It’s undeniable that spending time outdoors and in nature lifts our spirits and makes us feel more centered and at peace. When we breathe in fresh air, and enjoy the beauty of trees, streams and oceans, we naturally tend to feel more connected to ourselves and others.
Over the past decade, scientists have been exploring why nature — and dirt specifically — is such a powerful tool in improving our mood. According to researchers, the secret may lie in the mi¬crobes （微生物）of the soil. One bacterium specifically----Mycobacterium Vaccae （M. Vaccae） —has been identified as having the power to affect our moods and cognitive function as well.
Experiments conducted at Sage Colleges in New York found that contact with M. Vaccae can increase serotonin levels in the brain — a chemical that is associated with higher levels of happi¬ness ,increased focus, and reduced anxiety. In order to explore how the bacteria can improve learn¬ing, researchers Dory Mathews and Susan Jenks experimented with mice in a maze. Mice that in¬gested the bacteria navigated the maze twice as fast as the control group and proved less anxious as well.
Humans can absorb M. Vaccae just by playing in the dirt. We take in it when we breathe, we consume it in organic vegetables, and it can also enter our bloodstream through skin contact, espe¬cially where we have open cuts. This may explain why children in school perform better after break.
Neuroscientist Christopher Lowry at the University of Bristol in England believes that he has i- dentified why this incredible bacterium works. "What we think happens is that the bacteria activate immune cells, which release chemicals called cytokines that then act on receptors on the sensory nerves to increase their activity. ”
Beyond the power of M. Vaceae, scientists have been proving for decades that exposure to dirt, and the huge number of microbes found in dirt, can strengthen our immune system. When our body comes into contact with bacteria, it stores die infonnation in a type of library and can then use that information to fight sickness and infection more effectively.
Happiness, focus, less anxiety......I’ll take a double dose of dirt; please!
1.What raises people’s spirits while spending time outdoors?
A. Air. B. Trees.
C. Water D. Dirt.
2.How does M. Vaccae work?
A. By working on sensory nerves. B. By fighting sickness and infisction,
C. By strengthening the immune system. D. By making immune cells active.
3.According to the text, what does the author intend to do next?
A. Provide some advice on reducing anxiety for readers,
B. Summarize the previous paragraphs about lifting one’s mood.
C. Explain how he or she will expose himself or herself to dirt.
D. Introduce a new topic related to dirt for discussion.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A. Fight Sickness and Infection More Effectively
B. How Getting Dirty Can Actually lift Your Mood
C. Let’s Take a Deep Breath of Fresh Air
D. Enjoy Beauty and Naturally Connect to Others
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题
It’s undeniable that spending time outdoors and in nature lifts our spirits and makes us feel more centered and at peace. When we breathe in fresh air, and enjoy the beauty of trees, streams and oceans, we naturally tend to feel more connected to ourselves and others.
Over the past decade, scientists have been exploring why nature — and dirt specifically — is such a powerful tool in improving our mood. According to researchers, the secret may lie in the mi¬crobes （微生物）of the soil. One bacterium specifically----Mycobacterium Vaccae （M. Vaccae） —has been identified as having the power to affect our moods and cognitive function as well.
Experiments conducted at Sage Colleges in New York found that contact with M. Vaccae can increase serotonin levels in the brain — a chemical that is associated with higher levels of happi¬ness ,increased focus, and reduced anxiety. In order to explore how the bacteria can improve learn¬ing, researchers Dory Mathews and Susan Jenks experimented with mice in a maze. Mice that in¬gested the bacteria navigated the maze twice as fast as the control group and proved less anxious as well.
Humans can absorb M. Vaccae just by playing in the dirt. We take in it when we breathe, we consume it in organic vegetables, and it can also enter our bloodstream through skin contact, espe¬cially where we have open cuts. This may explain why children in school perform better after break.
Neuroscientist Christopher Lowry at the University of Bristol in England believes that he has i- dentified why this incredible bacterium works. "What we think happens is that the bacteria activate immune cells, which release chemicals called cytokines that then act on receptors on the sensory nerves to increase their activity. ”
Beyond the power of M. Vaceae, scientists have been proving for decades that exposure to dirt, and the huge number of microbes found in dirt, can strengthen our immune system. When our body comes into contact with bacteria, it stores die infonnation in a type of library and can then use that information to fight sickness and infection more effectively.
Happiness, focus, less anxiety......I’ll take a double dose of dirt; please!
1.What raises people’s spirits while spending time outdoors?
A. Air. B. Trees.
C. Water D. Dirt.
2.How does M. Vaccae work?
A. By working on sensory nerves. B. By fighting sickness and infisction,
C. By strengthening the immune system. D. By making immune cells active.
3.According to the text, what does the author intend to do next?
A. Provide some advice on reducing anxiety for readers,
B. Summarize the previous paragraphs about lifting one’s mood.
C. Explain how he or she will expose himself or herself to dirt.
D. Introduce a new topic related to dirt for discussion.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A. Fight Sickness and Infection More Effectively
B. How Getting Dirty Can Actually lift Your Mood
C. Let’s Take a Deep Breath of Fresh Air
D. Enjoy Beauty and Naturally Connect to Others
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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 surprise that there's research showing that spending time in nature is good. There are dozens of papers showing that,” University of Exeter Medical School researcher Mathew P.White said.“We get this idea-patients are coning to us and they are asking, ‘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 in nature either all at once or totaled over several shorter visits were more likely to report good heath and psychological well-being than those with no nature exposure.
Remarkably, the two-hour standard 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 vast number of people, White cautions that it's rally just a correlation. Nobody knows why of how nature has this benefit, or even if the findings will stand up to more strict investigation.
“I want to be rally clear about this. This is in very early stages.We're not saying everybody has to do 120. This is really to start the conversation, saying, what would a threshold look like? 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.”
1.What does White want to figure out in the survey?
A.The benefits of being outside.
B.How long we should stay in nature.
C.The significance of outdoor activities.
D.Whether the British spend enough time in nature
2.What can we learn from the last two paragraphs?
A.The two-hour standard applies to everyone.
B.The reason why nature is beneficial is clear.
C.Further study is needed to confirm White's result.
D.The findings of White's survey have bee widely used.
3.What does underlined word“threshold”in the last paragraph mean?
A.Strict investigation. B.Following step.
C.Healthy lifestyle. D.Staring point.
4.What can be the best title for this text?
A.Nature and Health B.Two-hour Staying in Nature
C.Tips to Improve Health D.The Starting Point
高三英语阅读理解简单题查看答案及解析
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
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
阅读小面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的档次或括号内单词的正确形式。
By now it’s almost common knowledge that spending time in nature is good for you. Areas with 1.(many) trees tend to be less polluted, so spending time there allows you to breathe easier. Spending time outdoors contributes to good health, with blood pressure and stress 2.(reduce), and seems to motivate people 3.(exercise) more.
A survey showed that people 4.spend 2 hours in nature — either all at once or totaled over several shorter 5.(visit) — were more likely to report good health and psychological well-being than those with no nature 6.(expose). Remarkably, the researchers found that less than two hours offered no significant benefits. The two-hour benchmark (临界值) 7.(apply) to men and women, to older and younger folks and so on. Even people8.long-term illnesses or disabilities benefited from time 9.(spend) in nature — as long as it was at least 120 minutes per week.
While the findings are based on 10.tremendous number of people, scientists caution that it’s really just a correlation. Nobody knows why or how nature has this benefit or even if the findings will stand up to stricter investigation.
高三英语语法填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
It was ________ that the tourists wanted to spend more time taking pictures outdoors.
A．so fine weather B．such fine weather
C．so fine a weather D．such a fine weather
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Spending time outdoors can reduce stress and increase overall health. Stuck inside? You can still connect with nature with a virtual visit to a national park. Four of the most visited national parks in the nation offer creative ways for visitors at home to explore its beauty.
Grand Canyon National Park
On a Grand Canyon virtual archaeological tour, armchair travelers get an inside look at the first major archaeological site along the Colorado River in nearly four decades. A series of interactive 360-degree photos show the archaeologists (考古学家) at work, with insight into their tools and methods.
Yosemite National Park
Few national parks have more natural wonders than Yosemite. Visitors can see water pouring down from Yosemite Falls or look up at Half Dome from the floor of Yosemite Valley.
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park protects a rainforest ecosystem (生态系统) largely untouched by human habitation. It also protects an incredible range of habitats and impressive biodiversity (生物多样性).
A set of beautiful interactive wall paintings appeals to those with an interest in plants and animals. Click through the images to learn more about what’s growing in the park.
Yellowstone National Park
America’s oldest national park is also one of the easiest to tour virtually. You can watch Old Faithful erupt in real time or send an audio postcard featuring the sounds of springtime, the barks and howls of wolves at Blacktail Pond.
1.What is special about Grand Canyon National Park?
A.It provides a wide range of photos for tourists.
B.It offers travelers chances to act archaeologists.
C.It makes visitors understand archaeological tools.
D.It has a history of approximately forty years.
2.What attracts tourists most in Olympic National Park?
A.The rainforest ecosystem.
B.Attractive wall paintings.
C.Various amazing habitats.
D.Impressive natural wonders.
3.Which park do you choose to hear nature in spring?
A.Grand Canyon National Park.
B.Yosemite National Park.
C.Olympic National Park.
D.Yellowstone National Park.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Our evidence shows that ________ time outdoors is good for kids’ eyes.
A．spend B．to be spent C．spending D．spent
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
It was _____________________ that the tourists wanted to spend more time taking pictures outdoors.
| A．so fine weather | B．such fine weather | C．so fine a weather | D．such a fine weather |
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
Children today spend less time outdoors than ever before and it may be harmful not only to their physical health, but also to their cognitive (认知的) development.
A year-long study, recently published in the Sciences, found that elementary school children who were exposed to more green space within or directly outside their school showed improved learning and memory. The findings reinforce (加强) that of a recent six-year study on 905 Massachusetts public elementary schools, which found that students in schools that had more “greenness” in their surroundings reported higher scores on standardized testing in English and math. “There is an expanding body of scientific evidence linking the human experience in the natural world to better physical and mental health and improved cognitive abilities,” journalist Richard Louv, co-founder of the Children & Nature Network, said in an email to The Huffington Post. “An increasing number of homeschoolers, nature preschools, independent primary and secondary schools, and forward-thinking public schools are incorporating (并入) nature experience into learning.”
The new study was conducted on more than 2,500 children in second, third and fourth grade at 36 primary schools in Barcelona, Spain. Researchers found that the students who attended schools with more green space showed a 5 percent improvement in the short-term memory that’s critical for reasoning, learning and comprehension. But their inattentiveness decreased slightly.
Spending time outside could have a number of benefits for children beyond improved memory and attention. Another recent study found that adventurous outdoor play such as climbing, rough and tumble (翻筋斗) play, and exploring alone improves children’s physical health while also help them develop creativity and social skills greatly.
Some schools are starting to take notice, creating more space for children to enjoy being in nature, including community gardens, outdoor playgrounds and small parks.
1.What did the study lasting a year find?
A. The cognitive abilities of children today decreased.
B. The findings of another six-year study were incorrect.
C. Being exposed to nature was beneficial to the learning of pupils.
D. Students had higher scores on testing in English and math than before.
2.According to the passage, what can we know about Richard Louv?
A. He discourages students from getting close to nature to gain experience.
B. He is one of the founders of the Children & Nature Network.
C. He conducted the study on 905 Massachusetts public elementary schools.
D. He often contributes articles to The Huffington Post.
3.Spending time in green space may have little effect on children’s __________.
A. inattentiveness B. creativity
C. communication D. learning
4.In which column of a newspaper can you see this article?
A. Entertainment. B. Travel.
C. Parenting. D. Education.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
Children have lost touch with nature and the outdoors in just one generation! Recently a campaign encouraging children to put away - and play outside has been organized. The campaign, said to be the biggest _____, has been launched with the ______of a documentary film, Project Wild Thing. It tells the story of how, ______ an attempt to get his daughter and son outside, film-maker David Bond______ as marketing director for nature. The call to renew a__＿with nature comes from about 400 organizations, from playgroups to the National Health Service. Children are being ____to take back their "wild time",__＿30 minutes of screen use for outdoor activities. The organizers____that giving up 30 minutes of television and computer games each day in exchange for outdoor playwill increase the __＿of fitness and alertness and improve children's well-being.
According to the chairman Andy Simpson, right now, time spent outdoors is ___,activity levels are declining and the ability to identify common species has been ____ "With many more parents becoming ____ the dominance（统治地位）of screen time in their children's lives, and growing scientific evidence that a decline in____ time is bad news for the health and happiness of our children, we all need to become marketing directors for nature. We want parents to see what this magical wonder product does for their kids' development, independence and creativity, by giving wild time a ____，”said Mr. Simpson.
In Mr. Bond's opinion, the reasons why kids, ____ they live in cities or the countryside, have become ____from nature and the outdoors are complex. " We need to make more space for wild time in children's daily routine, ____ this generation of kids to have the sort of experiences that many of us took for granted. It's all about finding ____ on your doorstep and discovering the sights, sounds and ____ of nature一maybe in a back garden, a local park, or just green space at the end of the road."
1.A. subjects B. screens C. stages D. scenes
2.A. ever B. likely C. then D. even
3.A. outcome B. direction C. exposure D. release
4.A. by B. on C. for D. in
5.A. behaves B. acts C. treats D. regards
6.A. connection B. commitment C．contract D. campaign
7.A. pulled B. forced C. urged D. warned
8.A. providing B. taking C. swapping D. preparing
9.A. allow B. admit C. acquire D. argue
10.A. amounts B. levels C. degrees D. standards
11.A. down B. up C. over ． D. off
12.A. developed B. shown C. tested D. lost
13.A. delighted with B. guilty of C. concerned about D. desperate for
14.A. free B. active C. spare D. normal
15.A. go B. bit C. look D. fit
16.A. while B. though C. as D. whether
17.A. escaped B. disconnected C. suffered D. protected
18.A. freeing B. forbidding C. seeking D. serving
19.A. imagination B. fortune C. wildness D. solution
20.A. senses B. voices C. features D. smells
高三英语完型填空中等难度题查看答案及解析