長久以來，人們一直認為要保持身體健康，需要達成 “每天一萬步” 這個 “神奇的” 目標，但一項新的研究表明，每天走不到5000步可能就足以給健康帶來好處。
For years, thousands of us have been pounding the pavements, trying to reach that magic goal of 10,000 steps a day to stay fit and healthy, but new research has found that walking just half of that could also save lives.
多年來，成千上萬的人不停地奔走，試圖達到 “每天一萬步” 這個被視為有奇妙功效的目標，從而保持身體健康，但一項新的研究發現，每天走路的步數隻要達到這個數字的一半就有益於生命健康。
Researchers from the Medical University of Lodz in Poland and John Hopkins University School of Medicine in the US followed 227,000 people for seven years to complete their study.
為完成研究，波蘭羅茲醫科大學和美國約翰霍普金斯大學醫學院的研究人員們對22.7萬人進行了為期七年的追蹤調查。
What they found was that walking at least 2,300 steps a day was really good for the heart and blood vessels, and the more people walked, the more they reduced the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
他們發現，每天至少走2300步對心臟和血管都有很大的好處，而且走得越多，死於心血管疾病的風險就越低。
And every 1,000 steps above the 4,000 steps mark, brings down the risk of dying early by 15%.
調查還顯示，當達到4000步的指標後，每多走1000步，過早死亡的風險就降低15%。
字彙表
pounding the pavements 走路
magic goal 被視為有奇妙功效的目標
complete 完成
blood vessels 血管
cardiovascular disease 心血管疾病
mark 目標，指標
brings down 降低
閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，回答下列問題。
1. Why have thousands of people been ‘pounding the pavements’ for years?
2. How long did the study last?
3. What is really good for the heart and blood vessels?
4. True or False? At 2,300 steps, the risk of dying early is lowered by 15%.
答案
1. Why have thousands of people been ‘pounding the pavements’ for years?
Because they are trying to reach that magic goal of 10,000 steps a day to stay fit and healthy.
2. How long did the study last?
It took researchers seven years to complete their study.
3. What is really good for the heart and blood vessels?
They found that walking at least 2,300 steps a day was really good for the heart and blood vessels.
4. True or False? At 2,300 steps, the risk of dying early is lowered by 15%.
False. Every 1,000 steps above the 4,000 steps mark, brings down the risk of dying early by 15%.
