SSS 2010-07-09
时间：2019-01-08 作者：英语课 分类：Scientific American(七)月
City planners and citizens alike frequently push for better public transportation. They argue that it can lessen 1 traffic and reduce emissions 2 from cars. Now there’s a new reason to be gung-ho about public transit 3—it helps make people skinnier. That’s according to a study published in the August issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Researchers surveyed communities in Charlotte, North Carolina. One survey was done before the city had finished building a new light rail system, and the second was done from 12 to 18 months after the rail’s completion. They asked about the residents’ level of physical activity, body mass and use of public transportation before and after the light rail.
Turns out that people who started using light rail to commute 4 had a significant average weight loss over that time—equivalent to about six and a half pounds for a five-foot-five person. The users were also 81 percent less likely to become obese 5 over the time scale surveyed.
The researchers say that an environment based on mass transit influences health, because rail users get exercise walking to and from stops. And since illness is costly 6, here’s another way public transit saves money.
Thanks for the minute for Scientific American’s 60-Second Science. I’m Cynthia Graber
- Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
- They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。
- Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
- Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。
- His luggage was lost in transit.他的行李在运送中丢失。
- The canal can transit a total of 50 ships daily.这条运河每天能通过50条船。
- I spend much less time on my commute to work now.我现在工作的往返时间要节省好多。
- Most office workers commute from the suburbs.很多公司的职员都是从郊外来上班的。
- The old man is really obese,it can't be healthy.那位老人确实过于肥胖了，不能算是健康。
- Being obese and lazy is dangerous to health.又胖又懒危害健康。