Nature calms our stressed-out soul. Nature is the best medicine, but new research is showing how little time we need to set aside to harvest the benefits.
In one new study, researchers tried to find the most effective “dose” (药剂) of nature within the context of normal daily life. As more doctors prescribe (开药方) nature experiences for stress relief and other health benefits — sometimes referred to as a “nature pill”— the study's authors hoped to make the details of these treatments clear.
“We know that spending time in nature reduces stress, but until now it is unclear how much is enough, how often to do it, or even what kind of nature experience will benefit us,” says lead author MaryCarol Hunter in a statement. “Our study shows that for the greatest payoff, in terms of efficiently lowering levels of the stress hormone cortisone (压力荷尔蒙激素), you should spend 20 to 30 minutes sitting or walking in a place that provides you with a sense of nature.”
A nature pill can be a low-cost, low-risk way to curb the negative effects of urbanization and indoor lifestyle. To find the most efficient dosage, Hunter and her co-authors asked 36 city citizens to have nature experiences of at least 10 minutes three times per week over eight weeks.
Every two weeks, the researchers collected saliva (唾液) samples to measure levels of the stress hormone cortisone, both before and after the participants took a nature pill. The data showed that just a 20-minute nature experience was enough to significantly reduce cortisone levels. The effect was more efficient between 20 and 30 minutes, after which benefits continued to increase but at a slower rate.
That fits with the findings of another recent study, which found that spending 20 minutes in an urban park can make you happier, no matter whether you use that time to exercise.
For this study, 94 adults visited 3 urban parks in Mountain Brook, Alabama, completing a questionnaire about their subjective well-being before and after their visit. An accelerometer (加速计) tracked their physical activity.
A visit lasting 20 to 25 minutes showed the best results, with a roughly 64% increase in the participants' self-reported well-being, even if they didn't move a great deal in the park. That last point is particularly positive, since it means anyone can benefit from visiting a nearby park, whatever his or her age or physical ability.
“There is increasing pressure on green space within urban settings,” said a UAB professor Gavin Jenkins. “Planners and developers look to replace green space with residential (住宅的) and commercial property. The challenge facing cities is that there is increasing evidence about the value of city parks but we continue to see the disappearance of these spaces.”
1.The authors of the study expected to ______.
A.study the treatments of nature in detail
B.find an effective way to treat stress
C.introduce the benefits of “nature pill”
D.share some rewarding nature experiences
2.What does the underlined word “curb” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?
A.experience B.realize C.control D.produce
3.What does the first study mainly show?
A.We should stay in nature as long as possible.
B.Many health problems are caused by great pressure.
C.Lack of exercise may greatly increase cortisone levels.
D.A short period of time in nature is enough to reduce stress.
4.What does Gavin Jenkins want to express in the last paragraph?
A.Big cities should provide more sports facilities (设施).
B.City developers should spare more green spaces.
C.Visiting parks benefits people's physical health.
D.City planners should invest more in the property.
Reading books and looking at pictures is great, but nothing facilitates (促进) learning like travel, especially for teenagers. Not only do they get to see a world beyond their neighborhood, they also get to experience it, feel it, taste it, hear it and better understand the world around them.
After nearly four decades in the classroom and traveling the world, Phyllis Duvall Bailey knew this perhaps better than anyone else.
Becoming involved in the work in AKA Sorority Inc in US, she worked to educate children about the United Nations. There was no doubt in Bailey's mind that the lessons would mean so much more if the students could see things for themselves.
Starting in 2015, Bailey, 82, set out to take her students to the UN Headquarters in New York City to give them a “Window Seat to the World”, and thus transformed them into global citizens.
Indeed, it is a great opportunity to give students national and international exposure. Since Bailey saw the students as future leaders, she was desperate to expose them to the UN, its mission, its agendas (议程) and its supporting organizations.
She decided to give $10, 000 of her own money to pay for the late June trip, enough to take 10 students aged 14-17 on a four-night stay in New York. There, they had guided tours of the UN Headquarters and the New York City Harbor (海港).
It was Quenyaun Payne's first trip to the city and Taylor Sappington's second. Payne, 17, is a senior at Mceachem High School in the state of Georgia, US. Sappington, 15, is a junior at Therrell High School in Atlanta, Georgia, US. Both said their visit to the UN was inspiring.
“I like not only how countries are working together but they're focused on common goals like global warming and keeping peace,” Sappington said.
Payne commented, “The trip was amazing. I'm so thankful Mrs. Bailey made it possible.”
Actually, there are a lot of people grateful for the retired teacher's effort. The United Nations Association of Atlanta recently gave Bailey its Humanitarian Award, and the United Nations Association of the US-awarded her with the National Education Award.
But Bailey wasn't looking for recognition or even gratitude. Over those four days in New York, she'd already felt it and seen it in the eyes of those 10 teenagers, Payne and Sappington included, who made the trip.
“It has been a real joy to get to see and watch their reaction to new experiences,” she said.
1.The underlined word “this” in Paragraph 2 refers to___.
A.the benefits of traveling B.good reading habits
C.new teaching methods D.the things teenagers like
2.How did Bailey help students?
A.She offered them voluntary opportunities at the UN.
B.She paid for trips that helped students see the world.
C.She paid for them to go to school in other countries.
D.She taught them some useful life-long reading skills.
3.What can we infer from Sappington's words?
A.He determines to work for the UN in the future.
B.He shows no interest in global affairs at all.
C.He finds the trip to the UN greatly instructive.
D.He wants to visit New York City once again.
4.What made Bailey most joyful according to the passage?
A.Students' gratitude. B.Social recognition.
C.Students' gains. D.Official awards.
Better known by his stage name KUN, Cai Xukun is a phenomenon, opening up the music industry in China.
Last year, after participating in the reality TV show Idol Producer, receiving the most votes from fans, the singer-songwriter rose to fame overnight. At just 21 years old, Cai has topped Chinese music charts with multiple singles.
On July 26, KUN released his newest single Young. Within just 20 seconds, it reached a million sales.
KUN wrote the song to share his understanding of youth. He mixed R&B and electronic beats (节拍) to make it more cheerful. A reviewer wrote on QQ Music, “When you listen to the song, you just seem to go back to youth again.”
The song was an early birthday present to himself which he celebrated on Aug 2. KUN also hopes that he always has the courage to pursue (追求) his love of music, no matter what people think. “My works are like my children and I have put my best effort into them.” he told the Global Times.
Indeed, KUN has written and produced most of his songs on his own. “I want every piece of my work to have my own spirit in it,” he told music website Soundigest, “I feel more enjoyment when I'm performing my own work.”
Although KUN loves performing onstage, when the lights go down, he prefers to fall back into his own world and darkness at night. “I always get inspired when it's quiet, late at night/' he told I-D magazine, “It's a great moment for me to create new things. Sometimes, I can write songs with a melody (旋律) I heard in a dream.”
To develop his introspection (反思) and find new inspiration, KUN attends different kinds of musical performances — from festivals to opera houses. “I just like to do everything, all for my music, all for my art,” he told I-D.
With such talent and dedication to music, it seems that KUN will continue to make his mark in the competitive Chinese music industry.
1.What do we know about KUN's newest single?
A.It earns him a birthday present.
B.It makes people feel happy and energetic.
C.It shows how he pursues his dream.
D.It combines jazz and electronic music.
2.What does KUN usually do to get inspiration for music?
A.He goes to music shows.
B.He talks to famous singers.
C.He attends music classes.
D.He finds melodies in his dreams.
3.Which would best describe KUN?
A.Courageous and patient.
B.Talented and humorous.
C.Hardworking and creative.
D.Optimistic and outgoing.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.How many African countries has Mr. Xie Yanshen visited?
A.30. B.40. C.54.
2.What does Mr. Xie Yanshen probably like to do?
A.Collect art. B.Create art. C.Sell art.
3.What did Mr. Xie Yanshen do in 2012?
A.He donated pieces of art to a Chinese museum.
B.He was encouraged to worked at a museum.
C.He founded a museum in Africa by himself.
4.What does the National Museum of China hope to do?
A.Encourage people to collect African artworks.
B.Raise money to buy more African artworks.
C.Introduce African culture to Chinese people.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What are the speakers mainly discussing?
A.The prices of food. B.Healthy eating habits. C.Ways to cook meals.
2.What are in the woman's basket?
A.Fresh carrots. B.Frozen peas. C.Fast food.
3.Why does the man prefer frozen food?
A.It's cheap. B.It's healthy. C.It's convenient.
4.When does the woman get off work every day?
A.At 5:00 p.m. B.At 6:00 p.m. C.At 7:00 p.m.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What will the man do on the first day of his new work?
A.Meet some workmates. B.Take a training course. C.Have an examination.
2.What career will the man do?
A.He will be a teacher. B.He will be an engineer. C.He will be a tour guide.
3.What does the woman say about getting a senior position in the university?
A.It took a longer time.
B.It meant more to her.
C.It was easier to achieve.
