Question

    By now it’s almost common knowledge that spending time in nature is good for you. Areas with more trees tend to be less polluted, so spending time there allows you to breathe easier. Spending time outdoors has been linked with reduced blood pressure and stress, and seems to motivate people to exercise more. So it’ll come as no surprise that there's research showing that spending time in nature is good, which has been known for thousands of years. There’s dozens of papers showing that.

University of Exeter Medical School researcher Mathew P. White said “We get this idea, patients are coming to us and they’re saying, ‘doctor, how long should I spend?’and the doctor is saying, I don’t really know.” So White and his team decided to find out by using data collected from nearly 20,000 people in England through the Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment Survey. And their answer? Two hours a week. People who spent at least that much time-either all at once or totaled over several shorter visits-were more likely to report good health and psychological well-being than those with no nature exposure. Remarkably, the researchers found that less than two hours offered no significant benefits.

So what’s so special about two hours? “ I have absolutely no idea. Really. We didn’t have an apriori（由因及果的）guess at what this would be. It emerged. And I’d be lying if I said we predicted this. I don’t know.” Even more noteworthy, the two-hour benchmark（基准）applied to men and women, to older and younger folks, to people from different ethnic backgrounds, occupational groups, socioeconomic levels and so on. Even people with long-term illnesses or disabilities benefited from time spent in nature—as long as it was at least 120 minutes per week.

While the findings are based on a tremendous number of people, nobody knows why or how nature has this benefit. “I want to be really clear about this. This is very early stages. We’re not saying everybody has to do 120. What research do we need to take this to the next step before doctors can have the true confidence to work with their patients? But it’ s certainly a starting point,” White said.

1.What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A.The benefits of spending time in nature.

B.The research of spending time in nature.

C.The characteristics of spending time in nature.

D.The common knowledge of spending time in nature.

2.What can we infer about the result of White and his team’s survey?

A.The time spent in nature should be 2 hours a week all at once.

B.2 hours a week at least in nature is beneficial to whomever you are.

C.The time spent in nature should be 2 hours a week, no more, no less.

D.2 hours a week in nature is too long for people with long-term illnesses.

3.What does White expect of the findings?

A.They will be in early stage.

B.They will be based on many people.

C.They will help all people go out in nature.

D.They will be improved and further research will be done.

4.Where is this text most likely from?

A.A diary B.A guidebook

C.A magazine D.A novel

Answer

1.A

2.B

3.D

4.C

【解析】

本文是说明文。到大自然中去对人们是有益的。研究者们通过调查发现，每周至少有两小时的时间到大自然中去会让任何人受益。至于为什么大自然对人们有这样的好处，还有待进一步研究。

1.

主旨大意题。根据文章第一段中“By now it’s almost common knowledge that spending time in nature is good for you.”人人都知道花时间在大自然中对我们有好处。下文提到到树木繁茂的地方会让你呼吸更顺畅，室外活动可以降低血压、减少压力，更能激起人们运动的欲望。因此该段主要是关于花时间在大自然中对人们的好处。故选A项。

2.

推理判断题。根据第三段中“Even more noteworthy, the two-hour benchmark（基准）applied to men and women, to older and younger folks, to people from different ethnic backgrounds, occupational groups, socioeconomic levels and so on. Even people with long-term illnesses or disabilities benefited from time spent in nature—as long as it was at least 120 minutes per week. （更值得注意的是，两个小时的基准应用于男性和女性、老年人和年轻人、来自不同种族背景、职业群体、社会经济水平的人等等。即使是患有长期疾病或残疾的人，只要每周至少有120分钟的时间与大自然相处，也会受益。）”可以推断， White和他的团队的调查结果是每周至少花两个小时到大自然中去，对任何人都会有好处。故选B项。

3.

细节理解题。第四段中人们提到“nobody knows why or how nature has this benefit”；根据文章第四段中White所说的话“‘I want to be really clear about this. This is very early stages. …What research do we need to take this to the next step…? But it’ s certainly a starting point, ’ (我想要把这件事弄清楚。研究还处于非常早期的阶段。如果想将研究进行到下一步，我们还需要做什么研究？……这肯定只是个开始。) ” 可知，White期望能做进一步的研究，将他的发现进一步完善。故选D项。

4.

推理判断题。通读全文，文章介绍了关于人们在大自然中呆多长时间就可以对他们有益以及为什么大自然会对人们有益的调查研究的情况，内容是关于调查研究的，因此文章最有可能是出自于一本杂志。故选C项。