It’s not hard to be poetic about the broad and deep benefits of spending time in natural spaces,from amazing national parks to the simple loveliness of a walk around a city park or tree-lined neighborhood street, and some time working in the dirt of your own garden.
A new study from researchers at Clemson University has found another benefit to simply putting your body in a natural space: it can lower the amount of money you spend on health care.
“The mechanisms linking nature and health are very diverse,” said Matthew H. E. M. Browning, the principal investigator on the study, "but the benefit is believed to be in part because being in green space can decrease stress, promote healthy behaviors and enable you to breathe fresh air.”
Browning and his team used satellite data to investigate how much green space was within 250,500 and 1,000 meters(820,1,640,and 3,280 feet) of five million northern California residents who were insured by Kaiser Permanente. They then determined the costs the insurance company paid out to those same members over a two-year period. They took into account age,gender,race and a number of neighborhood characteristics including population density and education levels.
Even with all these factors included into their analysis, the researchers found that those who lived near the most green space had an average of $374 less per year in health care expenses compared to those who lived farther from natural spaces.
The researchers hope their findings will support public policies that prioritize(优先考虑) natural elements in residential areas. For you, maybe this learning will inspire you to plant a tree or a potted flower today-or create a beautiful garden to enjoy, with a view of some health-giving, green goodness.
12. What does the author intend to do in paragraph 1?
A.Lead in the topic of the text. | B.Summarize a recent study result. |
C.Provide some advice for readers. | D.Raise readers’ interest in exercise. |
13. What does Matthew H.E.M.Browning try to explain in paragraph 3?
A.Why spending time in nature benefits health. |
B.Nature and health can affect each other deeply. |
C.How residential green space improves air quality. |
D.The benefit of walking in a natural space is obvious. |
14. What do the researchers expect of their findings?
A.They can encourage further relevant research. |
B.They can delight current insurance companies. |
C.They can boost the establishment of green space. |
D.They can remind us to purchase more insurance. |
15. What can be the most suitable title for the text?
A.Getting Close to Nature Keeps Us Happy |
B.It’s Unnecessary to Invest Much in Health |
C.It’s Not Hard to Keep Fit for City Residents |
D.Being in Nature Reduces Health Care Cost |