FRIDAY, Aug. 3 (Health Day News) -- Middle school students who are physically fit are likely to score higher on standardized tests measuring reading and math abilities, a new study has found. And, the average scores went up in connection with levels of fitness, the findings showed.
“The more physically fit kids were, the higher their scores,” said the study’s lead author, Trent Petrie, director of the Center for Sport Psychology at the University of North Texas in Denton. “Parents should encourage their kids to be physically active. There are some real cognitive (认知的) and academic benefits that come from physical fitness”, Petrie said.
Results of the study are scheduled to be presented Friday at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in Orlando, Fla. The study included more than 1,200 middle school students from five schools in a suburban area of Texas, with 561 boys and 650 girls. About 57 percent of the children were white, and nearly one-quarter were Mexican American. Nine percent were black and about 2 percent were of Asian descent.
The school district provided the researchers with information on the children’s race, age, grade level and whether they qualified for the free school lunch program, which was an indicator of the family’s socioeconomic status. The schools also provided scores to the tests, which were given between one and four months after the researchers had assessed the children’s levels of fitness. Fitness tests were administered during physical education classes to determine the youngsters’ heart and lung health (cardiorespiratory fitness), as well as their body mass index (BMI), an indicator of how much body fat a person has. The children also filled out questionnaires that helped the researchers determine factors such as self-esteem and social support.
After accounting for factors such as age, sex, family income and self-esteem, the researchers found that for both boys and girls, higher levels of heart and lung health predicted better scores on both the math and reading tests.
For boys, perceived (感观的) social support also seemed to increase their reading scores, the investigators found. In girls, while being physically fit predicted higher reading scores, so too did a higher BMI-- which indicates more body fat. “We were a little surprised by this finding,” Petrie said.
“It was not as strong an association as the one with physical fitness,” he added. The authors suspect it may have something to do with girls this age entering adolescence, which may be related to a higher BMI and slightly higher brain development. He said he plans to make great effort to look for this relationship again in larger studies to see if it was a chance finding, or if the association holds up.
“While we can’t say 100 percent that physical fitness causes better academic performance, we can say that there is a strong and predictive relationship between physical fitness and academic performance,” Petrie said.
“It’s hard to tease apart (梳理) the exact reason for this association,” said Becky Hashim, an attending clinical psychologist and assistant professor in the departments of psychiatry and pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Montefiore, in New York City.
“It may be that the children are getting more oxygen. When the heart and lungs are working at a higher capacity, it may allow the brain to work at peak performance. Children who are less fit may be sleepier during school,” she noted. “I personally feel that there’s probably a strong relationship between the confidence you get from being able to do something physical well and academic performance.”
Whatever the reason behind this association may be, “there’s certainly no harm in pushing physical fitness,” Hashim added. “Physical fitness may make you feel better, give you more confidence and improve your performance across the board,” she said.
Petrie agreed. “Physically fit kids are happier, have higher self-esteem and, tend to have better relationships, and now we’re beginning to see that there also seem to be benefits cognitively and academically. Our study sends a strong warning to policymakers to reconsider the service program of physical education classes for kids,” he said.
1.How did the school district help the researchers carry out the study?
A．By analyzing the data of fitness tests.
B．By giving some basic information.
C．By completing some questionnaires.
D．By offering a certain amount of Money.
2.According to the passage, the result of the study will be published ______.
A．in a book B．in a journal C．at a conference D．on the Internet
3.What’s the suitable title of the passage?
A．Parents should be aware of the benefit of fitness.
B．Fitter kids are likely to make better grades.
C．Fitness affects kids’ social behavior greatly.
D．Teachers should value physical education classes.
4.What’s Becky Hashim’s attitude towards the relationship between physical fitness and academic performance?
A．Supportive B．Indifferent C．Critical D．Doubtful
5.What does the underlined word “one” in Paragraph refer to?
A．The BMI. B．The body fat. C．The brain development. D．The test score.
6.From the last paragraph we can infer that physically fit kids ______.
A．deserve to be treated well B．live much longer than others
C．get along well with others D．enjoy a peaceful life
As China becomes increasingly urbanized (城市化), it has to find space for its urban and rural citizens as both groups become increasingly integrated. Experts suggest a possible model way may be “re-inventing” a “garden city”.
China’s mega-cities are bursting at the borders and the country is now undergoing the quickest and biggest urbanization in the history of mankind. It is estimated that by 2025, China will have 400 million more people living in its cities, raising its urban population to 900 million. Besides, new satellite towns are mushrooming on the urban fringes while city ring roads are rippling outwards into the countryside at amazing speed. Satellite maps collected by Professor Joshua Bolchover at the University of Hong Kong bring the problem sharply into focus. They track the changing rural-urban framework in the past 30 years, and suggest that cities are cruelly destroying surrounding rural land and rapidly reducing the amount of arable (可耕种的) land, which gives way to new residential blocks, new industrial zones, new financial centers and the other inevitable signs and signatures of economic growth.
This, however, is not sustainable growth pattern, especially when China has the world’s largest population to feed. So concerned urban planners are starting to note the social and physical effects of diaspora (大移居) when replaced rural communities are forced into the cities.
On the other hand, a trend of thought is gradually taking shape and this is the concept of the “garden city”, a combination of country and city that is being proposed by architects and city planners. Hua Li, from Tao Architects, is among the many professionals with such a voice. His argument is supported by a long-term study on this subject. As Hua says, the answer is to preserve patches of productive farmland within urban boundaries. Less transportation means we have fresh agricultural products at lower costs and less carbon emission in the city. And urban farmland can also be showcased for agricultural tourism and education.
The concept is already practiced at the grassroot level. Agriculture has gone into the air, up to roof and balcony in some communities in the cities. It’s common to see organic “hanging garden” on the roof of some traditional courtyard home. According to some people, the rooftop project translate to tangible (=" practical)" benefits, such as safe, nutritious vegetables, a cooler home in summer. Some say thanks to the tomatoes they plant that are natural insect killers, there’re fewer mosquitoes. Apart from these, it also contributes to better bonding with neighbors. Zhang, a doctor in Beijing, began creating his hanging garden five years ago. Since his garden became home to 30 kinds of vegetables and fruit --- all enough to feed his family, neighbors have enjoyed dropping by for a relaxing chat or just to see how well the lovely vegetables and fruit are doing.
Although people like Zhang are still rare and the greening of roof space with vegetables and fruit takes skill and energy, with more positive media exposure and advanced technology there is the prospect that garden city will become common practice in the near future. By then, cities will no longer look so gray when seen from the satellites.
1.Some experts suggest re-inventing a “garden city” because ______.
A．it is the only model way to save the cities
B．it helps stop destroying the rural areas
C．increasing urbanization takes place in China
D．China has the largest population to feed
2.What is the purpose of paragraph 2?
A．To show the experts’ concern about the increase of population.
B．To persuade people into supporting economic growth in cities.
C．To explain the reasons for the change of rural-urban framework.
D．To inform the readers of the consequences of quick urbanization.
3.In Hua Li’s opinion, a combination of country and city will ______.
A．benefit the environment and lower living costs
B．become a project that needs a long-term study
C．lead to more rural communities being replaced
D．attract more farmers to take tours in cities
4.Zhang is mentioned (Paragraph 5) to show that ______.
A．he achieves his dream to own a hanging garden
B．hanging gardens are becoming more popular
C．the garden contributes to a better neighborhood
D．he is a pioneer to practise the gardening concept
5.As for the concept of the “garden city”, the writer feels ______.
A．desperate B．hopeful C．disappointed D．concerned
Shower Radio --- Warranty (保单) and Directions
Introduction
Congratulations! You are now the owner of a So Fine Shower Radio! It is sure to provide entertainment for many hours. In addition, the radio features a timer for those days when you are in a hurry.
Before using the radio, please read all directions, fill out and mail in the warranty card, and put warranty information in a safe place. Although we do not expect problems with the radio, you may need to refer to the warranty information at a later time.
Warranty
This radio is warranted for a one-year period that begins on the date of purchase. If it fails to work because of a problem of materials, please return it to the following address: So Fine Radio Corp, 1279 Delta Way, Monga.
We will not pay shipping costs for returning the radio to us. We will either repair or replace the radio. Please allow at least four weeks for looking at the problem and repairing the radio. If you have not heard from us within six weeks, call our customer service department at 1-800-123.
Radios that are returned to us for problems other than a problem of materials will be subject to service fee as well as the cost of the repairs. Customers will be informed of the charge by postcard. Radios will not be returned to customers until these fees are paid.
Directions
Please read all directions before using it.
Please note that this radio is designed and built to operate well in a damp environment. The self-contained batteries and circuits (线路) are contained in the enclosed space that will bear heat and humidity.
To Operate the Radio
1. Put two AA batteries in the enclosed space at the back of the radio. Be certain to follow the diagram, or the batteries will not provide electricity. The radio should NOT be adapted in order to be fixed into the wall; this will damage the waterproofing (防水).
2. Turn the POWER dial in a clockwise direction until it clicks. Continue turning the dial until the desired volume is achieved.
3. To find the desired station, press the station selector button. The tuner (调谐器) will automatically go to the next highest signal. The station’s call number will be visible in the digital screen. When the station with the highest frequency has been reached, the selector will start again at the lowest frequency.
4. To switch between AM and FM stations, move the sliding AM/FM switch.
To Operate the Timer
1. Press the Timer Set button. Each time the button is pressed, five minutes will be put on the timer. The amount of time on the timer will be visible for five seconds on the digital screen.
2. When the time on the timer doesn’t work, a beep will sound for ten seconds. The timer may be reset again one minute.
Troubleshooting
Before returning the radio for service, please check the following items:
Problem: Radio cannot be heard.
1. Check batteries to be certain that they still have power and are put in correctly.
2. Check Power/Volume Control.
Problem: Timer does not work.
1. Check batteries to be certain that they still have power and are put in correctly.
2. Follow directions above for setting timer.
3. Turn the power control on. The timer will not work when the radio is not on.
4. Adjust the volume control which regulates the volume of the beep as well as the radio volume.
1.The digital screen will show both ______.
A．the volume level and the AM/FM indicator
B．the AM/FM indicator and the radio station
C．the time remaining on the timer and the date
D．the call number and time on the timer
2.Which of the following is covered within this text?
A．How to operate the radio and the timer.
B．What other owners say about the radio.
C．Who will benefit from using the radio.
D．Where to purchase the radio.
3.What question might a reader still have about this product?
A．How can I know the service fee?
B．Where should I send a nonworking radio?
C．How is the radio placed in the shower?
D．What kind of batteries does the radio use?
4.According to the text, what should you do before returning the radio for service?
A．Contact the store where you purchased it.
B．Check whether certain problems exist.
C．Call the producer for a repair number.
D．Consult the telephone book for local repair service.
Looking for a new weight loss plan? Try living on top of a mountain. Mountain air contains less oxygen than air at lower altitudes, so breathing it causes the heart to beat faster and the body to burn more energy. A handful of studies have found that athletes training at high altitudes tend to lose weight. Doctor Florian Lippl of the University Hospital Of Ludwig-Maximilians-university Munich wondered how the mountain air would affect overweight individuals if they weren’t doing any more physical activity than usual.
Lippl and his colleagues invited 20 overweight men to an environmental research station about 300 meters below the summit of Zugspitze, a mountain around 2,970 meters near the Austrian border. They were allowed to eat as much as they liked. The men also gave blood so that researchers could test for hormones linked to appetite and fatness. At the end of the week, the men, whose mean weight starting out was 105kg, had lost on average about l.5kg. The men’s blood pressure also dropped, which the researchers believed was due to weight lost.
Exactly what caused the weight loss is uncertain. Loss of appetite is common at higher altitudes, and indeed the men ate significantly less than usual—about 700 calories fewer per day. Lippl also notes that because their consumption was being recorded, they may have been more self-conscious about what they ate. Regardless, eating less accounts for just l kg of the l.5 kg lost, says Lippl. He thinks the increased metabolic (新陈代谢的) rate, which was measured, also contributed to weight loss but cannot separate the different effects with the given data.
Appetite loss at high altitudes could certainly be key, notes Damian Bailey, a physiologist at the University of Glamorgan, UK, who recently lost 11 kg during a 3-month expedition to the Andes in Chile.
Unfortunately, for the average person there is no treatment that can resemble living at high altitude, says Lippl. The only alternative is hypobaric chamber, which exposes subjects to low oxygen and isn’t practical as a treatment. He says, half- jokingly, “If fat people plan their holidays, they might not go to the sea, but maybe to the mountain.”
1.What contributes the most to one’s heart rates according to the first paragraph?
A．our bodyweight B．the consumption of energy
C．the rates of our breathing D．the amount of oxygen provided
2.Hormones are tested in the research because they can affect ______.
A．one’s bodyweight B．one’s blood pressure
C．one’s way of living D．one’s metabolic rate
3.What was found about the 20 overweight men in the process of the research?
A．They controlled what to eat self-consciously.
B．They took in much fewer calories than usual.
C．They lost appetite because of lack of physical activity.
D．They were provided with a healthier diet than before.
4.Why does Damian Bailey agree with the idea of appetite loss at high altitudes?
A．He experimented with the new weight loss plan in the Andes.
B．He found no other reasons for his loss of weight in the Andes.
C．He researched the related subject in the Andes.
D．He lost much weight in the high altitude Andes.
5.In what manner does Lippl talk about the way of losing weight by spending holidays on mountains?
A．casual B．inaccurate C．uncertain D．confident
Twenty-first century humanity has mapped oceans and mountains, visited the moon, and surveyed the planets. But for all the progress, people __1 don’t know one another very well.
That brings about Theodore Zeldin’s “ 2 of conversation” — events 3 individuals sit in pairs with persons they don’ t know for three hours of 4 talk designed to help people know better about each other.
Mr. Zeldin heads Oxford Muse, a l0-year-old foundation based on the _5 that what people need is not more information, but more inspiration and encouragement.
The “feast” in London looks 6 at politics or events, but at how people have felt about work, relations among the sexes, hopes 7 fears, enemies and authority, the shape of their lives. The “menu of _8 ” includes topics like “How have your concerns changed 9 the years?” Or, “What have you done against the past?”
As participants gathered, Zeldin opened with a speech: that despite _10 communications like QQ and MSN in a globalized age, issues of human heart 11 . Many people are lonely, or occupied in dealing with their daily businesses that discourage knowing the _ 12 _ of one another. “We are trapped in _ 13 _ conversations and the whole point now is to think, which is sometimes painful,”he says. “But 14 _ interaction is what separates us from other species, __15 maybe dogs that do have interactions with humans.”
The main rules of the “feast”: Don’t 16 _ with someone you know or ask questions you would not answer. The only awkward moment came when the multi-racial crowd of people of different ages, in sun hats, ties and __17_, looked to see 18 they would talk with for hours. 19 15 minutes later, everyone was seated and talking, continuing full force until organizers interrupted them 180 minutes later.
Some said they felt free to talk on 20 topics. Thirty-something Peter, from East London, said that “it might take weeks or months to get to the level of interaction we suddenly opened up.”
1. A．still B．already C．even D．yet
2. A．topic B．subject C．idea D．feast
3. A．what B．when C．that D．where
4. A．free B．organized C．guided D．random
5. A．theory B．idea C．opinion D．fact
6. A．not B．not only C．never D．ever
7. A．but B．and C．or D．with
8. A．talk B．speech C．conversation D．communication
9. A．during B．over C．for D．within
10. A．convenient B．accessible C．immediate D．instant
11. A．leave B．appear C．disappear D．remain
12. A．depth B．well C．truth D．good
13. A．small B．daily C．deep D．shallow
14. A．thinking B．talking C．communicating D．lecturing
15. A．with B．besides C．except D．from
16. A．talk B．pair C．involve D．sit
17. A．dresses B．skirts C．T-shirts D．coats
18. A．which B．whom C．who D．that
19. A．So B．And C．But D．Then
20. A．hot B．popular C．sensitive D．private
— Here is a new edition of Crazy English. Do you want to look at it?
— ______! Let me see it.
A．By and by B．Not really C．Mind your own business D．By all means
