Many kids would likely argue that their lunch periods are too short. While the precious breaks from class work are used to relax and chat with friends, students also need to scarf down a full meal to fuel them through the rest of the day.

But it is found that students need more than few minutes to consume those much-needed nutrients. Longer lunch periods relate with students eating healthier lunches, researchers found. The study compared food choices with the amount of time students are given to eat. Students with less than 20 minutes for lunch ate less—including nutritional fruits and veggies.

Nationwide, the average lunch period is about 30 minutes, according to a 2014 report from the School Nutrition Association. But researchers found that the amount of time available to eat can get cut down to less than 10 minutes due to long lunch lines.

Researchers reviewed 1,001 students in low-income neighborhoods in Massachusetts that had  lunch periods of between 20 and 30 minutes in length. Students with less than 20 minutes to eat their lunches consumed 13 percent less of their entrées, 12 percent less of their vegetables, and 10 percent less of their milk compared to students who had at least 25 minutes for lunch. Students with shorter lunch periods were less likely to even select a fruit in the lunch line: 44 percent of kids with 20-minute periods picked up an apple or orange.

More than 30 million children—half of all public school children nationwide, a record, according to the Southern Education Foundation—eat low-cost or free lunches every day under the National School Lunch program. With the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, school lunches have seen an overhaul in their nutritional guidelines, with an increase in whole grains, low-fat options, and fruits and vegetables. 

While lengthening lunch periods and cutting into class time may not be a choice for many schools whose funding is tied to results of tests, researchers suggested streamlining the lunch lines so that students can make the most out of the time they have.

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1.The underlined phrase “scarf down” means_________.

A have

B rest

C discuss

D improve

解析：选A。A。词意推测题。根据文章第一段第二句...to fuel them through the rest of the day可以得知能让人精力充沛的是“吃顿饱饭”，所以scarf down的意思为“吃”。

2.If the students don’t have enough time to eat, they would ______.

A have healthier lunches

B eat more fruits

C lack proper nutrition

D compare choices

解析：选C。C。推理判断题。根据第二段最后一句的Students with less than 20 minutes for lunch ate less—including nutritional fruits and veggies可知孩子吃饭时间过短，所需要的营养不够。

3.Why didn't schools want to cut into school time?

A Because the students will not have the enough healthy choice.

B Because the bad behavior in the test will affect the school fund.

C Because the schools will have to increase fat options and fruits.

D Because the schools want to begin the streamlining lunch lines.

解析：选B。B。推理判断题。根据文章最后一段While lengthening lunch periods and cutting into class time may not be a choice for many schools whose funding is tied to results of tests...可知学生的学习时间过少，就会影响学生的成绩，而学生成绩的优劣又会决定政府对学校的拨款。

4.What do children choose to eat if students don’t have enough time to eat?

A The vegetables.

B The milk.

C The meat.

D The fruits.

解析：选D。D。细节理解题。根据第四段最后一句的Students with shorter lunch periods were less likely to even select a fruit in the lunch line...可以得知没有足够时间吃午饭的学生可以吃点水果来对付。

5.What is the best title of the passage?

A Want kids to eat healthier school lunches? Give them time

B How to put the 2010 healthy, hunger-free kids act into practice

C Are better habits related with students' health? Give them a hand

D How will the national school lunch program result better

解析：选A。A。标题概括题。文章讲述了学生们吃饭的时间过短会影响他们的饮食健康，因此选A。