1 . Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature. However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses (球场) in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf causes serious water shortage in some local areas.
There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be “green gyms”. They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it’s free.
1. Which of the following does the author most probably recommend?| A．Playing basketball in a gym. |
| B．Motor racing in the desert. |
| C．Cycling around a lake. |
| D．Swimming in a sports center. |
| A．It is popular in Portugal and Spain. |
| B．It causes water shortages around the world. |
| C．It pollutes the Earth with chemicals and wastes. |
| D．It needs water and energy to keep its courses. |
| A．it uses fewer resources | B．it improves our health |
| C．it is an outdoor sport | D．it is recommended by experts |
| A．show us the function of major sports |
| B．encourage us to take up green sports |
| C．discuss the major influence of popular sports |
| D．introduce different types of environment-friendly sports |
2 . Anyone who’s lived through middle school knows those years can be particularly challenging. Some researches show youths across the U.S. are struggling with mental health. The physical health benefits of bike riding have been well-documented. Wilson, a researcher at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, and his co-authors carried out a new study to see if taking part in a cycling program could result in measurable changes in mind for teenagers.
The study involved more than 1,200 students, ages 11 to 14. Students participated in a cycling class for at least three days a week, for a period of 6 weeks. They learned cycling safety and practicing skills outdoors while raising their heart rate and just having fun. The students completed standardized questionnaires before and after the program designed to measure their health.
“We know cycling can benefit the body. Our research shows how it benefits the mind and social relationships as well. Bike riding can be an ideal activity for adolescents because of the benefits it offers,” said Wilson.
“Cycling engages several parts of brain function. You are looking at your hearing, you’re balancing, you’re navigating and turning. Oftentimes, you’re doing it with someone else, so there’s the positive effect of company or group activity,” said Allan Reiss, a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine.
While exercise has powerful mental health benefits, it’s not universal. For example, previous research has shown that teenage girls are at higher risk of mental health problems like depression and anxiety than boys. The current study found that, while middle school girls reported increased well-being after participating in the cycling program, that increase “may just reach the kind of baseline level for male students,” Wilson said. And other aspects of healthy living are also important, noted Wilson. The study found that teenagers who didn’t limit screen time to a maximum of two hours a day, or who got less than the recommended 8.5 hours of sleep, saw less improvement in their well-being, he said.
1. What does the new study mainly focus on?| A．Challenges in middle school. | B．Youths in America. |
| C．Physical benefits of cycling. | D．Mental effects of bike riding. |
| A．Attend the cycling class for a week. |
| B．Learn how to keep safe while cycling. |
| C．Raise their heart rate by cycling indoors. |
| D．Design questions to measure their health. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Unclear. | D．Negative. |
| A．Application of the research results. |
| B．Doubts about the research methods. |
| C．Further explanation of the research findings. |
| D．Supporting evidence from previous research. |
3 . Do you want to go to play some basketball in between hitting the books? Doctors are starting to find more and more information that suggests a connection between exercise and brain development.
Judy Cameron, a scientist at Oregon Health and Science University, studies brain development, According to her research, it seems that exercise can make blood vessels (血管), including those in the brain, stronger and more fully developed. Dr. Cameron is sure that this allows people who exercise to think better. As she says, “While we already know that exercise is good for the heart, exercise can actually cause physical changes in the brain.”
The effects of exercise on brain development can even be seen in babies, Babies who often do activities show greater brain development than babies who are less physically active. Even a little movement can show big results. Margaret Barnes, a scientist, also believes in the importance of exercise. She thinks that many learning disabilities that children have in primary school or high school can result from a lack of movement as babies.
Older people can develop their brains as well. Cornell University studied a group of seniors who have a short-term memory increase of up to 40 percent after exercising just three hours a week. Also, exercise for older people should not be too simple. Learning some new skills or actions, such as with yoga or tai-chi, helps to open up memory paths in the brain that may not have been used for a long time. For most people, any type of physical activity that increases the heart rate is helpful. The main aim is to increase the brain’s flow of blood. And your brain can benefit from as little as two to three hours of exercise a week.
1. What is the main idea of this text?| A．How to exercise every week. | B．How exercise makes people strong. |
| C．How exercise helps the brain develop. | D．How the brain can change one’s memory. |
| A．Exercise helps soften our blood vessels. | B．Physical exercise helps us think better. |
| C．The brain needs special mental exercise. | D．The more exercise, the bigger the brain. |
| A．It can be done in groups. | B．It does good to the bones of old people. |
| C．It does not increase the heart rate. | D．It includes learning new skills. |
| A．It can improve the brain’s flow of blood. | B．It can slow down the brain’s flow of blood. |
| C．It can change older people’s mood for the better. | D．It can make seniors forget previous terrible things. |
4 . Physical education, or gym class, isn’t required for all high school students. In some schools, it isn’t offered for some different reasons. But should high school students have physical education? The answer is certainly “yes”.
Today many people don’t do sports. But as is known to all, doing sports is very important for an adult. Teaching teens the importance of a healthy lifestyle and making fitness plans now can help teens put exercise in the first place as an adult.
High school isn’t that easy. Many students are under a lot of stress. Stress can be harmful to a student’s studies and life. Doing sports can help them deal with stress better, helping them live a happier life at school.
The American Heart Association says that 10 million kids and teens suffer from obesity (肥胖症). Teens should get 60 minutes of physical activity per day to control their weight and to help their bones get stronger.
The increase in activities that don’t get teens to move around, such as video games and computer activities, means many teens don’t get their required exercise. Physical education classes act as a public health measure to encourage activity and help teens have healthy weights.
Inactivity increases teens’ risk of developing many diseases. An active lifestyle offers a good way of protection from these health problems. As much as 75 percent of health-care spending goes toward treating medical conditions that can be hindered by lifestyle changes, according to the American College of Sports Medicine.
According to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN), students who performed five hours of physical activity each week improved their academic (学业的) performance. Students from programs with no physical activity, who used the extra time for classroom study, did not perform better on tests than those who gave up some study time in support of physical education.
1. According to Paragraph 2, what does physical education in high school mean?| A．Helping teens learn to make good plans. |
| B．Removing the stress faced by teens at school. |
| C．Getting teens to encourage adults to exercise. |
| D．Making teens attach importance to exercise later. |
| A．Measured. | B．Shown. | C．Prevented. | D．Caused. |
| A．Helping students do better in their studies. |
| B．Helping students make good use of all their time. |
| C．Helping students adjust to their studies better. |
| D．Making students choose between sports and studies. |
| A．How high school students can live a better life. |
| B．Why high school students should receive physical education. |
| C．Why some schools consider physical education important. |
| D．How schools can help students love doing sports. |
5 . The International University Sports Federation (FISU) was founded in1949.
At the heart of the university sports movement lie FISU’s sports events—summer edition of the FISU World University Games, winter edition of the FISU World University Games, FISU World University Championships, and the FISU University World Cups.
The FISU World University Games are the largest global sports events for student-athletes. Held every two years in different cities around the world, they bring together thousands of athletes from over 150 countries.
With high-level competition, FISU sports events are recognized stepping stones for other major events at the international level. They’re open to university student-athletes.
| A．The education is important. |
| B．But it doesn’t mean all can take part. |
| C．It tries to offer students the chance to play sports. |
| D．The FISU World University Championships are single sport competitions. |
| E．Its responsibility is towards millions of university students across the world. |
| F．Across the totality of its events, the FISU sports program covers more than 60 sports. |
| G．In addition to the sports competitions, FISU stages educational events and programs. |
6 . Now, new research suggests frequent exercise might help you live well in another meaningful way—that is, in terms of income. Researchers investigated whether individuals who stayed active would earn more money as a result of their active lifestyle. It revealed that staying active not only resulted in higher present earnings, but also predicted increased future income throughout one’s life.
The researchers set out to explore three key correlations (相互关系)：How mobility-the ability to move, affected income, how mobility influenced income overtime, and whether exercise could help people maintain their mobility as they aged. The team analyzed data from Health and Retirement Study(HRS), the largest study tracking changes overtime in Americans aged 50 and above. This study takes into account various life aspects, including work, social status, health, psychology and family matters, as individuals age.
To evaluate the impact of current mobility on income, the researchers examined data from over 19, 000 respondents (调查对象) to determine how well they could perform simple tasks, such as climbing stairs, or moving around a room. Each person received a score, with 5 indicating full mobility and 0 indicating difficulties with these tasks. The researchers found that for each decrease in the mobility category, individuals lost out on an average of $3, 000 in annual income compared to their peers. Those who were active were also significantly more likely to remain working for longer than the other group. It appeared that engaging in exercise enabled individuals to maintain mobility and engage in professional life for a longer period of time than those who were less active.
Looking at earnings overtime revealed even more substantial benefits for those who remained active throughout their lives. Active individuals showed an overall income level that was $6, 500 higher, along with higher rates of employment. For the third part of the study, it’s not surprising that those who engaged in exercise continued to maintain their mobility after the age of 55 and had higher employment rates. Even exercising just one day a week showed improvements in mobility outcomes.
While this study doesn’t definitively prove that leading a healthy lifestyle directly leads to higher earnings, it strongly suggests that staying healthy and mobile brings benefits beyond just lower levels of disease.
1. What didn’t researchers take into consideration when designing their experiment?| A．Family matters | B．Work and social status |
| C．Health and psychology | D．Educational background |
| A．Increased mobility slightly reduces annual income |
| B．Greater mobility is closely related to higher income |
| C．Decreased mobility greatly increases the overall income |
| D．Maintaining mobility has nothing to do with the income |
| A．Favorable | B．Indifferent | C．Opposed | D．Doubtful |
| A．Exercise Lowers Levels of All Diseases |
| B．Exercise Promotes Work Efficiency |
| C．Exercise Helps to Make More Money |
| D．Exercise Ensures A Longer Lifespan |
7 . Some Winter Activities
Winter activities are underestimated (低估). The days may be shorter, but the list of fun activities isn’t. Don’t let the winter blues take over.
Finding your favourite.
Walking on snow.
Skiing. Those that love it really love it. Hitting the ski hills is an old wintertime tradition. It gets you outside, boosts your mood, and serves as a core workout. You don’t need the latest gear (设备) to be able to have fun.
| A．Go to the gym. |
| B．Learning something. |
| C．Most ski fields rent gear too. |
| D．Be active and try these winter activities. |
| E．The following are things you can do at home. |
| F．You needn’t be an athlete to enjoy this seasonal activity. |
| G．The key to keeping healthy is finding what you enjoy doing. |
8 . Trainers and parents saw children play sports at a young age and then saw them become professional. Many correlated the training to success. Competitive sports are good for young children because they teach children life skills, provide health benefits, and offer special opportunities.
To begin with, sports teach children life skills. A formal athlete stated, “I played soccer in high school and college and found team sports weren’t just about winning, but also about developing a solid ethic(行为准则), and learning why that’s important.” In short, playing highly competitive sports teaches kids many life skills like teamwork. People will have to use teamwork for the rest of their life, and sports can help them improve that skill. Taking part in sports can help develop a positive attitude towards life, which will help in the long run.
Sports are also good for kids because they provide health benefits. It is healthier for a kid to play a sport competitively than to waste time playing video games all day. Furthermore, a research group of University of California said, “96 percent of the participants(参与者) said they enjoy their sports. They’re all loving life.” That is to say, kids playing highly competitive sports tend to enjoy life instead of doing something else like watching TV.
On the other hand, some people might argue that competitive sports are bad for young children because they are so time-consuming. However, the time spent is not “robbing” kids of their childhood, but offers unique opportunities. Athletes can get success to live their dream life by playing sports. Even though sports are time-consuming, they offer distinctive opportunities.
In conclusion, competitive sports are good for children because they can provide wholesome benefits, create new experiences, and build skills that will last a lifetime.
1. Why is the formal athlete mentioned in paragraph 2?| A．To show a reason | B．To give an example. |
| C．To list a background. | D．To draw out a new point. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Uncertain. | C．Uncaring. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．Common | B．Unreasonable | C．Unique. | D．Frequent. |
| A．The ways to play sports. |
| B．The reasons for playing sports. |
| C．The problems of kids’ playing sports. |
| D．The benefits of kids’ playing sports. |
9 . The 2024 “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency (熟练，精通) Competition for Foreigners across the Globe—Calligraphy and Painting Challenge has been officially announced.
This competition invites painting, calligraphy, and Chinese language lovers from all around the world to take part in this exciting event.
Participants (参赛选手) are encouraged to submit (提交) their creative themes for the contest, with the theme selection process being determined through public vote.
If you’re interested, feel free to submit the theme that you believe fits best with the requirements of the competition.
Here are the requirements:
Who Can Apply
The call for creative themes for the Calligraphy and Painting Challenge is open to any Chinese language lovers worldwide, with no limits on age or countries.
Submission Dates
Submissions will be accepted from June 30, 2023 to June 15, 2024 (Beijing Time).
Announcement Date
The selected theme for the Calligraphy and Painting Challenge will be announced on July 1, 2024, which also marks the official start date of the submission period for works under the selected theme.
Submission Methods
Participants can send their theme and related information to chinesebridge@chineseplus.net. “Chinese Bridge” also accepts direct messages on its official account on Facebook, Instagram, WeChat, and Weibo.
1. Which of the following is the requirement for the competition?| A．The participants must be Chinese. |
| B．The participants must be more than 18 years old. |
| C．The participants must submit their personal information. |
| D．The participants should love painting, calligraphy, and Chinese language. |
| A．June 12, 2024. | B．June 1, 2023. |
| C．June 20, 2023. | D．July 1, 2024. |
| A．To set up a competition organization. |
| B．To attract more people to learn Chinese. |
| C．To collect creative themes for a competition. |
| D．To call on people to pay attention to “Chinese Bridge”. |
10 . Bored? Lonely? Out of condition? Need to relax? Why not try the Sports Center?
Tennis
Indoor and outdoor courts. Coaching from beginners to advanced learners. Children only. Mornings.
Skiing
Gentle slopes (坡) . Instructors of three levels at weekends and on Fridays. Daytime practice. Eight years old upwards.
Swimming
Two pools, heated, Olympic length.
Women: Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Men: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Children: Saturdays.
Golf
Nine-hole practice course. Professional coaching. Lessons must be booked in advance in daytime. Evening practice. Nine years old upwards.
Gymnastics
Children aged 5— 10: 4 pm— 6 pm, Mondays and Wednesdays.
Children aged 10— 18: Friday evenings.
And Many More
Table tennis, snooker and darts (掷镖游戏) .
Center open: 10 am— 10 pm daily.
Interested? Please call 800-1234-5678 to know more details.
1. How many sports events are mentioned in the text?| A．5. | B．6. | C．8. | D．9. |
| A．Children can play tennis in the afternoon. |
| B．People over 20 can also do gymnastics. |
| C．Children at any age can play golf in the center. |
| D．Men and women swim in the center separately. |
| A．To show some ways to spend weekends. | B．To introduce a place to relax ourselves. |
| C．To tell some events in a sports meet. | D．To give people some ideas to plan a holiday. |
