Residents in the poorest counties in the U.S. face a life expectancy up to decade shorter than their counterparts in the wealthiest areas, according to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health.
Researchers from East Tennessee State University wanted to better understand how socioeconomic status was associated with health outcomes. To find out they divided the country’s 3,141 counties into 50 new ‘states’ (with 2 percent of the counties in each) based on household income as opposed to geographic proximity (接近).
The researchers broke down the data by county since they found state-level data may hide some ‘impact of socioeconomic differences on both the best-off and worst-off counties.’ They then examined health data from the wealthiest and poorest ‘states’ (top and bottom 2 percent) to see how residents differed on factors like smoking, clinical care and excessive drinking. Researchers found that there was nearly a 10-year gap in the life expectancy of men with an average of 79.3 years in the wealthy counties compared to 69.8 years in the poorest. For women, the difference was slightly less - 83 years in the wealthiest counties and 76 years in the poorest.
The study authors caution that while they found a connection between socioeconomic status and health outcomes, they did not analyze cause and effect. But they suggest that the data shows how policy makers should not just focus on state-wide initiatives (主动性) but more targeted efforts to help those most at risk. “With limited resources, methods of pinpointing the poorest counties can assist in the allocation of resources and programs to those communities that are in the greatest need,’’ the study authors wrote.
1. How did Researchers divide the counties?| A．By social status. | B．By income. |
| C．By health. | D．By living places. |
| A．The women difference is less than the man in life expectancy. |
| B．The wealthiest ‘state’ like hiding their wealth. |
| C．Most health data is unbelievable. |
| D．Most poorest ‘state’ smoke and drink a lot. |
| A．The researchers think their study is perfect. |
| B．People still don’t know the cause of life expectancy. |
| C．The government should learn something from the study. |
| D．The American resources allocation is not fair at all. |
| A．Ways to have a long life expectancy |
| B．Great income differences in the USA |
| C．The health problem in the USA |
| D．Men in richest 10 years longer in poorest |
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【推荐1】Children think other youngsters who wear glasses look smarter and are more honest than those who don't wear glasses, according to a U.S. study of 80 children. In addition, the researchers found that children seldom judge peers wearing glasses in terms of appearance.
The study included 42 girls and 38 boys, aged 6 to 10.Of those, 30 wore glasses, 34 had at least one classmate with glasses, and almost two-thirds had at least one parent who wore glasses. The study participants were shown 24 pairs of pictures of children. The children in each pair of pictures differed by gender and race, and each pair of pictures included one child with glasses and one child without glasses. The children were asked a series of questions about each pair of photos. About two-thirds said children wearing glasses looked smarter than those without glasses, and 57 percent said children wearing glasses looked more honest.
These findings may help comfort children as they're fitted for their first pair of glasses, lead author Jeffrey Walline, an assistant professor of optometry at Ohio State University, suggested in a prepared statement. "If the impression of looking smarter will appeal to a child, I would use that information and tell the child it is based on research. Most kids getting glasses for the first time are sensitive about how they're going to look. Some kids simply refuse to wear glasses, because they think they'll look ugly," Walline said.
1. What impression may a youngster wearing a pair of glasses leave on his classmate?| A．Ugly. | B．Easygoing. | C．Dynamic. | D．Intelligent. |
| A．Most of them wore glasses at an early age. |
| B．Most of them had one family member wearing glasses. |
| C．They observed children of different ages in each picture. |
| D．They were required to answer the same questions. |
| A．Because the study is carried out in a scientific way. |
| B．Because it convinces them of the necessity of wearing glasses. |
| C．Because it may help remove all their initial worries. |
| D．Because the children do care about being smarter. |
| A．Wearing Glasses, Smarter Looking. | B．Wearing Glasses, More Intelligent. |
| C．Concerns on Wearing Glasses. | D．Wearing Glasses, a New Trend. |
【推荐2】For centuries, apple growers in Japan’s Aomori Prefecture have been creating good-looking apples by using “Mojie Ringo”. The process is fairly simple. It basically shelters the apples from sunlight for a period of time and then applies stencils(蜡纸)to ensure that part of the apple skin remains discolored. More often than not, Mojie Ringo apples are decorated with messages and symbols of good fortune, and are offered as gifts.
Large apple varieties like Mutsu or Stark Jumbo are most suitable for Mojie Ringo, as they provide more surface area for complex design. Preparation begins in January, with a pruning(剪枝)operation, to ensure that remaining flowers receive plenty of sunlight. Then, growers hand-pollinate (人工授粉)each of the apple tree flowers, and then once fruits begin to form, they are covered with several layers of plastic bags to protect them from both pests and sunlight.
Keeping the apples “in the dark” for long periods of time increases their photosensitivity(光敏性), so when the plastic bags are finally removed, they begin to produce a component that turns the skin red. During the final stage of the Mojie Ringo process, stencils are applied on the surface of the apple to ensure that only the skin around the stencil turns red.
The stencils are removed during harvesting, to expose the almost white skin underneath. The stencils need to be flexible, because the fruits continue to grow, and otherwise the designs could be compromised.
According to Culture Trip, Mojie Ringo was perfected by farmer Hamo Iwasaki from Aomori Perfecture, whose son, Chisato Iwasaki, is widely regarded as one of the most talented apple artists today.
Although Mojie Ringo seems fairly simple, it requires a lot of work and patience over long periods of time, and for many growers the effort and attention just don’t pay off enough. That’s why the old tradition is slowly fading, with only a few Aomori fruit gardens producing the eye-catching fruits.
1. Mojie Ringo is mainly used to improve the ________ of apples.| A．production | B．attraction | C．taste | D．shape |
| A．apples | B．stencils | C．plastic bags | D．apple growers |
| A．Because they aren’t familiar with it. |
| B．Because it is an out-of-date tradition. |
| C．Because it isn’t economically worthwhile. |
| D．Because fruits coming from it aren’t popular. |
| A．A new apple variety. | B．A talented apple artist. |
| C．An apple planting center. | D．An apple fanning technique. |
【推荐3】If your job requires a lot of sitting,you could be putting your health at danger.
The American Journal of Epidemiology（流行病学）did a study in 2010 on the connection between sitting and an individual's physical health.In the study,53,440 working men and 69,776 working women were surveyed on their time spent sitting.The subjects were all disease free when employed.The researchers identified 11,307 deaths in men and 7,923 deaths in women during the 14-year follow-up.
The findings: Women who reported sitting for more than six hours per day had an approximately 40 higher all-cause death rate than those who reported less than three hour a day,and men had an approximately 20 higher death rate.
Well,now is a fine time to get this information.But why didn't they tell me this years ago?I would have planned on taking a more active job instead of the sedentary（坐着的）job of an editor.
So what can you do if you have to work for a living at a job that requires a lot of sitting?Here are some ideas:
Take frequent breaks.It is recommended that workers vary activities,change their position,and take short breaks every 20 minutes to rest muscles and increase blood circulation.Get a standing desk.Some studies have shown that working from an upright position may be better for health.The serious fitness people can even purchase a treadmill （跑步机）desk.It only goes about one mile per hour.Have a walking meeting.If your group is kind of small,going for a walk while discussing topics is a good alternative.
1. According to the text,the study in 2010 .| A．found men reporting shorter sitting time than women |
| B．surveyed more men than women on their daily sitting time |
| C．identified fewer deaths in men than in women during the 14-year follow-up |
| D．discovered connection between sitting and physical health in men and in women |
| A．using a standing desk | B．resting one’s muscles |
| C．quitting sedentary jobs | D．taking a walk while discussing |
| A．Things being discussed. | B．People being studied. |
| C．Areas of knowledge being learned. | D．Objects being painted. |
| A．Working out leads to health risks. |
| B．Your long-sitting job could be killing you. |
| C．Long time sitting is positively associated with health. |
| D．A study on sitting time and physical health was completed. |
【推荐1】Have you ever wondered why you spend so much of your life sleeping? Just like electricity charges the battery of a mobile phone, sleep recharges your body and your mind.
Sleep is a natural and temporary state of rest, brought on by your “body clock”—a system inside your brain that helps you sleep at night and wake up in the morning. Even though you are not aware of your surroundings when you sleep, your brain remains active.
Humans could not function without sleep. According to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, sleep helps people learn by strengthening their memories. It has physical benefits, too—like maintaining a healthy weight and boosting your immune system. Too little sleep can make you tired and bad-tempered. Your brain becomes foggy, making it difficult to concentrate and make decisions. That’s why you may be told to “sleep on” a choice you’re uncertain about.
Dreams usually occur during a stage of sleep known as rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. In REM, the eyes move quickly back and forth and brain activity increases. Scientists are not sure why people dream. Some say it is a process that helps store memories; others say it helps people process emotions. Everybody dreams for around two hours a night but not everyone can remember them.
Doctors say sleep is especially important for children and teenagers because their minds and bodies are still developing. Most adults need around eight hours of sleep, but Mandy Gurney, who runs the Millpond Children’s Sleep Clinic, says that children need more. “An eight-year-old requires around 10 to 10-and-a-half hours of sleep each night, dropping to around nine hours a night in your teen years.” A good night’s sleep will get your day off to a great start. As Mahatma Gandhi, who was an Indian politician and activist, was quoted as saying, “When I wake up, I am reborn.”
1. What is a consequence of lack of sleep?| A．Keeping physically healthy. | B．Not being quick in thinking. |
| C．Keeping body function well. | D．Maintaining a healthy weight. |
| A．To get a good sleep. | B．To put off deciding. |
| C．To focus on your choice. | D．To decide in your dream. |
| A．Animals and the environment. | B．Sports and well-being. |
| C．Science and technology. | D．Arts and entertainment. |
| A．Why people need to sleep. | B．How people feel after sleep. |
| C．How much sleep is needed. | D．Sleeping improves our mood. |
【推荐2】Nearly 700,000 people have taken part in the world’s largest wildlife survey, helping to countthe numbers of wild birds in the UK. The Big Garden Bird watch is organized every year by a charity called the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). It is a chance for people to record the birds that visit their garden, balcony or local green space. The survey gives the RSPB a snap shot of how different types of birds are doing, and whether their populations are going up ordown.
This year more than 11 million birds were counted. The house sparrow was the most commonly-seen garden bird, with more than 1.7 million recorded sightings. However, despitehitting the top spot, its numbers are lower than in 2021.
There was a rise in greenfinch numbers, which gives hope that the species may be recovering from a big drop in population over the last 30 years, mainly caused by disease. The survey alsoshowed that numbers of jay, a colourful member of the crow family, have increased by 73%compared to 2021.
Almost 60,000 schoolchildren took part in the survey, which involved spending an hour innature counting different types of birds. Wood pigeons were the most commonly spotted by schools,with an average of eight seen by the schools that took part. Blackbirds came a close second.
The Big Garden Birdwatch has been running since 1979, providing valuable information onthe welfare of the UK’s wild birds for the last 43 years. The RSPB’s chief executive officer. Rebecca Speight said, “I’s been brilliant to see so many people taking part this year, taking timeout to watch and reconnect with birds.” she added. “Spring is amazing. Spring sees the return of nature’s biggest music festival, the dawn chorus. Open your back door, a window or simply stepoutside and listen.”
1. The Big Garden Birdwatch is held every year to ________.| A．make a survey on the world’s wildlife |
| B．develop family relationship in the UK |
| C．learn the present situation of UK’s wild birds |
| D．encourage people to take photos of the wild birds |
| A．It is usually spotted by schoolchildren. |
| B．Its number decreases compared to last year. |
| C．It is the most commonly-seen bird in the world. |
| D．It is B colorful member of the crow family. |
| A．To instruct how to which the birds. |
| B．To describe different kinds of birds. |
| C．To argue for the protection of wild birds. |
| D．To introduce a bird counting activity in the UK. |
| A．Objective. | B．Disapproving. | C．Positive. | D．Unclear |
【推荐3】For many people, music helps them escape reality. The musician Carter Hulsey is taking a different approach. He’s using his stage to help people face reality. He performed a selection of songs and then talked about some valuable financial (财务的) knowledge at Burkley Fine Arts Center recently. The rock artist gave a presentation (演讲) covering topics such as balancing a budget, making buying decisions, and how to spend money and save for the future.
“The message from Hulsey would be important for our students to hear,” the teacher Mrs. Dux said. “I believed listening to the band would be an interesting way to communicate that message. As I found out more information, I couldn’t pass up the chance our students to have this experience.”
Hulsey managed the budget for his band when they went on a tour years ago. But at that time, he didn’t know much about being smart with money. He shared his own experience with money management and the troubles that came with it.“When I was your age, we didn’t talk about money in school. We didn’t talk about it at home. I didn’t think about it,” Hulsey told students.“I just started heading around the country and learned all these things the hard way.” He hopes by showing students that even those who live the rock-star life need to understand financial wellness, he can help students to form good spending habits.
Terron Johnson, a teacher at Shiloh High School, is making sure students learn the lesson before they may go into debt. “It’s a real-world thing. A lot of times students will say, ‘Why do I need to know this math? How am I going to use this in real life?’ Well, you will use financial knowledge down the line,” Johnson said. If students understand how to effectively use their money to achieve their goals, they can make their dreams come true.
1. What can be learned about the musician Carter Hulsey?| A．He encourages people to enjoy life. |
| B．He shares financial knowledge with the audience. |
| C．His focus has moved from music to financial work. |
| D．His music is inspired by the life of young people. |
| A．Positive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Negative. | D．Uncertain. |
| A．To prove the success of his band. |
| B．To tell students how to find a hobby at a young age. |
| C．To explain the influence of artistic taste on students. |
| D．To show the necessity of learning money management early. |
| A．A musician becomes popular with students |
| B．Young students talk with a great musician |
| C．A concert brings more than music to students |
| D．Teachers advise students to be smarter with money |
