Research from a UK charity has found that girls are likely to become less interested in sports as they move into their teenage years.
Women in Sport conducted a poll (调查) of more than 4,000 teenagers and found that 43 percent of girls felt they had been sporty as primary school students, but no longer saw themselves this way.
“Worryingly, girls lose their love of sport and exercise during teenage years, and this presents a significant psychological barrier throughout life,” the report said.
The majority of those who no longer considered themselves sporty said they had become less interested in sports because they didn’t like other people watching them.
The girls also spoke about how anxiety over their appearance led them to be less likely to participate in sports. The boys examined in this study didn’t show any change in their willingness to take part in sports. This points to a relationship between the mental well-being of girls and their willingness to engage in sports.
“It’s an absolute travesty (嘲讽) that teenage girls are being pushed out of sport at such a scale,” said Stephanie Hilborne, the chief executive of Women in Sport. She added that losing sports at this formative stage of their lives was equal to “a loss of joy as well as good lifelong health”.
“It is well documented that taking part in physical activity can have a profound and positive effect on mental well-being as well as provide many important life skills such as resilience (适应力), teamwork and communication,” she added.
The charity is calling on schools and sports clubs to increase the focus on keeping girls interested in sports, which can help them gain confidence when facing pressure from social media and their peers. Sports are crucial to keeping people active and social through puberty (青春期), which can already hit a young person’s self-confidence.
1. What do we know from the survey conducted by the UK charity?| A．Girls who are interested in sports don’t experience psychological barrier. |
| B．It is most commonly seen among teenagers that they lose passion in sports. |
| C．A large number of girls gradually become less interested in sports. |
| D．About half of the girls lose love in sports when in primary school. |
| A．They don’t like to be the focus of others. |
| B．They worry about their looking when doing sports. |
| C．They are afraid of being compared with the boys. |
| D．They are mentally unwilling to do sports. |
| A．Equipping themselves with lots of meaningful life qualities. |
| B．Learning to understand their feelings when facing pressure. |
| C．Developing better relations with their friends. |
| D．Keeping a good shape of the body. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Physical education, or gym class, isn’t required for all high school students. In some schools, it isn’t offered for some different reasons. But should high school students have physical education? The answer is certainly “yes”.
Today many people don’t do sports. But as is known to all, doing sports is very important for an adult. Teaching teens the importance of a healthy lifestyle and making fitness plans now can help teens put exercise in the first place as an adult.
High school isn’t that easy. Many students are under a lot of stress. Stress can be harmful to a student’s studies and life. Doing sports can help them deal with stress better, helping them live a happier life at school.
The American Heart Association says that 10 million kids and teens suffer from obesity (肥胖症). Teens should get 60 minutes of physical activity per day to control their weight and to help their bones get stronger. However, some activities such as video games and computer activities, don’t get teens to move around. The increase in such activities means that many teens don’t get their required exercise. Physical education classes act as a public health measure to encourage activity and help teens have healthy weights.
Inactivity increases teens’ risk of developing many diseases. An active lifestyle offers a good way of protection from these health problems. As much as 75 percent of health-care spending goes toward treating medical conditions that can be hindered by lifestyle changes, according to the American College of Sports Medicine.
According to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN), students who performed five hours of physical activity each week improved their academic (学业的) performance. Students from programs with no physical activity, who used the extra time for classroom study, did not perform better on tests than those who gave up some study time in support of physical education.
1. According to Paragraph 3, what does physical education in high school mean?| A．Helping teens learn to make good plans. |
| B．Getting teens to encourage adults to exercise. |
| C．Removing the stress faced by teens at school. |
| D．Making teens pay more attention to exercise later. |
| A．Applied. | B．Prevented. |
| C．Designed. | D．Preferred. |
| A．helps students do better in their studies |
| B．helps students keep fit |
| C．helps students make good use of all their time |
| D．makes students choose between sports and studies |
| A．How high school students can live a better life. |
| B．How schools can help students love doing studies. |
| C．Why some schools consider physical education important. |
| D．Why high school students should receive physical education. |
【推荐2】Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature. However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses (球场) in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf causes serious water shortage in some local areas.
There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be “green gyms”. They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it’s free.
1. Which of the following does the author most probably recommend?| A．Playing basketball in a gym. |
| B．Motor racing in the desert. |
| C．Cycling around a lake. |
| D．Swimming in a sports center. |
| A．It is popular in Portugal and Spain. |
| B．It causes water shortages around the world. |
| C．It pollutes the Earth with chemicals and wastes. |
| D．It needs water and energy to keep its courses. |
| A．it uses fewer resources | B．it improves our health |
| C．it is an outdoor sport | D．it is recommended by experts |
| A．show us the function of major sports |
| B．encourage us to take up green sports |
| C．discuss the major influence of popular sports |
| D．introduce different types of environment-friendly sports |
【推荐3】During the Covid-19 pandemic( 新冠疫情),things like eating in a restaurant or air travel are impossible. What about going to the gym?
When everybody was discussing how to make the best banana bread, during those very early quarantine( 隔离) stages, I worked out and took some online fitness classes at home, including yoga. Honestly, I just wanted to do a cool headstand by the end of quarantine.
In high school,I liked running on the track. In college and beyond, I loved the weight room. When I finally accepted that home workouts would be the best for a while, I prepared some basic gym equipment.
In some ways, I feel it stupid to admit that I missed the gym. I’m fortunate in so many ways since the start of the pandemic, but my living room is just not the same as my gym.
There’s a wider choice of equipment,and I’ve missed my gym friends. After looking into my recently-opened local gym’s safety steps in New York, I finally decided to go back.
With a spare face mask and water bottle, I made my 10-minute journey to the gym at 7 :30 am. I filled out a detailed Covid-19 survey on my gym’s app before stepping foot inside. I always feel like I get a better workout at the gym, and for me, that includes lots of extra sweat.
Please keep your mask covering your nose and your mouth. I only saw two people wrongly wearing their masks, and an employee had to call them out. The best ways to avoid Covid-19 at the gym are to wash your hands, wear your mask, wipe down equipment, and avoid standing on top of other gym-goers. If you’re used to basic, good gym rules, it shouldn’t be too challenging.
1. What was the author doing during the quarantine?| A．Making various fruit bread. |
| B．Searching for ways to beat the coronavirus. |
| C．Going out to the office for his usual work. |
| D．Following online healthcare classes at home. |
| A．A wide choice of equipment. | B．The free food served there. |
| C．Discussion about good diet. | D．No need for any face masks. |
| A．Avoiding standing close to the equipment. |
| B．Keeping a mask over your nose and mouth. |
| C．Taking some online classes about gym safety. |
| D．Choosing equipment that was challenging. |
| A．Difference Between Going to the Gym and Home Exercise |
| B．My Discussion with People About Good Food and Exercise |
| C．My Experience of Going to the Gym Since Quarantine |
| D．My Finding About Things to Do When Working at the Office |
【推荐1】What will you do if you can’t eat everything bought in the canteen?
Food waste, which has become a global issue, serves as a mirror that reflects various cultural and social issues in different countries. In the West, for instance, consumerism, the belief that it’s a good thing to use a lot of goods and services, is often to blame for food waste.
| A．Students’ waste is extremely serious. |
| B．China, in turn, features its own eating culture. |
| C．But canteen waste is merely the tip of the iceberg. |
| D．Students can never realize the serious food crisis. |
| E．Compared with them, some live in a different world. |
| F．So there’s no excuse that we should waste our food. |
| G．Most of us would simply throw away any leftover food. |
【推荐2】Across the fashion industry, many top designers have faced accusations of cultural appropriation (挪用).
Designer Jane Kellock, who has worked with brands such as Topshop, said she doesn’t believe designers deliberately go out to rip off (剽窃) cultures. “Design is a mish-mash (大杂烩) of different styles, cultures, ideas — and that’s what makes it interesting,” she said. “I really, genuinely don’t think that designers look at other cultures and think ‘I’m just going to copy that and I’m going to rip off that culture’.”
Dr Serkan Delice, a lecturer in cultural and historical studies at the London College of Fashion, is currently researching the debate over fashion and cultural appropriation. He said that fashion designers are often accused of cultural appropriation because of the speed at which the industry moves. “In most cases, unfortunately, designers don’t even have time to undertake proper research and appreciate a culture.”
One question that often comes up when the chat around cultural appropriation happens is: “What about people of color wearing clothes designed by white people?”
In 2016, designer Marc Jacobs appeared to defend his decision to style white models in dreadlocks (细发辫). Responding to the criticism, a comment from his official account said: “Funny how you don’t criticize women of color for straightening their hair.”
Dr Delice said cultural appropriation only “happens when there are power inequalities between different cultures”. “We are still living in a world where white people and institutions are much more powerful than black and brown people and their institutions. So it wouldn’t be cultural appropriation because cultural appropriation implies that a more powerful culture is using another less powerful culture.”
So what should designers do? Dr Delice believes that designers should make sure people from different cultures take part in producing the clothes that are inspired by them. “That’s the only solution. In other words, if you’re doing a runway show (时装秀), then you need to use the original inhabitants of that region, or in the production process.”
1. What does Jane Kellock think makes design interesting?| A．The cultures it reflects. | B．Its impact on culture. |
| C．The mixture of various elements. | D．Its focus on cultural exchange. |
| A．They deliberately copy different cultures. |
| B．They show little respect for certain cultures. |
| C．They lay emphasis on powerful cultures. |
| D．They don’t have time to fully appreciate other cultures. |
| A．cultural appropriation shouldn’t be criticized |
| B．the powerful cultures are more valued by designers |
| C．using elements from other cultures isn’t cultural appropriation |
| D．cultural appropriation occurs when inequality exists between cultures |
| A．Get inspiration from different cultures. |
| B．Get the source of their inspirations involved in the production process. |
| C．Organize more runway shows with local elements. |
| D．Learn about the origins of cultures from local residents. |
【推荐3】As computers become more popular in China, Chinese people are increasingly depending on computer keyboards to input Chinese characters. But if they use the computer too much, they may end up forgetting the exact strokes of each Chinese character when writing on paper. Experts suggest people, especially students, write by hand more.
Do you write by hand more or type more? In Beijing, students start using a computer as early as primary school. And computer dependence is more widely spread among university students. Almost all their assignments and essays are typed on a computer.
All the students interviewed say they usually use a computer.
It’s faster and easier to correct if using a computer. And that’s why computers are being applied more and more often to modern education. But when people are taking_stock_in computers increasingly, problems appear.
“When I’m writing with a pen, I find I often can’t remember how to write a character, though I feel I’m familiar with it.”
“I’m not in the mood to write when faced with a pen and paper.”
Many students don’t feel this is something to worry about. Now that it’s more convenient and efficient to write on a computer, why bother to handwrite?
Many educators think differently. Shi Liwei, headmaster of a famous primary school in the capital said, “Chinese characters enjoy both practical and aesthetic value. But those characters typed with computer keyboards only maintain their practical value. All the artistic beauty of the characters is lost. And handwriting contains the writer’s emotion. Through one’s handwriting, people can get to know one’s thinking and personality. Beautiful writing will give people a better first impression of them.”
To encourage students to handwrite more, many primary schools in Beijing have made writing classes compulsory(必修的), and in universities some professors are asking students to turn in their homework and essays written by hand.
1. What does the underlined expression “taking stock in” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?| A．Getting bored with. |
| B．Getting dependent on. |
| C．Becoming crazy about. |
| D．Getting curious about. |
| A．Because they can correct the mistakes they make quickly and conveniently. |
| B．Because they are usually asked to email their homework and essays. |
| C．Because they find it not easy to remember how to write a character. |
| D．Because computers have become a trend and fashion in China. |
| A．Handwriting contains the writer’s emotions. |
| B．Chinese characters enjoy both practical and aesthetic value. |
| C．Handwriting can impress people well and build one’s selfconfidence. |
| D．The writer’s thinking and personality are shown in his or her handwriting. |
| A．To Type or to Handwrite |
| B．The Importance of Handwriting and Typing |
| C．Writing by Computer Will Replace Writing by Hand |
| D．Practical and Aesthetic Value of Chinese Characters |
【推荐1】This season, there is a great risk of serious fires across the koala habitat on Australia’s east coast. Experts at the NSW inquiry said about 2,000 koalas may have died in fires already this year. The damage of habitat means further population decreases are unavoidable, so we need new plans for future protection.
The heat burns koalas’ paws and fur, and the superheated air can cause great damage to their lungs. The forests are their only shelter, but offer no protection during the bushfires. Beyond this direct threat, when large numbers of koalas are killed or badly injured, the genetic diversity(基因的多样性) of their local populations decreases. Sudden reductions in population size can cause genetic bottlenecks that lead to inbreeding, which makes extinction more probable.
Over the coming months, koalas will depend heavily on wildlife hospitals for recovery after fires. While many volunteers and professionals do fantastic work to help koalas survive fire, we have no plan for protecting genetic diversity and reducing the risk of inbreeding.
But we can take a lesson from botanical gardens, which routinely freeze genetic material for seed banks. Freezing koala sperm(精子), eggs and embryos could offer a way to protect genetic diversity ahead of further population decrease. Artificial reproduction for koalas is developing quickly. Scientists have used freshly collected sperm to artificially inseminate(授精) zoo koalas, which resulted in the birth of baby koalas.
However, the technology does not yet exist to freeze, store and then use koala sex cells. If it existed, koala hospitals could easily and inexpensively begin collecting genetic samples from their patients. Although NSW has funded heavily in koala protection in recent years, we argue that future funding should also support research to make this technology a reality for koalas.
Koalas and many other native species are unprotected in this new era of record-breaking fires. We need to start planning and funding in long-term protection solutions and new research-based technologies that provide a last line of defense against the possibility of extinction.
1. What leads to the decrease of the koalas’ populations?| A．The fierce fire. |
| B．The extreme weather. |
| C．The threat from humans. |
| D．The overprotection of the habitat. |
| A．The research. | B．Freezing cells. | C．Collecting eggs. | D．The technology. |
| A．Funds are needed to support the research-based technologies. |
| B．Many volunteers have set up plans for protecting genetic diversity. |
| C．Many native species are well protected during the fire except koalas. |
| D．The technology of artificial insemination will be employed to save koalas. |
| A．The strong possibility of the extinction of the koalas. |
| B．The exploration of new ways to protect endangered kolas. |
| C．The great efforts of the volunteers trying to save the koalas. |
| D．The financial difficulty in saving the koalas injured in the fire. |
【推荐2】We all need to do our part to reduce the effects of climate change by reducing our carbon footprint, and the best way to do that isn’t by switching to LED lightbulbs, driving hybrid cars, or even recycling. It’s by changing our diets to include less meat and more plants. One way to do that is by swapping your beef, chicken, and poultry for plant-based meat.
There’s no question that so-called meatless meat wins when we take the health of our planet into consideration. Plant-based meat, like all foods, has some impact on the environment, but it doesn’t come close to having the sort of impact on the planet that meat does.
Studies have shown that it takes between 2,000 and 8,000 gallons of water to produce a single pound of beef; in contrast, it takes only about 300 gallons to produce one pound of tofu. Plus, livestock (牲畜) production contributes to more groundwater pollution.
And the Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems study found that plant-based meat’s greenhouse gas emissions were 34 percent lower than farmed fish, 43 percent lower than poultry, 63 percent lower than pig, 87 percent lower than beef from dairy cows, and 93 percent lower than beef from beef herds.
But plant-based meat isn’t perfect. All food production requires resources. According to Mark Hyman, MD, the author of Food Fix, most of the environmental concerns around fake meat have to do with industrial farming—particularly the use of ploughing, which destroys soil carbon.
Whether or not meals made with vegetarian meat are better for your body than animal products depends on the recipe. Think about it this way: A steamed chicken breast may be worse for the planet, but it’s better for your body than an Impossible Burger. But an Impossible Burger may be better than a thick piece of beef.
Dr. Hyman wants people to keep in mind that these plant-based meat alternatives are highly processed foods, which are something we should be staying away from, not increasing, in our diets. “Coca-Cola and Doritos are plant-based,” he says. “That doesn’t mean they’re healthy.”
1. What does the underlined word “swapping” in paragraph one probably mean?| A．Curving. | B．Wrapping. | C．Exchanging. | D．Referring. |
| A．To show that developing the plant-based meat can protect environment. |
| B．To show that developing the plant-based meat can save water. |
| C．To show that developing the plant-based meat never releases greenhouse gas. |
| D．To show that developing the plant-based meat can waste energy. |
| A．Plant-based meat is healthy for our body. |
| B．Plant-based meat is more eco-friendly. |
| C．livestock production does no harm to groundwater. |
| D．Highly processed foods are good choices. |
| A．Negative. | B．Positive. | C．Objective. | D．Subjective. |
【推荐3】As is commonly known, Antarctica is an icy continent with extreme environment. However, a new study provides evidence that the area had a rainforest in the past.
The researchers collected a piece of Earth sediment from under the seafloor off the coast of Antarctica. In the sediment, they discovered forest material that was estimated to be about 90 million years old. At that period, dinosaurs were the ruler animals of the land.
Johann Klages, a German geologist, was the lead writer of a study on the findings, published in the journal Nature. He said the sediment was collected from a depth of about 30 meters below the ocean floor. Klages said an examination showed that the material didn’t form in the ocean.
The researchers estimate that the area — about 900 kilometers from the South Pole — had average yearly temperatures of about 12°C to 13°C. The soil included fine dirt particles and hard clay, as well as substances linked to at least 65 different kinds of plants, the study found. Although no animal remains were found, Klages said there were likely dinosaurs, flying reptiles and many insects in the environment.
The research represents new evidence of the major climate changes Earth experienced in the past — and is currently undergoing today. The soil in the sediment dates back to the planet’s warmest period of the past 140 million years, with sea level about 170 meters higher than today. The researchers said that the rainforest environment in Antarctica was especially surprising because each year, the area experiences a four-month polar night when there is no sunlight to fuel plant life. Klages said no ice sheets were present during the time, but seasonal snowfall was likely.
1. What can we learn about the sediment collected?| A．It formed in the age of dinosaurs. | B．It was found on the Antarctica land. |
| C．Ancient forest material was found in it. | D．Some dinosaur remains were found in it. |
| A．By analyzing the Earth sediment. | B．By exploring ice in Antarctica. |
| C．By collecting data on climate. | D．By researching special plants. |
| A．Seasonal snowfall made the forest disappear. |
| B．Antarctica was much colder 140 million years ago. |
| C．Antarctica’s natural environment has changed greatly. |
| D．Polar nights in Antarctica are getting shorter than before. |
| A．Rainforest disappeared from Antarctica. |
| B．Antarctica had a different history of climate. |
| C．Researchers studied a piece of Earth sediment of Antarctica. |
| D．Antarctica had an extreme environment containing ice and snow. |
