Pillow fighting is moving out of the bedroom and into the boxing ring. The Pillow Fight Championship, or PFC, plans to hold
Steve Williams had the idea of
The male and female athletes in January’s event come
Since many people grew up pillow fighting with friends or relatives, Williams
“You can call it
2 . Reasons to Put on Your Rollerblades and Hit the Pavement
Rollerblading (旱冰) is great for building balance, strengthening muscles, and improving mental health. It’s also a cheap, fun, and eco-friendly way to get your daily exercise in.
It’s fun
We all know that we should be exercising several times a week, and picking a workout that is fun naturally motivates us to get up and get going.
It’s cheap
Rollerblading is also a great exercise choice because it costs very little.
It’s eco-friendly
Skater and climate activist, Gerhard Ladstatte explains why he started Friday Night Skating, a free street skating event. “We want to move without burning fuel.” People looking for an oil-free way to get to a workplace that isn’t too far from home, while combining daily exercise into their routine, can consider rollerblading to work.
It’s good for your mental health
Like any form of aerobic exercise, skating is associated with a number of wellness benefits.
| A．In other words, rollerblading has it all. |
| B．Exercise and fresh air can reduce stress. |
| C．Not only is skating cheap, it also benefits nature. |
| D．All you need is a pair of skates and some safety equipment. |
| E．Rollerblading is an exciting way to get in fresh air and exercise. |
| F．It’s easy to see why so many people are discovering the joys of skating. |
| G．Unlike a bicycle, you don’t need to find a place to store your skates while you work. |
3 . More scientists are exploring cellular senescence(衰老)—a state in which cells(细胞)no longer divide. Senescent cells, which build up in older bodies, have a link to age-related conditions such as dementia(痴呆) disease.
Scientists are exploring drugs that treat senescent cells. But the most promising tool against the bad effects of senescent cells, experts say, is exercise.
Today, LeBrasseur, who directs a center on aging at Mayo, says exercise is “the most promising tool that we have” for good health in late life, and its power spreads to our cells. Research suggests exercise prevents the buildup of senescent cells, helping the immune(免疫的)system clear them and fight the cell damage that can affect aging.
Last year, LeBrasseur led a study that provided the first sign in humans that exercise greatly affected senescence. It cut signs in the bloodstream of the effects of senescent cells in the body.
After a 12-week exercise program, researchers found that older adults had cut signs of senescence and improved body strength, physical ability and reported health. A recent study collects even more facts—in animals and humans—for exercise as a treatment to fight against senescence cells.
While such studies are not well-known outside scientific circles, many older adults connect exercise with youthfulness. Farmer Mike Gale, 81, put in a track and field throwing circle on his large farm in California. He and some of his friends throw the discus(铁饼) and use other exercise equipment. “I'd like to be competing in my 90s,” Gale says. “Why not?”
95-year-old Richard Soller says exercise keeps him fit enough to deal with what comes his way—including the discovery that his wife of 62 years had developed dementia. The two sometimes walk the streets of their neighborhood together, holding hands. “Do as much as you can,” he says. “That should be the goal for anyone to stay healthy.”
1. What do we know about LeBrasseur?| A．He discovered the cause of aging. | B．He developed drugs to treat aging. |
| C．He tested with animals and humans. | D．He firstly proved exercise stops aging. |
| A．Uncertain. | B．Confident. | C．Doubtful. | D．Anxious. |
| A．To support his or her ideas. | B．To encourage people to exercise. |
| C．To praise him for his true love. | D．To introduce activities for the old. |
| A．Aging Secret Comes to Light | B．Aging Diseases Seriously Affect Health |
| C．Exercise Is Best Tool Against Aging | D．Elderly People Can Also Live Active Life |
4 . When 36-year-old Andy Duran decided to return to his favorite high school hobby-skateboarding— in January 2021，the only problem he expected to run into was his own ability to get back into the sport after the long break. However, the 340-pound skateboarder from Oakland, California, soon realized that was the least of his problems.
Duran’s problems began before he even stepped on a skateboard. “I couldn’t find any resources (资源) for fat skaters, what types of boards to try, or where to buy branded (名牌的) shirts in sizes 2XL or 3XL,” he says.
What Duran did find instead was an unfounded belief that fat people should not be skating. “I started to find people who were saying that if you’ re over 190 pounds you shouldn’t be on a skateboard, or that the board won’t support you,” he says.
Determined to do something to change that, Duran founded Chub Rollz— a skating and skateboarding community for overweight skaters. “If you feel like your size makes you feel uncomfortable about skating with others, you are welcome to skate with us,” Duran says.
Duran created a list of recommended (推荐的) products for fat skaters. He also held skating and skateboarding classes to teach beginners. He received a lot of messages from strangers expressing gratitude. “This means so much to me; I didn’t think I could skate,” said one. “A person at the skate shop laughed at me, but this club makes me feel like I can still do it,” wrote another.
Though encouraged, Duran believes a lot more needs to be done to change the idea that fat bodies can’t do and aren’t interested in the activity. He thinks that is simply not true. “I want to see more changes in communities. Maybe skate shops have more training for creating a more welcoming environment for all types of skaters or boards to be made in different sizes,” he explains.
1. What difficulty did Duran have when he decided to start skateboarding again?| A．He couldn’t afford a branded skateboard. |
| B．He couldn’t find proper products for him. |
| C．He realized the board couldn’t support him. |
| D．He found it hard for him to step on a skateboard. |
| A．He wrote them encouraging messages. |
| B．He found them excellent teachers. |
| C．He raised money for them. |
| D．He started a club for them. |
| A．Worries. | B．Thanks. | C．Pride. | D．Doubt. |
| A．More members will join Chub Rollz. |
| B．More support will be given to fat skaters. |
| C．Skate shops will provide more affordable boards. |
| D．There will be more communities like Chub Rollz. |
5 . “My Edinburgh” photography competition
Edinburgh Libraries invites you to take part in the “My Edinburgh” competition on Edinburgh Collected. Add a photo of your favourite place in Edinburgh to Edinburgh Collected and tell us what makes it special to you.
The photography competition is free to enter but all entries must be entered via the Edinburgh Collected website (www.edinburghcollected.org). The competition is open to all, students and professionals alike. Your photo might show the place that offers your favourite view of the city, your favourite park, street, or local pub. It doesn’t matter, so long as you tell us what makes that place special to you.
Entries will be judged by a group of experts from Edinburgh College of Art, Museums and Galleries Edinburgh and Edinburgh Napier University. Entries will be judged on their photographic qualities as well as descriptions.
The closing date for entries is 31 August and winners will be chosen in September.
We will give a canvas print (照片帆布油画) for1st, 2nd and 3rd place entries and the winner will also receive a voucher for a Jessops Academy Photography Course.
Entrants must create an account with Edinburgh Collected to upload your photo(s). There is no limit to the number of entries you can upload, but there will be only one winning entry per entrant.
1. What do we know about the photography competition?| A．It asks entrants to pay to enter. | B．It is held by Edinburgh College of Art. |
| C．It is only for professional photographers. | D．It accepts photos of a place in Edinburgh. |
| A．Prize money. | B．A canvas print. |
| C．A voucher for photography courses. | D．A chance to visit Edinburgh Napier University. |
| A．Enter only one photo. | B．Send the entry by email. |
| C．Upload the entry before 31 September. | D．Create an account with Edinburgh Collected. |
