1 . Research indicates that Tai Chi, a traditional Chinese exercise that combines slow, gentle movements with deep breathing and relaxation, may provide long-term relief from Parkinson’s disease symptoms. Those who practised the martial art twice a week had fewer complications (并发症) and better quality of life than those who didn’t, the researchers say.
Parkinson’s is a progressive brain disease characterized by slowness of movement, tremors (颤抖), and stiff and inflexible muscles. It is the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world, with the number of those affected projected to reach nearly 5 million by 2030 in China alone. In the UK 2 people are diagnosed with the disease every hour. So far, there has been no cure for Parkinson’s.
Previously published research suggests that Tai Chi eases Parkinson’s symptoms in the short term, but whether this improvement can be maintained over the long term isn’t known.
The new study, from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, monitored the health of hundreds of Parkinson’s patients for up to five years. One group of 147 people practised regular Tai Chi while another group of 187 did not.
The researchers found that the disease progressed more slowly in the Tai Chi group on measurements of symptoms, movement and balance. This group also saw fewer falls, less back pain and dizziness, with memory and concentration problems also lower than in the other group. At the same time, sleep and quality of life continuously improved.
However, this is an observational study, which can’t establish cause and effect. And the researchers acknowledge that the number of study participants was relatively small.
Prof Alastair Noyce, professor in neurology at Queen Mary University of London, called it “an important study” but said there were limitations in its design, and more trials were needed.
Prof K Ray Chaudhuri, professor of movement disorders and neurology at King’s College London, said, “It is too early to claim any neuroprotection based on this study, although the positive effects on aspects of motor and non-motor functions are impressive.”
1. What do we know about Parkinson’s?A.It’s severe but curable now. | B.It may lead to a low-quality life. |
C.It’s more common in China than in the UK. | D.It’s the fastest-growing disease in the world. |
A.It covers more aspects of the disease. |
B.It collects data from more study participants. |
C.It focuses on the long-term effect of Tai Chi on Parkinson’s. |
D.It first proves the positive effect Tai Chi has on Parkinson’s. |
A.The results of the study are not clear. |
B.The researchers are unaware of the problems of the study. |
C.The methods that the researchers use in the study are inappropriate. |
D.The study gives hope to Parkinson’s patients though with its limitations. |
A.Disapproving. | B.Supportive. | C.Indifferent. | D.Objective. |
2 . A lot of people find it difficult to do exercise regularly, even though they know it’s good for their physical and mental (身心上的) health. Yet keeping on a workout routine doesn’t necessarily go to the gym or run around your neighborhood. Gardening is a great example of a popular hobby that can be used as a workout.
Nashville resident Tom Adkinson, 72, is on board with the idea of gardening to stay fit. He has three gardens, which he uses primarily to grow tomatoes, sweet banana peppers and okra. Like traditional exercise, Adkinson does a lot of preparation before gardening, and then he spends hours watering and weeding (除草) all three gardens, involving bending and stretching, which he compares to performing garden yoga.
“It is wise of Adkinson to do so. Even though gardening may not appear difficult, using the body in new ways can make you hurt if you don’t warm up beforehand,” said Zeller, who teaches at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Cape May County in New Jersey.
Working in your garden just two hours a week could improve your mood. And the communal gardening, which is done by a number of people as a group in communities and schools, provides social benefits that can reduce stress and help fight against loneliness and even dementia according to studies.
“With all these benefits, gardening for fitness will be a trend (趋势) in the coming year,” announced Mandal, CEO of the fitness coaching app Future, “Our users at Future have already been asking their coaches to add gardening and landscaping activities into their routines because it’s easy to get and fit into their lifestyle.”
1. What do the underlined words “on board with” mean in paragraph 2?A.In support of. | B.At the risk of. |
C.Under the control of. | D.In opposition to. |
A.Having a good rest. |
B.Getting enough water ready. |
C.Doing warm-up exercise. |
D.Preparing tools for weeding. |
A.Tips for gardening. |
B.The benefits of gardening. |
C.The process of garden management. |
D.The difference between personal and group gardening. |
A.Running. | B.Yoga. | C.Gardening. | D.Walking. |
3 . Esports (electronic sports) are organized competitions where players—often referred to as “athletes” — face off against each other in video games. They are not just games in a sense. Actually, they are a sport that can improve the players’ thinking ability, hand-eye coordination, willpower and team spirit.
The esports industry has experienced significant growth in recent years around the world, though it’s still in the nascent stage, which means it has huge growth potential going forward.
In the 1990s, Games like the beat’em up Street Fighter II and the first-person shooter Doom added variety to the increasingly popular competitive gaming scene. In the 2010s, MOBA games like League of Legends and Dota 2 became mainstream in the world of esports. In 2022, esports were announced to be officially included in the Asian Games. There are now over 40 esports games with players competing around the world at huge events.
Esports made their first appearance as a medal event at the Asian Games from Sept 23 to Oct 8, 2023. Seven games were included: FIFA Online 4, PUBG Mobile Asian Games Version, Arena of Valor Asian Games Version, Dota 2, League of Legends, Dream Three Kingdoms 2, Street and Fighter V.
Previously, eight esports games were scheduled at the Hangzhou Asian Games. However, virtual card game Hearthstone (《炉石传说》) was removed in March. This followed the breakdown of negotiations between Hearthstone producer, Blizzard Entertainment, and NetEase, their local partner company in China, over their rights partnership.
1. What is the current state of esports?A.They face tough challenges. | B.They come ahead of other sports. |
C.They have great future prospect. | D.They are no more than video games. |
A.In the 1990s. | B.In the 2010s. | C.In 2022. | D.In 2023. |
A.Its version was outdated. | B.Its schedule was up in the air. |
C.Its gaming scenes were full of violence. | D.Its two parties failed to reach an agreement. |
4 . Traditional Chinese Sports
For thousands of years, sports have played an important role in Chinese culture. Let’s explore some of the most popular traditional sports in China.
Dragon Boat Racing
Originating (起源) from the southern regions of China, dragon boat racing is a thrilling water sport. The races are held during the Dragon Boat Festival, which takes place on the 5th day of the 5th lunar (阴历) month each year. This festival is in memory of the ancient poet Qu Yuan and involves various cultural activities.
Martial Arts
Martial arts(武术) have a rich history in China and are practiced for self-defense, physical fitness, and spiritual growth. Various styles such as Tai Chi, Kung Fu, and Wing Chun have gained worldwide recognition. These practices emphasize discipline, balance, and control of mind and body.
Jianzi(Shuttlecock)
Jianzi is a traditional Chinese game that involves kicking a shuttlecock (毽子) in the air using one’s feet, knees, or other body parts except for hands. It requires agility, coordination, and precision. Jianzi can be played individually or in teams and is a popular pastime in parks and streets across China.
Chinese Chess(Xiangqi)
Similar to the Western game of chess, Xiangqi is a strategic board game played between two players. It originated in ancient China and is often referred to as “Chinese chess.” The game features different pieces, each with unique movements and abilities. Xiangqi requires critical thinking, foresight, and strategic planning.
1. Which poet is the dragon boat festival in memory of?A.Qu Yuan | B.Li Bai | C.Su Shi | D.Wang Wei |
A.Breathing, and gentle movements to promote energy as well as improve mood. |
B.Relaxation, balance, and meditation. |
C.Self-cultivation and meditation. |
D.Self-defense, physical fitness, and spiritual growth. |
A.Hands, heads, feet and knees. | B.Feet, knees, or other body parts except for hands. |
C.Mind, body, and spirit. | D.Teamwork and strategy |
A.Chinese chess. | B.Fencing |
C.Table tennis | D.Dragon boat racing |
5 . For people suffering from depression, there’s an all-natural treatment they should use — getting more exercise. It could help fight depression, even if people have a genetic risk, new research shows.
For the study, researchers collected information from nearly 8,000 people and found those with related genes were more likely to have depression over the next two years after examining them. But that was less likely for people who were more active at the study’s start, even if they had a family history of depression. Higher levels of physical activity helped protect even those with the highest genetic risk of depression.
Both high-intensity (高强度) exercise and low-intensity activities were associated with a reduced risk of depression. Adding four hours of exercise a week could lower the risk of a new episode (一段经历) of depression by 17%, according to the study. “Our findings strongly suggest that, when it comes to depression, being physically active has the potential to remove the added risk of future episodes in individuals who are genetically risky,” said lead author Karmel Choi. “On average, about 35 additional minutes of physical activity each day may help people to reduce their risk and protect against future depression episodes.”
Depression is a common mental illness globally, with more than 264 million people affected. “Depression is so ubiquitous, and that underlines the need for effective approaches that can impact as many people as possible,” Choi said. And mental health and primary care providers can use the findings to advise patients that there’s something meaningful they can do to lower their risk of depression.
1. How did the researchers reach their conclusion?A.By analyzing a mass of data. |
B.By conducting genetic research. |
C.By comparing various levels of activity. |
D.By tracking the subjects for many years. |
A.Physical activity betters medical treatment. |
B.Exercise is able to decrease and prevent it. |
C.Different levels of exercise intensity matter the same. |
D.Exercising 35 minutes daily is the most effective treatment. |
A.Harmful. | B.Complex. |
C.Unusual. | D.Common. |
A.To discuss a disease. |
B.To introduce a method. |
C.To analyze a genetic risk. |
D.To explain a phenomenon. |
6 . My favorite activity is playing, watching, reading, and really anything to do with basketball. A basketball court (球场) is where I feel most at home.
As I see it, it’s wildly popular in the US and its athletes are extremely recognizable, because it’s the one sport where an athlete’s face is not covered up by a football helmet (头盔) or baseball hat. My favorite time and place is anywhere and anytime. I prefer indoors, although it can be played outdoors. Many people often play in a driveway at home, but the best is always against someone on a court.
I started playing basketball because of my favorite player, Shaquille O’Neal. He was a huge, unstoppable player. When I was 11 years old, I decided to go outside to the family basketball hoop (球框) and take a shot (投球). This was my first time ever shooting a basketball. I will never forget the first shot I ever took. It was perfect. It felt amazing! And I’ve been in love with this sport ever since!
I learned a long time ago that very few people are going to have the love of this game that I do. I’ve always understood that in this area, for the most part, I am alone. Especially coming from the state of Texas, where football is king.
I’m not the best of players. When I do good things on court, I know it’s because I can make up for my lack (缺乏) of athleticism by being a student of the game. I’ve never missed a training day. I don’t worry about school, family, or problems. I think about what’s in front of me, and how I can get the basketball in the hoop.
Playing, watching, and reading about basketball fills me with a sense of enjoyment that I truly do feel that very few people can match.
1. What does the author think of basketball?A.It should be played indoors. | B.It has won popularity in the US. |
C.It is more dangerous than other sports. | D.It has become a game for huge people. |
A.Very nervous. | B.Truly tired. | C.Really excited. | D.Quite free. |
A.He is happy to improve himself through hard work. |
B.He really enjoys playing basketball alone. |
C.He would rather be a football player. |
D.He is on Shaquille O’Neal’s team. |
A.Life lessons from playing basketball | B.My road to being a basketball player |
C.Changes in my basketball dream | D.My great love of basketball |
7 . People believe that climbing can do good to health. Where can you learn the skill of climbing then? If you think that you have to go to the mountains to learn how to climb, you’re wrong. Many Americans are learning to climb in city gyms. Here, people are learning on special climbing walls. The climbing wall goes straight up and has small holding places for hands and feet.
How do people climb the wall? To climb need special shoes and a harness around your chest to hold you. There are ropes tied to your harness. The ropes hold you in place so that you don’t fall. A beginner’s wall is usually about 15 feet high, and you climb straight up. There are small pieces of metal that stick out for you to stand on and hold on to. Sometimes it’s easy to see the new piece of metal. Sometimes, it’s not. The most difficult is to control your fear. It’s normal for humans to be afraid of falling, so it’s difficult not to feel fear. But when you move away from the wall, the harness and the ropes hold you, and you begin to feel safe. You move slowly until you reach the top.
Climbing attracts people because it’s good exercise for almost everyone. You use your whole body, especially your arms and legs. This sport gives your body a complete work out. When you climb, both your mind and your body can become stronger.
1. The most difficult thing to do in wall climbing is ________.A.to tie ropes to your harness | B.to control your fear |
C.to move away from the wall | D.to climb straight up |
A.Settlement. | B.Exercise. | C.Excitement. | D.Tiredness. |
A.A science book. | B.A research report. | C.A sports magazine. | D.A sports history book. |
1. What is the problem with the woman?
A.She is worried about the exams. |
B.She has gained much weight. |
C.She doesn’t feel very well. |
A.Drink less coffee. |
B.Eat more meat and fruits. |
C.Go to bed before 10:00 pm. |
A.Running | B.Dancing. | C.Walking. |
1.描述现状及原因;
2.坚持运动的好处与理由;
3.呼吁大家热爱并坚持运动。
注意:
1.词数80左右;
2.可适当增加细节,以使行文连贯;
3.开头和结尾已为你写好。
你可以参考下列单词(部分):
give sb. a speech 给某人做讲座;play a role 起作用;benefits from doing sth.从……受益;meaningful有意义的
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10 . Yesterday, my daughter had to go to work earlier than usual. Since the gym where I work out is not far from her
At quite an earlier hour, the gym was
If you’re one of them, you need to overcome (克服) your
It is the same in every other area of life, when you study a foreign language, develop a new skill or a new habit and when you make up your mind to
A.house | B.garage | C.office | D.yard |
A.already | B.still | C.even | D.just |
A.usually | B.sometimes | C.only | D.seldom |
A.happy | B.surprised | C.excited | D.satisfied |
A.shape | B.protect | C.check | D.change |
A.and | B.but | C.then | D.thus |
A.actually | B.simply | C.especially | D.generally |
A.need | B.have | C.prefer | D.expect |
A.worried | B.bored | C.anxious | D.tired |
A.quietness | B.loneliness | C.darkness | D.laziness |
A.practice | B.keep | C.forget | D.consider |
A.improves | B.happens | C.finishes | D.exists |
A.remember | B.recall | C.achieve | D.live |
A.comfortable | B.important | C.interesting | D.difficult |
A.facts | B.results | C.sights | D.chances |