1 . Awe is generally defined as the sense that you are in the presence of something larger and more consequential than yourself. According to a study called “awe walks”, people who took a fresh look at the world around them during brief, weekly walks felt more upbeat and hopeful in general than walkers who did not. Feeling a sense of awe also seems to up our overall feelings of gladness and improve health.
Previous studies have linked increased physical activity to greater happiness and reduced risks for anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses. But no studies had looked into whether mixing awe and activity might increase the benefits of each — or, on the other hand, reduce them. So, for the new study, scientists concentrated on people in their 60s, 70s and 80s, ages when some people can face risks for declining mental health.
The scientists asked 52 study volunteers to add a weekly 15-minute walk to their normal schedules. All of them were physically healthy and psychologically well-adjusted, with little disquietude or depression. Then they were randomly divided into two groups. One, as a control group, was asked to start walking, preferably outside, but given few other requirements. The members of the other group were not only asked to walk once a week, but also were instructed in how to cultivate awe as they walked. “Basically, we told them to try to go and walk somewhere new, since novelty helps to cultivate awe,” says Virginia Sturm, an associate professor who led the new study.
Both groups were asked to take a few selfies (自拍) during their walks and upload them to a lab website and also complete a daily online assessment of their current mood. After eight weeks, the scientists compared the groups’ responses and photos. Not surprisingly, the awe walkers felt happier, less upset and more socially connected than the control group members.
The findings are subjective, though, since awe, like other emotions, is difficult to quantify, but Dr. Sturm thinks awe walks could be a simple thing for small wonders without any downside.
1. What makes the new study different from the previous ones?| A．It concentrated on older people. |
| B．It found the solution to mental health. |
| C．It associated physical exercise with happiness. |
| D．It took both activity and awe into consideration. |
| A．desire | B．anxiety | C．discomfort | D．contentment |
| A．The number of volunteers is small. |
| B．The awe emotion is hard to measure. |
| C．The daily assessments are difficult to complete. |
| D．The period of the experiment isn’t long enough. |
| A．Skeptical. | B．Indifferent. | C．Supportive. | D．Critical. |
2 . Exercise plays a very important role in a healthy lifestyle. But you may not have time or money to go to a gym on a regular basis. Don't worry. Here is good news.
A quick Internet search will turn up thousands of online fitness classes. These classes let you listen to instructions.
Some virtual classes require a membership fee, but some are completely free.
Anyone can post a fitness video on the Internet. Not everyone knows what they are doing.
Virtual fitness classes feature convenience. You can do a class at any time of day. They are convenient, they are private, and you may even discover a new form of exercise that you enjoy.
| A．These classes are mostly free of charge. |
| B．So don't waste time watching useless videos. |
| C．And you can try a different one whenever you like. |
| D．Online fitness exercises take a wide variety of forms. |
| E．So it is important to think about who is teaching the class. |
| F．Today's technology let you access fitness from the comfort of your home. |
| G．Meanwhile, they also let you watch trainers demonstrate how to do exercises. |
3 . People who play games —such as cards and board games —are more likely to staymentally sharp in later life, a study suggests. Those who regularly played non-digital gamesscored better on memory and thinking tests in their 70s, the research found.
Psychologists at the University of Edinburgh tested more than 1,000 people aged 70 formemory, problem-solving, thinking speed and general thinking ability. The participants thenrepeated the same thinking tests every three years until aged 79. The group were also askedhow often they played games like cards, chess or crosswords —at ages 70 and 76. Researchers used statistical models to analyse the relationship between a person’s level ofgame playing and their thinking skills. The team took into account the results of anintelligence test that the participants sat when they were 11 years old. They also consideredlifestyle factors,such as education, socio-economic status and activity levels.
People who increased game playing in later years were found to have experienced lessdecline in thinking skills in their seventies —particularly in memory function and thinking speed. Researchers say the findings help to better understand what kinds of lifestyles and behaviors might be associated with better outcomes for cognitive(认知的)health in later life.
The study may also help people make decisions about how best to protect their thinkingskills as they age. Dr Drew, a psychologist in Edinburgh, said: “These latest findings add toevidence that being more engaged in activities during the life course might be associated with better thinking skills in later life. For those in their 70s or beyond, another message seems to bethat playing non-digital games may be a positive behavior in terms of reducing cognitivedecline.”
The connection between playing board games and other non-digital games later in lifeand sharper thinking and memory skills adds to what we know about steps we can take to protect our cognitive health, including not drinking extra alcohol, being active and eating ahealthy diet.
1. Which type of games does the research primarily focus on?| A．Non-digital games. | B．Outdoor games. |
| C．Digital games. | D．Mobile games |
| A．To evaluate their school performance. |
| B．To predict their future cognitive abilities. |
| C．To give them a score to compare with others. |
| D．To ensure a comprehensive analysis in the study. |
| A．Spatial reasoning skills. | B．Social interaction skills. |
| C．Memory function and thinking speed. | D．Problem-solving and analysis ability. |
| A．Drinking extra alcohol. | B．Having a healthy diet. |
| C．Focusing on screen too much. | D．Consuming an unhealthy diet. |
4 . One of the first things that Harvard University professor Daniel E.Lieberman points out in his new book Exercised is the double meaning of the word. Not only does it mean voluntary physical activity,but as an adjective,exercised suggests being worried, anxious or tired.And there lies the problem with exercise. Most of us just don't like doing it.
Lieberman pursues a double course in"Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do ls Healthy and Rewarding'". The professor presents an in-depth look at how humans evolved from hunter-gatherers who didn't have to think twice about getting enough exercise, to those of us who have to push ourselves away from our couches and devices. The parts of the book devoted to biology and evolution can be a bit hard to understand, although Lieberman often introduces them nicely with anecdotes.
Throughout his book, Lieberman discusses the origins of exercise, a modern pursuit.In the 1700s, Samuel Johnson didn't consider the words"play"and"exercise"worthy to be included in his dictionary. Although children have always played and sports have been a "human universal,exercise outside the context of sports was extremely rare until relatively recently, Lieberman writes. He also considers various contemporary forms of exercise and their benefits: running (which he does), walking, dancing, weight training, games and even cage fighting. He drops in on a Swedish company in Stockholm whose CEO requires a weekly "sports hour"to be participated in by all employees.
However, Lieberman's primary viewpoint- that exercise is indeed good for you-comes with an important warning.It must be enjoyable.The paradox（矛盾的情况），he writes，"is that our bodies never evolved to function optimally（最佳地）without lifelong physical activity but our minds never evolved to get us moving unless it is necessary, pleasurable or rewarding.
Exercise,he writes should be social."None of us is an island when it comes to health. Our well-being is interconnected. Some is better than none.Keep it up as you age."
1. What can be learned about the book"Exercised"?| A．It distinguishes between*play"and" exercise" |
| B．It is aimed specifically at couch potatoes. |
| C．It is a brief account of human evolution. |
| D．It explains difficult concepts with stories. |
| A．He was picky about sports. | B．He thought little of exercise. |
| C．He invented the word "exercise." | D．He advocated a weekly sports hour. |
| A．The importance of making exercise fun. |
| B．The difficulty of making exercise social. |
| C．The necessity of exercise for the elderly. |
| D．The physical and mental benefits of exercise. |
| A．An autobiography. | B．A health report. |
| C．A research paper. | D．A book review. |
5 . Before the dark cloud cast a shadow over my life, I was a 39-year-old woman who enjoyed traveling, listening to jazz music and reading. Then my whole life changed. On November 10th 2019, I awoke from sleep with the worst headache of my life. I was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with brain aneurysm (动脉瘤)! After emergency surgery, I lay on the bed feeling shocked and lost. Yet, I knew I had to face the music.
Nine months later, my doctor recommended I start cycling to help flood my brain with oxygen, which benefited my physical recovery. I hadn’t used one in almost two decades, so I was scared. However, with the support of my wonderful cheerleader, Brian, my husband, I got on a bike cautiously. After only three minutes, I was tired and my hands were shaking. I felt powerless and wanted to give up, but Brian encouraged me with smiling eyes. I rode for a few minutes, stopped to rest and rode again. Little by little I could ride continuously for ten minutes! My husband joked I deserved the first prize!
Now, I ride whenever I have the energy. Usually, I get on the bike a few times a week. Last year I participated in a benefit ride for the local school. I enjoy traveling internationally, but haven’t had the opportunity to do so since my surgeries. I hope to one day be able to ride in another country. Until then, though, I’ll participate annually in the Good Old Summertime Classic and continue my local routes.
Biking not only restores my body but also my soul. It feels empowering to take charge of my body and life again. I know I will ride on.
1. What does the underlined phrase “face the music” in paragraph 1 refer to? :| A．Enjoy jazz music. | B．Accept the fact. | C．Lose the feeling. | D．Have the surgery. |
| A．She quit halfway. | B．She felt disappointed. |
| C．She made it. | D．She got the first prize. |
| A．To help the local school. | B．To go cycling abroad. |
| C．To have enough energy. | D．To participate in local routes. |
| A．One is never too old to learn. | B．Love breaks down barriers. |
| C．Exercise is the best medicine. | D．Happiness lies in good health. |
6 . On Us TV shows, you may sometimes see rubber balls on people’s desks. These balls are known as “stress relief balls”. People can squeeze them when they feel stressed out. It’s believed that by concentrating on the act of squeezing, they can let go of the negative energy in their bodies.
In fact, the rubber stress relief balls that are so popular today in the US are believed to date back to ancient China.
And today, we have many gadgets (小器具) and toys that are designed to reduce stress in addition to stress relief balls. One example is the popular fidget spinner (指尖陀螺).
| A．This helped them relax as well. |
| B．These gadgets may look like simple toys. |
| C．It keeps your hand busy with an easy task. |
| D．This is the only way to ease away your tension. |
| E．Indeed, stress is a big problem for many people. |
| F．A focused activity helps take your mind off the problems of your day. |
| G．Back in the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), soldiers used walnuts to get rid of stress. |
7 . Dancing with your grandma for 15 minutes a week promotes positive and improves her state of mind, a study claims. Doctors from Israel are urging younger family members to have a regular visit to their grandmas and have a dance with their grandmas.
And they found a 15 minute boogie (布吉舞) once a week lifted the spirits of the elder family members and helped strengthen the familial bond. In fact, it is called Dance Movement Therapy (DMT). DMT across the generations, complete with eye contact, was found to promote positive feelings and improve mood for the elderly.
The grandparents reported a bright state of mind, happy memories and uplifted spirits. Dancing has also previously been linked to improved muscle strength, balance and endurance. For the grandchildren in the study, the weekly boogie changed how they view ageing and allowed them to come to accept the eventual death of their elderly relative.
The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, assessed how dance affected the well-being of 16 dance movement therapists and their grandmothers. Dance movement therapy was paid attention due to the fact it is easily accessible and does not cost more to practice. The researchers were eager to examine a low—cost method to treat issues commonly faced by an ageing population—such as limited mobility and depression. Grandchildren were instructed to make eye contact and encourage playfulness and touch. They were also told to mirror their grandmothers’ movements and give them time and space to rest when needed,
The sessions were recorded and then analyzed while diaries and interviews captured the opinions and feelings of the participants. As well as the benefits to the health of the senior, the experiment also changed the idea of the younger family members.
1. What can strengthen the positive feelings when dancing with grandmas?| A．Following the grandma’s steps. | B．Moving the bodies as long as possible. |
| C．The old need practice the special dance. | D．Talking with their grandmas in gentle voice |
| A．The young should dance every week. | B．The senior are always ready to accept ageing |
| C．The old need practice the special dance. | D．The young used to resist the final leaving of the old. |
| A．sharing a precious experience | B．presenting a new method |
| C．triggering a hot debate | D．summarizing a general principle |
| A．DMT: a Cure for Everything. |
| B．Dancing: a Good Way to Stop Being Senior. |
| C．Why Don’t You Dance 15 Minutes Every Week? |
| D．Dancing with Grandparents Benefit Health and Family Ties. |
8 . The gym can be scary for a beginner. Whether you’re a fitness green hand or getting back in the game, not knowing what to do in the gym can be a very real fear.
Chat with the staff. The fitness staff is friendly and ready to help! A simple “hello” to a staff member when you walk in the door can really promote your mood.
Get started on a simple machine. If you’re unsure where to start, sticking with the basics is a great way to go. Walk on the treadmill (跑步机) that you may be familiar with and start at a gentle pace.
Try a 30-minute circuit. Circuit training is a super effective way to train, whether you’re a beginner or a more experienced gym-goer, and is the perfect solution when you don’t know what to do in the gym. It allows you to work multiple muscle groups in one workout. The best part: It’s a preplanned workout.
| A．Ask for a tour. |
| B．Share your tour with others. |
| C．But it truly doesn’t have to be. |
| D．Work your way up to a fast run. |
| E．But it can be a scary experience. |
| F．So all you have to do is follow along. |
| G．So your confidence in the gym will build up at once. |
9 . When it comes to summer, most of us think of outdoor fun. So it seems like we should naturally lose weight over the summer. In reality, summer isn’t all beach volleyball and water sports. Therefore, we can gain weight easily in the summer.
Stay busy. When we’re bored, it’s easy to fall into a trap of doing nothing and then feeling low on energy. In addition to helping you avoid the cookie jar, filling your days with something to do can give you a sense of accomplishment.
Beat the heat. Don’t let summer heat put your exercise plans on hold.
| A．Move your workout indoors. |
| B．If we know what to look out for, however, it’s easy to avoid this problem. |
| C．Relax by walking outside. |
| D．That’s especially true if a dream summer job falls through. |
| E．We usually stay at home in the summer. |
| F．Stick to your schedule. |
| G．Get going with goals. |
10 . Doctors have long known that diet and exercise are the best ways to stay healthy. But few people get enough exercise. Only 20% of Americans get the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week. More than 80 million Americans over age 6 are entirely inactive. People leading a sedentary (久坐的) life pay a price. They are at higher risk for serious health problems. These include heart disease and cancer.
Health experts want people to know about the benefits of exercise. They believe it can lead to slower aging, better moods, stronger vision—the list goes on.
This year, the U. S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) is starting a major study. It will record in detail what happens inside a body in motion (运动). Through its research，the NIH hopes to prove scientifically that exercise is good medicine.
The project will run for six years. A group of about 3, 000 sedentary people will take part in the project. They will range from 11-year-olds to the elderly. The group will begin an exercise program. Their blood, fat, and muscle will be studied before and after each workout. Scientists will look for clues to how the body changes with physical activity. A group that doesn't exercise will also be tracked. Experts will compare the two groups. Studies show that many positive changes happen in the body during and after a workout.
One of the best pieces of news is that much of what we already do counts as physical activity. “Sweeping the floor, watering the plants, washing the car—all that is exercise,” says Jack Berryman. He is a retired professor of medical history at Washington University School of Medicine, in Seattle. “Physical activity includes all movement, not just throwing a ball through a basket.”
Bamman hopes the NIH study will help doctors give each of their patients a detailed workout plan. In the meantime, here is a prescription (处方) for good health: Get active!
1. What’s the main idea of the first paragraph?| A．Few people know the benefits of exercise. |
| B．Lack of exercise can cause health problems. |
| C．Doctors suggest 150 minutes of weekly exercise. |
| D．People over age 6 are more likely to get serious disease. |
| A．By doing a survey. | B．By making interviews. |
| C．By making predictions. | D．By making comparison. |
| A．It refers to doing sports. | B．It can replace medicine. |
| C．It includes doing housework. | D．It needs professional training. |
| A．The Best Medicine | B．The Price of Laziness |
| C．Choose Your Favorite Exercise | D．Balance Your Diet and Exercise |
