1 . There is a mountain of great ski opportunities not too far from Boston. Road-trip to one of these fantastic ski mountains this winter.
Blue Hills Ski Area
A ski day trip doesn’t get any easier than the Blue Hills Ski Area. It is the only snow sports facility in the metro area. Skiing and snowboarding are spread over its 60 skiable acres, 90% of which are equipped for snowmaking. The vertical drop is 309 feet and there are four lifts serving the 16 trails, most of which are for advanced skiers. There are lessons for kids and adults to help you get there.
Crochet Mountain Resort
It’s famous for signature “Midnight Madness” events and daily night skiing. It has an 875-foot vertical drop and 23 trails across 75 skiable acres. A great mountain for skiers, half its terrain is graded for intermediates with the rest being split between advanced and beginner terrain.
Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort
It’s the only one of ski resorts to be 100%powered by renewable energy sources. Skiers will find a 1,150-foot vertical drop, 45 trails, 3 terrain parks and 9 lifts across 167 skiable acres. The whole family can take lessons, enjoy dining or buy a ticket and go for a ride on the 3,600-foot Mountain Coaster!
Smugglers’ Notch
Smugglers’ Notch has a 2,564-foot vertical drop, 78 trails, 5 terrain parks and 8 lifts spread across 1,000 skiable acres. Known as a full-service family-oriented resort, it offers plenty to do off mountain like ice skating, arts and crafts workshops and an indoor swimming pool!
1. Which ski resort mainly targets advanced skiers?| A．Blue Hills Ski Area. | B．Crochet Mountain Resort. |
| C．Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort. | D．Smugglers’ Notch. |
| A．Its trails. | B．Its location. |
| C．Its vertical drop. | D．Its green concept. |
| A．Have a swim. | B．Ski with world champions. |
| C．Enjoy stone sculptures. | D．Ride a roller coaster. |
2 . Is it bad to work out in cold weather?
Burn extra calories
In cold climates, your body needs to perform extra heat to keep your body warm. Brown fat is the type of body fat that helps control body temperature. When you’re outside in the cold, brown fat burns calories in order to increase body temperature.
Help increase willpower
Working out in the heat can cause you to become tired more easily, since it increases sweating and your heart rate more rapidly.
Exercising outside during the winter is thought to be one useful way to avoid a type of disorder or depression that tends to affect people during the dark winter months. Sunlight and exercise both have a positive impact on your mental (精神的) condition. They help give out more “feel good” chemicals, including serotonin and endorphins.
Help you sleep better
The combination of sunlight exposure (暴露) during the daytime, fresh air and physical activity can help you relax and sleep well at night.
Exercising in cold weather isn’t for everyone, though. If you have any health problems, it is advisable to talk with your health care provider first.
| A．Support heart health |
| B．Improve your mental health |
| C．It can make you take regular exercise |
| D．In this process it can likely help you to lose weight |
| E．Sunlight is important for controlling your sleep-wake cycle |
| F．As long as you take preventive measures, it is actually pretty beneficial |
| G．On the other hand, exercising in the cold can allow you to work out longer |
3 . What’ s a micro activity? I consider this question about the word “micro” whenever it appears.
The following recommendations are micro activities you should do for your body.
Self-Massage (自我按摩)
Self-massaging should become a part of your daily musts.
Intensive Exercise
There are many benefits of intensive exercise (高强度运动). And do you know what else it does for your body? It makes your body realize it can do so much more. In less than five minutes, the goal is to break a sweat. This can be from running or lifting weights.
Let Loose
Whether it be dancing, skipping or something else, our body should do whatever it feels like doing without judgment.
Be Still
| A．Did you regret doing it? |
| B．What does it really mean? |
| C．Don’t give yourself too much pressure. |
| D．It should be as necessary as brushing your teeth or taking a shower. |
| E．Every activity involves some sort of movement. |
| F．The playful nature helps bring out the inner child and promotes creativity and joy. |
| G．It doesn’t matter which activity you choose, so long as you bring intensity to that workout. |
4 .
Can you stand on one leg for 10 seconds? Balance could be a matter of life and death. The World Health Organization estimates that 684,000 fatal falls occur each year, making falling the second leading cause of unintentional injury death. Some of these falls are caused by more serious conditions -but many aren’t. According to George Locker, a long-term practitioner of tai chi, a loss of balance is a medical problem that can’t be treated with drugs or surgery, despite its effects. Increasingly,efforts are being made to remedy(补救) the balance problem among the groups already most affected by it. Tai chi,practiced by an estimated 50 million people in China,is an option. Studies have shown that as little as eight weeks of practice can improve older adults’scores on the Tinetti test —a commonly used measure of competence in basic tasks such as rising from a chair and walking—as well as reducing fear of falling. Longer periods of study show further benefits. Whatever activity you choose the lesson is to work on your balance before you need to. not after it becomes an issue. As Locker puts it everyone’s told to save money for their retirement and nobody’s taught to save their balance. But both are difficult to get back once they’re gone. | Just 15 minutes a day of practice can be beneficial, but do more if you have time Starting earlier helps: try the exercises below on a hard, level surface. |
Easy Level: Standing on one leg—with your hands resting on a work surface if you' re feeling unsteady — see how long you can maintain your balance. Do this one while you’re brushing your teeth. | |
Medium Level: For this movement, start from standing and take a big step forwards, bending your front leg until your trailing knee just brushes the floor. Then push off your front leg and return to a standing position. | |
Hard Level: Try step-ups on to a step or box: put one foot on to a box and push through that heel to step up so both feet end up together. To ensure you aren’t using your trailing leg to help ,keep your toes off the ground on that foot. |
| A．It is costly to get treated with drugs and surgery. |
| B．It is a minor issue that doesn’t affect one’s overall health. |
| C．It is a problem without any medical solution. |
| D．It is a problem that can be easily fixed by exercising. |
A． | B． | C． | D． |
| A．Balance is the top leading cause of sudden death from injuries. |
| B．It is essential for those affected by balance issues to seek help. |
| C．Taichi is the most effective way to improve one’s balance. |
| D．It is wiser to work on balance as early as possible. |
5 . Through interacting with people and the outdoors, a cycling holiday can boost both your physical and mental well-being. We have researched the best routes for the perfect cycling holiday here in the UK. With locations across the UK, you’ll be sure to find your next cycling destination here.
Camel Trail
The best cycling route here in the UK is the Camel Trail in North Cornwall. Stretching 27.8 km from Padstow to Wenfordbridge, this cycling route is not only a fairly flat cycle, but is also home to some breathtaking views of the coast and family-friendly camping spots. Perfect for families, the Camel Trail follows alongside sandy beaches and villages along the way, meaning there’s more to discover.
Tissington Trail
The Tissington Trail takes you from Ashbourne in the Derbyshire Dales, all the way up to Parsley Hay. Taking you through the south of the beautiful Peak District, the Tissington Trail follows an old railway line which still has the former station platforms. Filled with lots of history and nature, and only a 25-minute drive to Alton Towers for a bit of added fun, this holiday is jam-packed with plenty to do for the whole family.
Derby Canal Path and Cloud Trail
The Derby Canal Path and Cloud Trail stretches 21.4 km from Derby to the market town of Loughborough. Taking you along the picturesque countryside, and waterside sections, this cycling route has it all. Local attractions on the route include Melboume Hall and Gardens, and Melboume Animal Farm.
Marriott’s Way
The Marriott’s Way is another long distance cycle and footpath that starts in Norwich and finishes in Reepham. Perfect for cycling through Norfolk’s picturesque woodlands, the Marriott’s Way also passes through picturesque small towns and villages including Attlebridge, Whitwell, and Theme Thorpe. The Marriott’s Way cycling trail has the steepest ascent out of the four best cycling holidays, so may be the best for those who are keen riders.
If you choose to venture out on a cycling holiday this year, you’ll feel the benefit of spending time with family and friends while exploring some of the UK’s most scenic and enjoyable cycling routes. Take your pick from our best cycling holidays in the UK for your next staycation, whether you’re a novice rider or looking for a challenge.
1. What can people gain from a cycling holiday?| A．Improved cycling skills. |
| B．Better mood and stronger body. |
| C．Increased knowledge of the ocean. |
| D．Deepened understanding of green travelling. |
| A．Camel Trail |
| B．Tissington Trail |
| C．Derby Canal Path and Cloud Trail |
| D．Marriott’s Way |
| A．To discuss the benefits of cycling. |
| B．To encourage people to go cycling. |
| C．To introduce some cycling holiday tracks. |
| D．To analyze the differences among the four routes. |
6 . In a year that has been characterized by the restriction, there are two activities I have found myself doing more of: running and writing.
At first glance, these two passions seem to be completely opposite. When I write, I’ll retreat (缩进) into my head, where I dig memories, ideas, characters to shape into stories. When I run, I’ll fully inhabit my body. The sounds and feelings of physical effort—foot strike, heartbeat and sweat—drown out the thoughts.
Despite their differences, though, there are similarities. Running and writing are both things we do alone. They both demand at times that we dig deep, keep going and never give up. I’ve also found that running can be complementary to writing. If I’ve been sat for hours, there’s nothing more restorative than getting out for a run. Sometimes when I’m least expecting it, solutions to tricky twists present themselves and ideas drop in as if the movement of running has itself shaken things into place. On the other hand, running especially long-distances has taught me to be brave, to look inside myself to see if there’s more to give. It has also taught me patience.
I’m far from the first runner to notice that running can help the writing process. Reflecting on her writing methods in an article in The New York Times, author and lifelong runner Joyce Oates wrote: Running seems to allow me, ideally, to have an expanded consciousness in which I can imagine what I’m writing as a film or a dream. I can’t say there is an expanded consciousness when I put on my trainers after a hard day’s writing, but there’s some evidence that working up a sweat can also fire up the imagination.
It’s not clear what’s behind the creativity though increased oxygen to the brain has been shown to help cognitive processes, so there’s no reason to think it’s useless. Whatever the link between running and creativity is, next time I find myself struggling to find the right words in the face of a deadline, I’ll run for it.
1. What does running contribute to the author’s writing process?| A．Exhaustion and challenges. | B．Relaxation and consciousness. |
| C．Affection and physical benefits. | D．Inspiration and creative solutions. |
| A．Really helpful. | B．Clearly different. |
| C．Negatively related. | D．Potentially dangerous. |
| A．She is stressed over struggles and deadlines. |
| B．She challenges the claim that running improves creativity. |
| C．She is determined to find out why running helps creativity. |
| D．She will keep running in order to help her writing process. |
| A．What I Have Learned From Running |
| B．Running May Fire up the Imagination |
| C．Differences Between Running and Writing |
| D．Science Says Running Is Good for One’s Health |
7 . What Are the Physical Benefits of Exercise?
Exercise is often thought of as activities that help a person lose weight or prevent weight gain. Having a body that is slimmer and trimmer is certainly one of the physical benefits of exercise, but there are many others.
Exercising can help strengthen the muscles.
Diet pills may help a man shed weight but they will not help him build or strengthen his muscles. The physical benefits of exercise are generally experienced simultaneously.
Working out can make the bones stronger.
Exercise also strengthens bones, which becomes more important the older a person gets. Bones go through a natural process of breaking down the rebuilding.
Many people are concerned with looking older. Slowing and reversing the effects of aging are benefits of physical exercise. Cellulite (皮下脂肪团), for example, can make a young woman appear older than she is.
| A．Many people want to change or improve their bodies. |
| B．Taking regular exercise can reduce the effects of aging. |
| C．As people grow older, however, the rebuilding process slows unless it is stimulated. |
| D．Training also reduces the negative physical effects which a person feels when he ages. |
| E．Exercise has the ability to help a person change his body shape, and make him stronger. |
| F．The appearance of cellulite can be diminished with basic exercises such as walking or jogging. |
| G．These include strengthening the bones, strengthening the muscles, and reducing the effects of aging. |
8 . Even though people have been paralyzed (瘫痪的) playing sports like rugby and football, extreme sports take the whole ordeal (磨难) to the next level. Sports like downhill cycling are very dangerous because one would be going downhill, over rocky or dirt zone, through forests, even at potentially deadly speeds. A slip up could be your downfall.
Nobody who gets into extreme sports goes with the desire to do harm to themselves. With that, athletes train for years and years before they attempt anything extreme. To most people, extreme sports are extreme simply because they take more skill than what an average person has. An athlete with skill and training makes an extreme thing become a daily routine, which does not wipe out the danger, but greatly reduces it.
Even when there is a lot of skill involved, things might not go the athlete’s way, not at all. Luck and circumstances have a lot to do with how things develop, whether above 8,000 meters or in a wood, going downhill. In some places, crossing the street is an extreme sport, considering how wild traffic can get.
Some view parkour, the sports of running, jumping and climbing under, around and through buildings, as an extreme sport, while it is more of a life philosophy, where the athlete does not have to do anything remotely dangerous. Free soloing, which means climbing a rock or ice face without safety gear, is absolutely deadly, where one slip means almost certain death, depending on the height, of course. Skateboarding is relatively safe, but if you constantly find ridiculous places to practice on, like the fence of a bridge, then things can get very complicated. The extreme part depends on the athlete.
To summarize, yes, extreme sports are dangerous, but the danger depends on the athlete, their choice of sport, direction in which they take it, as well as the circumstances. Some things are out of our control, while others we can influence through exercise and healthier risk choices.
1. Why is downhill cycling mentioned in Paragraph 1?| A．To call for attention to extreme sports. | B．To introduce the origin of extreme sports. |
| C．To illustrate the danger of extreme sports. | D．To show the complexity of the extreme sports. |
| A．Extreme sports differ from one another. |
| B．Skill matters a lot in maintaining safety. |
| C．Athlete’s luck is a key factor that influences safety. |
| D．Extreme sports are more dangerous than regular sports. |
| A．explain danger depends on the athlete | B．show free soloing is the most dangerous |
| C．compare which one involves the most skill | D．demonstrate how to choose an extreme sport |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Objective. | C．Intolerant. | D．Uninterested. |
| A．Do Extreme Sports Test Your Courage? |
| B．Why Should Extreme Sports Be Banned? |
| C．Why Do We Love Extreme Sports So Much? |
| D．Are Extreme Sports Really That Dangerous? |
9 . Nowadays, are you sitting more and more? Take a moment to think about your sitting habits. You’re probably sitting while reading this.
People know sitting too much is unsuitable, and most of us naturally feel a little guilty after a long-time TV watching. But what problems gradually exist when we seat ourselves for nearly eight hours per day? A study on nearly 8000 adults suggests that there’s a direct relationship between the time spent sitting and our risk of early death from any cause.
“Sit less, move more” is what the Heart Foundation encourages us to do.
| A．Now it’s time to get up and move around. |
| B．It is quite usual for you to remain seated in a business meeting. |
| C．As the total sitting time increases, so does the danger of early death. |
| D．But the function of this rule is just too simple and abstract to benefit us a lot. |
| E．The experts suggest that more exercise should be done to reduce sitting time. |
| F．It is reported that many people have spent more than 6 hours sitting or lying. |
| G．Various specific and detailed guidelines have been made to inspire people to reduce sitting time. |
A Teen Case Study
Mrs Zhang, our school counsellor who is also a medical doctor, is passionate about the advantages of playing sport. She believes that it is vital for teenagers to have a positive attitude, and sports help them do this. She gave us the following example as inspiration.
I had a teenage patient, who was depressed and moody. Let’s call her Shan. Conventional wisdom said that I should prescribe medication of some sort. I decided rather to ask about her lifestyle. From her responses it was clear she was getting no exercise. So l encouraged her to choose a school sporting activity and take part in it. I suggested that she keep a journal of all her new activities, and how she felt about them and about herself.
Shan took my recommendation and joined the school volleyball team. Six months later she was hardly recognisable: she had lost weight and was looking fit and healthy; she had more friends; her schoolwork had improved, and best of all, she was no longer depressed or moody. Her mum told me she was a changed person. Shan told me later that I had changed her life. I hadn’t really. It was Shan herself who did it. She took the idea I gave her and embraced it with enjoyment and determination.
Read the report. Answer the questions.
1. What was Shan’s problem?
2. Why didn’t Mrs Zhang prescribe medication for Shan? What did she decide rather to do?
3. What were the benefits to Shan of taking up volleyball?
