Question

If you think that running marathons will help you live a long and healthy life, new research may come as a shock. According to a recent scientific study, people who do a very strenuous workout are as likely to die as people who do no exercise at all.

Scientists in Denmark have been studying over 1,000 joggers and non-joggers for 12 years. The death rates from the sample group indicate that people who jog at a moderate pace two or three times a week for less than two and a half hours in total are least likely to die. The best speed to jog at was found to be about 5 miles per hour. The research suggests that people who jog more than three times a week or at higher speeds of over 7 mph die at the same rate as non-joggers. The scientists think that this is because strenuous exercise causes structural changes to the heart and arteries(动脉). Over time, this can cause serious injuries.

Peter Schnohr, a researcher in Copenhagen, said, “If your goal is to decrease risk of death and improve life expectancy, jogging a few times a week at a moderate pace is a good strategy. Anything more is just unnecessary, and it may be harmful.”

The implications of this are that moderate forms of exercise such as tai chi, yoga and brisk walking may be better for us than “iron man” events, triathlons and long-distance running and cycling. According to Jacob Louis Marott, another researcher involved in the study， “You don't actually have to do that much to have a good impact on your health. And perhaps you shouldn't actually do too much.”

1.The underlined word “strenuous” in Paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to “________”．

A. hard    B. regular

C. practical    D. little

2.The author presents some figures in Paragraph 2 to ________.

A. suggest giving up jogging    B. show risks of doing sports

C. provide supportive evidence    D. introduce the research process

3.According to the scientists, why is too much exercise harmful?

A. It may injure the heart and arteries.    B. It can make the body tired out.

C. It will bring much pressure.    D. It consumes too much energy.

4.What can be inferred from the text?

A. Jogging is the best exercise.

B. More exercise means a healthier life.

C. Marathons runners are least likely to die.

D. Proper exercise contributes to good health.

Answer

1. A

2. C

3. A

4. D

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文。文章提出如果你认为跑马拉松会帮助你生活得健康长寿，新的研究可能会让你震惊，根据最近的一项科学研究，做一个非常艰苦的锻炼的人死亡的可能性是大于不锻炼的人。本文以此展开，主要介绍了运动对身体的影响。

1.词义猜测题。hard耗费体力的；regular有规律的；practical实际的；flexible灵活的。由第一段最后一句"According to a recent scientific study，people who do a very strenuous workout are as likely to die as people who do no exercise at all．"可知，一点不做运动的人和非常艰苦锻炼的人都极有可能死亡，故应选A。

2.推理判断题。第二段所举的例子主要是为了证明第一段最后一句"According to a recent scientific study，people who do a very strenuous workout are as likely to die as people who do no exercise at all"，故在第二段举一些数字主要是提供有力的证据，故应选C。

3.细节理解题。由第二段倒数第二句"The scientists think that this is because strenuous exercise causes structural changes to the heart and arteries（动脉）．"可知，做过多的运动有害是因为它可能伤害心脏和动脉，故应选A。

4.推理判断题。根据第三段“If your goal is to decrease risk of death and improve life expectancy, jogging a few times a week at a moderate pace is a good strategy. Anything more is just unnecessary, and it may be harmful.”可知，做运动过多或过少都对身体有害，只有做适量的运动才对身体有益，故应选D。