A study has found that a lifetime of regular exercise and activity can slow down the aging process and a life of movement and exercise may help us live longer and healthier.
For their study, the researchers looked at two groups. The first group was made up of 125 non-professional cyclists between the ages of 55 and 79. This group included 84 healthy men and 41 healthy women. We will call this group the “cyclists”.
Researchers then found 130 people to make up a second group. Within this group, 75 people were aged from 57 to 80. The other 55 were between the ages of 20 to 36. The people in this group were also healthy, but they didn’t exercise regularly. We will call this group the "non-exercisers". Smokers, heavy drinkers of alcohol (酒) and people with other health problems were not included in the study.
Then, researchers gave both groups a series of tests. They tested their muscle mass (肌肉质量) , muscular strength, percentages of body fat and the strength of their immune systems (免疫系统). Then the researchers compared the results of the two groups.
Results showed that the cyclists didn’t experience body changes usually regarded as a normal aging process. For example, they didn’t lose muscle mass or muscular strength. Also, their body fat didn’t increase with age. The researchers also found something they had not expected. The study showed that the immune systems of the cyclists didn’t age either. The researchers advise us all to find an exercise that we like in our lives.
【小题1】How did the researchers carry out the study?| A．By listing lots of example. |
| B．By reasoning the possible results. |
| C．By discussing people’s different habits. |
| D．By comparing two groups of subjects (调查对象). |
| A．Smokers could also join in the study. |
| B．People taking part in the study were all healthy. |
| C．The “cyclists” group included 130 professional cyclists. |
| D．The “non-exercisers” group were between the ages of 57 and 80. |
| A．The non-exercisers put on weight easily. |
| B．The cyclists had a normal aging process. |
| C．The cyclists’ immune systems changed little. |
| D．The non-exercisers’ immune systems were easy to break down. |
| A．Healthy People Need More Exercise |
| B．Take an Exercise — the More, the Better |
| C．A Lifetime of Exercise Slows Down the Aging Process |
| D．Cycling Is the Best Way to Slow Down the Aging Process |
