高中英语阅读理解及其翻译

In Florida, a group of parents known as “the break moms” has been fighting to pass a law guaranteeing the state’s elementary-school students at least 20 minutes of daily free play.

在佛罗里达州，一群被称为“the break moms”的父母一直在努力通过一项法律，该法律保证该州的小学生每天至少有20分钟的免费玩耍时间。

In a survey of school-district administrators, roughly a third said their districts had reduced outdoor play in the early 2000s. Disadvantaged kids have been the most likely to be shortchanged（克扣）. According to a 2003 study, just 56 percent of children living at or below the poverty line had break, compared with 83 percent of those above the poverty line; a similar disparity（差异） existed between black children and their white peers.

在对学区管理人员的一项调查中，大约三分之一的人表示他们的地区在21世纪初减少了户外游戏。 弱势儿童最容易被克扣（游戏）。 根据2003年的一项研究，只有56％生活在贫困线以下的儿童得到休息，而贫困线以上儿童的这一比例为83％; 黑人孩子和白人同伴之间存在类似的差异。

The benefits of recess might seem obvious—time to run around helps kids stay fit. But a large body of research suggests that it also promotes cognition（认知）. Many studies have found that regular exercise improves mental function and academic

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performance. And an analysis of studies that focused specifically on break found positive associations between physical activity and the ability to concentrate in class.

休息的好处似乎是显而易见的----跑来跑去帮助孩子保持健康。 但是大量的研究表明它也促进了孩子的认知（能力）。 许多研究发现，定期运动可以改善心理功能和学习成绩。对专门针对休息的研究进行的分析发现，体育活动与集中课堂的能力之间存在正相关关系。

In one series of experiments, researchers controlled break start times: Some days children were let out at 10 a.m., and other days at 10:30. The kids’ attentiveness decreased when they had to wait longer for break, and refreshed after they played. And when fourth-graders in a break-free school were given a weekly break, another group of researchers found that they had an easier time staying on task and were much less restless. These experimental findings are supported by an analysis of 10,000 questionnaires filled out by third-grade teachers: Even a single 15-minute daily break was connected with more-positive ratings of classroom behavior.

在一系列实验中，研究人员控制了休息开始时间：有些日子儿童在上午10点得到放风，其他日子在10点30分放风。 当孩子们不得不等待更长时间休息时，他们的注意力会下降，并且在他们玩耍后精神会焕然一新。 另一组研究人员发现，在一个没有休息学校的四年级学生得到一周休息的时候，他们可以更轻松地完成任务并且不那么焦躁不安。这些实验结果得到了10,000份调查问卷的的支持（这些问卷是由三年级教师填写的）：即使是15分钟的休息也与课堂行为的积极评价有一定联系。

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Perhaps most important, break allows children to design their own games, to test their abilities, to role-play, and to settle their own conflicts—activities that are key to developing social skills and navigating complicated situations. Initial results from an ongoing study in Texas suggest that elementary-school children who are given four 15-minute breaks a day are significantly more sympathetic toward their peers than are kids who don’t get break.

也许最重要的是，休息可以让孩子们设计自己的游戏、测试他们的能力、角色扮演，以及解决他们自己的冲突活动（这些活动对于培养社交技能和驾驭复杂情况至关重要）。德克萨斯州正在进行的一项研究的初步结果表明，每天进行四次15分钟休息的小学生对同龄人的同情程度要高于没有休息的孩子。

1. What causes “the break moms” to start a fight?

A. Pupils’ lack of outdoor play. B. Poor school management.

C. Absence of education laws. D. Inequality among students.

2. In one series of experiments, researchers find that_____.

A. children behave better when let out earlier

B. kids waiting longer are unable to stay focused again

C. third-graders have difficulty in focusing on task

D. fourth-graders are more concentrated without a break

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