Dog owners walked about 23 minutes longer each day than non-dog owners. In a new study, dog owners took 2, 760 additional steps-compared to people who didn’t have a dog at home. But here’s the real good news: That extra exercise could help adults meet their recommended weekly totals for physical activity.
The research, published in BMC Public Health, focused on adults 65 and older, who tend to be less active than younger people. The study included 43 dog owners and 43 non-dog owners, all of whom were monitored (监控) continuously for three week-long periods. When they compared the two groups, the researchers found that dog ownership was connected with a large, potentially health-improving effect.
Dog owners walked about 23 minutes longer each day than non-dog owners, 119 minutes against 96 minutes on average. They also took an additional 2, 760 steps, and had eight fewer continuous periods of sitting down. Most of that extra walking was done at proper pace, 100 or more steps a minute. Dog owners walked at this pace for 32 minutes a day, against just 11 minutes a day for non-dog owners.
The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests that adults get at least 150 minutes of physical activity a week. This increased walking time alone could satisfy that requirement, say the researchers - so it makes sense that 87 percent of dog owners in the study met these guidelines, versus just 47 percent of non-dog owners.
Co-author Nancy Gee says that pet ownership may help older adults get more activity or keep their current activity level for a longer period of time. “This could improve their chances of a better quality of life, improved cognition (认知), and perhaps, even a long life, ” she said. Here at Health, we’ll add that caring for pets has been shown to have plenty of other physical and mental health benefits as well.
1. What can we learn about the research?| A．It was targeted at old people. |
| B．It had an undesirable effect on dog owners. |
| C．It was sponsored (资助) by the BMC Public Heal. |
| D．It mainly considered the mental health of dog owners. |
| A．To show the guidelines of the research. |
| B．To present the results of the research. |
| C．To describe the process of doing the research. |
| D．To explain the reasons for conducting the research. |
| A．It will take a lot of time. |
| B．It will surely help people live a long life. |
| C．It enables older adults to live a healthy life. |
| D．It helps young adults to improve their quality of life. |
| A．Young people walk less today | B．Animal lovers are healthier |
| C．Non-pet owners enjoy more pleasure | D．Dog owners walk way more |
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【推荐1】Luxury (奢华的) Costa Rica
This grand adventure through Costa Rica offers the perfect combination of luxury travel and thrilling encounters with the natural world. Travelers will visit the impressing Arenal Volcano, the magical Monteverde Cloud Forests, and the mysterious Manuel Antonio National Park.
★Accommodation in 4-star hotels with a Certification for Sustainable Tourism
★ Nature Guide
★Max. 14 participants
★Comfortable, private transportation
★Guaranteed departures
Look forward to seeing fascinating creatures in their natural habitats, relaxing on beautiful, unspoiled beaches, and spending your nights in high-quality accommodations. Whether you dream of whitewater rafting on rapid rivers, kayaking through forests, relaxing in natural hot springs, or hiking through lush (茂盛的) rain forests—this trip has something for you!
If you have ever considered visiting the picturesque country of Costa Rica then look no further than Sprachcaffe Travel and find out everything you need to know right here. If you have any further question, our friendly and informed staff are more than willing to help!
What’s Included
★Comfortable hotels with 4 stars
★8 breakfasts, 6 dinners
★Transfers in air-conditioned (mini) bus
★Entrance fees and guided tour of Manuel Antonio National Park
★Guided visit to Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve
★Hot springs, natural pools
★El Trapiche sugar cane and coffee
★English-speaking naturalist guide throughout, local guides
1. According to the passage, what does the travel ticket include?| A．Any breakfast and dinner in hotels. | B．A visit to Manual Antonio National Park. |
| C．Transfers in air-conditioned private cars. | D．The money you give waiters or waitresses. |
| A．Relaxing in artificial hot springs in lush rain forest. |
| B．Enjoying high-quality accommodations in 5-star hotels. |
| C．Experiencing close contact with nature and wildlife. |
| D．Having awesome hiking in the impressing Arenal Volcano. |
| A．A news report. | B．A travel journal. |
| C．A research article. | D．An advertisement |
【推荐2】“My wife of 24 years, Marie Roberts, was raised in New York City, worked in the fashion industry, and never got her hands dirty,” said Keith Roberts. “Then, nine years ago, I wanted to move to Florida and reconnect to my country life, but how would I inspire(激发) the same feeling in, well, a city woman? I brought her a two-month-old potbellied pig.”
At first sight, Marie, then 46, was smitten. So soon she took in another abandoned(遗弃) pig. And thus began Sugarloaf Mountain Farm, her animal shelter in central Florida. With the couple’s two children grown up, these animals would now be Marie’s babies.
The Farm now has 300 rescues, from alpacas to donkeys, each with its own story. “A gentleman had a litter of eight pigs, and all but one died,” says Marie. “She weighed one pound and suffered great pain. For three weeks straight, I fed that baby every hour, day and night, seldom sleeping.” Till now, Marie still gets five to ten requests a day to save animals and has to turn most down. “If she can’t rescue the animal, she works with that person to find a solution,” Keith says. “She’s not only saving animals; above all, she’s giving their owners peace of mind.”
“A woman called from her nursing home,” Marie remembers. “Her pigs would be abandoned if she couldn’t find a suitable home. ‘I only have a few months, and I need to know that they’ll be safe,’ she said.” So Marie drove three hours and got them. Soon after, Marie received a note from the woman’s daughter. “Dear Marie,” she wrote. “My mom went peacefully, as she went knowing that they are forever loved. Thank you for being Mom’s angel.”
“She is a ball of energy,” Keith adds. “A few times she’s gone so far in some situations, like when she locked herself in the chicken coop(鸡舍). I found her sitting in it with ten chicks nestled in her lap.” That is exactly what you’d expect from a true mother hen.
1. Why did Keith give Marie a little pig?| A．To help her get used to her new job. | B．To help her grow fond of animals. |
| C．To help her get away from loneliness. | D．To help her connected with country life. |
| A．attracted | B．puzzled |
| C．disturbed | D．frightened |
| A．she felt sorry for the woman |
| B．she wished to bring peace to the woman |
| C．she never refused to help others |
| D．she wanted to have more pets on her farm |
【推荐3】The Adoption Option
Adopting a pet is rapidly becoming the preferred option for many people who want to add an animal companion.
An affordable choice. It’s true that many people are happy to part with thousands of dollars for purebred and “designer” crossbred dogs and cats, but rescue pets have a lot going for them and can be more affordable to purchase.
Homeless animals can make wonderful pets. People often assume that dogs and cats end up in shelters because they’re unwanted or badly behaved. There are many reasons owners may need to rehome their pet — divorce, lack of suitable accommodation, or the time and money needed to care for a dog.
Adult animals have benefits. Generally, if you decide to buy a pet from breeders, only very young animals are available.
To keep in mind.
| A．Choose an appropriate animal from a reliable source. |
| B．But shelters have a wide range of pets for you to choose from. |
| C．It’s important for you to only select a pet that will suit your lifestyle. |
| D．Similar to many things, the price of owning a pet has been increasing. |
| E．You should take into account the amount of exercise your pet will need. |
| F．Thus, some dogs and cats become lost, are not identified and are never claimed. |
| G．There are lots of online searches for possible pet adopters to choose an ideal pet. |
【推荐1】“All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.” But now scientists have given us another warning: too much play with smartphones or computers makes you dull too.
“Many focus on the benefits of digital devices (设备) in education but ignore the costs,” said Patricia Greenfield from the University of California, “losing the ability to understand the emotions of other people is one of the costs.” Greenfield and her research team did an experiment. They worked with 105 children who spend about 4.5 hours in front of screens on a school day. The students were asked to describe the emotions towards the pictures of people who were happy, sad, angry or scared. Then, half of them attended a five-day nature and science camp. There they had no smartphones, TV, or computers. The other half stayed in school and spent the five days as usual. Five days later, all the children took the test again.
Students who had been to the camp got about 5 percent more answers correct than they had done before the camp. But the other group of students didn’t show much improvement. The study is not perfect in some ways, said the researchers. But scientists say that the study is still a warning for us.
“Emotional skills develop in practice and the brain develops through real interaction,” said Professor Taylor, a professor at the University of San Francisco.
Researchers talked to 2,000 parents of children aged 2 — 16 in the UK about what activities their children could do confidently. The results were surprising: their children could use a tablet (平板电脑) (59%) and work a mobile phone (57%) more confidently than they could tie their shoe laces (鞋带) (53%)! So, spend more time away from mobile phones and computers if you want to be an understanding friend, and not a member of what the Daily Mail called “Generation Helpless”.
1. According to Professor Greenfield, what’s the possible result of using digital media in education?| A．Being on bad terms with family members. | B．Making more mistakes when taking exams. |
| C．Falling far behind others in all schoolwork. | D．Failing to relate to other people’s emotions. |
| A．The background of the experiment | B．The process of the experiment |
| C．The results of the experiment | D．The purpose of the experiment |
| A．They are alarming for people. | B．They are far from perfect. |
| C．They are quite surprising. | D．They don’t need to be improved. |
| A．To warn us to stay away from the Internet. |
| B．To explain how people become the Internet addicts. |
| C．To advise children to spend less time on screens. |
| D．To show digital devices are essential for modern education. |
【推荐2】There’s a lot we know about eggs: they are great for breakfast and you can cook them in different ways. One topic of debate, however, is why brown chicken eggs usually cost more than white ones. According to Sharman Hickman, the director of Community Outreach and Education for Hickman’s Family Farms, genetics (基因学) not nutrition determines the eggshell color and thus the egg’s price.
The chicken breed (品种) and their genetics decide whether or not hens have pigment (色素 ) genes, which coat the egg and result in a colored shell during the egg-laying process. Although all eggs start out white in color, shell color can range from white to brown and even blue in some rare breeds, Hickman adds. Breeds such as the Leghorn chicken lay white eggs, while the Orpington lays brown eggs and the Ameraucana produces blue eggs.
Hickman notes that the Leghorn breed is the most efficient egg-laying hen, making it a popular choice for farmers. Hens that produce colored eggshells, however, tend to be larger and require more feed and energy to create that painted layer. Since those breeds cost more to feed, their eggs are more expensive.
Although eggs sometimes look different and are priced differently, it’s impossible to know
their nutritional make-up from the shell color alone, according to Malina Linkas Malkani, media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “Choosing between brown and white eggs is a matter of personal preference,” she says. “But it’s important for people to know that the color of the eggshell has nothing to do with the egg’s nutrient content or shell thickness.”
What does affect the nutrient content is the specific diet the hen is on, according to Malkani. For example, hens fed with a diet with omega-3s and vitamin D produce eggs that are higher in those specific nutrients. No matter what your preference is, don’t judge an egg by its shell color.
1. Which of the following is one of the arguments about eggs?| A．Which eggs are difficult to break. |
| B．How eggs can be cooked healthily. |
| C．Why colored eggs are more expensive. |
| D．What the best time to eat eggs should be. |
| A．The hen’s breed. | B．The size of the hen. |
| C．The color of the eggs inside. | D．The length of the laying process. |
| A．They lay brown eggs. | B．Their eggs are larger. |
| C．Their eggs sell better. | D．They are productive. |
| A．It takes efforts to test eggs’ nutrition. |
| B．It’s meaningless to study an eggs color. |
| C．Personal preference matters a lot in choice-making. |
| D．An egg’s nutrition is closely related to the hen’s feed. |
【推荐3】MIT chemistry professor Daniel Nocera led research on the artificial leaf project, says he and his colleagues took their cues from plants, which are literally buzzing with electricity.
“What happens is that sunlight comes in and hits the leaf and then the leaf immediately takes that sunlight and makes a wireless current,”says Nocera.
During photosynthesis, the energy in sunlight splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen joins with carbon dioxide to make sugar, an essential fuel for plant growth. In Nocera’s laboratory, scientists replicated that chemical process using a silicon device about the size and shape of a playing card, only thinner. It's coated with nickel and cobalt catalysts that when exposed to water and ultraviolet light, accelerate a chemical reaction.
“So you can literally just take this bottle of water and we could take the chip, put the chip inside the bottle of water, and go holding it up in the sun and you would start seeing hydrogen and oxygen bubbles coming up.”
The hydrogen is then recombined with the oxygen in a fuel cell to produce electricity. Nocera’s work builds on previous research. John Turner of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory pioneered the concept in 1998 using materials too expensive and unstable for commercialization.
Nocera says his so-called practical artificial leaf uses less expensive materials, is more stable and more efficient than that earlier design. He says the challenge is to collect the gases coming off the silicon and store them until the energy is needed. “That has to be engineered still,” he adds. “We don't know how to do that. It will be something that we will start doing pretty soon. You’ll be storing a fair amount of energy because this system is working at the efficiency more or less of the solar cell.”
In laboratory experiments, Nocera's solar cell prototype operated continuously for 45 hours without a drop in electrical output. Nocera notes that it works in any type of water. “So you can use natural water sources, which for us is a big deal, because if you are in rural parts of the world. especially where they are poor, it is really costly to bring in pure water and so, the fact that you can go over there' to a puddle and pick the water up and begin using it, is something that is very powerful for us."
Nocera believes the artificial leaf could be especially useful as an inexpensive source of electricity for low-income populations in developing countries. The goal, Nocera says, is to make each home its own power station. He predicts a commercial version of the artificial leaf will be on the market within three years.
1. MIT chemistry professor Daniel Norcera's research is different from John Turner's mainly in that________.| A．Norcera's research outcome is too commercialized |
| B．Norcera has found a cheaper and steadier material |
| C．Norcera's working system is like the solar cell |
| D．Norcera's research is original and unprecedented |
| A．an efficient way of storing gases coming off the silicon |
| B．a feasible system that is as efficient as solar cell |
| C．a silicon device that can accelerate the chemical reaction |
| D．how to spread the cheap source of electricity in developing countries |
| A．It is convenient for every home to own a power station |
| B．It can change the ordinary water into pure water |
| C．It has a commercial value for poor populations |
| D．It can recycle waste water and thus eco-friendly |
| A．Plants Can Produce Cheap and Steady Electricity |
| B．Storage of Energy Is a Tough Challenge |
| C．Artificial Leaf Tuns Sunlight into Electric Power |
| D．Inexpensive Source of Electricity Is Finally Available |
【推荐1】Dreams have fascinated people for thousands of years, yet we struggle to understand their purpose. A more recent theory suggests nighttime dreams protect visual areas of the brain from being taken over during sleep by other sensory functions, such as hearing or touch.
David Eagle-man, a neuroscience at Stanford University, has proposed the idea that dreaming is necessary to protect the visual cortex (大脑皮层)—the part of the brain responsible for processing vision. He argues that neurons (神经元) compete for survival. The brain, Eagle-man explains, distributes its resources by “implementing a do-or-die competition” for brain territory in which sensory areas “gain or lose neural territory when inputs slow, stop or shift.” Eagle-man points to people who lose sight or hearing. They show heightened sensitivity in the remaining senses because the region of the brain normally used by the lost sense is taken over by other senses.
When you sleep, you can smell, hear and feel, but visual information is absent —except during REM sleep. About 90 minutes after drifting off to sleep, you enter REM. It begins when neurons in your brain stem signal the beginning of two important tasks. Activity of these neurons, for one, paralyze major muscles, preventing the sleeper from acting out what is happening in the dream. Also, these brain cells send messages directly to the visual cortex, which starts the dreaming process. Scans of dreaming people show most of the brain activity associated with REM is within the visual cortex. Dreams are the brain’s way of fighting takeover from other senses, according to Eagle-man.
Eagle-man says that his theory can accommodate other explanations for dreams and that REM sleep may serve many purposes besides protecting the visual cortex. Think of dreaming like a computer screen saver that is set to go off every 90 minutes —except that instead of protecting against frozen images, dreams prevent the visual cortex from being occupied by other functions.
1. What is Eagle-man’s primary theory about dreams?| A．They strengthen sensory functions. | B．They process emotional experiences. |
| C．They safeguard certain brain territory. | D．They heighten visual responsiveness. |
| A．Precise selection. | B．Desperate struggle. | C．Rapid adaptation. | D．Harmonious balance. |
| A．It lasts for about 90 minutes. | B．It consists of two critical stages. |
| C．It allows sleepers to act out their dreams. | D．It starts with brain stem’s signaling process. |
| A．To show their creative aspect. | B．To highlight their randomness. |
| C．To signify their repetitive nature. | D．To illustrate their protective function. |
【推荐2】Rising temperatures driven by the climate crisis are cutting the sleep of people across the world, the largest study to date has found.
The researchers used data from sleep-tracking wristbands (手环) used by 47,000 people over 7 months and across 68 countries. The analysis revealed that due to increasing night-time temperatures, the average global citizen is losing 44 hours of sleep a year.
However, lost sleep affects some groups much more than others. The sleep loss per degree of warming is about a quarter higher for women than men, twice as high for those over 65 years old and three times higher for those in less affluent nations, where people have less access to cooling features.
Previous studies have shown that rising temperatures damage health, including increasing heart attacks, mental health crises, and accidents and injuries. Poor sleep has also been shown to have these effects, and the researchers say their new study suggests that disturbed sleep may be a key mechanism by which heat causes these health impacts. The researchers say their data shows no signs of people being able to adapt to hotter nights.
“In this study, we provide the first planetary-scale (世界范围的) evidence that warmer than average temperatures cut human sleep,” said Kelton Minor, who led the research. “It’s very likely the effect is more serious.” Minor added that the research had important implications for policymakers, who need to ensure cities, towns and buildings are well adapted to heat in order to reduce the health impacts.
The data used in the study came mainly from richer nations. The wristbands also tended to be worn by people less prone (易于遭受) to sleep disturbance by warmer temperatures. “Lower-income people are underrepresented in the data and we’re well aware of that,” said Minor. He said more research was needed, particularly in places that are already among the hottest in the world.
1. Which is NOT mentioned about the study in paragraph 2?| A．How the data was collected. |
| B．How many respondents were involved. |
| C．The duration of the study. |
| D．The purpose of the study. |
| A．Thickly populated. | B．Badly polluted. |
| C．Wealthy. | D．Equal. |
| A．They cause car accidents. |
| B．They reduce people’s sleep time. |
| C．They result in extreme weather events. |
| D．They limit people’s adaptation ability. |
| A．The study adopted a new research method. |
| B．Some cities have taken firmer action to fight the heat. |
| C．Policymakers have doubts about the study. |
| D．Heat’s impacts may be worse than estimated. |
| A．Its findings. | B．Its limitations. |
| C．Its applications. | D．Its significance. |
【推荐3】A recent breakthrough in battery technology could affect the electric vehicle (EV).
Right now it can take up to 10 hours to fully charge an EV. There has long been a debate about the best times to charge an electric vehicle because of the amount of time it takes. In recent years, manufacturers are racing to create options that cut this process down greatly. The team, led by Professor Won Bae Kim of Pohang University of Science and Technology in South Korea, is developing a new anode (阳极) material that can charge an electric vehicle very quickly.
The anode materials are known for their exceptional lithium-ion (锂离子) storage capacity. By enlarging the surface area of the anode materials, scientists enabled a large number of lithium-ions to move at the same time, resulting in significantly-improved charging speed. Experimental result s demonstrated that a battery with a capacity that equals those used in current EVs can be fully charged in just six minutes.
The research holds the potential to significantly increase the energy density of lithium-ion batteries through the incorporation (合并) of high-capacity anode materials, thereby extending the driving range of electric vehicles. Anode materials could potentially increase the driving range at least by ten times.
The development holds great promise for the future of electric vehicles, making them more efficient for everyday use. With faster charging times, the barrier to adopting electric vehicles could be significantly reduced, paving the way for a greener and more sustainable transportation system. This groundbreaking research opens doors to further advancements in battery technology and marks a significant step forward in the journey toward a cleaner, electric-powered future. With continued innovation and investment in sustainable energy solutions, we are one step
1. What does the author want to explain by mentioning the debate?| A．The risk of producing EVs. | B．The reason for giving up an EV. |
| C．The necessity of the team’s research. | D．The difficulty of making anode materials. |
| A．Lithium-ions have great storage capacity. |
| B．EVs can go 10 times faster than they do now. |
| C．Anode materials’ surface area affects charging speed. |
| D．EVs’ driving range isn’t necessarily decided by batteries. |
| A．Worried. | B．Positive. | C．Doubtful. | D．Uncertain. |
| A．EV Charging: A Matter of Minutes | B．EV Industry: Environmental Booster |
| C．Lithium-ion Batteries: EV Innovation | D．Anode Materials: Core EV Technology |
