1 . Older women who walk a little over three kilometers each day might live longer than less active women of the same age, a new study suggests.
Many Americans hoping to stay healthy set a daily goal of 10,000 steps, or about eight kilometers. They often have this goal because they are wearing electronic devices which set that target, note researchers in the United States. Their findings appeared recently in the publication JAMA Internal Medicine.
But it is not clear how much intensity (强度) or speed matter when counting the health benefits of every step, the researchers write. They add that 10,000 steps per day might not be the right goal for everyone.
For the study, researchers observed 17,000 women, all in their early 70s. They asked the women to wear accelerometers for at least four days. Accelerometers are small devices that measure the number of steps and the intensity of movement. The researchers followed up with the women much later, around 4 years later. Since the beginning of the study, 504 women had died. Compared to women who took no more than 2,718 steps daily, the women who took at least 4,363 steps per day were 41 percent less likely to die.
“Even a modest amount of steps is associated with lower death rates.” said I-Min Lee, the lead writer of a report on the study. “The rate of stepping did not matter in these older women: it was the number of steps that mattered.”
The study had a few limitations. For example, the researchers only measured women’s movements once, at the start of the study period. It is possible that the women’s behaviors changed over time. Still, the results are “good news for older adults who may have difficulty walking at faster paces.” said Keith Diaz, a researcher at Columbia University. He was not involved in the study.
“Any walking is better than nothing,” Diaz said by email. “With even small amounts of walking, your risk of death will be sharply reduced.” For those who have difficulty walking, other research shows that any form of aerobic activity provides health benefits, he added. “Swimming, bicycling or any form of activity that is continuous in nature will provide health benefits.”
1. How is paragraph 4 mainly developed?| A．By giving examples. | B．By analyzing causes. |
| C．By listing figures. | D．By explaining reasons. |
| A．People who walk fast will get more health benefits. |
| B．People with walking difficulty can not benefit from activities. |
| C．If people have a habit of walking, the risk of death will be reduced. |
| D．Activities such as swimming and bicycling are not as beneficial as walking. |
| A．People who walk about 10,000 steps can live longer. |
| B．10,000 steps per day might be the right goal for people. |
| C．The more steps one walks per day, the longer life he may live. |
| D．The number of steps is important for a long life among older women. |
| A．A medical journal. | B．A news report. |
| C．A magazine about fashion. | D．A traveler brochure. |
2 . Boston Marathon runners in recent years may have seen a smiling furry face around the two-mile mark. It’s Spencer, the therapy (治疗) dog, who became known as an unofficial mascot (吉祥物) for the marathon, He’s shown up on the sidelines every year since 2015—rain or shine.
One particularly rainy marathon catapulted Spencer’s fame, In 2018, his owner, Richard Powers, decided to put a bright yellow rain coat on the dog, making him stand out even more than he usually does. Photos of Spencer, who holds a “Boston Strong” flag in his mouth, went viral, and he became an inspiration to runners and onlookers alike, During the marathon, some runners stop in their tracks to take selfies with the dog-the line sometimes growing to 20 runners long.
But in 2020, Spencer was diagnosed with a tumor (肿瘤). His owner was worried, but Spencer is a fighter. He got the care he needed and survived. In 2021, he was back on the course and it was really kind of a miracle and that really hit home to a lot of people.
Unfortunately, Spencer caught another tumor—this one cancerous—and Spencer began chemotherapy. Powers didn’t think his beloved dog would make it out to the marathon of 2022. “Miraculously, he’s still here with us and an even bigger miracle, he was strong enough to go to the marathon,” he said.
After recovering, Spencer was back to work—not just at the marathon—but as a therapy dog, alongside his companion, Penny, who is also a golden therapy dog. Powers takes his two therapy dogs around to schools, hospitals and senior living centers.
“He’s a gift to us and we’re very lucky to have him. He’s too good so we want to share him with as many people as we possibly can. He does make a difference,” Powers said.
1. Why is Spencer referred to as a mascot for Boston Marathon?| A．He has a smiling furry face. | B．He appears at the event annually. |
| C．He is not recognized officially. | D．He works as a therapy dog for runners. |
| A．Motivation. | B．Satisfaction. | C．Fantasy. | D．Barrier. |
| A．A failure in the marathon. | B．Caring for his owner. | C．Fighting against a disease. | D．Going viral. |
| A．Confident, | B．Supportive. | C．Objective. | D．Negative. |
3 . Every new exercise routine comes a new risk of injury, whether it’s injuring a muscle from lifting or developing knee pain from running. Some people are unwilling to exercise for fear of injury.
Both of these injuries tend to happen because runners did something out of the ordinary compared to what they were trained to do. Take rest days, build up your mileage (里程) gradually and combine regular strength training.
As with other injuries, the risk increases toward the end of a workout. It’s very essential to listen to your body.
Exercise can put someone at risk of injury.
| A．These fears are based on facts. |
| B．Turn to a mixture of sports doctors. |
| C．This type of exercise can increase the risk of injury. |
| D．Therefore, the risk of hurting yourself will decrease. |
| E．But not exercising puts someone at risk of poor health. |
| F．Adjust in time, especially when tiredness starts to affect your form. |
| G．Runners may come across two main sorts of injuries related to overuse. |
4 . The Most Popular Sports In The World
Sports are popular for a number of reasons, varying from keeping healthy to recreational purposes. Sports are even more popular with people who do not necessarily participate in them, but love being spectators. Here is a brief discussion of the most popular sports in the world.
Football (Soccer)—4 Billion Fans
Football, better known as soccer in the US and Canada, is the most popular sport in the world. The origins of modern football are in England in the 19th century, though history points to people playing similar games as far back as 2,000 years ago in China. It is played all over the world, but is particularly popular in Europe, Central and South America, and Africa.
Cricket—2.5 Billion Fans
The game is most popular in the UK and some former British colonies, especially India, Pakistan and Australia. Like baseball, it involves two teams, a bat, a large field, and scoring runs. There are obvious differences, however, including a long rectangular pitch at the center of a cricket field.
Hockey—2 Billion Fans
Hockey takes place both on ice and in a field. Field hockey is mainly played in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, while ice hockey is particularly popular in Canada, the US, and Northern Europe. The game involves two teams trying to put a ball into the opposing team's net with a hockey stick. Unlike ice hockey, field hockey usually does not involve body contact in the form of checking.
Tennis —1 Billion Fans
In tennis, players on both sides of a lengthened net try to hit a ball with a racket so that it either goes past their opponents or bounces on their opponents' side twice to score points. Pro tennis players, like Roger Federer and Serena Williams, are now household names around the world.
1. Of the following sports, which has the least followers?| A．Soccer. | B．Cricket. | C．Hockey. | D．Tennis. |
| A．In China. | B．In Africa. |
| C．In England. | D．In North America. |
| A．They involve a field and a stick. | B．They involve two teams. |
| C．They are most popular in the UK. | D．They are played on ice and in a field. |
