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The largest-ever study of the link between city walkability and high blood pressure has been held up as evidence of the “invisible value of urban design” in improving long-term health outcomes, say researchers.
The study of around 430,000 people aged between 38 and 73 and living in 22 UK cities found significant associations between the increased walkability of a neighborhood, lower blood pressure and reduced risk of high blood pressure among its residents.
The outcomes remained consistent even after adjustments for socio-demographic (社会人口统计学), lifestyle and changing physical environment factors, though the protective effects were particularly pronounced among participants aged between 50 and 60, women, and those residing in higher density and poor neighborhoods.
The paper was published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health this week. With high blood pressure a major risk factor for chronic (慢性的) and particularly heart diseases, researchers at the University of Hong Kong and Oxford University said the findings demonstrated the need to take notice of the health-influencing factor in urban design.
“With the increasing pace of urbanization and demographic shifts towards an ageing population, we become more likely to suffer from chronic diseases,” said Dr. Chinmoy Sarkar, an assistant professor at the Healthy High Density Cities Lab of the University of Hong Kong and lead author of the study. “The action taken to improve public health must consider the invisible value of urban planning and design.
“We are spending billions of pounds in preventing and curing heart diseases — if we are able to invest in creating healthy cities through small changes in the design of our neighborhoods to make them more activity-friendly and walkable, then probably, we will have significant savings in future healthcare expenses.”
To measure a neighborhood’s activity-promoting potential, researchers developed a set of index of walkability containing relevant urban elements, including residential and retail (零售) density, public transport, street-level movement, and distance to attractive destinations.
Poorly designed spaces generally reduced walking and physical activity, promoting the lifestyles of long time sitting down and not moving; and were harmful to social interactions, and as such associated with poorer mental and physical health.
Because walkability was “based on the underlying design of the city”, said Sarkar, cities could be modified or designed to encourage it. “Such investments in healthy design are likely to bring in long-term gains as they are enduring and common.”
1.By considering “invisible value of urban design”, people can _______.
A.reduce the ageing population
B.slow down the pace of urbanization
C.promote activity-friendly and walkable cities
D.invest in preventing and curing heart diseases
2.What can be inferred from the passage?
A.A set of index is essential to ensure that urban design promotes walkability.
B.Walkable cities can lower blood pressure and the risk of high blood pressure.
C.Chronic diseases are becoming common due to people’s neglect of their health.
D.Middle-aged women living in poor areas are less likely to benefit from increased walkability.
3.All of the following are the undesirable consequences of poorly-designed neighborhoods EXCEPT _______.
A.failing health B.unhealthy lifestyle
C.fewer social interactions D.fewer neighborhoods
4.According to Dr. Chinmoy Sarkar, _______.
A.cities should encourage the residents to engage in social interactions
B.the design of our neighborhoods should meet people’s needs for retail density
C.money invested in creating healthy cities is money saved in future healthcare expenses
D.chronic diseases will be common because of our lifestyle and the physical environment
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
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The largest-ever study of the link between city walkability and high blood pressure has been held up as evidence of the “invisible value of urban design” in improving long-term health outcomes, say researchers.
The study of around 430,000 people aged between 38 and 73 and living in 22 UK cities found significant associations between the increased walkability of a neighborhood, lower blood pressure and reduced risk of high blood pressure among its residents.
The outcomes remained consistent even after adjustments for socio-demographic (社会人口统计学), lifestyle and changing physical environment factors, though the protective effects were particularly pronounced among participants aged between 50 and 60, women, and those residing in higher density and poor neighborhoods.
The paper was published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health this week. With high blood pressure a major risk factor for chronic (慢性的) and particularly heart diseases, researchers at the University of Hong Kong and Oxford University said the findings demonstrated the need to take notice of the health-influencing factor in urban design.
“With the increasing pace of urbanization and demographic shifts towards an ageing population, we become more likely to suffer from chronic diseases,” said Dr. Chinmoy Sarkar, an assistant professor at the Healthy High Density Cities Lab of the University of Hong Kong and lead author of the study. “The action taken to improve public health must consider the invisible value of urban planning and design.
“We are spending billions of pounds in preventing and curing heart diseases — if we are able to invest in creating healthy cities through small changes in the design of our neighborhoods to make them more activity-friendly and walkable, then probably, we will have significant savings in future healthcare expenses.”
To measure a neighborhood’s activity-promoting potential, researchers developed a set of index(指标) of walkability containing relevant urban elements, including residential and retail (零售) density, public transport, street-level movement, and distance to attractive destinations.
Poorly designed spaces generally reduced walking and physical activity, promoting the lifestyles of long time sitting down and not moving; and were harmful to social interactions, and as such associated with poorer mental and physical health.
Because walkability was “based on the underlying design of the city”, said Sarkar, cities could be modified or designed to encourage it. “Such investments in healthy design are likely to bring in long-term gains as they are enduring and common.”
1.By considering “invisible value of urban design”, people can _______.
A. reduce the ageing population
B. promote activity-friendly and walkable cities
C. invest in preventing and curing heart diseases
D. slow down the pace of urbanization
2.What can be inferred from the passage?
A. A set of index is essential to ensure that urban design promotes walkability.
B. Walkable cities will cure a person of his or her high blood pressure.
C. Chronic diseases are becoming common due to people’s neglect of their health.
D. Middle-aged women living in poor areas are more likely to benefit from increased walkability.
3.All of the following are the undesirable consequences of poorly-designed neighborhoods EXCEPT _______.
A. fewer neighborhoods B. unhealthy lifestyle
C. fewer social interactions D. failing health
4.According to Dr. Chinmoy Sarkar, _______.
A. cities should encourage the residents to engage in social interactions
B. the design of our neighborhoods should meet people’s needs for retail density
C. money invested in creating healthy cities is money saved in future healthcare expenses
D. chronic diseases will be common because of pollution and the environment change
高三英语阅读理解困难题查看答案及解析
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Is there link between humans and climate change or not?This question was first studied in the early 1900s.Since then,many scientists have thought that our actions do make a difference.In 1997,the Kyoto Protocol explained our role in the Earth's changing atmosphere and set international limits for gas emissions from 2008 to 2012.Some countries have decided to continue these reductions until 2020.More recently,the Paris Agreement,struck by nearly 200 countries,also aims to limit global warming.But just now how much warmer it will get depends on how deeply countries cut carbon emissions.
This is how much temperatures would rise by 2100 even if nations live up to the initial Paris promises to reduce carbon emissions;this rise could still put coastal cities under water and drive over half of all species to extinction.
To meet this minimum goal,the Agreement requires countries to tighten emissions targets every five years.Even this increase could sink some islands,worsen drought and drive a decline of up to a third in the number of species.
This is the most ambitious goal for temperature rise set by the Paris Agreement,after a push by low-lying island nations like Kiribati,which say limiting temperature rise to 1.5℃ could save them from sinking.
This is how much temperatures have risen since the industrial age began,putting us 40% of the way to the 2℃ point.
The baseline here is average global temperature before the start of the industrial age.
1.It can be concluded from paragraph 1 that .
A. gas emissions have been effectively reduced in developed countries
B. humans have made continuous efforts to slow down global warming
C. the problem of global warming will have been quite solved by 2020
D. the Paris Agreement is more influential than the Kyoto Protocol
2.If nations could only keep the initial promises of the Paris Agreement,what would happen by the year 2100?
A. The human population would increase by one third.
B. Little over 50 % of all species would still exist.
C. Nations would not need to tighten their emissions targets.
D. The Agreement’s minimum goal would not be reached.
3.If those island nations not far above sea level are to survive,the maximum temperature rise,since the start of the industrial age,should be .
A. 0.8℃ B. 1.5℃ C. 2℃ D. 3.5℃
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Is there link between humans and climate change or not? This question was first studied in the early 1900s. Since then, many scientists have thought that our actions do make a difference. In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol explained our role in the Earth’s changing atmosphere and set international limits for gas emissions(排放) from 2008 to 2012. Some countries have decided to continue these reductions until 2020. More recently, the Paris Agreement, stuck by nearly 200 countries, also aims to limit global warming. But just now how much warmer it will get depends on how deeply countries cut carbon emissions.
3.5℃
This is how much temperatures would rise by 2100 even if nations live up to the initial Paris promises to reduce carbon emissions; this rise could still put coastal cities under water and drive over half of all species to extinction.
2℃
To meet this minimum goal, the Agreement requires countries to tighten emissions targets every five years. Even this increase could sink some islands, worse drought(干旱) and drive a decline of up to a third in the number of species.
1.5℃
This is the most ambitious goal for temperature rise set by the Paris Agreement, after a push by low-lying island nations like Kiribati, which say limiting temperature rise to 1.5℃ could save them from sinking.
0.8℃
This is how much temperatures have risen since the industrial age began, putting us 40% of the way to the 2℃ point.
0℃
The baseline here is average global temperature before the start of the industrial age.
1.It can be concluded from paragraph 1 that _______.
A. the problem of global warming will have been quite solved by 2020
B. gas emissions have been effectively reduced in developed countries
C. the Paris Agreements is more influential than the Kyoto Protocol
D. humans have made continuous efforts to slow down global warming
2.If nations could only keep the initial promises of the Paris Agreement, what would happen by the year 2100?
A. The human population would increase by one third.
B. Little over 50% of all species would still exist.
C. Nations would not need to tighten their emissions targets.
D. The Agreement’s minimum goal would not be reached.
3.If those island nations not far above sea level are to survive, the maximum temperature rise, since the start of the industrial age, should be _______.
A. 0.8℃ B. 1.5℃ C. 2℃ D. 3.5℃
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Is there link between humans and climate change or not? This question was first studied in the early 1900s. Since then, many scientists have thought that our actions do make a difference. In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol explained our role in the Earth’s changing atmosphere and set international limits for gas emissions(排放) from 2008 to 2012. Some countries have decided to continue these reductions until 2020. More recently, the Paris Agreement, stuck by nearly 200 countries, also aims to limit global warming. But just now how much warmer it will get depends on how deeply countries cut carbon emissions.
1.It can be concluded from paragraph 1 that ________.A. the problem of global warming will have been quite solved by 2020
B. gas emissions have been effectively reduced in developed countries
C. the Paris Agreements is more influential than the Kyoto Protocol
D. humans have made continuous efforts to slow down global warming
2.If nations could only keep the initial promises of the Paris Agreement, what would happen by the year 2100?
A. The human population would increase by one third.
B. Little over 50% of all species would still exist.
C. Nations would not need to tighten their emissions targets.
D. The Agreement’s minimum goal would not be reached.
3.If those island nations not far above sea level are to survive, the maximum temperature rise, since the start of the industrial age, should be_______.
A. 0.8℃ B. 1.5℃ C. 2℃ D. 3.5℃
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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阅读理解。
Is there link between humans and climate change or not? This question was first studied in the early 1900s. Since then, many scientists have thought that our actions do make a difference. In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol explained our role in the Earth’s changing atmosphere and set international limits for gas emissions(排放) from 2008 to 2012. Some countries have decided to continue these reductions until 2020. More recently, the Paris Agreement, stuck by nearly 200 countries, also aims to limit global warming. But just now how much warmer it will get depends on how deeply countries cut carbon emissions.
1. It can be concluded from paragraph 1 that _______.
A. the problem of global warming will have been quite solved by 2020
B. gas emissions have been effectively reduced in developed countries
C. the Paris Agreements is more influential than the Kyoto Protocol
D. humans have made continuous efforts to slow down global warming
2. If nations could only keep the initial promises of the Paris Agreement, what would happen by the year 2100?
A. The human population would increase by one third.
B. Little over 50% of all species would still exist.
C. Nations would not need to tighten their emissions targets.
D. The Agreement’s minimum goal would not be reached.
3. If those island nations not far above sea level are to survive, the maximum temperature rise, since the start of the industrial age, should be_______.
A. 0.8℃ B. 1.5℃
C. 2℃ D. 3.5℃
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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（B）
Is there link between humans and climate change or not? This question was first studied in the early 1900s. Since then, many scientists have thought that our actions do make a difference. In 1997, the Kyoto Protocol explained our role in the Earth’s changing atmosphere and set international limits for gas emissions(排放) from 2008 to 2012. Some countries have decided to continue these reductions until 2020. More recently, the Paris Agreement, stuck by nearly 200 countries, also aims to limit global warming. But just now how much warmer it will get depends on how deeply countries cut carbon emissions.
1. It can be concluded from paragraph 1 that _______.
A. the problem of global warming will have been quite solved by 2020
B. gas emissions have been effectively reduced in developed countries
C. the Paris Agreements is more influential than the Kyoto Protocol
D. humans have made continuous efforts to slow down global warming
2. If nations could only keep the initial promises of the Paris Agreement, what would happen by the year 2100?
A. The human population would increase by one third.
B. Little over 50% of all species would still exist.
C. Nations would not need to tighten their emissions targets.
D. The Agreement’s minimum goal would not be reached.
3. If those island nations not far above sea level are to survive, the maximum temperature rise, since the start of the industrial age, should be_______.
A. 0.8℃ B. 1.5℃
C. 2℃ D. 3.5℃
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Many studies already link the first meal of the day to better classroom ________.
A．performance B．function C．behavior D．display
高三英语单项填空中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Do some kinds of video games cause violence? Scientific studies do not suggest a link. But the idea that there is a link between violent video games and violent acts reappeared following the mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, last weekend. An online statement thought to be written by the El Paso gunman mentioned the video game “Call of Duty”.
On Monday, President Donald Trump said that “terrifying video games” contribute to a “glorification of violence”. American politicians have long made similar statements. Benjamin Burroughs is a professor of media at the University of Las Vegas. He said that there is no linkage to gun violence, when mentioning video games. Burroughs pointed out that some studies show a short-term increase in aggressive thoughts and feelings after playing video games, but nothing that rises to the level of violence. “Plenty of gamers get upset when they lose or feel the game was ‘cheating’, but it doesn’t lead to violent outputs,” Burroughs stressed.
In 2006, a small study by researchers at Indiana University found that teenagers who played violent video games showed higher levels of emotional arousal（激发）—strong emotions like anger or fear. The teenagers also showed less activity in the parts of the brain associated with the ability to plan，control and direct thoughts and behavior.
Patrick Markey，the psychology professor，found in his research that men who commit severe acts of violence actually play violent video games less than the average male. Another study by Markey and other researchers showed that violence tends to go down when a new violent movie or video game comes out. One possible explanation is that people are at home playing the game or in theaters watching the movie. Markey believes that video games might excite people, but they do not change who people are. “It is like going to see a sad movie,” Markey said of playing video games. “It might make you cry but it doesn’t make you clinically depressed,” he said.
1.Why is the mass shooting in EI Paso, Texas mentioned in the first paragraph?
A.To show the necessity of scientific studies.
B.To support the writer’s own viewpoint.
C.To show the seriousness of violent acts.
D.To serve as evidence for the assumption.
2.What are the similarities between Benjamin Burroughs and Patrick Markey?
A.Both are specialists in psychology in the USA.
B.Both acknowledge video game roused emotional change.
C.Both present their ideas through doing research.
D.Both worry about the potential dangers caused by video games.
3.What can be learned about the research in 2006?
A.Teenagers tested in it become more emotional.
B.Its findings set alarm for young video game players.
C.Teenagers mentioned in it mainly come from Indiana.
D.Its researchers are strongly for banning video games.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.Violence—a by-product of video games.
B.Video games—the cause of violence or not.
C.Video games—the promoter of the mass shoot.
D.Violence—a threat for game players or not.
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析
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Studying the DNA of 300 mice has flagged up genes which have been linked to hereditary (遗传的) sight loss for the first time. Researchers say because mice’s genes are so similar to humans’, their findings could lead to the treatment of more genetic diseases.
Scientists at the University of California, Davis studied information from a data bank of mice’s genetic material. They found 347 genes linked to eye problems, with just 86 of them having been studied in the past.
Only around 50 to 75 percent of hereditary eye diseases in human can be explained with present science. The researchers believe these hundreds of new genes found in mice could be a key to explaining-and therefore being able to treat the other 25-50 percent.
“This is extremely valuable for people with hereditary eye disease,” said researcher Professor Ala Moshiri. “All researchers are going to start using these data. In the past, we knew the problem was there but we didn’t know where to look. Now eye centers can call back patients and screen them for these new genes. We expected that more and more of these genetic diseases will be treatable.” Also, the fact is that more than 60 percent of eye problems at birth are ones resulting from the baby’s parents!
Thanks to data from the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC), which is trying to work out what every single gene in a mouse is responsible for, with the aim of translating it to humans, scientists are moving closer to figuring out all genetic causes of blindness. To do this, scientists separate a single gene from other ones at a time and then observe what effect it has on the mouse for a long time. This has so far been done more than 7,000 times and has achieved great success. Researchers are now working alongside eye care centers in Texas and Iowa in order to compare the mice’s genes to those of patients.
1.How many hereditary-sight-loss-related genes were newly found?
A.86. B.261.
C.300. D.347.
2.Why is the percentage of genetic eye problems mentioned in paragraph 3?
A.To show the significance of studying mice’s genes.
B.To prove mice’s genes are similar to humans’.
C.To warn the high risk level of suffering them.
D.To explain how common they are among people.
3.What should scientists do first to unlock secrets of genetic blindness?
A.Compare humans’ genes with mice’s.
B.Recognize each gene’s role of humans.
C.Set apart a gene of a mouse each time.
D.Figure out each gene’s function of a mouse.
4.What can be a suitable title for the text?
A.New Ways to Cure Sight Loss
B.Genes Found Behind Eye Problems
C.Genetic Diseases Discovered in Mice
D.Humans Genes Causing Eye Diseases
高三英语阅读理解中等难度题查看答案及解析