Passage 3
Healthy children come in all shapes and sizes. Being physically fit is more important than Body Mass Index (BMI) when it comes to getting good grades. A new study by Dr.Robert R. Rauner and colleagues from Lincoln Public Schools and Creighton University in Nebraska found that aerobic (有氧运动的) fitness has a greater effect on academic performance than weight.
The study found that although BMI is an important indicator for overall health, it did not have a signifcant effect on test scores. Dr. Rauner and his team found that aerobically-fit children were 2.4 times more likely to pass math tests and 2.2 times more likely to pass reading tests than aerobically-unfit children. Even though the consequences of childhood obesity are well known, many school districts across the country have reduced physical education classes and recess time. This new study highlights that regular activity is an important part of closing the achievement gap. Forcing kids to sit still and cram for tests without including a regular outlet for physical activity can backfire (适得其反). According to Dr. Rauner,“Schools sacrificing physical education and physical activity time in search of more seat time for math and reading instruction could potentially be pursuing a counterproductive approach."
The study notes that both aerobic fitness and socio- economic status have a similar impact on academic performance. Among poorer children who received a free or reduced lunch at school, the odds of passing the tests were still greater than those of students who were aerobically-unfit, but not as high as those not receiving a free or reduced lunch. Because aerobic fitness is easier to improve than socio- economic status, Dr. Rauner is pushing for regular physical activity to be built into the school schedule.
Rauner says that physical education has been treated as optional for U.S. schools in the past few decades,“but I am hopeful we have passed that low point...and can reverse things.
"There is well-established research showing that physical and mental well-being are connected," says Rebecca Hashim, a clinical psychologist. “Some programs to treat depression use physical exercise, and studies with children show that exercise can raise self-esteem. If they feel better about themselves, perhaps they will do better academically. It makes sense," she said. "There is no known negative effect of exercise, so if it could improve well-being, why not put resources behind it?"
The study found that aerobically-fit children ().
A、passed the given tests effortlessly
B、were slimmer than the aerobically-unfit
C、were enthusiastic in doing the given task
D、got better scores than the aerobically-unfit
【正确答案】：D
