2 . When my friend first suggested that we join the new Tai Chi Club at school, I _________. I always believed tai chi was for old people. After the first class, _________, I had to admit that I had been wrong about tai chi. It was amazing!

The first few tai chi classes were fun and _________, and the moves really caught my imagination, with descriptive names like “white crane spreading its wings” and “golden rooster standing on one leg”. Later, I found myself bored and aching from doing the same _________ over and over again. Luckily, my coach taught me how to relax my muscles and _________ peace of mind while performing the routine. With these requirements of tai chi in mind, I found to my satisfaction that my balance and flexibility slowly _________, that I was able to do more difficult moves, and that my _________ for tai chi returned stronger than ever.

A year of practising tai chi has had a(n) _________ effect on my everyday life. I sleep better at night, and I am more _________ 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 __________. I am sure I will continue to practise tai chi and enjoy the benefits it has brought me.

3 . Is it true that laughter is helpful to improve heart health? According to a recent study, the answer is YES! Having a laugh causes the tissue inside the heart to expand and increases oxygen flow around the body. Patients with coronary artery disease (冠心病) who engaged in a course of laughter therapy had reduced inflammation and better health, the research found.

In the study, scientists carried out a first-of-its-kind experiment to examine if laughter therapy could improve symptoms of patients with heart disease. It involved 26 adults with an average age of 64, all diagnosed with coronary artery disease. Over three months, half were asked to watch two different hour-long comedy programs each week, including popular sitcoms. The other half watched two different serious documentaries, about topics such as politics and religion. At the end of the 12-week study period, the comedy group improved by 10% in a test measuring how much oxygen their heart could pump around the body.

The group also improved in a second measure that tested how well arteries can expand. They also had blood tests to measure several inflammatory biomarkers (炎症指标), which indicate how much plaque (斑块) has built up in the blood vessels, and whether people are at risk of heart attack or stroke. The results showed that these inflammatory markers had significantly reduced compared with the control group. “When patients with coronary artery disease arrive at hospital, they have a lot of inflammatory biomarkers,” said the lead researcher, Prof Marco Saffi, of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre in Brazil.

The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cardiology in Amsterdam, the world’s largest heart disease conference.

Forest bathing has become more and more popular in recent years. It encourages people to connect with nature by taking slow walks, engaging in activities such as yoga or meditation, and embracing the present moment. Here are the benefits of forest bathing that you can start gaining today.

    1    

Forest bathing can help you reduce stress. Connecting with nature decreases cortisol (皮质醇) levels, the hormone responsible for feelings of stress. So, the more time you spend in nature, the more relaxed you will be.

Relax your mood.

If you want to relax your mood, take a trip to the forest. A forest bathing trip can ease your mood significantly. It can help reduce your anxiety, depression and tiredness. Forests are also associated with calming effects on the mind and body.

    2    

It’s no secret that nature plays a vital role in human life, and the two are strongly connected. In natural environments, plants and trees release some special oils, which can protect plants from germs. They also have many human health benefits. In addition to relaxing mood, these oils are also a natural immunity booster.

    3    

Forest bathing provides an opportunity to escape disturbance. It can provide an ideal atmosphere for creative thinking and problem-solving. It allows you to focus on creative solutions without interruption. Increased energy levels during the day are also achieved with regular visits to nature because natural beauty surroundings help reduce stress levels, leaving you feeling energized and ready for the day ahead.

The Internet has brought us great     1     (convenient). To a certain extent, we can hardly live without it. However, it also raises all sorts of questions: when surfing the Internet, how can we protect ourselves? How can we use the Internet     2     (responsible)? The following guidelines may show you how to live in the digital world.

Above all else, you should use the Internet in     3     safe way. You must always be careful about which sites to trust. One wrong click may damage your computer and remove all your computer files! Therefore, before     4     (visit) a web page, always check for signs that warn people     5     danger. Another tip is to keep your personal information private, including your phone number, address and email account.

You also need to show respect when communicating with other online users. Leave     6     (comment) politely and treat others the way in     7     you would like to be treated. Though the majority of online users are nice and friendly, there might be some users who make you feel     8     (comfortable) online. In such cases, be aware that you always have the right     9     (say) no and cut off contact. Remember that relationships you establish in the digital world     10     just the same as those you have in real life.

I was very frightened when I     1    (wake) up in hospital last Thursday. Then my mum told me what had happened. She said I fainted in my PE class     2     the level of my blood sugar were too low.     3    (fortunate), I was rushed to hospital immediately. The doctor helped me and I made a full recovery within two days. My experience proves what a bad idea     4     is to try to lose weight by     5    (skip) meals. This weight-loss method     6     has serious side effects is too dangerous. I also understand that being healthy and energetic     7    (be) more important than being slim.

From now on, I’ll pay more attention     8     my health rather than my weight. I’ll eat a balanced diet     9    (make) sure I have enough nutrition. Regular exercise is also     10     important aspect of a healthy lifestyle. It’ll help me concentrate better in class. So, I’ll play sports with my friends every other day after school. I hope these lifestyle changes can help me get into shape.