三、阅读理解
Have you ever wanted to be taller? Perhaps we all have wished for this, whether we're trying to see over a crowd of people or dreaming of becoming a basketball player. Height is mainly a result of genetics (遗传), although other factors (因素) like nutrition (营养) and healthcare can also influence our height.
According to a report, the average (平均的) height for Chinese men is 1.71 metres, while for women it's 1.59 metres. But what stops us from growing to three metres or even taller? The answer is evolution (进化), according to a study from Harvard University.
"Height is not just about height. It's about the biological growth of a living thing," biologist Terence D. Capellini from Harvard University said. Over millions of years, natural selection (物竞天择) has influenced the way our organs (器官) and bodies grow. In general, the genes (基因) that influence organ growth are quite active in babies, causing them to grow fast. But as children get older, the gene*s* *sl*a*c*k*e*n*. Finally, as they enter late teenage years, the genes turn off and teenagers reach their adult height.
According to the study, about 70 to 80 per cent of our height is mainly decided by the growth genes. The other factors are some environmental factors like proper nutrition and modern healthcare. An example of an environmental factor is when a child doesn't get the nutrition he or she needs, the child is less likely to reach the average height.
Many people would like to be taller than they are, but is that necessarily good for them? Robert Wadlow from the US was once the tallest man in history. He was 2.72 metres tall. But he had several related (相关的) health problems. For example, he needed leg braces (支架) to help him walk. He died at the age of 22 from an illness that was caused by a brace that didn't fit him properly. Being very tall can cause high blood pressure (血压) in the legs. It can also put too much stress on the heart, according to the *Guardian*.
It seems that the only way to grow to a tall and healthy height is to have a healthy and balanced lifestyle, according to *Forbes*.
(
D
) 1. According to the passage, which of the following stops humans from growing?
A. Healthcare.
B. Nutrition.
C. Lifestyle.
D. Evolution.
(
B
) 2. The underlined word "slacken" probably means "______".
A. turn off
B. slow down
C. give up
D. break down
(
D
) 3. The writer probably agrees that ______.
A. reaching the average height may put less stress on our heart
B. humans' organs grow much more slowly than their height
C. we have to become stronger if we want to grow much taller
D. our height is also influenced by our daily food
(
D
) 4. Which of the following may be the best title for the passage?
A. Ways to Grow Taller.
B. Is It Good to Be Taller?
C. Environmental Factors Influence Height.
D. What's the Secret of Our Height?
