原文】
The expected life span of Beijing residents has gone up to 75.5 years old compared with 74.4 years old a decade earlier, [ 1 ] while the death rate of middle-aged residents increased dramatically, according to a recent official report. The report made public by the Beijing Disease Control and Prevention Center said the past mortality of people aged between 35 to 54 years old had gone up 58.5% during the past ten years, from 158 people per 100,000 in 1991 to 251 people per 100,000 last year. Infant and maternal mortality rates went down 132% and 147% respectively. [2] Health experts said chronic non-infectious diseases were the main causes of death,covering 60% of the total number of deaths. The male mortality rate is higher than that of females, and the death rate among rural residents is higher than that of the urban ones.
Which group of people have the fastest-growing mortality rate during the past 10 years?
【做题提示】四个选项均为表示不同年龄段的人，可知本题要选出一个年龄段人群。听到问题后立刻回忆所听新闻内容，结合选项作答。
【解析】新闻开头的转折处明确提到while the death rate of middle．aged residents increased dramatically．即中年居民的死亡率大幅上升，故可知本题应选c。听力问题中的mortality rate与原文中的death rate是同义概念，意为 “死亡率”。