1 . The music is on. The figure skater glides, jumps and spins. One turn, two turns, three turns.
Why? People often feel dizzy and lose balance after spinning around.
Figure skaters don’t have any super power.
| A．No pain, no gain. |
| B．They get dizzy, too. |
| C．Their movements are so smooth and graceful. |
| D．Other methods include keeping a uniform speed. |
| E．Skaters also have methods to help them feel less dizzy. |
| F．It seems they never get dizzy no matter how many times they spin. |
| G．This is because when we move our head during a spin, our eyes start to move in the opposite direction. |
Chinese martial arts are famous all around the world. Each year, tens of thousands of people from other
3 . A number of studies show that sports and other physical activities can contribute to the development of self-esteem (a feeling of pride in oneself). For example, Canadian scientists found that sixth-grade students who were more physically active had considerably higher levels of self-esteem. A study in Switzerland found that teenagers who took part in sports clubs were healthier, including being better socially adjusted, feeling less anxious, and generally being happier about their lives. Similar findings were reported in a study of Latino students, where participation in school sport was found to be greatly associated with self-esteem.
There seems little doubt that part of the potency (潜能) of sports lies in their social setting. There are a lot of facts showing the importance of social connectedness (关联性) for healthy child and teenager development, and sports offer a popular and engaging setting for social interactions. Involvement in team sports has been positively associated with social acceptance and a sense of belonging, especially where such involvement is characterized by positive coaching, progressive skill development, and peer support.
But, the social setting of sports can exclude as well as include. There is now evidence that boys’ and girls’ experiences of sports can be very different, and this can affect the contribution they can make to the self-esteem of players. Peer acceptance seems to be an important factor in determining the relationship between sport participation and self-esteem, and girls can be particularly sensitive to negative judgments. And studies have found that many ‘girly’ boys and girls benefit most from non-competitive physical activities.
So, a note of caution ought to be sounded in case sports are considered to be a cure. Much of the literature on the most positive psychological (心理的) outcomes associated with childhood and youth sports stress the absolute importance of positive experiences. It will surprise no one that bullying, excluding or abuse experiences will harm, rather than support the development of self-esteem, and well-being in general. Sadly, it will also not be a shock to learn that many children’s introductions to sports are far from improving the quality of life.
The great developmental psychologist Jean Piaget argued that the foundations of self-esteem were laid between the ages of about 6 and 11 years of age. Importantly, this is also the time when children are most likely to be introduced to sports. We should know the importance of positive early sporting experiences for the development of both self-esteem and on-going participation in sports and other physical activities. Teachers, coaches, and parents have a responsibility to ensure that these experiences ‘catch’ as many children as possible, and for this to happen they need to remember ‘the principles of child development’: Children are not mini-adults.
Problems arise when adults forget these principles, and kid themselves into thinking that they are coaching future Olympians or Super stars. Unluckily, evidence suggests that talented children are most likely to stand out when they are given time to develop, to play, and to remain children.
Children are not miniature adults, and their enjoyment of sports (and their self-esteem) can suffer when adults forget this!
1. Studies in Switzerland and Latino showed teenagers who often join in sports _____.| A．build self-esteem earlier |
| B．have more good experiences |
| C．are more sensitive to judgments |
| D．are healthier both physically and mentally |
| A．positive | B．critical |
| C．uncertain | D．tolerant |
| A．will be happier about their lives |
| B．are more likely to be attracted by competitive sports |
| C．should be treated by coaches and parents as super stars |
| D．will build self-esteem if given positive comment and support |
| A．Children Should Take Part in Sports |
| B．Sports Offer You a Better Teenage Life |
| C．Sports Experience and Building Self-Esteem |
| D．People Should Treat Teenagers Like Miniature Adults |
