Question

Common sense would tell us that physically active children may be more likely to become active and healthy adults.

In the United States, elementary and middle schools are advised to give students two and a half hours of physical activity a week. That is what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association recommend. They say high schools should provide about four hours of physical activity each week.

Yet many schools across the country have reduced their physical education programs. Just this week, a study reported that life expectancy has fallen or is no longer increasing in some parts of the United States. The situation is worst among poor people in the southern states, and especially women. Public health researchers say it is largely the result of increases in fatness, smoking and high blood pressure. They also blame differences in health services around the country.

In 2006, a study found that only four percent of primary schools provided daily physical education all year for all grades. This was true of eight percent of middle schools and two percent of high schools. The study also found that twenty-two percent of all schools did not require students to take any P.E.

Charlene Burgeson , a health expert says one problem for P.E. teachers is that schools are under pressure to put more time into academic subjects. Also, parents may agree that children need exercise in school. Yet many parents today still have bad memories of being chosen last for teams because teachers favored the good athletes in class.

But experts say P.E. classes have changed. They say the goal has moved away from competition and toward personal performance, as a way to build a lifetime of activity. These days, teachers often lead activities like weight training and yoga.

Some parents like the idea of avoiding competitive sports in P.E. class. Yet others surely dislike that idea. In the end, schools may find themselves in a no-win situation.

1. The underlined word “expectancy” in Paragraph 3 probably means “       ”                            

A．quality

B．length

C．exception

D．depth

2.According to the passage which of the following may not lead to poor health?

A．Fatness.	B．Smoking
C．High blood pressure.	D．Health service

3. What can be inferred after you read this passage?

A．Physical activities are becoming more and more popular in American schools.

B．All the schools provided daily physical education all year for all students.

C．Parents think children need physical education for their bad memories.

D．Students spent less time on physical education for academic pressure.

4. What is the main idea about this passage?

A．P.E. is the most important subject for all students.

B．P.E has changed its goal for some reasons in America.

C．It introduces us the present situation of P.E in American schools and its cause.

D．P.E can help students improve their academic subjects.

Answer

1.B

2.D

3.D

4.C

【解析】

试题分析：1.B 推理题。根据第三段最后三行Public health researchers say it is largely the result of increases in fatness, smoking and high blood pressure. They also blame differences in health services around the country.都是在分析这种情况的原因，肥胖，抽烟和高血压，这些都可以导致人死亡，那么说明这个词指的是人的平均年龄在下降，故B正确。

2.D 细节题。根据第三段最后三行Public health researchers say it is largely the result of increases in fatness, smoking and high blood pressure. They also blame differences in health services around the country说明ABC三项都会导致健康不好，医疗保健会让健康状态好起来，故D符合句意。

3.D 推理题。根据文章倒数第三段第2句teachers is that schools are under pressure to put more time into academic subjects.说明学校处于要把时间放在文化课的成绩上的压力里之下。故D正确。

4.C 主旨大意题。文章讨论的是美国学校体育教育的现状和出现这种情况的原因。故C正确。

考点：考查新闻类短文阅读