When my friend first suggested that we join the new Tai Chi Club at school, I hesitated. I always believed tai chi was for old people. After the first class,     1    , I had to admit that I had been wrong about tai chi. It was amazing! One year later, I can honestly say it has had a huge effect on me physically and mentally. Just as importantly,     2     (practise) tai chi has inspired me to explore the Chinese culture behind it.

The first few tai chi classes were fun and easy, and the moves really caught my imagination, with     3     (describe) names like “white crane spreading its wings” and “golden rooster standing on one leg”. When I asked my coach where these interesting names came from, he told me about     4     history of tai chi. Zhang Sanfeng, a 13th-century Taoist, was said to have invented tai chi after drawing inspiration from a fight between a snake and a bird. However, nowadays people tend to believe that Chen Wangting, a 17th-century master of Chinese martial arts, developed tai chi based     5     martial arts skills. No wonder some tai chi moves are named after animals—Chinese martial arts have a long-standing practice of imitating animals. Chen Wangting’s original set of moves is called Chen-style tai chi, but other styles of tai chi have since been developed, including Yang-style, Wu-style and Sun-style.

After learning the basics of tai chi in those first few classes, I found myself bored and aching from doing the same moves over and over again. Luckily, my coach taught me how to relax my muscles and focus on peace of mind while performing the routine. With these     6     (require) of tai chi in mind, I found to my satisfaction that my balance and flexibility slowly improved, that I was able to do     7     (difficult) moves, and that my love for tai chi returned stronger than ever.

In time, I began to look into the ancient Chinese culture behind tai chi. I discovered that tai chi is deeply rooted in the Chinese philosophy of yin and yang,     8     are believed to form the unity of opposites. Neither can exist independent of the other, for example, there is no shadow     9     light. The practice of tai chi aims to maintain the balance of yin and yang in the body through opposite movements: forwards and backwards, up and down, left and right, breathing in and breathing out. Eventually, tai chi brings about a state of physical balance and mental peace.

A year of practising tai chi has had a positive effect     10     my everyday life. I sleep better at night, and I am more energetic during the day. I feel happier and more confident. Tai chi has taught me to relax my mind, enabling me to stay cool in stressful situations. I am sure I will continue to practise tai chi and enjoy the benefits it has brought me.

2 . Do you want to feel better, have more energy and even add years to you life? Just exercise:     1    Here are some ways daily exercise can lead to a happier and healthier you.

Exercise makes you energetic. Regular exercise can improve your muscle strength. Exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to your body and helps your cardiovascular(心血管的) system work more eficiently.    2    .

Exercise can help control your weight. When you take part in physical activity, you burn calories. Regular trips to the gym are great, but don’t worry if you can’t find a large amount of time to exercise every day.    3    

Exercise can be fun and social. It gives you a chance to relax and enjoy the outdoors.    4     So take a dance class, go for a swim or join a soccer teann. Find physical activity you enjoy in a fun and social setting, and just do it.

    5     A gym tour or a walk can help. Physical activity stimulates(刺激) various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier, more relaxed and less anxious. You may also feel better about yourself when you exercise regularly, which can improve your confidence.