VOA慢速英语2015 研究表明孩子们学习环境需要更多绿色空间

<span² style="font-size: larger;">Growing Minds Need Greener Spaces 研究表明孩子们学习环境需要更多绿色空间

Welcome to the Health & Lifestyle report from VOA Learning English.

It is not a secret that spending time outdoors is good for our health. The more we learn about the benefits of being in nature, the more sense it makes to get outside.

This could be especially important for school children.

New research suggests that kids may learn better when they are surrounded by greener spaces. Green spaces are spaces filled with vegetation¹ – like trees, flowers and other plants.

But these days, outdoor time is competing for a child’s attention with indoor activities. Children may find it difficult to resist computers, television and electronic games.

So, in many parts of the world children are spending less and less time outdoors. All this indoor activity can hurt a child’s physical and mental health.

But can it affect how well they do in school? Researchers in Barcelona, Spain and in the United States are trying to answer that question.

The study of the enviroment on health

Doctor Payam Dadvand works at the Centre for Research and Environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona. He and his team study how the environment affects health. The researchers wrote that, “Approximately one half of the world population lives in cities, and it is projected that by 2030, three of every five persons will live in urban areas worldwide.”

Dr. Dadvand and his team studied more than 2,600 children from 36 schools in the city. The kids were seven to 10 years old. The researchers used information from satellites to learn how much green space surrounded each school.

Over one year, the children took computerized tests four times. The tests measured memory and attention span.

The researchers then created mathematical models to compare the amount of green spaces around the schools with the test scores.

The researchers found that the children with higher contact with green space had better ability to memorize. They were also more attentive³. The team believes that good air quality is the main reason for the results. More trees means less air pollution.

Scientist Jordi Sunyer also worked on the study. Mr. Sunyer says that schools surrounded by greenery had less air pollution in the classrooms. So, it seems it’s not just outdoor time that is good for children but outdoor time surrounded by clean air.

"What these data are telling us is that a way to manage air pollution in the cities is increasing vegetation in the schools."

However, some experts question the use of satellite images to determine the amount of green space.

Satellite images would not show if the green spaces are actually useable, such as playgrounds and parks. Also, satellite images would not show if children actually come into contact with the green spaces.

Other experts say this study does not consider other factors that may play a part in a child’s learning environment.

The Massachusetts study

But the findings of the Barcelona study seem to support a six-year study on elementary schools in the U.S. state of Massachusetts.

Researchers there studied students at 905 schools from 2006 to 2012. They found that students in schools that had more green spaces scored higher on standardized⁴ testing in English and math.

The researchers in the Massachusetts study used more factors than the Barcelona study -- factors such as race, gender⁵, English as a second language, parent income, student-teacher ratio and school attendance⁶.

The question of how green spaces affect learning is a new one.

Lisa Freund is an expert in child psychology⁷ for the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. She says more studies are needed to learn why vegetation in and around schools improves mental ability.

"There's something about being out in nature that can be very supportive of the human. But do we need the actual greenery around us? Do we just need pictures? We don't know."

The Barcelona researchers published their study in the journal Proceedings⁸ of National Academy of Sciences. The Massachusetts researchers are from several universities in the United States and Taiwan. Their research can be found in PLOS ONE.

And that’s the Health & Lifestyle report from VOA Learning English.

Words in This Story

vegetation – n. plants in general : plants that cover a particular area

environmental epidemiology – a field of science concerned with the discovery of how environmental exposures add to or protect against injuries, sicknesses, developmental conditions, disabilities, and death

data – n. facts and statistics⁹ collected together for reference¹⁰ or analysis

attention span – n. the length of time during which someone is able to think about or remain interested in something

factor – n. something that helps produce or influence a result : one of the things that cause something to happen

1 vegetation   

n.植物，草木，（植物）生长

参考例句：

• As we drove towards the desert,the vegetation became sparse.我们驱车前往沙漠，沿途的草木渐渐变得稀疏。
• The earth bore a thick green mantle of vegetation.大地覆盖着一层厚厚的绿色植物。

2 span   

n.跨度，跨距，范围；vt.持续，贯穿，跨越

参考例句：

• The time span of these documents from 1954 to 2009.这些文件的时间跨度为1954年至2009年。
• The measurement span is determined by the higher and lower range values.测量量程由上限值和下限值决定。

3 attentive   

adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的

参考例句：

• She was very attentive to her guests.她对客人招待得十分周到。
• The speaker likes to have an attentive audience.演讲者喜欢注意力集中的听众。

4 standardized   

adj.标准化的

参考例句：

• We use standardized tests to measure scholastic achievement. 我们用标准化考试来衡量学生的学业成绩。
• The parts of an automobile are standardized. 汽车零件是标准化了的。

5 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。

6 attendance   

n.出席，出席人数，护理，照料

参考例句：

• The attendance of this class never dropped off.这个班的出席人数从未下降。
• The young man danced attendance on his rich aunt.这个年轻人小心侍候他有钱的姑妈。

7 psychology   

n.心理，心理学，心理状态

参考例句：

• She has a background in child psychology.她受过儿童心理学的教育。
• He studied philosophy and psychology at Cambridge.他在剑桥大学学习哲学和心理学。

8 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

9 statistics   

n.统计，统计数字，统计学

参考例句：

• We have statistics for the last year.我们有去年的统计资料。
• Statistics is taught in many colleges.许多大学都教授统计学。

10 reference   

n.提到，说到，暗示，查看，查阅

参考例句：

• We spent days going through all related reference material.我们花了好多天功夫查阅所有有关的参考资料。
• I like to have my reference books within my reach.我喜欢把参考书放到伸手可取的地方。