1 .                                                                                      You May Need a Few Minutes of Brisk Activity

Walking from room to room, running up and down stairs to deliver folded laundry, or taking a jog around the block... Which ones would best help or hurt your brain? A recent study attempted to a answer that question by strapping( 绑上) activity monitors to the thighs of nearly 4,500 people in the United Kingdom and ________ their 24-hour movements for seven days. Researchers then examined how participants’ behavior affected their short-term memory, problem-solving and processing skills.

Here’s the good news. People who spent “even small amounts of time in more vigorous activities—as little as six to nine minutes—compared to sitting, sleeping or gentle activities had ________ cognition scores,” said study author John Mitchell.

Moderate physical activity is ________ defined as brisk walking or bicycling or running up and down stairs. Vigorous movement ________ dancing, jogging, running, swimming to biking up a hill—basically any activity that is able to ________ your heart rate and breathing.

The study found that doing just under 10 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) each day led to ________ in study participants’ working memory. In addition, 10 minutes of MVPA had its biggest impact on executive processes such as ________and organization.

The cognitive improvement was ________, but the research found that the benefits grew the more time a person spent ________in the activity of an energetic workout, Mitchell said.

“Now that we don’t monitor participants’ cognition over the course of many years, the results of this study may simply be telling us that those individuals who move more tend to have higher cognition on average,” he said. “While on the other hand, the results do also imply that even making ________ changes to our daily lives can have ________ consequences for our cognition.”

There was bad news as well. Spending more time sleeping, sitting or engaged only in mild movement was linked to a negative impact on the brain. The study found cognition declined 1% to 2% after replacing an ________ portion of MVPA with eight minutes of sedentary (久坐的) behavior, six minutes of light intensity or seven minutes of sleep.

Additional studies need to be done to ________ these findings and to better understand the role that each type of activity plays ________ our cognitive abilities. However, Mitchell said, the study “highlights how even very modest differences in people’s daily movements— less than 10 minutes— can be linked to the ________of quite real changes to our cognitive health.”

1.

A．modifying

B．tricking

C．clarifying

D．tracking

2.

A．lower

B．higher

C．smaller

D．bigger

3.

A．typically

B．previously

C．barely

D．absolutely

4.

A．ranges from

B．arises from

C．keeps from

D．stems from

5.

A．calm

B．push

C．boost

D．slow

6.

A．improvements

B．adjustments

C．requirements

D．statements

7.

A．arguing

B．meditating

C．planning

D．compromising

8.

A．imposing

B．modest

C．accessible

D．reliable

9.

A．phasing

B．indulging

C．meditating

D．engaging

10.

A．maximum

B．lasting

C．temporary

D．minimal

11.

A．leading

B．positive

C．quantifiable

D．downstream

12.

A．acute

B．equivalent

C．observable

D．unimportant

13.

A．reject

B．propose

C．advocate

D．confirm

14.

A．in addition to

B．with respect to

C．prior to

D．specific to

15.

A．occurrence

B．performance

C．disappearance

D．convenience

2 . As an ordinary senior school student, I’ve discovered a wonderful way to _________ life with a positive attitude — my daily bicycle rides. Riding my bike has become more than just a fun activity. It’s like a little _________ that has taught me important lessons about staying positive, facing challenges and being _________.

When I get on my bike and ride around familiar streets, it feels like I’m on a small quest. It’s not just about reaching a(n)_________; it’s about enjoying the ride itself. Cycling has turned into a kind of teacher, helping me understand the _________ of practice and having a can-do spirit. One of the coolest things I’ve learned is about not giving up when things get hard. You know, when I’m trying to pedal up a steep hill, it’s hard! But guess what? Even when my legs feel super tired, I keep going and do not give up, till I reach the _________. Life is kind of like that too. When I have a challenging task or any problems in my studies, I remember those steep hills. I know if I keep trying, I can _________ anything.

Another thing that cycling has taught me is to be ready for surprises. The road isn’t always _________. Sometimes there are bumps, and you have to ride around them. When something is wrong with my bike, I do not _________. I try to find a solution. Life’s a bit like that too. It’s not always easy, but being flexible and staying positive helps me rise to the challenge and handle __________ problems.

The most important part, though, is how cycling makes me feel happy and __________. The wind in my hair and the rhythm of pedaling makes everything seem OK. It’s like a secret power — no matter what’s going on, it keeps me happy, lets me __________ my batteries, and lets me come back feeling __________.

In the end, my daily bike rides have become more than just a way to get around. They’ve become a(n) __________ for how I want to live my life. Cycling has shown me that being positive, facing challenges with __________, and keeping an optimistic attitude can turn the life journey into a fantastic adventure. So, here’s to more bike rides and more fun!

1.

A．estimate

B．approach

C．guarantee

D．challenge

2.

A．phenomenon

B．coincidence

C．adventure

D．entertainment

3.

A．flexible

B．unique

C．traditional

D．responsible

4.

A．cooperation

B．dilemma

C．crisis

D．destination

5.

A．discovery

B．value

C．comment

D．growth

6.

A．top

B．coast

C．stage

D．platform

7.

A．describe

B．detect

C．remove

D．overcome

8.

A．delicate

B．fragile

C．smooth

D．tough

9.

A．volunteer

B．insist

C．pray

D．panic

10.

A．original

B．unexpected

C．crucial

D．natural

11.

A．useful

B．efficient

C．carefree

D．curious

12.

A．apply

B．recharge

C．develop

D．recognize

13.

A．alarmed

B．embarrassed

C．fresh

D．emotional

14.

A．audience

B．passenger

C．victim

D．guide

15.

A．determination

B．attempt

C．comfort

D．calmness

3 . With the weather warming up, the desire to kick-start a new fitness routine is very real. But after months locked indoors, you may feel as though you’re lack of exercise.     1     Working out with your partner can be a great way to boost inspiration. Here are our top tips for an exercise routine that’s built to last.

Pick something you both love.

If you love Pilates but your partner is all about lifting heavy weights, working out together might seem like an impossible task. While you can both stick to the activities you love,     2     Pick an activity you both love, or work towards a fitness goal together, like completing a fun run or half marathon.

    3    

Getting sweaty doesn’t sound like the most comfortable of activities, but there are things you can do to make it as enjoyable as possible. Invest in active wear that not only feels good but looks good, too. Dressing in workout gear that you’re excited about can make the difference on days when motivation might be lacking.

    4    It is ideal for wearing during sport or heavy-duty outdoor activities. It’s sweat resistant, with a dry-touch formula, while still offering UVA and UVB coverage.

Be supportive and have fun.

Trying a new outdoor fitness route, or running in front of strangers along the sand, can be a little discouraging, even if you’re doing it with the one you love,     5     Motivate each other to get out of bed on days and remind each other that you’re not working out just for looks. Getting your body moving has long-term benefits that far outweigh what can be seen from the outside.

And remember to have fun: trying something new is tricky but finding something you both love and enjoy means you’ll have a healthy habit for life.

A．Feel good with fitness preparation.

B．Dress comfortably and properly to feel good.

C．So how do you get motivated to get active once more?

D．choose some exercises that require very little equipment.

E．so remind your partner that you're in it together and stay supportive.

F．make time to start something new together or work towards a common goal.

G．Sunscreen, too, is a must-have when choosing to exercise together on the beach.

4 . Fast walkers may live longer than dawdlers (缓慢的人)— regardless of their weight, a new study suggests.

Researchers at Leicester University analyzed data on 474, 919 people with an average age of 52 in the UK Biobank between 2006 and 2016. They found women who walked briskly had a life expectancy of 86.7 to 87.8 years old, and men who kept up the pace had a life expectancy of 85.2 to 86.8. Slow walkers hadn’t much encouraging prospects (前景): women had a life expectancy of 72.4, and men of 64.8 years old, if they were more leisurely in their movements. According to the paper, published last week, that ratio held true even if the fast walkers were severely overweight. It does not necessarily mean fast walkers will live longer. Experts say it suggests walking speed could be a simple way for doctors to judge their patients’ general health alongside other tests.

It is hardly the first study holding up walking speed as a powerful evidence that appears to improve and determine our health.

In 2011, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published a study by Stephanie Studenski, who found the same: walking speed was a reliable predictor of life expectancy.

In 2013, US researchers found walking pace was linked to lower heart disease risk and longer life expectancy. In 2018, a study from the University of Sydney found picking up your walking pace to even an “average speed” could cut your risk of premature death by a fifth.

And Tom Yates, the physical activity professor at Leicester who's behind the latest study, has been publishing findings on this connection for years.

In 2017, he analyzed the same UK Biobank data and found walking speed appeared to affect the risk of dying from heart disease — concluding that the slowest walkers were twice as likely to suffer a heart-related death compared to quick walkers.

1. What does the underlined word “briskly” in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Casually.

B．Quickly.

C．Actively.

D．Energetically.

2. What does the paper published last week show?

A．Most fast walkers are overweight.

B．Fast walkers have a simple way of living.

C．Walking speed can help doctors know about their patients’ general health.

D．Doctors will surely have better ways to cure their patients of their illness.

3. What did US researchers find?

A．Walking slowly is bad for people's health.

B．Walking speed can predict a person’s life expectancy.

C．People won't die early by increasing their walking pace.

D．Lower heart disease risk is determined partly by walking pace.

4. What’s the best title for the text?

A．Fast Walkers May Have a Long Life Expectancy

B．Life Expectancy Is Determined by Exercise

C．Researchers Try to Improve Life Expectancy

D．The Public Doubt Researches on Walking Speed

5 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

Recently researchers went through some survey information about the health and habits of men and women in Scotland,     1     (hope) to determine how much exercise is needed to keep the Scots     2    feeling depressed. The answer: a mere 20 minutes a week of any physical exercise, whether sports, walking, gardening     3     even housecleaning. The researchers found that more exercise brought more mental-health benefits. But their overall conclusion was that being active for 20 minutes a week     4    (be) enough, if your goal is mental health.

How much exercise is enough? This is a question difficult to answer,     5     (part) because the amount of exercise needed depends on the benefits you hope to gain. Twenty minutes a week of housecleaning or other     6     (activity) may, according to the Scottish study, increase your satisfaction, but it certainly won’t do much for your physical fitness and is unlikely     7     (reduce) your risks for diseases. It also won’t help much with weight loss.

Interestingly, they did not find that exercise beyond a certain point would bring additional health benefits. According to the report, “It     8       (estimate) that people who are physically active for about seven hours a week have a 40 percent     9     (low) risk of dying early than those     10     are active for less than 30 minutes a week.”

6 . The Netherlands is the only country in the world with more bicycles than residents. By 2022, the Netherlands has had a total of about 23 million bicycles, with an ownership rate of 1.35 bikes per person. One study published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that in the Netherlands cycling prevents about 6,500 early deaths each year, and that Dutch people have 1.5 years longer life expectancy (预期寿命) due to cycling.

“The time spent cycling was about 74 minutes per week for Dutch adults aged 20 to 90 years old. The time was fairly stable over adulthood and reached its apex in the early days of retirement, in one’s 60s. The death rate reduction, which was a direct result of the average time spent cycling for a certain age group, was therefore also the highest among the seniors who just retired,” said Jeremy Smith, an expert from NIH.

What is it that makes cycling so beneficial? Obviously, cycling is a form of exercise. It is a great form of cardio (有氧的) exercise, which gets your heart pumping and helps strengthen the heart muscles. Doing cardio exercise may also help lower your blood pressure.

Furthermore, solid evidence proves the link between cycling and better thinking skills. Even younger adults claim that a bike ride helps shift their thinking to a higher level — and research backs them up. In one small study, young men are required to cycle for 30 minutes every day for 3 weeks. They also completed a series of cognitive (认知的) tests before and afterward. After cycling, they scored higher on memory, reasoning and planning, and they were able to finish the tests more rapidly than before.

Besides all the benefits mentioned above, cycling, as many Dutch put it, is a way of life. In their simplest form, bikes are tools for travelling. But they’re so much more. They are cognitive improvement, environmental protection, satisfaction and an expression of freedom. They bring people of the same passion together and connect them to a greater journey of life.

1. Why does the author list figures in paragraph 1?

A．To compare the number of residents and bikes.

B．To illustrate the link between health and cycling.

C．To indicate the urgency for green transportation.

D．To emphasize the accuracy of the study by NIH.

2. What does the underlined word “apex” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A．Target.

B．Peak.

C．Destination.

D．Potential.

3. What do we know about the study in paragraph 4?

A．It justifies the mental benefits of cycling.

B．It teaches practical skills about cycling.

C．It improves the critical thinking of young men.

D．It compares cognitive levels among different people.

4. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?

A．Netherlands: A Country With Better Health

B．Netherlands: The Bicycle Capital of the World

C．Cycling: An Activity Bringing People Together

D．Cycling: An Activity Improving Your Health and More

7 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

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.

8 . Rene Campbell has devoted most of her life to shaping her figure into one completely against what society thinks a woman should look like.

“I was always very insecure about my body image, as everyone seemed to know for sure that women needed to look a certain way,” she says when reflecting on her motivation to transform herself.     1     For quite some time, she struggled with eating disorders because she was trying to keep her weight really low and appear skinny, like the women on magazine covers.     2     It was then that she became attracted by the way these seemingly confident women held themselves.

However, building her dream body—gaining over 85 pounds, going from a size 8 to 14—has had its challenges, too. “    3     When I tell them that I am a female bodybuilder, the first reaction is, ‘Muscles for women are just not attractive,’” Campbell says. Though she loves the way she now looks, she is sometimes treated with cruelty.

    4    Even though there is a huge market encouraging women to build muscles and tighten their figures, the ideal still stands for smaller waists, and thin legs, the so-called perfect figure. For women to build up strong muscles, it takes a strong heart.

“I gradually learn to ignore others’ voices and become committed to the training. It is a very big shift for me, and it has won me plenty of awards.     5     My bodybuilding journey makes me realize that I need to do things for myself.” Campbell says.

A．She was constantly feeling under pressure.

B．Women have to pay a huge price to build a slim figure.

C．It does bring a sense of confidence and mental strength.

D．The body of super-muscular women is considered unwelcome.

E．Luckily, Campbell was chosen to shoot for one of the magazines.

F．People don’t understand why women would want to be muscular.

G．Purely by chance, Campbell attended a women’s bodybuilding show.

9 . Regular jogging (慢跑) can reduce your risk of health problems. If you’re new to jogging, getting started can seem a little difficult.     1    .

Fuel your body 2 hours before jogging

Eat a healthy meal rich in fruit and vegetables before jogging.    2    . It will also help muscle grow and repair. If you’re jogging for weight loss, try increasing your intake of fruit and vegetables. Reduce your intake of sugary food and drinks.

Warm up for 5 minutes before jogging

It’s very important to warm up before you jog.    3    .Some good warm-up exercises include doing knee lifts, side-stepping and climbing stairs. You may have heard that it’s important to stretch (拉伸) before you run, but stretching before exercise can put additional strain (拉紧) on your muscles. Therefore, focus on warming up before jogging.

    4    

Most people think how far and how long you run has to do with patience and a strong will. However, having the proper running form plays an important role in jogging. To make the most of your jogging, remember to keep your head straight and your muscles relaxed, avoid lifting your knees too high, and touch the ground lightly with the middle of your foot.

Cool down after your jogging

After jogging, you can avoid strain on your heart and muscles by doing cool-down exercise. Finish your jog with 5～10 minutes of walking.    5    , You should do deep stretches and hold each stretch for 15～30 seconds.

A．Breathe regularly as you jog

B．Practise proper forms while jogging

C．Healthy food can give you enough energy

D．Then do some gentle stretches to relax your muscles

E．Spend at least 5 minutes doing a warm-up before jogging

F．However, if you plan ahead, you’ll see the benefits of jogging

G．You can try the following steps to form your healthy jogging habit

10 . Why we should exercise as a family

We've all heard the saying "The family that plays together stays together." Enjoying quality family time is important and working out together could be the perfect solution. It's never too early to introduce healthy lifestyle choices, whether you leave the car at home and walk to school or enjoy a family cycle at the weekend.    1    Here are some tips when it comes to enjoying free time and working out as a family.

Set rewards for achievements. Taking the kids to the park is such a fun and easy thing to do. Try setting them tasks. If they manage to do all the tasks, allow them a certain amount of TV or gaming time if that's what they like to do!    2    

Find a hobby they enjoy. One of the most important things is to find a healthy hobby that they love.    3    If they enjoy it, encourage and support them to build up their confidence.

Find exercise friends. Perhaps there's a family nearby with kids the same age. See if they would like to exercise together.    4    Besides, it sets a level of cooperation where you can't let the other family down. It's also a good excuse for a coffee and a chat with the mum or dad afterwards.

    5    It can be easy to want your child to be the best but it's all about them having fun with fitness. Support them, but don't pressure them too much, or it might backfire!

A．This will motivate everyone.

B．Don't be a competitive Mum or Dad!

C．Support the kids with encouragement.

D．Avoid making the reward about food or drink!

E．They're more likely to be fit and healthy later in life.

F．Ask them what they fancy giving a try and, within reason, let them!

G．Working out together as a family is one of the most beneficial things you can do.