1 . Perhaps your doctor has recommended you exercise more, or you’ve been out of shape recently.
For some people, hearing bad news from the doctor is often enough motivation to get started.
However, finding the time and effort to fit exercise into your daily routine is challenging.
One way to overcome these barriers (障碍) might be to attend a group exercise session or join a sports club.
You don’t need to go to a gym with a lot of fancy equipment.
A.If you find exercise boring |
B.When you perform aerobic exercise |
C.Maybe you’ve decided that it’s time to lose some weight |
D.That’s why it’s important to continue and repeat exercise sessions |
E.We know being “time poof” is a common reason for not exercising |
F.Many exercises, including push-ups and sit-ups, don’t need special equipment |
G.So it’s a good idea to get a health check before starting if you haven’t exercised for years |
2 . Tai chi is a gentle Kongfu art that started in China. It uses slow and safe movements to create and balance inner energy (called Chi).
Tai chi is suitable for all ages and levels of fitness. It puts very little harmful stress on muscles(肌肉) and joints(关节), making it generally safe. It’s an exercise that can be easily done for less able people.
A 2019 review of studies suggested that tai chi might reduce the risk of falls in older people.
Tai chi is good for people’s body. Research shows that practising tai chi is usually good for knee health.
A.It can also reduce back pain. |
B.It requires focus of mind and body. |
C.Even those in wheelchairs can try it. |
D.Certainly, the main point is on balance. |
E.There are many reasons for you to practice tai chi. |
F.Tai chi can improve people’s mind in older people. |
G.You will find a tai chi class that matches your fitness level. |
3 . What to look for when finding the perfect workout partner
There are a ton of benefits to having a great workout partner that pushes you to reach your goals. But it can initially be a little difficult to find the right person to work out with.
● Your best friend might not be your best partner. While you and your friend may get on well outside the gym, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll make great workout partners. One of the best reasons is that there can be a level of competition, which pushes both of you to work harder.
●
● Get on the same schedule.
A.Pick a partner who is fitter than you. |
B.It’s actually a win-win for both of you. |
C.Choose your workout partner in your gym. |
D.Here are some tips for finding the perfect workout partner. |
E.You wouldn’t be comfortable adding this element to your friendship. |
F.You’ll more likely show up for your exercise when working out with a friend. |
G.All of this is meaningless if you can’t even find the time to meet up for each other. |
4 . In July 1984, the famous author and runner Jim Fixx died of a heart attack while running. One lesson from his death: just because you run does not mean you are safe from heart problems.
Thirty-five years later, Boston Marathon race director Dave McGillivray is repeating that message. “Being fit and being healthy aren’t the same things,” he says.
McGillivray, a lifelong runner, should know. Six months ago, he had heart surgery (手术) after having heart pain and shortness of breath while running.
McGillivray’s family had a long history of heart problems. “I honestly thought that through exercise, proper medicine, good sleep and the right diet, I’d be fine,” he says. “But that’s not true.”
Exercise such as running, walking, cycling and swimming is known to make many health problems become better. But new research is questioning the value of “extreme exercise.”
In a study, researchers in Spain found that full marathons (马拉松) might hurt the heart.
“Running is a good activity, but the act of running doesn’t make you too strong to field. People who have a family history of heart problems should talk with their doctor before running a marathon, especially, men who are older than 40,” Dr. Kevin Harris, a cardiologist, says.
McGilivray says his doctor allowed him to race in the Boston Marathon. He has joined in it every year for 47 years. “My new experience is:” he says, “If you feel something, do something. You might not get a second chance.”
1. Jim Fixx was also a/an ________ except running a marathon.A.doctor | B.writer | C.researcher | D.scientist |
A.He had heart surgery. | B.He didn’t know the death of Jim Fix. |
C.He met a famous director. | D.He had heart pain and shortness of breath. |
A.giving examples | B.telling the facts |
C.explaining the reasons | D.doing experiments |
A.discuss running is quite a good exercise | B.question the value of “extreme exercise” |
C.give the readers some health advice | D.show running makes you strong enough |
5 . About one-third of adults globally have high blood pressure, which increases the risk of having a heart attack or stroke (中风). Physical activity is known to lower blood pressure. However, many people have trouble keeping to exercise plans.
Yoga tends to be more sustainable (可持续的) than other forms of exercise because it is gentle, can be done with others and helps to relax the mind. Several experiments have found that yoga lowers blood pressure. However, these experiments have typically involved several sessions a week, which may not be achievable for many people.
To find out if yoga helps to reduce blood pressure in the real world, some researchers conducted a new study and analysed the electronic health records of 1,355 people aged 18 to 79 who practised yoga at least once a week. They compared each of these people with at least three other individuals. They had similar characteristics in terms of things like age, gender, and body mass index (BMI), but had no mention of practising yoga in their records. On average, the people who practised yoga had systolic blood pressure (收缩压) that was 2.8 mmHg lower and diastolic blood pressure (舒张压) that was 1.5 mmHg lower than those who didn’t.
This blood pressure reduction probably wouldn’t make a huge difference to most people in the study, since they tended to be young and healthy. They already had normal blood pressure. But at a population level, if average blood pressure declined by this much, it would prevent a significant number of heart attacks and strokes. For example, a 2018 study found that a population-wide average systolic blood pressure reduction of 2 mmHg among middle-aged adults in the US would prevent more than 12,000 heart attacks and 7,000 strokes each year.
Based on the new study, we can’t say for sure that yoga lowers blood pressure, because there may be other explanations for the findings. People who do yoga may have lower blood pressure because they tend to have better diets, not because of the yoga itself. And yoga shouldn’t be seen as the replacement for blood pressure lowering medicines. Nevertheless, yoga is likely to assist in lowering blood pressure if it encourages sedentary (久坐的) people to exercise. “The greatest benefit is getting the exercise-shy to do something rather than increasing exercise in someone who does it regularly,” an expert says.
1. Which advantage does yoga have over other kinds of exercise?A.It is easier for beginners to learn. | B.It is more effective in keeping fit. |
C.People are more likely to stick to it. | D.People can find partners more easily. |
A.The study took the relevant factors in reality into consideration. |
B.All these participants were of the same age and gender. |
C.The study analysed different kinds of exercise. |
D.The researchers studied the participants’ daily routine. |
A.The results are far from satisfactory. |
B.Lowering blood pressure is quite easy. |
C.Blood pressure reduction is beneficial. |
D.Doing yoga once a week is meaningful. |
A.Other reasons have been found to explain the blood pressure reduction for certain. |
B.Encouraging inactive people to do yoga possibly contributes to lowering blood pressure. |
C.Having better diets is more important than practising yoga regularly for sedentary people. |
D.The benefits of practising yoga are equal to taking blood pressure lowering medicines. |
6 . “Age is just a number” is a saying that some people might disagree with, but for healthy and fit great-grandmother Anne Sheppard, nothing could be more true.
At 100 years old, Anne can kick, crunch and do full push-ups. And she is always exercising with other fitness fans who are almost 70 years her junior in the gym. South Melbourne-born Anne worked at the local clothing factory while her husband Max was away at work with the army. When the couple retired in 1981, they signed up to their local gym, where Anne is still a member 40 years later. “I feel stronger and fitter than before!” Anne says in an interview from her gym in Melbourne. She has just finished a rigorous training class — one of five group courses she attends throughout the week. “I just love it and I want to keep going as long as I can,” she smiles. “It’s part of my life now — my husband has passed away and now I’m on my own. The gym is my second family and I’d be lost without them.”
“Anne is a superstar —no matter where she goes, everyone is attracted to her! I know she inspires us to do whatever we set our minds to. We’re all jealous because we want to get to 100 years old and be like her,” says Jan, a friend of Anne in the gym.
Exercise has always been an important part of life for Anne. Despite going to the gym three days a week, Anne also keeps active in other ways, and regularly walks to and from the local supermarket. Life has now slowed a little bit for Anne. As for her next personal best, her goal is to keep going to the gym. That’s how Anne enjoys her life.
1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?A.To summarize the passage. |
B.To introduce the main character. |
C.To explain the meaning of a saying. |
D.To ask for background information. |
A.She used to work with her husband in the army. |
B.She takes exercise as an important part of her life. |
C.She became a member of the local gym 70 years ago. |
D.She stopped exercising after her husband passed away. |
A.Anne, Enjoying Her Slow Life |
B.Anne, an Attractive Gym Coach |
C.Anne, a 100-year-old Fitness Lover |
D.Anne, Coming to Her Next Personal Best |
7 . Running is the best way to keep our body fit and healthy. Those who want to burn fat and lose weight can run regularly in the morning.
Another benefit of running is the stress relief. Every day running in the morning will help you to keep your mind fresh to start your daily work.
Running is the best way to lose weight. But you should add some other training to build your muscle and burn fat. Some elite athletes (优秀运动员) say that when you wake up in the morning, you should first run for a while.
Most of the busy people do not have enough time to communicate properly with the family and social people.
A.Then start other physical exercise. |
B.Morning exercise lowers blood pressure. |
C.So, you can start your day with a cheerful mind. |
D.So, try for a few weeks, and you will see your progress. |
E.Morning run forces you to wake up early in the morning. |
F.We miss many social events for our work or other purposes. |
G.We cannot describe the benefits of running in the morning in words. |
8 . Recently, science has been uncovering a link between walking and a lower risk of dementia (痴呆), proving that walking is even good for your brain.
To get started, sit down with a map and make a plan. Ask yourself, what do you want to get out of walking aside from the health benefits? Do you want to meet other people? See new places? Get out into the wilderness or explore a city?
Making friends and socializing is your goal.
Headed to a new city?
From the benefits, walking is just plain good for you. Pick up a map and start walking.
A.It’s kind to our bodies and great for our waistlines. |
B.Getting away from the crowds is what you’re after. |
C.Prepare to get to know the new place from the ground up! |
D.It’s also a fantastic way to get fit and to stay in great shape. |
E.Call up your friends and schedule walks with them. |
F.Nearly any city you can think of offers convenient transportation. |
G.Knowing your priorities will help you decide on the type of walk you want to do. |
9 . If you think that running marathons will help you live a long and healthy life, new research may come as a shock. According to a recent scientific study, people who do a very strenuous workout are as likely to die as people who do no exercise at all.
Scientists in Denmark have been studying over 1,000 joggers (慢跑者) and non - joggers for 12 years. The death rates from the sample group indicate that people who jog at a proper pace two or three times a week for less than two and a half hours in total are least likely to die. The best speed to jog at was found to be about 5 miles per hour. The research suggests that people who jog more than three times a week or at higher speeds of over 7 mph die at the same rate as non - joggers. The scientists think that this is because strenuous exercise causes structural changes to the heart and arteries(动脉). Over time, this can cause serious effects.
Peter Schnohr, a researcher in Copenhagen, said, “If your goal is to decrease risk of death and improve life expectancy(寿命), jogging a few times a week at a proper pace is a good strategy. Anything more is not just unnecessary, and it may be harmful.”
The implications (暗示) of this are that moderate forms of exercise such as tai chi, yoga and walking may be better for us than “iron man events, triathlons and long - distance running and cycling. According to Jacob Louis Marott, another researcher involved in the study, “You don't actually have to do that much to have a good impact on your health. And perhaps you shouldn’t actually do too much”.
1. Which of the following words can replace “strenuous” in Paragraph 1?A.regular | B.hard | C.practical | D.limited |
A.To suggest giving up jogging | B.To show risks of doing sports |
C.To provide supportive evidence | D.To introduce the research content |
A.It may injure the heart and arteries. | B.It can make the body tired out. |
C.It will bring much pressure. | D.It consumes too much energy. |
A.No exercise at all is the best choice. | B.More exercise means a healthier life. |
C.Marathons runners are least likely to die. | D.Too strenuous exercise is no better than none |
10 . If you want to stay in shape, but don’t have the time to go to the gym, the Mobile Gym is a good solution. It’s basically a large bus filled with the latest fitness equipment. You can find everything you need for a complete workout, and here’s the best part — you don’t need to go to the gym, and the gym comes to you!
The Mobile Gym was the idea of Adam Zickerman, founder of Inform Fitness, a popular chain of gyms across the United States. It hit him when he ordered lunch from a food truck one afternoon. So why not put a gym on a truck?
Zickerman experimented with a few designs and then invested $60,000 on making adaptations and fixing machines. He didn’t really need an advertising budget as the bus advertised itself. Carole Pallmeyer, for instance, found herself driving behind the Mobile Gym one day. At first she thought it was a regular bus with ads for a gym. But then she realized the bus itself was a gym, so she booked workout sessions for her entire family. “We are all busy, but we know the bus is coming and make sure we are home at 4:30 for the workouts,” she said. “You forget you’re on a bus because the workouts are tightly scheduled.”
Unfortunately, it is illegal to use the fitness equipment while the bus is moving, so you don’t get to save time by working out during the rush time. It operates only once a week, only two clients (客户) can be accommodated at a time on the bus. And it doesn’t come cheap. Sessions start at $100, while in-house workouts are $65. But the Mobile Gym appears to be a big hit.
“There are so many benefits to having the Mobile Gym come to you,” Zickerman said. “Only five to seven exercises complete a total-body workout when performed using our special equipment.” He also added that a 20-minute workout might sound easy, but it is really difficult and provides instant results. “It is very challenging and clients understand quickly why rest is important between workouts ”
1. What inspired Zickerman to invent the Mobile Gym?A.A usual order for a meal. | B.A casual visit to a gym. |
C.A tight schedule for workout. | D.A specific experience of exercise. |
A.It saves much of clients ’time. |
B.It creates adequate private space. |
C.It offers special equipment needed for a total-body workout. |
D.It provides clients with an appropriate and effective workout. |
A.Concerned. | B.Negative. | C.Objective. | D.Optimistic. |