1 . Most kinds of physical exercises are beneficial for remaining healthy, but a lot of people prefer running over other forms of physical exercises. This may be because running does not require expertise and specialized equipment.     1     Some runners choose to run for the adrenaline (肾上腺素) and others choose it for the health benefits.

Running is a weight-bearing exercise.     2     It is especially helpful for young children and teenagers whose bones have not completely developed. Running is also helpful in improving joint stability (关节稳定性). It is also considered a great way of losing fat and keeping a healthy weight.

    3     A lot of runners experience a sense of excitement and happiness after a run. Running releases endorphins (释放内啡肽) in your brain, which can improve mood (心情). Endorphins also naturally help manage stress.     4    

While running is considered a great exercise, it should not be the only form of exercise that you perform. Running regularly, especially with improper running shoes, could increase the risk of pain in the knees. It could also cause damage (损伤) to the knee joints.     5     It can achieve a balance of strength between the upper and lower parts of the body.

Three years ago, Nick was     1    (terrify) of walking or skating on ice.     2    (Lucky), he met a great teacher, with his teacher’s help, not only did Nick learn how to skate     3     also he was persuaded     4    (try) ice hockey. Nick now is training for national     5    (competition) and hopes to be a champion one day.

Nick says, “Sports and games build our bodies, prevent us from     6    (get) too fat, and keep us     7    (health). They also give us     8     (value) practice in helping the eyes, brain and muscles to work together. Sports and games are also very useful for character-training.”

Of course,     9     state of physical and mental health allows you to take part in exercise comfortably and     10    (enjoyable).

5 . According to research, about 21.5 million American children between the ages of six and seventeen are involved (参与的) in a team sport.     1     But regardless of the reasons for getting involved, children can gain a lot from sports.

A 2006 report shows that taking up sports can increase both emotional and behavioral well-being in teenagers. And increased well-being can lead to higher confidence, which results in better overall performance.     2     In addition, they usually get along well with people around them and are less likely to have bad or risky behavior.

    3     Through this process, children develop social and leadership skills and learn the value of teamwork. Children involved in sports usually have stronger and better relationships with their schoolmates and a better understanding of people from different backgrounds.

Actually, sports give children an opportunity to communicate with adults in valuable and positive ways, which can help them develop closer relationships with adults. This effect is especially great when children don’t get along well with their family members.     4    

Although most effects of sports on children are good, there can be disadvantages. If the pressure to win is overemphasized (过分强调) or the expectations of parents or coaches become too great, kids may experience lots of stress.     5     To avoid these bad effects, children should not overemphasize winning but focus on developing certain skills.

6 . If you’d like to have a group of family and friends over on the weekend, consider hosting a game-day party. This is an event when people come together to watch a sport, often college or professional football.     1     Here’s what you need to know to plan a great game-day party at your home.

Ask a parent to help you look online for the game schedule of your favorite team.     2     You also may want to choose an afternoon game instead of an evening game, which can end late.

Make a list of who you want to invite, then ask a parent to help you reach out to ask them. You and your family could also invite another family if your parent wants to take part in the party too.     3     This way people can chat and enjoy some food before the game begins. It can also be fun to watch the pregame when the players are announced.

As the host of the party, you can decide what kind of food to serve. You could provide the main course and then ask guests to bring snacks and sweets.     4     Have water and other drinks on hand or ask people to bring reusable water bottles.

    5     A few ideas: Use paper to make paper chains in the colors of the two teams playing and hang them around the room. Cut football shapes out of brown paper or cardboard and write messages on them, such as “Go Team” or “Touchdown”, and hang them around the room.

8 . How many sports stars can you name? Whether it’s ten or thirty, I believe that 90%of them would be male. Even in today’s society, which calls for gender equality (男女平等) , it seems that female sports stars simply don’t get the same coverage (报道) as male players.

The World Cup is the most widely followed sporting event in the world. According to a report, almost 715 million people watched the final match of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, a ninth of the whole population of the planet. But how many people notice the fact that the FIFA Women’s World Cup has just taken place in Canada? The US team was the winner, after beating the Japanese team 5­2 in the final match. England even got a third place!However, the England team in the men’s World Cup seldom runs to the quarter­finals. While the World Cup enjoys prime­time on most BBC channels, the FIFA Women’s World Cup is put aside. The only time the media made the news was when an English player scored an own goal!

The inequality doesn’t end with football. Just recently, Caroline Wozniacki (a top Danish tennis player) complained that women don’t get the same chance as men to play on the show courts at Wimbledon. In this case, I think it’s the luck of the draw—the further you get in the competition, the more likely you are to play on the show courts. In the opening stages, it is true that often only the best players will play their matches on the show courts. Women’s tennis does get lots of coverage, though many complain that it isn’t exciting to watch.

Many people think the women’s sport is often paid less attention to, but I think this is slowly starting to change. In the UK, there is a campaign called This Girl Can, which aims to get girls and women back into sports, regardless of their age, shape or sporting ability. Hopefully this campaign will encourage more people to take up and enjoy sports, and help to reduce the nation’s health problems.