第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题，每题2分，满分40分）
Sitting too much is now listed with smoking and junk food as a bad habit that increases your risk of heart disease.
New Australian research shows that half-an-hour in the gym will not make up for the waist-expanding damage caused by spending the rest of the day sitting.
But the good news is that doing chores (家务杂事) in the house or gently walking around the office while on the phone might be enough to keep you fit.
The study joins the growing body of evidence suggesting too much sitting might undo the benefits of exercise.
The study measured the intensity (强度) of physical activities in 168 subjects over seven days. It found that, regardless of how much exercise they did or their total sitting time, those who took more breaks from sitting had lower risk of thick waists and lower levels of blood lipids (脂质).
“Higher levels of blood lipids have been linked to a heightened risk of heart disease,” principal researcher Genevieve Healy of the University of Queensland said. “What the study shows is that there are benefits in just getting up regularly and interrupting your sitting time.”
Researchers behind the Stand Up Australia project have written to the Rudd Government requesting $3.5 million for a two-year study into how long sitting affects health and productivity of workers. The study would also develop and test strategies for reducing sitting time on the job.
The latest study builds on work that is shifting the health promotion focus from purposeful exercise, such as running, to lower intensity activities throughout the day.
The Australian research has been backed up by US studies.
“To hold a body that weighs 77 kilograms upright takes a fair amount of energy from muscles,” said Professor Marc Hamilton from the University of Missouri. “There is a large amount of energy associated with standing every day that cannot be easily replaced by 30 to 60 minutes in the gym.”
56.The study shows that           .
A. exercising for 30 minutes in the gym is good after sitting too long
B. walking is the best physical activity after sitting too long
C. sitting too long in the office causes the waist to expand
D. having breaks from sitting is good for your health
57.What’s the aim of the Stand Up Australia project?
A. To develop and test strategies for reducing working time.
B. To study the reasons for the longer sitting time in the office.
C. To develop and test strategies for reducing sitting time at work.
D. To study the factors influencing productivity of workers.
58.The purpose of the last paragraph is to       .
A. provide a scientific basis for the benefits of standing up
B. compare the effect of standing with exercising in the gym
C. report the new research findings of Professor Marc Hamilton
D. figure out the amount of energy associated with daily standing
59.The health promotion focus used to be on        .
A. purposeful exercise                 B. running
C. lower intensity activities          D. long sitting
60.What’s the best title for the text?
A. Exercise in the Gym Is Out           B. Your Office Chair Is Killing You
C. A Cause of Heart Disease        D. Good News for Workers

科目 英语   题型 阅读理解   难度 较易