According to some records,Tai Chi dates back as far as 2,500 years.It’s a practice that involves a series of slow gentle physical movements,and    1    (control)breathing.It originated as     2    ancient martial art(武术)in China.Over the years,it    3    (become)more focused on health promotion and restoration. It may be     4     (benefit)in improving balance and preventing falls in older adults and people with Parkinson’s disease. A study    5    (carry) out in 2021 to evaluate a10-week Tai Chi intervention in older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic as a possible way to help improve their mental and physical health. The 30 participants were between the ages of 60 and 78 and hadn’t previously practiced Tai Chi.    6    the results suggested,Tai Chi could possibly help people cope with COVID-19 and the negative effect in the general population during the COVID-19 pandemic.The authors explained that Tai Chi can be practiced    7    (easy) at home or in groups,    8     (make)it useful during pandemic conditions.This    9    (suggest)was not based on studies of Tai Chi during the COVID-19 pandemic but instead    10    past research about the general effects of Tai Chi.The authors said that future research is needed to determine the effectiveness of Tai Chi during the COVID-19 pandemic and to provide more valid and reliable data.

Every sport has its own specific health benefits. Swimming, for example, is an excellent physical activity as nearly all muscles    1    (use) when you swim. As a result, it provides a terrific full-body workout, improving balance, muscle strength and    2    (flexible).

Sport, as well as being a physical activity,     3    (have) a mental aspect too. It can help define who you are and who you can become. Sport builds character and promotes the development of a number of qualities that are essential for a successful and fulfilling life. Included here    4    (be) three qualities worthy of a special consideration. Firstly, sport requires self-discipline, without    5    there will always be the temptation to simply give up. Secondly, sport will encourage you to maintain a positive and    6    (balance) outlook. Everyone has    7    (them) ups and downs and, therefore, a big part of life means having to deal with success and failure.    8    (engage) in competitive sport will help you understand that winning a competition does not make you superior    9    everyone else. Finally, sport will help you understand the importance of teamwork. It will show you that you often need to rely on others for your success and, similarly,    10    you also have a responsibility to contribute to the success of others.

The world of sport is a fairground of exciting opportunities where you can discover who you really are. Time. I think, to lace up your sports shoes and go play!