1 . 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. |
2 . Killer Our 100-Word-Story Competition
Our much-loved 100-Word-Story Competition is back! Enter for the chance to win prizes of up to £1,000. It is your opportunity to show the world your storytelling talents!
Rules and prizes
Please make sure that compositions are original, not published before. Just write exactly 100 words (not including title) — not a single word shorter or longer! Don’t forget to include your full name, address, email and phone number when filling in the form. We may use entries (参赛作品) in all print and electronic media.
There are three age groups — one for adults and two for schools: one for children aged 12-18 and one for children under 12. The winner of each group will receive £1,000 and the one in the second place will receive £250.
Terms and conditions
Entries are now open and the cut-off date is February 1, 2024, either online or by post addressed to:
| Reader’s Digest 100 Word Story Competition Warners Group Publications West Street Bourne PE10 9PH |
The editorial team will pick a shortlist of entries, and the three best stories in each group will be posted online at readersdigest.co.uk on March 1. You can vote for your favorite, and the one with the most votes will win the top prize. Voting will close on March 31. The winner list will be posted online on April 16 and the winning entries will be published in our May 2024 issue.
Enter your story here — good luck!
1. Which of the following will result in disqualification?| A．Never being published before. | B．Mailing your entry on January 31. |
| C．Writing a story of 120 words. | D．Creating a story originally. |
| A．Editors and voters. | B．Children under 12. | C．The media. | D．The publisher. |
| A．In February. | B．In March. | C．In April. | D．In May. |
3 . Chinese sprinter Su Bingtian called himself one of the biggest beneficiaries of sport exchange between China and the Western world in an interview with China News Service (CNS).
31-year-old Su made history in the Tokyo Olympics by setting the new Asian record for men’s 100mat 9.83 seconds in the semifinal and finishing sixth in the final at 9.98 seconds. There used to be the biased view that no Asian sprinter can finish 100m within 10 seconds. Su proved people wrong with his performance. “I never thought we couldn’t do it, but there have been some problems with our concept of training the whole time. Now we did it by finishing at 9.83 seconds. That’s best proof to beat such prejudice,” said Su to CNS.
Su Bingtian of China celebrates after finishing men’s 100msemifinal at 9.83 seconds in the Tokyo Olympics at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, August I, 2021./CFP
Su believes scientific training plays a key role in his success. “I realized that running as much as possible does not necessarily help you run faster. Scientific training attaches more importance to applying of technique and requires you to do it right instead of doing it a lot. In that way, athletes can save more strength in training and recover faster,” said Su.
According to Su, he did not understand some of the moves coaches asked him to do when he went to train abroad at the beginning. It took him years to realize the importance of scientific training, especially stamina allocation (耐力分配), as well as how to do it on the field. “That’s why I chose to change how I started off at the end of 2014 and acquired a new running pace,” said Su.
Su and his American coach Randy Huntington began to cooperate in 2017. Huntington made detailed analysis of Su’s condition based on “champion model” from the start before arranging specific training sessions for Su to work on. Su said that played a key role in the process of him making breakthrough.
When asked if there will be another “Su Bingtian” in the future, Su’s answer was “Yes, 100 percent.” “People in the future can definitely do what I can do. I’m looking forward to seeing if they can do it better than me. All records are to be broken,” said Su.
1. Why did Su change his way of training?| A．Because coaches asked him to do so when he went to train abroad. |
| B．Because coaches analyzed Su’s condition based on “champion model”. |
| C．Because he grasped the significance and methods of scientific training. |
| D．Because he wanted to save more strength in training and recover faster. |
| A．People will do the same as Su Bingtian did. |
| B．No body will do what Su Bingtian has done. |
| C．Su Bingtian wants to see who will break his record. |
| D．Su Bingtian thinks someone will do better than him. |
| A．The first Chinese to set the new world record for men’s 100m race. |
| B．The first Asian to finish the men’s 100m race within 10 seconds. |
| C．The first Asian sprinter to break the Olympic record for men’s 100m race. |
| D．The first Asian to enter the men’s 100m final at the Olympic Games. |
4 . We all want to keep fit and stay healthy, but a few things may prevent it: laziness, a busy schedule, and maybe even a limited spend.
Babysit.
If you have your own kids, you’ll probably agree that looking after kids can help keep you fit. If you don’t, you can experience the wonderful world of toddlerhood by volunteering or signing up for a babysitting job. The best ages to babysit are those toddler years (2 through 5). Why?
Care for your yard.
Have you checked your storeroom, basement and kitchen lately? Well, moving small items from their storage areas and turning them into boxes for sale, donation pick-ups or just further storage will get your blood exciting. Even just pushing around a dust cleaner, or sweeping your garage floor should oil your joints (关节).
Use someone else’s sports or exercise equipment (设备).
Have you checked under your bed lately? All around the nation, there is a flood of unused exercise equipment sitting around in garages and hiding in spare rooms and basements.
| A．Be your own gardener |
| B．Volunteer or get active work |
| C．Clean out or organize your house |
| D．Actually there are some free ways to move your body! |
| E．You could have these things right under your very nose. |
| F．It doesn’t really take much to get yourself into better shape. |
| G．In that case, you have to carry, lift, run and follow them around all day. |
5 . Kangaroo Kids
Fall Jump Rope Workshop
Invited: All skill levels, kids ages 6 and up
Skills Taught: Single / Long Rope, Speed, and Double Dutch (交互花式跳绳)
Learn new skills with nationally recognized jumpers!
Jumpers must be willing to learn and have fun!
Saturday, November 9, 9:00-16:00
North Laurel Community Center
9411 Whiskey Bottom Rd • Laurel, MD 20723
Participant Fee: $55 by 10/21 ($65 after 10/21)Judge’s Clinic Fee: $25 by 10/21 ($35 after 10/21)
How to Register (register by 10/30)
Use our online registration system for all event registrations, T-shirt orders; and lunch orders. Please register and pay at http://registration. kanagrookids.org/FallWorkshop. First-time users will create a user account to register for the Fall Workshop as a participant. Please create only one user account per household. All members of a family will be part of one account.
NOTE: PLEASE REGISTER AS EARLYAS POSSILE, ASPACE IS LIMITED.
T-shirt OrderWorkshop T-shirts: $18, order by 10/18. Shirt Size (please circle during order): YS/ YM /YL/AS/ AM /AL
Jump ropes, T-shirts, shorts, tennis shoes, and water bottles will be available for sale at the event on November 9. There will be instructors helping adjust the length of your jump ropes.
Lunch OrderSubway lunch (sandwich or salad, fruit drinks and cookies): $8, order by 10/30.
Workshop Hours: 9:00-12:00 and 1:30-4:00
Lunch: 12:00-1:30
1. What is the early bird participant fee?| A．$25. | B．$35. | C．$55. | D．$65. |
| A．Bring their own lunch. | B．Create one registration account. |
| C．Register for the same instructor. | D．Adjust the length of their jump ropes in advance. |
| A．10/18. | B．10/21. | C．10/30. | D．11/9. |
6 . The 2024 “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreigners across the Globe—Calligraphy and Painting Challenge has been officially announced.
This competition invites painting, calligraphy, and Chinese language enthusiasts from all around the world to take part in this exciting event.
Participants are encouraged to submit their creative themes for the contest, with the theme selection process being determined through public nominations.
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 enthusiasts worldwide, with no limit to age or nationality.
Submission Dates
Submissions will be accepted from June 15, 2024, to 12:00 PM on June 30, 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. Who can be invited to the competition?| A．Tom who is crazy about Spanish. |
| B．Sandy who is creative in writing. |
| C．Lucy whose nationality is Chinese. |
| D．Bill who loves Chinese and calligraphy. |
| A．June 12, 2024. | B．July 1, 2024. |
| C．June 20, 2024. | D．July 15, 2024. |
| A．To build a competition organization. |
| B．To provide information about a competition. |
| C．To announce the opening of a competition. |
| D．To collect creative themes for a competition. |
7 . On Sunday, Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia shocked the running world by breaking the women’s world record for the marathon by over two minutes. Assefa finished the Berlin Marathon in just 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 53 seconds.
But Assefa’s record was far beyond what most people expected. After all, it was only her third time running a marathon.
“I wanted to break the marathon world record,” she said, “But I couldn’t imagine that it would result in a time under 2:12.”
When Assefa was younger, she started by running short races, called sprints. Then she became a middle-distance runner, running the 800 meters (half mile) race. Her best time in the 800 meters was 1 minute and 59 seconds.
Last March, she ran her first marathon. Then last September, she entered the Berlin Marathon. She won, and set a new women’s record for the course, finishing in 2:15:37.
This year, she ran almost four minutes faster than she did last year. In both races, Assefa ran faster in the second half of the race than she did in the first half.
Her time of 2:11:53 was over two minutes faster than the old women’s record (2:14:04), which was set in Chicago in 2019 by Brigid Kosgei of Kenya.
When she finished the race, Assefa kneeled down and kissed the pavement before raising her arms in victory.
Though Assefa made it look easy, she said winning the race “…was the result of hard work.” Assefa was coached by Gemedu Dedefo, who has helped train many Ethiopian star runners.
1. What is Assefa’s latest record for the marathon?| A．2:11:53. | B．2:14:04. | C．2:15:37. | D．1:59:00. |
| A．It is what she expected. | B．It is a piece of cake for her. |
| C．It is due to great effort. | D．It is because of her coach. |
| A．Talented. | B．Friendly. | C．Humorous. | D．Warm-hearted. |
| A．Dedefo Helps to Train Many Star Runners |
| B．Kosgei Holds the Women’s Marathon Record |
| C．Assefa Sets a Good Example to Other Runners |
| D．Assefa Breaks the Women’s Marathon Record |
8 . Clothes Upcycling (升级改造) Contest 2024
Are you passionate about fashion and the environment? Do you have a creative mind and want to make a positive impact on the planet? Then we have a contest for you!
We are excited to launch the Love Your Chelmsford Upcycling Clothes Contest for secondary school ages(11-18 years), to promote extending the life of our clothes and save them from going to landfills! Upcycling clothes has many benefits including reducing the impact of buying new on natural resources and reducing your carbon footprint.
You have to create clothes from used materials, and transform them into something new and exciting. Each applicant can be one individual person or one group. Applicants can apply multiple times, but only be qualified to win with one submission (提交).
How to Participate:To enter, you must be a resident of Chelmsford and aged 11-18. We will require a before and after picture of your shoes or clothes upcycling project along with a description of the materials and techniques that you used to create your masterpiece (作品). Please send your submission to loveyourchelmsford@chelmsford.gov.uk by June 30, 2024.
Recommended:Show the creation process of your masterpiece and share where everything came from.
Prizes:*Up to 100 applicants will have the option to be listed on our website to sell their upcycled work.
*The most impressive upcycled masterpiece will win a £100 Gift Voucher (礼品券) to shop at Glass Onion, plus there are 5 runner-up prizes of a 183-piece sewing kit.
1. What do we know about the contest?| A．Group work will not be accepted. |
| B．The participants can apply more than once. |
| C．One participant can win more than one prize. |
| D．Winning pieces will be selected on June 30, 2024. |
| A．A picture of the remaining materials. | B．A list of tools involved. |
| C．A description of the techniques used. | D．A video of the making process. |
| A．A £100 Gift Voucher. | B．An amount of cash. |
| C．A free trip to Glass Onion. | D．A 183-piece sewing kit. |
9 . A cancer survivor has become the first woman to complete an exhausting “Sea to Summit” triathlon (三项全能运动), which saw her swim, cycle, and run over 330 miles in just five days. Andrea Mason was overjoyed when she crossed the finish line early Wednesday morning.
The race was set in the French Alps. Setting off at 6:15 am on Friday, 39-year-old Mason battled through severe pain, and hallucinations (幻觉), but she pushed on — managing to complete the race in an impressive four days, 23 hours, and 41 minutes. Andrea had been diagnosed with cancer and needed life-saving surgery. Following a successful operation, she is now hoping to raise awareness of women’s health. In the past year, Andrea set up her own charity, Lady Talk Matters, in order to improve surrounding females’ health.
Andrea, from Blackpool in Lancashire, England, said, “I am so happy all went according to the plan as there were so many things that could have gone wrong. I wanted to do it in five days and I did so, but it was very tough. I had some low moments, particularly when I couldn’t sleep in my limited rest periods, and when I couldn’t keep any food down as I was running. For sure, I had some doubts along the way as I was exploring the unknown with such a huge run, particularly as large parts of it were in the dark. It was bigger than I imagined. The impact on my body was huge. But every time I felt like giving up, I thought about all the women out there in pain or who still hadn’t been diagnosed. That is why I put myself through this.”
Andrea had to swim 23 miles around Lake Annecy, cycle 205 miles with 30,000 feet of vertical climbing around Mont Blanc, and run 105 miles with 4,000 feet of vertical climbing around The Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc. You could say Andrea’s actually spent a lifetime training for an event like this. She completed her first three-mile race “powered by chocolate bars” when she was just four.
1. Why is the woman special?| A．She won first in the race of the triathlon. |
| B．She survived cancer and finished the triathlon. |
| C．She tried to promote the triathlon after regaining health. |
| D．She recovered from cancer after exercising for the triathlon. |
| A．An organization for helping people in need. |
| B．A group of people meeting for a very amusing game. |
| C．A group of people chosen to make decisions or schedules. |
| D．A government organization responsible for a certain area of administration. |
| A．She lost her way due to the darkness. |
| B．She couldn’t swallow food while running. |
| C．She fell down when climbing around Mont Blanc. |
| D．She rode her cycle so hard that it broke down on the way. |
| A．She ran the 105 miles. | B．She sailed the 30 miles. |
| C．She swam the 23 miles. | D．She cycled the 205 miles. |
10 . Arm wrestling(扳手腕) is a type of athletic contest.
Like many other sports, there are different classes in arm wrestling. For championships, players are divided into classes by weight.
Arm wrestling has a very long history. It started as just a Saturday night past time. A journalist named Bill Soberanes founded the sport around 1952. Since the American Armsport Association(AAA) sanctioned(认可) it, many organizations have worked hard to support and promote competitive arm wrestling.
Now, arm wrestling attracts a variety of people, of all ages and backgrounds.
| A．There are two competitors in the contest. |
| B．Their health conditions need to be considered. |
| C．Arm wrestling is widely accepted among the young. |
| D．Many people don’t think of arm wrestling as a sport. |
| E．It can be as exciting for the young as it is for the old. |
| F．They contribute to improving the image people have of arm wrestling. |
| G．There are also different divisions for those who wrest with the right hand, in contrast to those with left one. |
