Learning to walk

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题目与答案

1. 1 Brantingham and Beekman were the first researchers to investigate the relationship between health problems and flat floors.
   • TRUE
   • FALSE
   • NOT GIVEN

   答案：TRUE

   原文定位：Research into the idea that flat floors could be detrimental to our health was pioneered back in the late 1960s in Long Beach, California. Podiatrist Charles Brantingham and physiologist Bruce Beekman

   解析：陈述内容：布兰廷厄姆和贝克曼是首批研究健康问题与平坦地面之间关联的研究者。 核心词汇同义对应 题目中investigate the relationship between health problems and flat floors（研究健康问题与平坦地面的关联），与原文中Research into the idea that flat floors could be detrimental to our health（研究平坦地面可能对健康有害这一观点）、reckoned they might be linked to the uniformity of the surfaces（认为这些健康问题可能与站立和行走的平坦地面相关）为完全的语义对应，health problems对应原文的高血压、静脉曲张等病症，flat floors对应the uniformity of the surfaces（平整的地面）。 “首个研究” 的关键信息匹配 原文中pioneered为核心关键词，意为 “开创；率先开展”，直接表明这项关于平坦地面与健康关联的研究是由后文提到的Charles Brantingham 和 Bruce Beekman率先开展的，与题目中the first researchers（首批研究者）的表述精准契合。

2. 10 They invented a mat which they tried out on factory workers. Whenever the workers walked on it, the different levels of _____ in the mat would encourage greater muscle action.

   答案：resistance

   原文定位：a variable terrain floor - spongy mats with varying degrees of resistance across the surface

   解析：题干句 “Whenever the workers walked on it, the different levels of 10______ in the mat would encourage greater muscle action”（工人们在垫子上行走时，垫子上不同层级的______会带动更多的肌肉活动），与原文中对实验用垫子的描述spongy mats with varying degrees of resistance across the surface（表面有不同程度阻力的海绵垫）直接对应。 其中题干的different levels of（不同层级的）与原文的varying degrees of（不同程度的）是同义替换，均用于修饰垫子的核心特征，且该特征正是让实验者脚部产生轻微晃动、激活腿部肌肉的原因，与题干 “encourage greater muscle action” 的因果逻辑一致。 提取核心词汇并符合题目要求 原文中被 “varying degrees of” 修饰的核心名词是resistance（阻力），该词为单个单词，完全符合 “仅一个单词” 的字数限制，是唯一正确答案。

3. 11 In turn, this lessened the effect of _____ on the cardiovascular system.

   答案：stress

   原文定位：reducing the stress on the heart and circulation

   解析：题干句 “In turn, this lessened the effect of 11______ on the cardiovascular system”（反过来，这减少了______对心血管系统的影响），与原文中reducing the stress on the heart and circulation（减少对心脏和血液循环的______）为直接的同义改写，且因果逻辑完全一致： 题干中 “this” 指代前文 “greater muscle action（更多的肌肉活动）”，与原文中 “The muscle action（肌肉活动）” 对应； 题干 “lessened the effect of”（减少…… 的影响）与原文 “reducing”（减少）对应； 题干 “cardiovascular system（心血管系统）” 与原文 “the heart and circulation（心脏和血液循环）” 为同一概念的专业表述与通俗表述的对应。 提取核心词汇并符合题目要求 原文中被 “reducing” 修饰、作用于心血管系统的核心名词是stress（压力），该词为单个单词，完全符合 “仅一个单词” 的字数限制，是唯一正确答案。

4. 12 Similar research was undertaken by John Fisher and colleagues in Oregon. As a result of their findings, they decided to market cobblestone mats to the elderly as a means of dealing with _____ .

   答案：hypertension

   原文定位：a useful nonpharmacological approach for preventing or controlling hypertension of older adults

   解析：题干句 “As a result of their findings, they decided to market cobblestone mats to the elderly as a means of dealing with 12______”（基于研究发现，他们决定向老年人推广鹅卵石垫，将其作为应对______的方法），与原文中 Fisher 团队的研究结论直接对应： 题干the elderly（老年人）对应原文older adults； 题干dealing with（应对、解决）对应原文preventing or controlling（预防或控制）； 研究核心结果是鹅卵石垫能降低老年人血压，而研究者将其定义为应对该病症的有效方法，二者因果逻辑一致。 核心词汇的同义替换与提取 原文中明确提及该垫是用于预防 / 控制老年人的hypertension（高血压），这一词汇与前文的blood pressure（血压）为同一健康问题的专业术语与通俗表述对应；且题干要求仅一个单词，hypertension为单个名词，完全符合要求，是唯一正确答案。

5. 13 Reflexologists claim that by manipulating specific parts of the feet, the performance of certain _____ will also improve.

   答案：particular

   原文定位：They believe that pressure applied to particular spots on the foot connects directly to particular organs of the body and somehow enhances their function

   解析：题干句 “Reflexologists claim that by manipulating specific parts of the feet, the performance of certain 13______ will also improve”（反射疗法学家称，通过按压脚部特定部位，某些______的机能会得到提升），与原文反射疗法学家的观点是直接同义改写： 题干manipulating specific parts of the feet（按压脚部特定部位）对应原文pressure applied to particular spots on the foot（对脚部特定位置施加压力）； 题干the performance... will also improve（…… 的机能会提升）对应原文enhances their function（提升其功能），performance和function为机能、功能的同义替换； 题干certain（某些）对应原文particular（特定的），修饰对象完全一致。

6. 14 Finally, Benno Nigg at Calgary University believes that specially shaped _____ on shoes should give health benefits.

   答案：soles

   原文定位：Known as the Masai Barefoot Technology, the shoes have rounded soles that cause you to rock slightly when you stand still

   解析：题干句 “Finally, Benno Nigg at Calgary University believes that specially shaped 14______ on shoes should give health benefits”（最后，卡尔加里大学的本诺・尼格认为，鞋子上特殊形状的______能带来健康益处），与原文中 Benno Nigg 提及的特制鞋子设计直接对应： 题干核心主体Benno Nigg/specially shaped... on shoes/give health benefits，分别对应原文的 Benno Nigg 对这款鞋的评价、鞋子的核心设计部位、设计带来的肌肉锻炼等健康效果，逻辑完全一致； 题干specially shaped（特殊形状的）对应原文rounded（圆形的、弧形的），均是对鞋子该部位的形状描述。 提取核心词汇并符合题目要求 原文中明确指出这款健康鞋的核心设计是rounded soles（弧形的鞋底），被形状修饰的核心名词是soles（鞋底），该词为单个单词，完全符合 “仅一个单词” 的字数限制，是唯一正确答案。

7. 2 The subjects in Fisher's control group experienced a decline in their physical condition.
   • TRUE
   • FALSE
   • NOT GIVEN

   答案：FALSE

   原文定位：People in a control group who walked on ordinary floors also improved but not as dramatically

   解析：陈述内容：费希尔研究中对照组的实验对象身体状况出现了下降。 涉及的阅读原文（对应 Section D 段落） After 16 weeks, these people showed marked improvements in mobility, and even a significant reduction in blood pressure. People in a control group who walked on ordinary floors also improved but not as dramatically. 逐点分析判断依据 定位实验对照组的核心信息 原文明确提及 Fisher 的实验分为两组：实验组（在鹅卵石垫上行走的人）和对照组（在普通地面行走的人），并单独描述了对照组的身体状况变化。 原文表述与题目陈述直接矛盾 题干称对照组 “身体状况下降（experienced a decline）”，但原文明确说明对照组also improved（也有改善），只是改善效果not as dramatically（不如实验组显著）。“有改善” 与 “下降” 是完全相反的两种状态，属于直接的信息矛盾，这是判定 FALSE 的核心依据。

8. 3 The manufacturers are increasing the number of cobblestone mats they are making.
   • TRUE
   • FALSE
   • NOT GIVEN

   答案：TRUE

   原文定位：The mats are now available for purchase and production is being scaled up”，其中 “production is being scaled up

   解析：陈述内容：制造商正在增加鹅卵石垫的产量。 涉及的阅读原文（对应 Section D 段落） The mats are now available for purchase and production is being scaled up. Even so, demand could exceed supply if this foot-stimulating activity really is a 'useful nonpharmacological approach for preventing or controlling hypertension of older adults, as the researchers believe. 逐点分析匹配依据 核心词汇同义对应 题目中increasing the number of... they are making（增加…… 的生产数量），与原文中的production is being scaled up为直接的同义替换： scaled up在生产、商业语境中表示 “扩大（规模）、增加产量”； production对应题目中的 “the number of... they are making”（生产数量），核心均为鹅卵石垫的生产规模调整。 主体与对象匹配 原文明确指向研究中的the mats（即前文的 cobblestone mats，鹅卵石垫），与题目中的 “cobblestone mats” 完全一致；“production is being scaled up” 的实施主体即为该产品的制造商，与题干主语 “The manufacturers” 对应。

9. 4 Fisher based his ideas on what he saw during an overseas trip.
   • TRUE
   • FALSE
   • NOT GIVEN

   答案：TRUE

   原文定位：Fisher admits he got the concept from regular visits to the country

   解析：陈述内容：费希尔的研究想法源于他在一次海外旅行中的所见所闻。 涉及的阅读原文（对应 Section D 段落） Fisher admits he got the concept from regular visits to the country. Here, city dwellers take daily walks along cobbled paths for five or ten minutes, perhaps several times a day, to improve their health. 逐点分析匹配依据 核心语义与逻辑精准对应 题干中based his ideas on what he saw during an overseas trip（想法源于海外旅行的所见），与原文got the concept from regular visits to the country（从多次到访这个国家的经历中获得该想法）为同义改写，且结合上下文可明确 “the country” 为中国（前文提及 “在中国，水疗中心、公寓楼甚至工厂都将鹅卵石路作为健康设施推广”），对于美国研究者 Fisher 而言，中国属于海外国家，“regular visits to the country” 即对应 “overseas trip”。 细节信息匹配 原文明确 Fisher 从中国的城市居民沿鹅卵石路散步养生这一现象中获得灵感，这正是他 “during an overseas trip” 看到的具体内容，与题干 “what he saw” 完全对应；“got the concept” 则与题干 “based his ideas on”（想法基于……）是核心动作的同义替换。

10. 5 The Masai Barefoot Technology shoes are made to fit people of all ages.
    • TRUE
    • FALSE
    • NOT GIVEN

    答案：NOT GIVEN

    解析：陈述内容：马赛赤足科技鞋的设计适合所有年龄段的人群。 逐点分析判断依据 定位鞋子的全部相关信息 原文仅在 E、F 段提及马赛赤足科技鞋，核心描述为：市场上的新款鞋，能将平坦硬面模拟成不平整地面；鞋底为弧形，站立时会轻微晃动；能锻炼脚踝负责平衡的小肌肉，减少关节受力、降低身体系统负担，同时引用了专家对其效果的评价。 无任何与 “适用年龄段” 相关的信息 原文从头到尾均未提及该款鞋子的适用人群、年龄段限制 / 覆盖，既没有说 “适合所有年龄段”，也没有说 “仅适合某一年龄段（如老年人、年轻人）”，属于原文未提及的信息，这是判定 NOT GIVEN 的核心依据。

11. Questions 6-8

    Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

    Write the correct letter in boxes 6-8 on your answer sheet.

    6 The writer suggests that Brantingham and Beekman's findings were
    • A ignored by big companies.
    • B doubted by other researchers.
    • C applicable to a narrow range of people. 
    • D surprising to them.

    答案：A ignored by big companies.

    原文定位：decades later, the flooring of the world's largest workplaces remains relentlessly smooth

    解析：题干：作者暗示布兰廷厄姆和贝克曼的研究发现______ 涉及的阅读原文（对应 Section C 段落） As the researchers hoped, this simple intervention made a huge difference, within a few weeks. [...] Yet decades later, the flooring of the world's largest workplaces remains relentlessly smooth. Earlier this year, however, the idea was revived when other researchers in the US announced findings from a similar experiment with people over 60. 逐点分析选项匹配与排除 正确选项 A：ignored by big companies（被大型企业忽视） 两位研究者的核心研究结论是非平坦地面能改善健康、缓解心血管压力，且实验在工厂工人身上取得了显著效果，其研究成果本可应用于职场地面改造。 原文中Yet decades later, the flooring of the world's largest workplaces remains relentlessly smooth是关键线索：yet表转折，说明尽管研究有明确积极效果，但数十年后，全球大型工作场所的地面仍始终是平整的，侧面表明大型企业并未采纳该研究发现，本质上是忽视了这一成果，与选项 A 完全契合。

12. 7 What claim is made by the designers of the cobblestone mats"?
    • They need to be used continuously in order to have a lasting effect.
    • They would be as beneficial to younger people as to older people.
    • They could be an effective alternative to medical intervention.
    • Their effects may vary depending on individual users.

    答案：They could be an effective alternative to medical intervention.

    原文定位：a useful nonpharmacological approach for preventing or controlling hypertension of older adults

    解析：题干：鹅卵石垫的设计者提出了什么主张？ 涉及的阅读原文（对应 Section D 段落） Even so, demand could exceed supply if this foot-stimulating activity really is a 'useful nonpharmacological approach for preventing or controlling hypertension of older adults, as the researchers believe. 逐点分析选项匹配与排除 正确选项 C：They could be an effective alternative to medical intervention.（它们可以成为医疗干预的有效替代方案。） 原文中研究者（鹅卵石垫设计者）的核心主张是：该产品是应对老年人高血压的useful nonpharmacological approach（有用的非药物疗法）。 核心词汇同义对应：nonpharmacological approach（非药物疗法） 对应选项中的an effective alternative to medical intervention（医疗干预的有效替代方案），“医疗干预” 在高血压治疗语境中主要指药物治疗，“非药物疗法” 本质就是药物医疗手段的替代方式，且原文强调该方式是useful（有用的），与选项中effective（有效的） 精准契合。

13. 8 Which of the following points does the writer make in the final paragraph?
    • A People should question new theories that scientists put forward.
    • B High prices do not necessarily equate to a quality product.
    • C People are setting up home in the country for health reasons.
    • D The natural environment is fast disappearing.

    答案：D The natural environment is fast disappearing.

    原文定位：the countryside is not as accessible as it once was and is in fact a dwindling resource. Our concrete cities are growing at a terrifying rate

    解析：题干：作者在最后一段提出了以下哪个观点？ 逐点分析选项匹配与排除 正确选项 D：The natural environment is fast disappearing.（自然环境正在迅速消失。） 原文中the countryside is not as accessible as it once was and is in fact a dwindling resource是核心线索：countryside（乡村） 是自然环境的核心代表，dwindling resource意为 “不断减少的资源”，结合后文Our concrete cities are growing at a terrifying rate（钢筋水泥的城市正以惊人的速度扩张），可知城市的快速扩张直接导致乡村（自然环境）不断缩减、难以接近，这与选项 “自然环境正在迅速消失” 的表述精准契合，是作者在本段明确提出的观点。 作者通过 “乡村是更简单的健康解决方案，但却在不断减少” 的转折，突出了这一观点，也是本段的核心表达之一。

14. 9 In their research, Brantingham and Beekman looked at the complex physical _____ of the foot and noted that the surfaces of modem environments restrict its movement.

    答案：anatomy

    原文定位：They understood that the anatomy of the foot parallels that of the human hand

    解析：题干句 “In their research, Brantingham and Beekman looked at the complex physical 9______ of the foot and noted that the surfaces of modern environments restrict its movement”（在研究中，布兰廷厄姆和贝克曼研究了脚部复杂的身体______，并指出现代环境的平坦地面限制了它的活动），与原文中二人的研究发现直接对应： 题干looked at the complex physical... of the foot（研究脚部复杂的身体……），对应原文中对脚部的骨骼、关节、肌肉等具体生理结构的梳理，是对脚部身体构造的研究； 题干中 “restrict its movement（限制其活动）” 也与原文 “waste all this potential flexibility（浪费了这些潜在的灵活性）” 形成因果呼应，均围绕脚部生理结构的活动特性展开。 核心词汇的提取与匹配 原文中直接用anatomy（解剖结构；身体构造）指代脚部由骨骼、关节、肌肉等组成的整体生理结构，该词是描述身体器官 / 部位整体构造的核心名词，且与题干physical（身体的）搭配完全契合