Just five minutes of exercise a day outdoors can improve mental health, according to a study.

   Researchers from the University of Essex, UK have found that as little as five minutes of a “green activity” such as walking, gardening, cycling or farming could help to improve mood and increase self-esteem (自信).

  Many studies have shown that outdoor exercise can reduce the risk of mental illness and improve a sense of well-being, but the new study, led by Jules Pretty and Jo Barton, was the first to determine how much time needed to be spent on green exercise for the benefits to show.

   Barton and Pretty looked at data from 1,252 people of different ages, genders (性别) and mental health status (情况) taken from 10 studies in Britain.

   They analyzed their different outdoor activities including walking, gardening, cycling, fishing, boating, horse-riding and farming in locations such as a park, garden or nature trail (路径).

   They found that the mental health changes were seen after just five minutes. With longer periods of time exercising in a green environment, the positive effects were more apparent.

   Looking at men and women of different ages, the researchers found the health changes were particularly strong in the young and the mentally ill.

   Green and blue

   A bigger effect was seen with exercise in an area that also contained water – such as a lake or river.

  “This is because historically we are drawn to water to survive and it is in our genetic (遗传的) make-up to be at one with nature,” the researchers wrote in their report.

   Pretty said those who were generally inactive, or stressed, or with mental illness would probably benefit the most from “green exercise”.

   “Employers, for example, could encourage staff in stressful workplaces to take a short walk at lunchtime in the nearest park to improve mental health.”

   He also said exercise programs outdoors could benefit youth offenders.

How is the study this article refers to different from other studies?

  A. It involved more people.

  B. It took longer to finish the research.

  C. It determined the exact amount of time needed.

  D. It was led by just two researchers.

What can we conclude from the findings of the study?

  A. Just five minutes of “green exercise” daily can help improve mental health.

  B. Gardeners and farmers do not need “green exercise”.

  C. Walking in a park with a lake will weaken the effect.

  D. “Green exercise” is not suitable for the mentally ill.

. According to Pretty, _______ would probably benefit the most from “green exercise”.

  A. stressed, inactive people B. office workers

  C. youth offenders            D. women and children

What is the main problem discussed in this article?

  A. Physical well-being.       B. Outdoor exercise.

  C. Mental illness.            D. Harmony with nature.

Kieron Williamson, a seven-year-old British boy, is being recognized as an art genius after selling 16 paintings for 18, 000 pounds in just 14 minutes. This boy has artistic skills that would be the envy of any serious painter and drawn comparisons to Pablo Picasso, a child prodigy(神童)who became one of the most recognized artists of the 20th century.

 It all began on a family holiday to Cornwall on the southwest English coast when Kieron was five. Inspired by the view, he asked his parents for his first sketch-pad (速写纸). From that moment on, he became deeply interested. While supportive, Kieron’s parents are careful not to push their son. He only paints when and what he wants.

 He has a waiting list of hundreds and requests for his works have been flooding in. His father said a sale of Kieron’s works held in November even drew a buyer from Japan. “We had people driving down that night, there were people on the door waiting to come in the morning who had been standing outside, the phones were going mad as soon as the door opened at nine o’clock and within 14 minutes all the 16 pictures had gone, ” he said.

All this talent, money and high praise could so easily go to a young boy’s head, but Kieron said his friends keep him grounded. “Some of them want to be as good as me and some of them think. . . Umn, ‘you are not too special’, ” he said.

    Kieron’s favourite painter is British artist Edward Seago and he has spent some of his earnings buying a work by his hero. The rest is being invested by his parents until he reaches 25. Kieron’s parents and his younger sister Billi-Jo don’t see him as anything other than a normal seven-year-old boy who likes to tear around the house and who’s mad about football. But for now, with so much still to learn, there’s only one thing he wants to be when he grows up. He said, “I think I’ll definitely be an artist. ”

26. According to Paragraph 1, we can know Kieron Williamson ________.

A. painted 16 paintings in only 14 minutes

B. draws as well as Picasso did

C. is one of the most recognized artists

D. has unusual ability in painting

27. What made Kieron Williamson begin to love painting?

A. His first sketch-pad.

B. His parents’ encouragement.

C. The view at the seaside.

D. His swimming near the coast.

28. In Kieron Williamson’s friends’ opinion, he ________.

A. is famous but a little proud

B. isn’t very special from other children

C. isn’t worth praising at all

D. is hard to get along with

29. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that ________.

A. Edward Seago thinks highly of Kieron’s painting

B. Kieron likes doing sports and painting instead of studying

C. Kieron’s family is very poor

D. Kieron wants to be a great painter

30. The passage mainly tells us________.

A. a seven-year-old painting genius

B. how to be a great painter

C. Kieron Williamson may become the second Picasso

D. the painting changed Kieron Williamson’s life greatly

This year’s World Food Prize will honor two leaders of hunger-fighting groups based  in the United States. The winners are David Beckmann of Bread for the World and Jo Luck of Heifer International. They will share the prize of 250,000 dollars. The World Food Prize usually goes to researchers or top policy officials. This is the first time it will recognize the work of nongovernmental groups.

Heifer International provides donated animals and training to farmers in 50 countries. Jo Luck remains president until next year. Under her leadership, the group’s budget grew from less than 10,000,000 dollars to more than 130,000,000 dollars. Jo Luck, “People pass on their gifts of not just animals but also gifts of training and leadership. We have seen cases where we have been gone 5 and 10 years and we go back and they have developed roads and built schools, and they have other communities receiving the animals and the training. You just give them those resources and that training and opportunity, and you cannot hold them back.” She told the story of a woman from a poor village in Zimbabwe. A family member helped send her to school in the United States with earnings from a donated milk goat. She received a doctoral degree. Jo Luck, “That is what a goat did. That is one example. The animal is only the catalyst(催化剂). That is the beginning of many other things that follow.”

David Beckmann became president of Bread for the World in 1991. He is an economist and a Christian clergyman(牧师). Bread for the World organizes people from religious and non-religious groups to write, call and visit members of Congress(国会). The purpose is to support measures to improve the lives of the poor. David Beckmann points to big increase in American development assistance. He said, “I think that would not have happened without the support of hundreds of thousands of people and churches that are part of Bread for the World and that keep the pressure on their members of Congress.” The prize committee also credited his efforts with helping to increase aid to needy families in the United States.

1.The World Food Prize honors ________.

A. people who fight against hunger

B. researchers or top policy officials

C. people from nongovernmental groups

D. people who have advanced human development

2.Why does Jo Luck receive the prize?

A. Under her leadership, people develop roads and build schools.

B. She has served Heifer International for almost 20 years.

C. Under her leadership, Heifer International helps farmers in 50 countries.

D. She makes the group’s budget grow to more than 130 million.

3.What has David Beckmann done to deserve the prize?

A. He has trained farmers in 50 countries.

B. He has made a great contribution to science.

C. He has led Bread for the World for more than 20 years.

D. He has aimed to support measures to improve the lives of the poor.

 

  Just five minutes of exercise a day outdoors can improve mental health, according to a study.

   Researchers from the University of Essex, UK have found that as little as five minutes of a “green activity” such as walking, gardening, cycling or farming could help to improve mood and increase self-esteem (自信).

  Many studies have shown that outdoor exercise can reduce the risk of mental illness and improve a sense of well-being, but the new study, led by Jules Pretty and Jo Barton, was the first to determine how much time needed to be spent on green exercise for the benefits to show.

   Barton and Pretty looked at data from 1,252 people of different ages, genders (性别) and mental health status (情况) taken from 10 studies in Britain.

   They analyzed their different outdoor activities including walking, gardening, cycling, fishing, boating, horse-riding and farming in locations such as a park, garden or nature trail (路径).

   They found that the mental health changes were seen after just five minutes. With longer periods of time exercising in a green environment, the positive effects were more apparent.

   Looking at men and women of different ages, the researchers found the health changes were particularly strong in the young and the mentally ill.

   Green and blue

   A bigger effect was seen with exercise in an area that also contained water – such as a lake or river.

  “This is because historically we are drawn to water to survive and it is in our genetic (遗传的) make-up to be at one with nature,” the researchers wrote in their report.

   Pretty said those who were generally inactive, or stressed, or with mental illness would probably benefit the most from “green exercise”.

   “Employers, for example, could encourage staff in stressful workplaces to take a short walk at lunchtime in the nearest park to improve mental health.”

   He also said exercise programs outdoors could benefit youth offenders.

1.How is the study this article refers to different from other studies?

  A. It involved more people.

  B. It took longer to finish the research.

  C. It determined the exact amount of time needed.

  D. It was led by just two researchers.

2. What can we conclude from the findings of the study?

  A. Just five minutes of “green exercise” daily can help improve mental health.

  B. Gardeners and farmers do not need “green exercise”.

  C. Walking in a park with a lake will weaken the effect.

  D. “Green exercise” is not suitable for the mentally ill.

3.. According to Pretty, _______ would probably benefit the most from “green exercise”.

  A. stressed, inactive people B. office workers

  C. youth offenders            D. women and children

4. What is the main problem discussed in this article?

  A. Physical well-being.       B. Outdoor exercise.

  C. Mental illness.            D. Harmony with nature.

 

 

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