1 . Why Play? Why Outside?
Play is important, even for adults. Here are some great reasons to get outside and play.
Being outdoors brings the senses to life. In fact, 75 percent of students surveyed by Weekly Reader said they felt better after spending time outside. “Hiking, exploring, and fishing help sharpen all of your senses,” says Betsy Keller, a professor of exercise and sports sciences. “Smell, sight... they’re all engaged when you’re outside.” Bonus!
Outdoor play eases your mind.
Are you stressed out? Having trouble concentrating?
Spending time outdoors brings you closer to the environment.
Hearing the leaves rustling underfoot and breathing in fresh air build awareness and appreciation of the environment, if you walk through the woods in search of cool birds and plants, you may find your mind expanding.
No woods nearby?
| A．Playing outside helps your body |
| B．Outdoor activities expand your senses |
| C．You don’t need a huge park to enjoy nature’s benefits |
| D．With your senses engaged, you’ll feel free and more creative |
| E．So the next time you sit down to spend quality time with a TV |
| F．Then take note of your senses after you’ve done something outside |
| G．Too much time indoors —away from the natural world — may be a cause |
2 . Exercising regularly not only helps you keep slim, but also improves your overall health and well-being. Different exercises produce different results, as they focus on alternate parts of the body. There are four broad exercise categories: endurance, strength, flexibility, and balance. Many people often only focus on one exercise type, but including all four in your workout will produce better results and reduce your risk of injury.
Endurance
Endurance exercises increase your breathing and heart rate. By doing endurance exercises, you are working to keep your heart, lungs, and blood-flow system healthy while improving your total fitness. Over time these activities will make everyday activities seem easier.
Strength
If you want to build up your muscles, then strength exercises, which are also known as “resistance training”, are right for you. Even the slightest increase in strength can make a huge difference in your ability to carry out daily tasks. Developing strong muscles also reduce your risk of weak bones.
Flexibility
Flexibility exercises help stretch your body’s muscles. This allows for more freedom of movement for other exercises and can also improve your range of motion, posture, ability to breathe deeply, and blood flow. Also, it reduces the muscle tension caused by stress.
Balance
Balance exercises help prevent falls and are especially important to older adults, helping them stay independent. Most good balance exercises are ones that keep you constantly moving with your feet on the ground. Heel-to-toe walking and standing on one foot are simple ways to improve balance.
1. How can a person benefit most from their exercise routine?| A．By combining different exercise types together. |
| B．By having enough rest between their workouts. |
| C．By concentrating on one training aspect at a time. |
| D．By increasing the frequency of their training gradually. |
| A．Strength and Balance. | B．Flexibility and Balance. |
| C．Endurance and Strength. | D．Endurance and Flexibility. |
| A．Arms. | B．Legs. | C．Waist. | D．Neck. |
3 . Free Online Gentle Yoga Class
About this event
If you are worn out, stressed out, or just looking forward to relaxing your mind, body, and spirit, please join me for 75 minutes of gentle yoga. My mission is to make yoga accessible to everyone, regardless of race, age, gender, income level, or body size. The primary goal of the class is to help you find a small bit of peace and relaxation during stressful time. No experience necessary.
PLEASE READ
All classes are taught via TikTok from Los Angeles, California. You will receive a TikTok link about 30 minutes before class begins. Registration closes one hour before class begins. Only the first 500 applicants to join TikTok will be admitted to the class.
Frequently asked questions:
What time does the class start?
I am located in Los Angeles, California. Class is on Saturday at 6 pm. If you are located in a different time zone and are confused or unsure of when that is, here is a link to a world clock that will allow you to type in Los Angeles and your city to figure out when the class will begin: https://wrwrw.timeanddate.com/worldclock/meeting.html
What do I need?
Just a pillow and a blanket or towel. It doesn’t matter what kind—whatever you have at home will work just fine.
What should I wear?
I recommend wearing whatever makes you feel comfortable like sweatpants or shorts. The main purpose for the class is simply relaxation so we won’t be getting sweaty but you’ll need to wear something you can move around in a little.
What if I don’t want to be on camera?
No worries! You are more than welcome to turn your camera off. You will still be able to see and hear me but you won’t have to be seen if you prefer not to be.
1. What is a must to attend the online yoga class?| A．A slim figure. | B．Being under 60 years old. |
| C．Being the first 500 applicants. | D．A high salary. |
| A．Signing up for the yoga class. |
| B．Making sure of the time of the class. |
| C．Knowing more about the class. |
| D．Waiting to be admitted to the class. |
| A．One can’t attend it without a camera. |
| B．A towel is a must to wipe out the sweat. |
| C．It can be attended from Monday to Friday. |
| D．One should wear clothes that suit movements. |
4 . Indoor Rock Climbing at the Rock Face
Gold Coast Recreation Centre
Visitors will find the Gold Coast Recreation (娱乐) Centre right on the doorstep of the Tallebudgera Beach, surrounded by the undamaged Tallebudgera Creek and Burleigh Head National Park. The Gold Coast Recreation Centre offers top recreational facilities for groups and families to get active together.
Have you mastered the art of climbing?
Whether you are a beginner or an old hand at climbing, the Rock Face at the centre is sure to attract those looking for challenges. There are ten different climbing paths, offering different degrees of difficulty. So why not put yourself to the test and take on the Rock Face at the Gold Coast Recreation Centre?
The Rock Face is open every Saturday to everyone over the age of five. Children five to twelve years of age will require an adult to come with them.
Rock Climbing Information
• Great for beginners and amateur (业余的) climbers
• Ten different climbing paths
• Automatic belay systems (自动保护系统)
• Friendly staff on hand, always eager to help
• Please ensure climbers wear strong shoes at all times
• Saturdays 8:30 am to 4:30 pm plus during school holidays
• Entry is at Tallebudgera Leisure Centre reception (接待处)
• No bookings are required — you just show up!
Fees
• $12.35 per climber — entry price includes all equipment.
Indoor Rock Climbing is an exciting and fun team building activity, perfect for the whole family. For more information, please contact Queensland Recreation Centres here.
1. What does the Rock Face offer the climbers?| A．Free light lunches. | B．Five types of climbs. |
| C．One-on-one instruction from staff. | D．Climbing paths of different levels. |
| A．It can be done at weekends. | B．It is just for complete beginners. |
| C．It aims at climbers over five. | D．It charges a low price at night. |
| A．Book in advance. | B．Wear strong shoes. |
| C．Pay for some equipment. | D．Do climbing in groups of five. |
5 . Whether you prefer solo dancing or being involved in a more formalized program, dancing offers the obvious plus to your physical health. You're not only moving your body in a rhythmic way and expressing feelings but also burning calories in your body and getting a workout for sure.
In a recent study, researchers compared the effects of walking, stretching and dancing on the wiring and gray matter of the aging brain. The result showed dancing had the significantly positive effect.
In the experiment, after volunteers in their 60s and 70s with healthy brains didn't show signs of cognitive (认知的) disorder, researchers placed them in three groups at will. One group walked, another group stretched and did balance training and the last group learned country dancing. The arrangements of the dancing became progressively more challenging over time. They all did the assigned activity for one hour a day, three times a week. After a period of six months, the volunteers' brains were re-scanned and compared to their brains when they had begun their voluntary work.
Agnieszka Burzynska, the study's lead author who is currently a neuroscientist and director of the BRAiN Lab at Colorado State University, found only one group showed a memory improvement — the country dancers. The participants who learned country dancing now had richer white matter in the part of the brain that processed memory. White matter usually breaks down as a person ages, which may lead to cognitive decline. Dancing, therefore, protected the brain from aging-caused neurodegeneration. So, dancing is not just an aerobic activity good for your physical health. It helps your brain, too!
Country dancing, ballroom dancing, tango and waltz are all done with others. When you take part in these dances, you're involved in a beneficial social activity as well. You are also cognitively motivating your brain as you learn the steps of the dances. Dancing therefore might be one of the best physical activities you can choose for brain health.
1. What's the purpose of paragraph 1?| A．To add background material. | B．To introduce the topic of the text. |
| C．To raise questions about exercise. | D．To present experimental conditions. |
| A．They were grouped at random. | B．They were under cognitive decline. |
| C．They were all asked to learn dancing. | D．They were all born in the 1960s and 1970s. |
| A．The brain function of volunteers. | B．The cognitive disorder of volunteers. |
| C．The relationship between age and dancing. | D．The effect of dancing on the volunteers' brains. |
| A．How Dancing Affects People's Lifestyle |
| B．Why Dancing Is the Best Social Activity |
| C．How Dancing Helps People's Brain Health |
| D．Why Country Dancing Is Beneficial to People's Health |
6 . If you have watched the amazing Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, chances are that you have fallen in love with some winter sports and you’re already making sure your equipment is ready for them.
But there are still some other things to think about. Skiing and snowboarding are great winter sports that provide a total body workout.
| A．Maybe you haven’t bought all the equipment. |
| B．And that is when injuries are more likely to occur. |
| C．Exercising in the cold decreases your body temperature. |
| D．You should take advantage of this opportunity to have a rest. |
| E．Probably, you have got your skis tuned and skates sharpened. |
| F．All of them are areas that can be trained before the winter season. |
| G．However, it can be hard on the body the first time you hit the slopes. |
7 . In 1965, three fathers in Washington faced a dilemma familiar to beleaguered (被困扰的) parents in 2021: How to keep their restless children entertained. They threw together wooden paddles, a badminton net and a plastic ball. The sport “pickleball” was born, with its name — according to one legend — originating from a dog named Pickle, which kept running away with the ball.
Today, pickleball, which is a hybrid (混合物) of tennis, badminton and ping-pong, is the fastest-growing sport in America. In the five years to the end of 2019, pickleball participation grew by more than 7%, while Americans’ overall activity level stayed flat, according to the Sport & Fitness Industry Association. And the sport has picked up more swing definitely, thanks to COVID-19 in 2020. Last March, when quarantines (隔离期) went into effect and gyms were closed, portable pickleball nets temporarily sold out. Players set up courts, which are half the size of tennis courts, in driveways.
The 3.5 million Americans who play pickleball are about one-tenth the number who golf and one-fifth the number who play tennis. Yet there are reasons to bet on the sport’s spread. Like many outdoor activities, pickleball is social, but it is easier to learn than tennis and faster and less expensive than golf. Country clubs and recreation centers across the country are changing some of their tennis courts into pickleball courts to meet demand. The more places there are to play, the more players will try the sport.
“Pickleball was seen as a threat in the tennis community,” says Stu Upson of USA Pickleball, the sport’s national governing body, who used to work for the International Tennis Hall of Fame. But now, he insists, it is viewed as an opportunity. Tennis pros are adding pickleball lessons to their list. As more people take up the sport, demand for televised matches and sponsorships will increase. “It’s reasonable that pickleball could become an Olympic sport. But to be recognized by the International Olympic Committee, we need at least 70 countries with pickleball federations (联合会), so it’s not going to be in the next four or eight years,” says Mr. Upson.
1. Why was pickleball invented initially?| A．To afford children amusements. | B．To provide special training for dogs. |
| C．To reduce parents’ pressure of work. | D．To help children build up their health. |
| A．Pickleball has achieved its dominance in sports market in America. |
| B．Playing pickleball was the most popular sport in the US during the quarantine. |
| C．Americans’ participation in sports except pickleball decreased from 2015 to 2019. |
| D．Pickleball began to regain its popularity around the world due to COVID-19. |
| A．Its playing skills are easy to master. | B．It’s the first choice for people to socialize. |
| C．It can replace other sports during COVID-19. | D．Its courts could easily be altered from tennis courts. |
| A．Pickleball is bound to have a place at the Olympics. |
| B．Tennis will fade out with the rapid spread of pickleball. |
| C．Pickleball remains to be a major threat to tennis community. |
| D．It would take great efforts for pickleball to be selected for the Olympics. |
| A．Great popularity of pickleball in America. | B．The development of pickleball in America. |
| C．The influence of pickleball on pecople’s lives. | D．The threat of pickleball in the tennis community. |
8 . All over the world people enjoy sports. Sports help to keep people healthy and happy, and to live longer. Many people like to watch others play games. They buy tickets or turn on their TVs to watch the games. Often they get very excited when “their” player or team wins.
Some sports are so interesting that people everywhere go in for them. Football, for example, has spread around the world. Swimming is popular in all countries near the sea or in those with many rivers. What fun it is to jump into a pool or lake, whether in China, Egypt or Italy! And think of people in cold countries. Think how many people love to skate or ski in Japan, Norway or Canada. Some sports or games go back thousands of years, like running or jumping. Chinese wushu, for example, has a very long history. But basketball and volleyball are rather new. They are about one hundred years old. People are inventing new sports or games all the time. Water－skiing is one of the newest in the family of sports.
People from different countries often become good friends after a game together. Sports help them to understand each other. One learns to fight hard but fight fair, to win without pride and to lose with grace．
1. Why do people all over the world enjoy sports?| A．Because they want to keep healthy. | B．Because they are happy. |
| C．Because they want to live longer. | D．All the above. |
| A．their favorite team wins | B．they win the game |
| C．they get the good news | D．they can’t help themselves |
| A．Water－skiing. | B．Basketball. |
| C．Volleyball. | D．Jumping. |
| A．they train their character in the game | B．they understand each other |
| C．they are friendly to each other | D．they help each other |
9 . We all know about the health benefits of swimming, including building endurance, muscle strength and cardiovascular (心血管的) fitness.
Cold-water swimming sometimes called wild swimming involves swimming in natural areas including ponds, rivers and the sea. Jumping in cold water gives a short sharp shock to the body.
What is it that people are gaining from this cold experience? Doctors say getting into cold water makes a stress response, but the more you do it, your reaction to stress is reduced.
So, if you’re convinced that this is for you, take advice：approach it with caution, swim with a friend, and maybe start in the summer, when the water temperatures are higher.
| A．Cold-water swimming can substitute medicine. |
| B．However, many participants say they get used to it. |
| C．If you don’t mind getting wet, it can be fun too. |
| D．It’s also thought to strengthen our digestive function. |
| E．We all know exercise can extend people’s life span. |
| F．For example, it helps reduce the stress of exercising at high altitudes. |
| G．Cold-water swimming can function as a dose of medicine. |
10 . The Biggest Stadiums in the World
People have been pouring into stadiums since the days of ancient Greece. In around 80 A.D., the Romans built the Colosseum, which remains the world’s best known stadium and continues to inform contemporary design. Rome’s Colosseum was 157 feet tall and had 80 entrances, seating 50,000 people. However, that was small fry compared with the city’s Circus Maximus, which accommodated around 250,000 people.
These days, safety regulations-not to mention the modern sports fan’s desire for a good view and comfortable seat — tend to keep stadium capacities (容量) slightly lower. Even soccer fans tend to have a seat each; gone are the days of thousands standing to watch the match.
For the biggest stadiums in the world, we have used data supplied by the World Atlas list so far, which ranks them by their stated permanent capacity, as well as updated information from official stadium websites.
All these stadiums are still functional, still open and still hosting the biggest events in world sport.
·Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, Pyongyang D.P.R. Korea. Capacity: 150,000. Opened: May 1,1989.
·Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan, U. S. Capacity: 107,601. Opened: October 1, 1927.
·Beaver Stadium, State College, Pennsylvania, U. S. Capacity: 106,572. Opened: September 17, 1960.
·Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio, U. S. Capacity: 104,944. Opened: October 7,1922.
·Kyle Field, College Station, Texas, U. S. Capacity: 102,512. Opened: September 24, 1927.
1. How many people could the Circus Maximus hold?| A．104,944. | B．107,601. | C．About 150,000. | D．About 250,000. |
| A．Michigan Stadium. | B．Beaver Stadium. | C．Ohio Stadium. | D．Kyle Field. |
| A．They host big games. | B．They have become tourist attractions. |
| C．They were built by Americans. | D．They are favored by architects. |
