A
Crossing your legs is an extremely common habit; most people don’t even notice that they’re doing it when they sit down. While you may find it comfortable to sit with one knee crossed over the other, it might be causing health problems that you are not aware of.
A study published in Blood Pressure Monitoring stated that sitting with your legs crossed can increase your blood pressure. The reason this happens is because the blood in your legs has to work against gravity to be pumped back to your heart, crossing one leg over the other increases resistance, making it even harder for the blood to circulate. This causes your body to increase your blood pressure to push the blood back to the heart.
Crossing your legs can also lead to neck and back pain. When you sit with your legs crossed, your hips are in a twisted position, which can cause one of your pelvic (骨盆的) bones to rotate. Since your pelvic bone supports your neck and spine, this can cause pressure on your lower and middle back and neck.
You also might notice that when you sit with your legs crossed for long periods of time, your feet and legs get tingly or have the feeling of being asleep. This is because when one leg sits on top of the other, it causes pressure on the veins (血管) and nerves in your legs and feet. It can cause numbness and/or temporary paralysis in the legs, ankles, or feet.
So next time you sit down, try to get yourself in the habit of sitting with both of your feet on the floor. Not only will it help your posture and stability, but it will also save your health in the long run.
1. Crossing legs may lead to the following health problems except ________.
A. It can increase your blood pressure.
B. It can cause pressure on your lower and middle back and neck.
C. It will make your neck and spine twisted.
D. It can cause paralysis for the time being.
2. Why can crossing your legs increase your blood pressure?
A. Because the blood in your legs has to work against being pumped back to your heart.
B. Because it will prevent the blood circulating.
C. Because crossing legs results in less resistance for the blood to circulate.
D. Because higher blood pressure contributes to pushing the blood back to the heart.
3. What is the purpose of writing this article?
A. To persuade us not to cross our legs any longer.
B. To make us aware of the health problems caused by crossing legs.
C. To tell us the benefits of sitting with our feet on the floor.
D. To show that crossing legs is an extremely common habit.
【答案】1. C 2. D 3. B
【解析】
【1题详解】
细节理解题。根据文章第三段可知当你两腿交叉坐着的时候，你的臀部处于扭曲状态，并非颈部和脊柱，故C选项正确。
【2题详解】
细节理解题。根据文章第二段，当你两腿交叉坐着的时候，会给血液循环增加阻力，为了推动血液回到心脏，身体会增加你的血压，故选D项正确。
【3题详解】
作者写作意图题。作者开篇变提到 “While you may find it comfortable to sit with one knee crossed over the other, it might be causing health problems that you are not aware of.”故答案选B。
