1 . Tai chi, a traditional form of Chinese martial art that combines slow, gentle movements and postures with mindfulness, is known to increase flexibility and improve balance. Now, a new research suggests it’s better than aerobic (有氧的) exercises for lowering blood pressure in people with prehypertension (高血压前期).
In the study, researchers in China employed 342 adults whose average age was 49. Roughly half the people participated in the supervised aerobic exercise, including jogging, climbing stairs, brisk walking and cycling. The other half was trained to practice tai chi. Both groups got hour-long sessions four times a week.
After 12 months, those in the tai chi group saw bigger drops in their blood pressure than those in the aerobic exercise group. Besides, nearly 22% of the people who practiced tai chi saw their blood pressure fall to within normal range, compared with nearly 16% of people in the aerobic exercise group. Fewer patients in the tai chi group went on to develop hypertension than in the aerobic exercise group.
So what’s it about tai chi that helps lower blood pressure? The practice tends to cause more of a response from the parasympathetic (副交感) nervous system, says Ruth Taylor-Piliae, a professor at the University of Arizona’s College of Nursing, who wasn’t involved in the study. The parasympathetic nervous system is the network of nerves that relaxes your body after periods of stress or danger.
Tai chi is appealing as it requires little space or equipment. “I think the beauty of tai chi is that you don’t have to have a special gym membership,” Taylor-Piliae says. “Once you learn tai chi, you can do it anytime, anyplace and anywhere. It does provide that calming and relaxing effect.”
Studies have also shown practicing tai chi can help reduce the risk of falls, improve balance and walking speed in older adults, and reduce depression and anxiety. “But you have to have enough ‘dose’ of tai chi,” Taylor-Piliae says. “You can’t just do it one hour, one time.”
1. What happened to those practicing tai chi during the study?| A．Some began to have normal blood pressure. | B．Few aged in an unhealthy manner. |
| C．Many went on to develop prehypertension. | D．Most got nervous more easily. |
| A．It needs the least time of practice. | B．It produces a relaxing effect. |
| C．It puts the nervous system in order. | D．It makes its practicer inactive. |
| A．By combining it with dieting. | B．By exercising it as early as possible. |
| C．By practicing it consistently. | D．By balancing it with other workouts. |
| A．Tai Chi Serves as a Convenient Exercise | B．Tai Chi Is Getting Popular Among Foreigners |
| C．Tai Chi ls Critical to Stopping Falls Happening | D．Tai Chi Helps Reduce Blood Pressure Effectively |
2 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Who is the organizer of the football event?| A．A senior school. | B．The school football team. | C．The Education Council. |
| A．From August I to August 7. |
| B．From August 11 to August 17. |
| C．From August 17 to August 20. |
| A．Practice football hard. |
| B．Join the school football team. |
| C．Learn football skills from other students. |
1. Why did Amy go to the contest?
| A．To have some fun. | B．To win some money. | C．To prove her cooking skills. |
| A．Regretful. | B．Upset. | C．Happy. |
4 . Competing for a Trip to Soma Bay, Egypt
Soma Bay is a perfect place for sunny relaxation. If you take a trip there, you can also take part in the competition we organize.
The Destination
Lapped by the Red Sea on three sides and with views of sandy beaches and desert mountains, Soma Bay can attract nature lovers most, Spreading across almost 2,500 acres, the Egyptian tourist attraction has an 18-hole golf course designed by Gary Player, a golfing enthusiast, as well as the largest Thalasso spa in Africa. Kiteboarding, diving and horse riding are all on offer, too.
Of Soma Bay’s five accommodation options, a five-star hotel enjoys a fantastic location on the highest point of the Soma Bay peninsula. It has a number of guest rooms and suites with private balconies, as well as four on-site restaurants, You can enjoy beach-side pizza, take afternoon tea, or stop for a drink by the 18th hole. They are all offered by the hotel.
The Prize
With the official permission of Soma Bay, the winner can enjoy a four-night stay in a classic room at the five-star hotel on a half-price basis. The prize includes return economy class flight tickets with overhead cabin luggage from the UK to Hurghada International Airport up to the value of £650 per person, with direct routes available from cities including London, Manchester and Bristol, plus return airport transfers to Soma Bay (UK transfers aren’t included).
To Enter
Answer the following question online at natgeotv,com/uk/competitions:
ON WHICH SEA IS SOMA BAY LOCATED?
Competition closes on 31 October 2023.
The winner must be a UK adult resident, aged 18 or over.
1. What does the five-star hotel offer?| A．Games on a golf course. | B．Tickets for kiteboarding. |
| C．Something to eat and drink. | D．Accommodation on the beach. |
| A．A free stay in the perfect hotel. | B．A return airport transfer to the UK. |
| C．A possible direct flight ticket from Bristol. | D．A first class flight from the UK to Hurghada |
| A．It welcomes children. | B．It covers multiple questions. |
| C．It targets at Egyptian citizens. | D．It ends on the last day of October. |
5 . Exercising regularly not only helps you keep slim, but also improves your overall health and well-being. Different exercises produce different results, as they focus on alternate parts of the body. There are four broad exercise categories: endurance, strength, flexibility, and balance. Many people often only focus on one exercise type, but including all four in your workout will produce better results and reduce your risk of injury.
Endurance
Endurance exercises increase your breathing and heart rate. By doing endurance exercises, you are working to keep your heart, lungs, and blood-flow system healthy while improving your total fitness. Over time these activities will make everyday activities seem easier.
Strength
If you want to build up your muscles, then strength exercises, which are also known as “resistance training”, are right for you. Even the slightest increase in strength can make a huge difference in your ability to carry out daily tasks. Developing strong muscles also reduce your risk of weak bones.
Flexibility
Flexibility exercises help stretch your body’s muscles. This allows for more freedom of movement for other exercises and can also improve your range of motion, posture, ability to breathe deeply, and blood flow. Also, it reduces the muscle tension caused by stress.
Balance
Balance exercises help prevent falls and are especially important to older adults, helping them stay independent. Most good balance exercises are ones that keep you constantly moving with your feet on the ground. Heel-to-toe walking and standing on one foot are simple ways to improve balance.
1. How can a person benefit most from their exercise routine?| A．By combining different exercise types together. |
| B．By having enough rest between their workouts. |
| C．By concentrating on one training aspect at a time. |
| D．By increasing the frequency of their training gradually. |
| A．Strength and Balance. | B．Flexibility and Balance. |
| C．Endurance and Strength. | D．Endurance and Flexibility. |
| A．Arms. | B．Legs. | C．Waist. | D．Neck. |
| A．She watches TV. | B．She goes for a run. | C．She does yoga. |
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Last Friday afternoon, we had basketball match against Class Three. At the beginning we both tried to show each to be the best player. We just ran around and didn't pass down the ball to others. Soon we fall behind. During the break, our headmaster Mr. Li patient advised us to working together as a team. We followed her advice. In the end we won the game but each of us felt happy.
Through this game, I realize deeply that in a team, we can't achieve success no matter what excellent each one is. The key to success are teamwork.
