A recent study says volunteering can be good for your health. Kids and teenagers who volunteer aren’t just helping their community. They might also be helping themselves. That’s according to new research published in JAMA Network Open, in May. It found that volunteering through school or community groups is associated with better wellness among children and teens.

Kids who participated in community service were 34% more likely to be in very good physical health than those who didn’t participate, the study found. And those who volunteered were 66% more likely to be considered “flourishing”, or doing well in general. Kids ages 12 and older who volunteered were 25% less likely to have anxiety than peers who didn’t. The findings come from survey data provided by the parents of some 50,000 kids in the United States ages 6 to 17. About half of those parents reported that their kids did volunteer work.

    ▲    Parents answered questions about their kids’ health and community-service activities. But a parent might not know if their child experiences anxiety or considers themselves to be flourishing. This type of data also can’t prove cause and effect. It can only uncover associations. So it’s not possible to say for sure that volunteering leads to better mental and physical health. It could be that people in good health are more likely to have the energy or desire to volunteer.

But the data comes at an important time for youth mental health. In recent years, rates of depression and anxiety have risen among young people. More than 40% of high school students reported experiencing feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2021. So there’s a clear need for accessible and effective mental health resources. Giving back to the community may be one such resource. And this study isn’t the only one to reach that conclusion.

1.What does the underlined word “flourishing” mean?

A Curious.

B Friendly.

C Healthy.

D Generous.

解析：选C。C 词义猜测题。根据前文中的关键词句“be good for your health”“is associated with better wellness”以及“in very good physical health”等可知，参与志愿服务活动的儿童和青少年被认为身体和心理都更健康。故选C。

2.Which of the following can be put back into the “ ▲ ” in Para. 3?

A Studies like this have limitations.

B The study reveals more problems.

C Studies like this mean a lot.

D The study benefits more than children.

解析：选A。A 推理判断题。根据第三段内容，这项研究的问卷调查由父母代替孩子完成，结合“But a parent might not know if...”以及“This type of data also can’t prove cause and effect. It can only uncover associations. So it’s not possible to say for sure...”父母可能不知道他们的孩子是否经历了焦虑，还是认为自己很健康，这种类型的数据也不能证明因果关系，它只能揭示有关联。因此，不能肯定地说志愿活动能带来更好的心理和身体健康。由此可见，本段主要探讨了这项研究的局限性。故选A。

3.What’s the author’s attitude toward volunteering?

A Negative.

B Positive.

C Objective.

D Doubtful.

解析：选B。B 观点态度题。 根据第四段第一句“But the data comes at an important time for youth mental health.”但这些数据出现在青少年心理健康的重要时期，以及倒数第二三句“So there’s a clear need for accessible and effective mental health resources. Giving back to the community may be one such resource.”因此我们显然需要可获得且有效的心理健康资源。回馈社会可能就是这样一种资源。由此可推断，作者支持社区志愿活动。故选B。

4.What will be talked about in the following paragraph?

A How the study was conducted.

B The results of previous research.

C Why the conclusion is believable.

D What parents think of their children.

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。结合文章最后一句“And this study isn’t the only one to reach that conclusion.”这项研究并不是唯一得出这一结论的研究，可知，接下来一段中作者可能会列举以前的研究结果。故选B。