During the 2023 Lanzhou International Marathon, all eyes were on the elderly couple—Hu Yingfu, 86, and his wife Wang Zhangmin, 77. Many doubted their ability to finish the race,     1     Hu completed the half marathon in two hours and twenty minutes.

Against initial struggles, Hu found a way to motivate himself by counting electric poles while running. “The distance between each electric pole is 50 meters. I run as fast as I can, passing a dozen or so poles.” said Hu.     2     (gradua), his endurance improved, along with his physical condition.

The couple’s love for running started as a way     3     (improve) their fitness, but it quickly became a passion, They participated in a national athletics event     4     the elderly in 2004,     5     (mark) their first-ever national competition. To their surprise, Wang achieved     6     impressive result—the fourth place.

Since then, the elderly couple have become regular     7     (participate) in national athletics events, consistently winning medals, and they     8     (recognize) as well-known figures in the running community.

With a     9     (combine) age of 163, the couple have participated in over 100 marathon races nationwide, whose impact has motivated     10     (count) young individuals to become part of the running community.

Long-term tai chi exercise can be used as a treatment for patients suffering from early-stage Parkinson’s disease(帕金森病), said a research team from Shanghai.

Parkinson’s is     1     progressive and disabling disease of the nervous system, resulting in slowness of movement, uncontrollable arm and leg shakes and muscle inflexibility.     2     is predicted that there     3    (be)nearly 5 million Parkinson’s sufferers in China by 2030. Doctors say patients face problems with current treatments, including some side effects     4    (cause)by long-term medication, and the limited     5    (improve)of patients’ well-being.

In the research,     6     began in 2016, a total of 143 participants trained with coaches twice a week and practiced     7    (regular)at home. Their conditions     8    (compare)with a 187-patient control group. Evaluations of patients in the two groups showed differences in their yearly levels of disease progression, and the patients     9    (practice)tai chi also needed less medical treatment in terms of both drugs and deep-brain stimulus.

Tai chi has been pursued as a treatment for Parkinson’s since 2012 with the specific benefits of long-term practice now     10    (far)clarified by the Shanghai study.

Walking more than 2,200 steps a day could reduce our risk of heart disease and early death, even if we spend the rest of the day     1     (sit) down. That’s according to a study     2     (publish) in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Researchers looked at data from more than 72,000 people in the UK, with     3     average age of 61. Previous studies have linked time spent sitting with early death and heart disease, and walking is known     4     (decrease) these risks. So the research team wanted to find out     5     walking could offset(抵消) the health risks of spending a lot of time sitting.

The study participants     6     (wear) a device on their wrist, which was able to record the     7     (step) they took and the amount of time they spent sitting or lying down. Then they     8     (track) for around seven years afterward. During this time, 1,633 participants died, and almost 6,200 had heart problems like heart attacks and strokes.

The study found that taking between 9,000 and 10,500 steps per day reduced the risk of early death     9     39%, and reduced the risk of heart disease by 21%. That’s even if people were spending a lot of time sitting.

One of the researchers, Matthew Ahmadi said the results show that “all     10     (move) matters” and anyone who has to spend a lot of time sitting should increase the number of steps they take.

Tai Chi is par of China’s traditional culture. It is a unique type of Chinese kung fu marked with slow and gentle movements    1     are designed for self-protection, strengthening of body and prevention of diseases. Tai Chi’s movements with deep breathing and relaxation can help promote inner peace and calm, so it is suitable    2     people of different ages.

Tai Chi    3    (date) back as far as 2, 500 years. It is said that Zhang Sanfeng, a 13th-century Taoist, invented Tai Chi after watching     4     fight between a snake and a bird. However, more people tend to believe that Tai Chi     5     (develop) on the basis of martial arts skills by Chen Wangting, a l7th-century master of Chinese martial arts.   

In general, it is believed that Tai Chi can slow down aging, strengthen muscles, and aid in the treatment of heart disease, skin diseases and many other    6     (illness). Besides, Tai Chi can improve mood if people are worried or depressed. According to some studies,     7    (practice) Tai Chi on a daily basis can also help people get a     8     (good) sleep. With so many benefits of Tai Chi, more and more people begin to pick up this     9     (amaze) Chinese traditional sport to improve the quality of     10     (they) life.

Despite being 75 years old, Chai Tixia’s expertise in Jianzi is truly impressive. With quick kicks, he effortlessly sends the Jianzi into the air and gracefully guides it to land    1     (gentle) on his head.

Jianzi,    2     game that dates back to the Han Dynasty, is surprisingly simple: players must keep the Jianzi in the air,    3     (use) any part of their body except their hands and arms. However, to master this game    4     (require) a lot of practice.

While enjoyed throughout China, Jianzi     5     (describe) by Chai as an important aspect of hutong culture. The narrow alleyways, situated within Beijing’s inner city, provide the setting for the game’s    6     (popular). Each mormning, Chai and his fellow hutong residents gather for their shared passion for Jianzi.

Chai’s spirited matches with his neighbors have a big audience     7     (draw) to the artistry and excitement of the game. The onlookers who watch them playing with great athleticism are amazed at     8     Chai and his fellow players can achieve.

Having practiced Jianzi for over 30 years, Chai cherishes the physical and social     9     (benefit) the game brings. Engaging in lively matches with his neighbors energizes his body, enhances his flexibility,     10     promotes unity within the community. Through Jianzi, Chai harvests not only health but a sense of belonging and friendship.

Every morning, millions of people in China do Tai Chi. It is popular    1    women and men. Tai Chi is    2     good kind of exercise for old people. It is good for the body and the mind. It is healthy and    3     (relax). Tai Chi    4    ( arise) from China. It is    5     (hundred) of years old. Tai Chi is a “soft” martial art (武术),    6     means it is slow and calm.

There are also “hard” martial arts. Shaolin Kung Fu, for example, which has a history of over 1, 500 years, is a “hard” martial art. It is fast and    7    (danger). You have to be very fit and strong    8    (do) “hard” martial arts.

In Beijing, Master Li Yu    9     (teach) Shaolin Kung Fu to thirty young students now, three of whom come from abroad. “Shaolin Kung Fu is    10     (extraordinary) difficult,” said Li Yu. “You must practise every move many times. ”

Sports like football and basketball are also popular in China. But martial arts like Tai Chi and Shaolin Kung Fu are part of Chinese culture and history.

With lightning-quick reactions (反应) and no small amount of cleverness, Chen throws off his leg high above his shoulder in a movement. He connects his foot with the oncoming football and volleys (拦截) it powerfully downward. With a loud “bang” it springs off the strangely-curved (奇特弯曲的) ping-pong table and     1    (fly) past the ear of his competitor, who, unable to react quickly enough, is left where it is. The point     2    (obvious) goes to Chen. Without breaking as weat, he stands up effortlessly and prepares     3    (serve) once more.

This unique sport     4    (call) Teqball. The Hungarian-born mixture of football and table tennis has been around for ten years. It’s played on a curved tabletop     5     is 3 metres long and 1.7 metres wide, with the highest point reaching 0.76 metres high,     6     it’s separated by a solid net.

Generally, the game is played in three-set     7     (match), with doubles competitions being     8    (popular) than singles. Players use a bitunder-inflated (充气不足) football and, similar to football, are allowed to hit the ball with any part of     9    (they) body except their hands.

    10     Aug 19, the 2023 Beijing Teqball Challenge, held by the Beijing Olympic City Development Association and the International Teqball Federation, ended up at the scenic Juyongguan Great Wall area in Beijing.

Runner’s World Challenge

It’s hard to imagine a more inspirational place for a marathon or half marathon than Marrakech in Morocco. With one of the fastest     1     (route) in the world, this is a race not to be missed. You can be there     2    (run) and explore the city on this great Runner’s World holiday.

We’ve teamed up with Intrepid Travel,     3     leading expert in small group holidays to the world’s most fascinating destination, to bring you a unique eight-day travel plan from January 24th to 31st, during     4     you will explore the ancient sites of Morocoo and take part in the 31st edition of the thrilling International Marathon of Marrakech.

You will join expert guides and also feed     5     (you) soul and stomach on a foodie tour of the market of Marrakech     6     the open air, visit a vineyard, and spend time in the walled city of Essaouira, all in the company of other Runner’s World readers. After the race, you     7     (enjoy) a hammam (土耳其蒸气浴室) treatment and a relaxing massage (按摩) to help you regain energy. However,     8     (race) the Marrakech Marathon’s flat route, along narrow roads lined with palm trees, through lush orange and olive woods and past the 12th-centuty red-tinged city walls is     9     (real) the most attractive. You will remember this     10    (impress) adventure for a lifetime and form friendships that will last just as long.

The 19th Asian Games, held in Hangzhou, has highlighted not only the great celebration of sporting talent, but also the deep cultural     1     (root) of the host nation. For instance, the mascot (吉祥物) Congcong,     2     name comes from the cong jade pendant (玉佩), represents the historical ruins of Liangzhu City. By integrating objects with such historical and cultural importance into the signs     3     (associate) with the international sporting event, the organizers hope to stimulate people’s curiosity and encourage them     4     (explore) this rich history.

The cong,     5     (feature) a tube-shaped core enveloped by a square framework, is the representative of the Liangzhu civilization. The carved man-and-beast pattern decorating the cong     6     (hold) great significance, which is now considered the ultimate symbol of what the UNESCO World Heritage Convention referred to     7     “an early state ”.

The Liangzhu people, known for their mastery of planning, engineering, and agriculture, farmed rice fields, developed an advanced economy,     8     constructed their homes on little earth platforms. Their     9     (remark) achievements reflect a civilization comparable to ancient Egypt. The Liangzhu site, well-preserved and continuously revealing new insights through archaeological efforts, provides     10     window into the past of this splendid culture.

Doing morning exercises is a daily routine in every Chinese kindergarten and school. For the grown-ups, however, familiar schoolyards have already been replaced     1     public parks.

The morning scenes in central parks around China are lively. At every corner of the park, you can also see people     2     (practise) many kinds of sports: square dancing, badminton and so on.

But the most eye-catching groups in the park are the so-called “Kung Fu Grandpas/ Grannies”,     3     videos have gone viral on the Internet. Most of them are ordinary workers from different industries who only started working out after their     4    (retire). They say age is just a number when it comes to fitness.

The     5     (benefit) of exercise are endless: a healthier body together with a slimmer figure and a     6     (happy) mood. No matter how old they are or when during the day they exercise, they will always strengthen the body.

Social connection is also     7     the elderly seek during their morning workout. Feng, who is seventy-two years old, plays Taichi every day. He     8     (keep) this exercise routine for six years and now he is managing a WeChat group of 270 members who share     9     same hobby.

“What I like about this place is that newcomers are always welcome. Everyone in the park feels     10     (include), ” said Feng. It is like a chorus of life.