How traffic affects our health
When taking about traffic problems, we also need to take into consideration the pollution that we are exposed to and the health problems traffic causes. Given below is an in-depth exposition on how traffic affects our health and what can do to avoid some of these effects to live a longer and healthier life.
Aches and Pains
Driving in a slouched(无精打采的)position puts pressure on your back and neck. Back pain is often due to poor posture which can have a negative effect on your health. Your bad posture also puts stress on the joints of your elbows and knees causing pain and tiredness to these areas of your body.
When you are driving in traffic, you are constantly shifting between the accelerator and brake(in automatic transmission cars), and clutch, brake, and accelerator(in manual transmission cars). This constant shifting puts pressure and stress on your knees, causing knee-related problems and aches.
What can you do?
You can counteract these ill effects and posture problems by sitting upright and having a support for your lower back and neck. Adjust the position of your seat in such a way that you can drive at ease without any discomfort. The backrest of the seat should be straight up, and not pulled down too much.
Respiratory(呼吸的)Problems
Exposure to heavy traffic implies exposure to poisonous gases that are emitted by vehicles. It is believed that the transportation sector in the US is responsible for a quarter of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Our lungs are like sponges, soaking in everything that is breathed in by our respiratory system. The smoke coming out of the tailpipes of vehicles presents a serious threat to human health. prolonged exposure to traffic emissions can cause various respiratory diseases including lung cancer.
What can you do?
There are ways to avoid breathing in polluted air. If you can, avoid driving in parts of your town with heavy traffic congestion. However, if you find yourself driving through such areas, roll up your car windows to minimize exposure to harmful gases. If you plan to go out for a walk or run, do it in a place where you get loads of fresh air. Eat foods that are rich in antioxidants(抗氧化剂), and exercise regularly so that your immune system is strong enough to fight off potential threats to your health.
Travel and traffic are two things that are absolutely unavoidable, and that is why we should try to be as comfortable as possible, to be stress-free and illness-free!
| How traffic affects our health | ||
| Passage outline | Supporting details | |
| Lead-in | When it(71)______to traffic problems, we should pay enough attention to the pollution we are exposed to and the health problems that traffic causes | |
| Aches and Pains | Problems | (72)_______a poor position when you are driving can affect your health badly in several ways such as back, neck, even the joints of your elbows and knees. Shifting posture constantly in the (73)________of driving will put pressure and stress on your knees, causing aches and pains. |
| Solutions | You can sit upright and have a support for your lower back and neck. You can make(74)__________to the position of your seat. You can (75)_________the backrest of your seat and avoid pulling it down too much. | |
| Respiratory Problems | Problems | It is believed that the transportation sector is to(76)_______for a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions in the US. Our lungs breath in harmful elements in the smoke from vehicles, damaging our health seriously. Long exposure to dangerous pollutants from vehicles can cause various lung-related disease, lung cancer (77)_________. |
| Solutions | You should try to drive through the areas(78)_________from heavy traffic congestion. You must wind up your car windows to keep exposure to harmful pollutants to the (79)____________. You should choose a place where you get loads of fresh air to take a walk or have a run. You must attach(80)________to your diet and regular exercise to fight off potential threats to your health. | |
| Conclusion | We should try to be stress-free and illness-free while driving or traveling. | |
71. comes 72. Maintaining/Keeping 73. process/course 74. adjustments(s) 75. straighten
76. blame 77. included 78. free 79. minimum 80. importance/significance
In a society, such as the United States or Canada, which has many national, religious and cultural differences, people highly value individualism--the difference among people. Teachers place a lot of importance on the qualities that make each student special. The educational systems in these countries show these values. Students don't memorize information. Instead, they work individually and find answers themselves. There is often discussion in the classroom. At an early age, students learn to form their own ideas and opinions.
In most Asian societies, by contrast, people have the same language, history, and culture. Perhaps for this reason, the educational system in much of Asia reflects society’s belief in group goals and purposes rather than individualism. Children in China, Japan, and Korea often work together and help one another in assignments. In the classroom, the teaching methods are often very formal. The teacher lectures, and the students listen. There is not much discussion. Instead, the students recite rules of information that they have memorized.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both of these systems of education. For example, one advantage to the system in Japan is that there much more math and science than American students learn by the end of high school. They also study more hours each day and more days each year than North Americans do. The system is difficult, but it prepares students for a society that values discipline and self-control. There is, however, a disadvantage. Memorization is an important learning method in Japanese schools, yet many students say that after an exam, they forget much of the information that they have memorized.
The advantage of the educational system in North American, on the other hand, is that students learn to think for themselves. The system prepares them for a society that values creative ideas. There is, however, a disadvantage. When students graduate from high school, they haven’t memorized as many basic rules and facts as students in other countries have.
Title： 76 of Educational System between North America and Asia
| Students in the US and 77 | Students in China, Japan and Korea | |
| What do they 78 | Individualism | 79 goals and purposes |
| Different 80 of study | Working individually | Listening to the teachers |
| Forming their own ideas and opinions | Reciting rules and memorizing information | |
| A lot of discussion in the classroom | Not much discussion | |
| 81 | Learning to think for themselves | Learning much more math and science |
| Studying more hours each day and more days each year | ||
| Good for a society that values 82 | Good for a society valuing 83 and self-control | |
| Disadvantages | Students haven’t memorized many basic rules and facts before 84___ | Information is 85 easily. |
Directions: Read the following passage. Complete the diagram by using the information from the passage. Write NO MORE THAN 3 WORDS for each answer.
American public education has changed in recent years. One change is that increasing numbers of American parents and teachers are starting independent public schools called charter schools.
In 1991, there were no charter schools in the Unite States. Today, more than 2300 charter schools operate in 34 states and the District of Columbia. 575. 000 students attend these schools. The students are from 5 years of age through 18 or older.
A charter school is created by groups of parents, teachers and community members. It is similar in some ways to a traditional public school. It receives tax money to operate a number of students. The charter school must prove to local or state governments that its students are learning. These governments provide the school with the agreement, or charter that permits it to operate.
Unlike a traditional public school, however, the charter school does not have to obey most laws governing public schools. Local, state or federal governments cannot tell it what to teach.
Each school can choose its own goals and decide the ways it wants to reach those goals. Class sizes are usually smaller than in many traditional public schools. Many students and parents say teachers in charter schools can be more creative.
However, state education agencies, local education-governing committees and unions often oppose charter schools. They say these schools may receive money badly needed by traditional public schools. Experts say some charter schools are doing well while others are struggling.
Congress provided 200 million dollars for establishing charter schools in the 2006 federal budget. But, often the schools say they lack enough money for programs. Many also lack needed space, District officials say they have provided 14 former school buildings for charter education. Yet charter school supporters say officials should try harder to find more space.
Title: 71.
| 72 ________ | Independent public school | ||
| Similarities between charter schools and traditional schools | ●73 ________ to operate U number of students ●Having to prove the students are learning ●Getting 74 ________ to operate from government | ||
| 75 __________ between charter schools and traditional schools | ●Not having to obey most laws for public schools ●Being free to decide the 76 ________ ●Being free to choose the goals and decide 77 ________ them ●There usually being 78 ________ students in charter schools’classes ●Having teachers who are more creative | ||
| Charter school's problems | Opinions from education departments | These schools receiving money badly needed by 79 ________ Not all doing well | |
| Opinions from charter schools | Lacking enough money Lacking 80．_________ | ||