1 . What is better for you? Exercising in the great outdoors, or signing up for a gym?To try and find out, the Guardian was invited to spend a month working withfitness and sports psychology experts at Bath University and the National Trust. The concept was that participants— including me — would spend alternate weeks exercising in a gym and on National Trust land.
The first week was spent on the exercise bikes, rowing machines and treadmills (跑步机) in a gym at Bath.Getting started at the gym was easy. There was a nice community too. People are gently teasing and encouraging each other.
On the downside, it was hard to ignore the background noise ofdance and pop music. And all the machines faced screens showing music videos, rolling news and sports channels. Not a place to get away from it all.
So it was a relief in week two to head for the hills of Dyrham, a National Trust parkland full of birds and deer.
Weeks three and four followed the same pattern. The diaries I had kept, questionnaires I had filled in, and heart monitors I had worn, were then analysed by scientists from Bath University.
The findings surprise me a bit. The heart monitors showed I had consumed a similar amount of energy whether exercising in the gym or outdoors. But fitness expert Martyn Standagewas most interested in the fact that on the days when my exercise had been done outside, I used more energy through the rest of the day.Standage said this fitted with studies that suggest working out in the outdoors leads to a greater feeling of vitality (活力).
Jo Barton, who specialises in studying outdoor exercise, suggested that working out in the fresh air could be “life-changing”.“Exercising in nature lifts your mood and increases your self-respect,” she said.
My verdict? It was more fun outside but sometimes more convenient to get to the gym. A bit of both may be the way forward.
1. Which shows the author’s exercisepattern in the four weeks?| A．in the outdoors→in the outdoors→in the gym→in the gym |
| B．in the gym→in the gym→in the outdoors→in the outdoors |
| C．in the outdoors→in the gym→in the outdoors→in the gym |
| D．in the gym→in the outdoors→in the gym→in the outdoors |
| A．He used more energy when exercising indoors. |
| B．He felt more energetic after exercising outdoors. |
| C．He was very tired after finishing daily exercise. |
| D．He summarized the findings after the experiment. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Doubtful. |
| C．Tolerant. | D．Uncaring. |
| A．concern | B．opinion |
| C．chance | D．challenge |
2 . Feeding bread to the ducks is a fond pastime for many of us, reminding us of our happy childhood trips to the local park. But did you know that bread actually poses a danger to birds, as well as the environment? Eating it can cause our feathered friends to develop a condition called Angel Wing, which is when too much bread makes birds’ feathers grow too quickly. This additional weight puts a strain on their muscles, causing their wings to twist and drop open, and if not treated fast, they can lose the ability to fly.
“Angel Wing can be remedied if we reach birds before it has developed too severely,” says Caroline Simpson, a trustee of UK charity Swan Lifeline, which has rescued and treated more than 30,000 birds over the last 20 years. “Otherwise the consequence can be awful—such as amputations(截肢)of the wing.” Adult swans can also develop gut and heart disease, so it’s important we do our bit to prevent this by feeding wild birds with the right kind of food.
Bread can also cause harmful changes to the natural ecosystem. Rotting bread at the bottom of rivers and lakes allows bacteria to breed, spreading disease and attracting rats and other vermin to our waterways. It can result in algal(藻类的)blooms and the presence of a mould(霉菌)called Aspergillus too, which has the potential to kill waterfowl(水禽)and other wildlife if it gets into their lungs.
But this doesn’t mean we have to stop fun trips to feed the ducks. Giving birds the right food-like frozen peas, sweetcorn and lettuce leaves-is good for both them and the environment. So, next time you visit your local park, take a healthier alternative with you and do your bit to protect our precious wildlife.
1. The underlined word “remedied” in Paragraph 2 probably means .| A．reduced | B．expected | C．caused | D．corrected |
| A．Harmful creatures will be drawn to waterways. |
| B．Water birds will be overfed and risk losing their bodily functions. |
| C．The water will be enriched thanks to the nutrients in bread. |
| D．The eco-balance at the bottom of rivers or lakes will be disturbed. |
| A．stop people from feeding waterfowl. |
| B．instruct people how to raise waterfowl. |
| C．warn people of the danger threatening waterfowl. |
| D．promote a safe and healthy way to feed waterfowl. |
3 . Emergencies can happen anytime, so being prepared for a home first aid kit(成套工具) is important for your family. Having a proper one in your home is an easy but necessary part of good emergency preparation.
Pick a good container
One good choice is a large translucent plastic container, which makes it easy to see the materials inside. Lunchboxes are also another good choice. Basically, if it’s big enough, and at least somewhat water resistant, it can make a good container. Regardless of your container choice, it should be easy to recognize, so write “FIRST AID” on it with a marker.
Teach your family about the kit
For younger children who shouldn’t use the items in the kit, teach them where it’s located, so they could show a visitor, relative or babysitter. For older children and adults, instruct them on how to use the items in it. Use a first aid instruction booklet, like those available from the American Red Cross for guidance and place a booklet in the kit for reference.
Keep your kit up–to–date
No one wants to fetch a first aid kit and find the bandage box empty or the pain relievers expired (过期了的). Keep track of supply amounts and expiration dates regularly.
Create a checklist in the kit
Record every item on a sheet of paper and keep it in the kit. Besides, record the amounts of the items and expiration dates next to the listed items on the checklist that you include in your kit. In this way, anyone who wants to reach the kit can immediately know what it includes and doesn’t include. Also, they can be clear whether the items can be used.
1. Which is close to the meaning of the underlined word “translucent”?| A．Wide. | B．Advanced. |
| C．Clear. | D．Strong. |
| A．How to use the items. | B．What it contains. |
| C．Where to place it. | D．When to fetch it. |
| A．To make it clean and tidy. | B．To make sure it’s available. |
| C．To be familiar with the items. | D．To learn to deal with emergencies. |
