1 . Running and walking are both excellent forms of exercise. Those who regularly do either usually have healthier hearts, stronger bones and lower body weights than those who do little exercise. But does it matter whether you spend time walking or running? Arguments can be made for both, and which is right for you depends on your goals and your present fitness level.
“The key difference between running and walking is how many calories you are burning — not per mile, but per minute of exercise,” says Paul D. Thompson, a doctor at Hartford Hospital. “Running is a more efficient movement and it’s more demanding on the body, so it burns more calories per minute,” Thompson says. “But if you’ve got the time to walk long enough to burn the same amount of calories, then walking is fine.” That said, if your final goal is to lose weight, chances are that neither running nor walking alone is going to do the trick. Research has shown that it needs to be done along with calorie control.
In a recent study that analyzed data from nearly 50, 000 people, researchers found that runners’risk of heart disease was 4.5 percent lower than that of those who were inactive. But walkers who burned the same amount of calories daily had a risk level that was 9 percent lower than those who were inactive.
“Running gets the reputation for causing injuries because many people who are just starting to run try to do too much too quickly,” says Carol Ewing Garber, a professor at Columbia University. “And they often get injured as a result. If you want to progress from walking to running, do it slowly, gradually increasing your speed, distance and the frequency of your runs?”
Running may be more highly-intense and calorie-burning than walking, but walking is a great way to ease into exercise and make sure you are staying physically active every day. The bottom line is that getting exercise of any kind is beneficial — if you keep doing it.
“The best exercise is the one you are going to do,” Thompson says. “There are extra benefits to be gained from running, but what’s most important from a public health point of view is that everyone gets out and does some kind of exercise?”
1. What can we infer from Paragraph 2?| A．Walking is more demanding on the body. |
| B．Walking is better than running for busy people. |
| C．Running can reduce people’s fat quickly and safely. |
| D．Exercise on its own is not enough to lose weight. |
| A．Walking can reduce the risk of having heart disease. |
| B．Walkers are more likely to get heart disease than runners. |
| C．Running burns fewer calories than walking. |
| D．Inactive people are free from heart problems. |
| A．We’d better walk slowly. |
| B．Any exercise is better than none. |
| C．We’d better choose to run. |
| D．Just walk before you run. |
2 . 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. |
3 . Want to reduce your risk for dementia (痴呆)? Turn on a step counter and start counting your steps — you’ll need between 3,800 and 9,800 each day to reduce your risk of mental decline, according to a new study.
People between the ages of 40 and 79 who took 9,826 steps per day were 50% less likely to develop dementia within seven years, the study found. Furthermore, people who walked with “purpose” — at a pace over 40 steps a minute — were able to cut their risk of dementia by 57% with just 6,315 steps a day.
Even people who walked approximately 3,800 steps a day at any speed cut their risk of dementia by 25%, the study also showed.
“That would be enough, at first, for sedentary (久坐不动的) individuals,” said study coauthor Borja del Pozo Cruz, a senior researcher in health sciences for the University of Cadiz. in Spain, in an email. “In fact, it is a message that doctors could use to motivate very sedentary older adults — 4,000 steps is very achievable by many, even those that are less fit or do not feel very motivated.” he added. “Perhaps, more active and fitter individuals should aim for 10,000 steps, where we see maximum effects.”
But there was a even more interesting result buried in the study, according to an editorial (社论) entitled “Is 112 the New 10,000?” published Tuesday in JAMA Neurology.
The largest reduction in dementia risk — 62% — was achieved by people who walked at a very brisk pace of 112 steps per minute for 30 minutes a day, the study found. Prior research has labeled 100 steps a minute (2.7 miles per hour) as a “quick and energetic” or moderate level of intensity.
The editorial argued that individuals looking to reduce their risk of dementia focus on their walking pace over their walked distance.
“We do agree this is a very interesting finding,” said del Pozo Cruz via email. “Our take is that intensity of stepping matters! Over and above volume. Technology could be used to track not only number of steps but also pace and so these types of metrics can also be included in commercial watches. More research is needed on this.”
1. Why are the statistics listed in the passage?| A．To indicate researchers hardworking. |
| B．To make the research goal achievable. |
| C．To show the research process complex. |
| D．To prove the research finding accurate. |
| A．Taking steps of 9,826 each day. |
| B．Reducing the risk of dementia by 57%. |
| C．Walking at a pace over 40 steps a minute. |
| D．Walking about 3,800 steps a day at any speed. |
| A．The technology of tracking pace in commercial watches will be further explored. |
| B．The factors that reduce the risk of dementia will be researched in the new field. |
| C．The reasons why walking is effective in reducing dementia risk will be studied. |
| D．Various commercial watches will be widely used to reduce the risk of dementia. |
| A．Walking can prevent dementia. |
| B．Walked distance cures dementia! |
| C．Walking pace cuts dementia risk? |
| D．Walking makes people more energetic. |
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 . 4 WRITING COMPETITIONS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Calling all high school student writers! If you’re looking for scholarships or ways to support your future education, look no further than writing competitions.
Below are 4 writing competitions for high school students. Check them now!
Scholastic Writing Awards
The Scholastic Writing Awards celebrate was created by students aged 13 and older in grades 7 through 12 across the country. You can submit(提交) all kinds of writing works, including science fiction, humor, short plays, and more.
Gold medal winners can earn a $10,000 scholarship, and silver medal winners can earn a$1,000 scholarship. The fee to apply is $7 for a single entry.
Young Lions Fiction Award
To apply for this award, any writer aged 35 or younger may submit a novel or collection of short stories. Each year, a group of experts including Young Lions members, writers, and librarians select the winner.
The winner of this award will receive a $11.000 scholarship.
NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship
High school students of all ages can have access to this creative writing scholarship. Students can submit works (that have not been published before)in one or both categories (类别): poetry and fiction.
A prize of $2,000 ill be awarded to one student winner in each category.
We the Students Essay Competitions
This competition asks students to answer the question, “What are the important qualities of a citizen in your community in 21st century America?” in an essay between 500 and 800 words. Students must be US citizens between the ages of 14 and 19 to apply.
One national winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize and six runners-up will receive $1,250 each.
1. If you have created a short play, which competition is suitable for you to enter?| A．Scholastic Writing Awards. | B．Young Lions Fiction Award. |
| C．NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship. | D．We the Students Essay Competition. |
| A．Scholastic Writing Awards. | B．Young Lions Fiction Award. |
| C．NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship. | D．We the Students Essay Competition. |
| A．A club’s poster. | B．A teaching plan. | C．A school’s website. | D．A principal’s speech. |
1. What prize will the winners receive?
| A．5,000 yuan. | B．A teller in Writer’s Digest. |
| C．Attend pitch slam slot challenge. | D．A paid trip to WD annual meeting. |
| A．Hand in your work. | B．Enter the website. |
| C．Register an account. | D．Pay necessary fees. |
| A．A website. | B．A guidebook. | C．A novel. | D．A diary. |
7 . For some school children, PE is the best lesson of the week — a chance to leave the desk behind, get outside, and enjoy a run around with friends. For others, it is often an unhappy experience — a time when they feel embarrassed, and may even experience physical pain.
The idea of competitive sport was a clear source of argument. Those who were good at it did not want those less able to “get in the way”, while those less skilled felt annoyed for being made to compete. They also felt less “liked” by their PE teachers and their more sporty classmates.
Research shows that participation (参与) first over excellence can dramatically increase the confidence and participation rates of those less skilled — because it really is the taking part that matters. If schools value taking part above winning against other schools, the nature of PE changes.
As one pupil commented (评论): “I have actually joined the football team now, because all the violence has gone. Before it was, ‘You made us lose the game…, it’s all your fault.’ With the new approach, it is more like we are all in there just trying to get better. No one is to blame. Now it is worth doing.”
To those who argue we need competitive sport to “build character”, I would point out that there is quite simply no evidence to support this view. But what we can build if we allow young people to work together in a spirit of support and cooperation in the competitive sport is leadership and mutual understanding.
If we need competitive sport to build our national teams, this should happen out of school. PE is about the participation of all — not the excellence of a few.
At home, the most important thing a parent can do for a child who struggles with PE is to take their concerns seriously. Being physically active is very important for children and young people, so how, when, and at what level they do it should be their first choice.
1. What does the author consider the most important in PE lessons?| A．The rules of teachers. | B．The available sports activities. |
| C．The participation of students. | D．The spirit of winning over others. |
| A．To support his argument. | B．To praise the boy’s behavior. |
| C．To explain the new approach. | D．To prove the violence of football. |
| A．Leadership. | B．Character. | C．Cooperation. | D．Mutual understanding. |
| A．By making a plan for them. |
| B．By letting them choose what to do. |
| C．By giving them psychological advice. |
| D．By encouraging them to be the most excellent. |
8 . Many hear endlessly how good exercise is for our health,but you might be surprised to know just how good.
It helps you breathe better.
Frequent exercise improves the volume of oxygen you can use in your body.This is what makes you fit and the benefits aren’t limited to sport.
Physical activity enhances your mental health.
Doing something active releases “happy” brain chemicals that make you more positive.The more you do it,the better you’ll feel.But you do need to work up a sweat.If you’ve had a bad day,treat yourself to a little bit of exercise.
The way your guts (内脏) feel often impacts on your mental and physical health.Walking,running and yoga strengthen abdominal (腹部的)muscles,increase the heart rate and encourage your muscles to move digestive waste through your body more efficiently and digest food more quickly.
Keeping active keeps you young.
There may not be an elixir (灵丹妙药) of youth just yet,but keeping fit comes close.Just 15 minutes of exercise a day for eight years can increase your lifespan by three years.The more you do,the longer you could live.
| A．It aids your digestion. |
| B．It gives you a better appetite. |
| C．Increased muscle strength helps too. |
| D．Here are the benefits you can get from exercise. |
| E．This is because physical activity delays cell ageing. |
| F．People think this will catch our attention and inspire our action. |
| G．Power walking or rope skipping is a brilliant stress reliever. |
9 . Are you preparing for a big test? If so, you may want 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 claims this allows people who exercise to concentrate better. She says, “ While we already know that exercise is good for the heart, exercise can really cause physical changes in the brain.”
The effects of exercise on brain development can even be seen in babies. Babies who do activities that require a lot of movement and physical activity show greater brain development than babies who are less physically active. With babies, even a little movement can show big results.
Older people can beef up (加强) their brain as well. Scientists from 11 universities studied a group of seniors ranging in age from 70 to 79. Their study showed a short-term memory increase of up to 40 per cent after exercising just three hours a week. The exercise does not have to be very difficult, but it does have to increase the heart rate. Also, just like the motion for babies, exercise for seniors should involve some complexity (复杂). Learning some new skills or motions, such as with yoga or Tai Ji, helps open up memory paths in the brain that may not have used for a long time.
For most people, any type of physical activity that increases the heart rate is helpful. The main goal is to increase the brain’s flow of blood. And your brain can benefit from as little as three hours of exercise a week.
1. The passage is mainly about _________.| A．how to exercise | B．how exercise helps the brain |
| C．how to get good scores in a test | D．how the brain can change |
| A．Exercise makes us happy. | B．The brain needs special mental exercise. |
| C．The more exercise, the bigger the brain. | D．Exercise helps the brain develop better. |
| A．Three hours per week | B．Forty hours per week |
| C．Three hours per day | D．Forty hours per month |
| A．It is easy to learn. | B．It can be done in groups. |
| C．It does not increase the heart rate. | D．It can learn some new skills. |
10 . Ice hockey, including Para ice hockey (残奥会冰球), has been recognized by some as a “men’s sport” as it is a full-contact sport that involves lots of body checks. But on the International Women’s Day, many fans at the National Indoor Stadium waited for a female to get on the ice. And there she came.
By the end of the second period of the Para ice hockey game between China and Italy at the Beijing Paralympic Winter Games, Yu Jing of China was called onto the ice. Without any goal or assist, Yu completed her debut (首次比赛). “I think I did really well today,” said Yu with a bunch of flowers in her hands after the game. “This is a perfect gift for me on this special day.”
Poliomyelitis (小儿麻痹) caused disability in her left leg when Yu was very little, but it never stopped her passion for sports. In 2019, Yu took up Para ice hockey. However, the blade that supports the sledge is only three centimeters wide, which is very difficult for beginners to maintain their balance. But Yu was able to sit firmly on the sledge and slid slowly with the sticks the first time on the ice. “I got the confidence immediately,” Yu recalled, adding that fighting for her country on home soil was her biggest incentive.
All the injuries and difficulties didn’t stop Yu from chasing her Para ice hockey dream. She quit her job and turned professional at 36 years old. During training, Yu’s teammates encouraged her and taught her the skills. “Para ice hockey is a mixed competition that opens a door to females with disabilities. If males can do it, so can females,” Yu said. As the only female Para ice hockey player at Beijing 2022, the goal of inspiring more females with disabilities has already been accomplished.
1. Which of the following words can best describe ice hockey?| A．Popular. | B．Rough. |
| C．Entertaining. | D．Relaxing. |
| A．She scored in her first match against Italy. |
| B．She beat her male competitors in training. |
| C．She was disappointed with her holiday gift. |
| D．She showed a talent for playing ice hockey. |
| A．National pride. | B．Professional spirit. |
| C．Her childhood dream. | D．Encouragement from teammates. |
| A．Practice makes perfect. | B．Actions speak louder than words. |
| C．A friend in need is a friend indeed. | D．Where there is a will, there is a way. |
