1 . Some educators told us that more years of school could help students get higher scores on intelligence tests. That was a finding of a study of teenage males in some countries. Now, another research shows that physical activity may help students do better in their classes.
The research comes as educators in some countries are reducing time for activities like physical education. They are using the time instead for academic (学术的) subjects like math and reading. The studies included more than 55,000 children, aged 6 to 18.
Amika Singh: “According to the results of our study, we can conclude that being physically active is beneficial to academic performance. There are, first, physiological explanations, like more blood flow, and so more oxygen to the brain. Being physically active means there are more hormones (荷尔蒙) produced like endorphins (内啡肽). And endorphins make your stress level lower and your mood improved, which means you also perform better.”
Also, students taking part in organised sports learn rules and how to follow them. This could improve their classroom behaviour and help them keep their mind on their work.
The study leaves some questions unanswered, however. Ms. Stash says it is not possible to say whether the amount or kind of activity affected the level of academic improvement. This is because of differences among the studies.
The researchers said they found only two high quality studies. They needed more high quality studies to confirm (证实) their findings. They also pointed out that “results for other parts of the world may be quite different”.
Still, the general finding was that physically active kids are more likely to do better in school. MPs Singh says schools should consider that finding before they cut physical education programs. Her paper on “Physical Activity and Performance at School” is published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.
1. Which of the following is TRUE?| A．Being mentally active is good for academic subjects. |
| B．The more hormones you have, the more stressed you will get. |
| C．The researchers have found many highquality studies to prove the research. |
| D．The educators in some countries think studies, not exercise, mean much to students. |
| A．Good marks result from highquality study. |
| B．Findings are probably different in different areas. |
| C．Physical activity will spread all over the world. |
| D．Academic performance depends on the surroundings. |
| A．A research on physical education has been done by the researchers. |
| B．There is a possibility that physical activity leads to higher grades. |
| C．The amount or kind of activity directly affects academic level. |
| D．The research shows that the children aged 6 to 18 don’t do sports. |
2 . “Being a sports fan is a very psychologically healthy activity,” says Daniel Warm, professor at Murray State University whose research program centers on the psychology of sport fandom(运动迷). Fandom connects us to other like-minded people, which satisfies our human need for belonging, he says.
These relationships are significant: People who identify as sports fans have higher levels of self-esteem, lower levels of loneliness and tend to be more satisfied with their lives compared to those who aren’t interested in sports, Wann says. Fans tend to have more access to social support, help and resources as well. Research suggests that when people have support from their communities, they have better health.
Beyond bonding, fans get to enjoy the psychological benefits of winning, even if they have nothing to do with the players or games.
Of course, teams sometimes lose. Prior to a sporting event, there’s at least a 50-50 chance that you’re going to be disappointed in your outcome.
So, why do people continue to put their faith behind teams that tend to lose? People who feel a strong psychological connection to a team are more likely to root for a team when they’re having a losing season.
“Sports random has nothing to do with the outcome of a game,” Warm says. For example, if a pizza restaurant continually got your order wrong, you’d likely switch to a more reliable parlor(店铺). But because being a fan is so central to people’s identities, people are willing to accept defeat and continue to be loyal to a team.
Being part of a fan community can also help people cope with losses. A 2019 study found that watching a football game with other fans helps to relieve the negative psychological effects of losing. For fans of the losing team, sharing the pain may have protected them from losing self-esteem.
“There are other things that random brings with it above and beyond the ability to enjoy the team’s successes,” Warm says. Watching sports can be a way to relieve stress, or spend time with family, he says.
To that end, some surveys suggest that activities like March Madness pools can reduce productivity. Any sort of fandom can be distracting, but Warm says that talking about sports at work and spending time with people who share a common interest can make people more excited to go to work.
However, if you find you’re consuming so much sports content that your work is suffering, or it’s impacting your interpersonal relationships, then it can be a sign you should tone it down, he adds.
1. What is the characteristic sports fans generally bear?| A．Higher sense of self-worth. | B．Worse health conditions. |
| C．Being ready to help others. | D．Various means of support. |
| A．Fans are forced to be loyal to teams. |
| B．Fans are good at sharing pains with teams. |
| C．Fans are brave enough to accept losses. |
| D．Fans own a great sense of identity and belonging. |
| A．Leading to distraction. |
| B．Making people too excited to go to work. |
| C．Increasing people’s productivity. |
| D．Impacting interpersonal relationships. |
| A．A poster. | B．A textbook. |
| C．A science fiction. | D．A magazine. |
3 . Here are some apps you may find useful.
Mirror
It is like having a personal trainer in your home with you. The super smart screen is designed to look like a full⁃length mirror. It offers more than 20 types of workouts with classes ranging from 15 to 60 minutes and from beginner to expert levels. Mirror requires special equipment that is separate from the membership fee.
Peloton
Even those who don’t like exercise know what Peloton is. Workouts available(可用的) on the Peloton app go far beyond biking. But with so many Peloton diehard fans praising the app for offering one of the best cardio workouts out there,the cycling aspect deserves the spotlight. Peloton is community⁃based and offers the chance to bike with other members. Classes are fun to take, led by famous instructors.
Fitbod
It builds custom(定制的)workouts based on your strength⁃training ability, past workouts, and available gym equipment. Each day you get a personalized fitness plan to help you get stronger. It is its advantage that attracts many diehard fans. Fitbod workouts focus on all your muscle groups in the classes. Fitbod is free to try, but if you want to unlock the unlimited workouts, you have to pay.
Tonal
It is designed for people who like the range of machines at the gym, but don’t like sharing them. It brings the whole gym set⁃up home, but it’s not cheap. Accessories(配件) like handles and a bench are sold separately. Instead of taking up a bunch of space in your garage or basement, Tonal provides everything including fitness classes via a touch⁃screen display.
1. Which app is best for cyclists?| A．Fitbod. | B．Tonal. | C．Mirror. | D．Peloton. |
| A．It offers daily workout plans. | B．It can be used for free forever. |
| C．It has offline personal trainers. | D．It centers on weight loss programs. |
| A．They require users to register. | B．They sell relevant equipment. |
| C．They give fitness classes online. | D．They can be used while people are working. |
4 . How to Exercise at Home
You’ve got home from work, planned and prepared a nutritious yet also delicious dinner and now it’s time to put on some sports clothes and head to the gym. No?
Take advantage of your stairs
Here is a question.
Make the most of the housework!
Turn grocery delivery into a workout
| A．Turn to a vacuum cleaner |
| B．Make housework your workout |
| C．How many steps are there in your house |
| D．Rather than just vacuuming one room at a time |
| E．In that case, here are some home workout suggestions |
| F．How many times a day do you go up and down the stairs |
| G．Many of us now use online shopping to make our busy lives a little easier |
5 . Over the years, I've found some easy tricks to get myself more active daily. Going to the gym and doing a weight workout isn't required.
1.Start small
A lot of people assume they need to run themselves tired in the gym to get more fit, but that's really not true. Experts recommend a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week—that breaks down to a little more than 20 minutes each day. They also recommend strength-training at least two times a week.
2.Get active at work
3.Do exercises you actually like
This is a big one. If you hate exercising, it might be because you aren't doing workouts you enjoy. Very few people actually enjoy running around in circles for miles. So don't. Branch out and try different kinds of workouts until you find one you genuinely enjoy.
4.Make it social
Exercise doesn't need to be alone. In fact, having a workout partner can help keep you motivated and hold you accountable in your routine.
| A．Your work day doesn't have to involve totally sitting long. |
| B．There are actually effective ways to get more exercise day-to-day. |
| C．Thirty minutes is an ideal place to start to fulfill your weekly needs. |
| D．If you don't have one buddy to join you, sign up for a workout class. |
| E．Exercise isn't just about running as fast or lifting as much as possible. |
| F．It'll help improve your flexibility and do wonders for your mental health. |
| G．This requires you to go out of your comfort zone and to be patient as you try things out. |
6 . How do you spend your spare time? There will be different answers to it. Most people in Poland(波兰) have their own ways of spending free time. Sometimes they just want to have a rest, but they try to do something more pleasant most of the time. They have many different hobbies, which help them to get away from their everyday problems and spend their free time happily.
Many Polish(波兰的) people like travelling. They look for new places that they have never been to and add new and exciting experiences to their journey. Some of them like to climb mountains, others like to go to the sea or a lake to swim, because these can make them get exercise and are good for their health.
Many Polish people also like to watch sports in their free time. They are usually crazy about football, and football is regarded as the Polish national sport. Many football fans may support a certain team, so they go to watch every match of the team they support, and they buy many things that have any relation with the team. Watching a sport and doing it are both good ways to relax.
In addition, doctors say that doing sports is very good for the health. Many people in town, especially young men, often go to the gym to attend the exercise classes to keep fit.
Besides these ways, Polish people have many other ways to spend their free time. And they really enjoy their free time.
1. Polish people have many different hobbies in order to ________.| A．solve their daily problems | B．finish all their work |
| C．make some friends | D．relax themselves in their spare time |
| A．Because they hate travelling. | B．Because they can get exercise from it. |
| C．Because they can find a new place. | D．Because it is comfortable and funny. |
| A．Playing football. | B．Climbing mountains. |
| C．Skating. | D．Swimming. |
7 . In a recent game of pickleball, my teammate and I were falling far behind other teams. It was her turn to serve. We were both standing behind the baseline, paddles(球拍) up in ready position, when she nodded at me and said, “In it to win it.”
“Really?” I looked at her, surprised by her use of a catchy expression that was new to me. My inner self was never ready to accept even the tiniest suggestion that we should be trying to win the game.
In my life off the pickleball court, I enjoy yoga, folk dancing—anything but games with winners and losers, and I always prefer to be a observer rather than a participant in the world of sports.
Then pickleball came along. Suddenly, I didn’t want to be an observer any longer. I wanted to be a player myself. Like many people, I was first drawn to the game simply as a safe COVID-19 activity. Playing outdoors with people in my neighborhood allowed me to break out of social isolation(隔离).
But my addiction to the game comes from the sport’s low barrier of entry. The equipment isn’t particularly expensive. It’s a relatively easy game to learn, and a participant doesn’t need to be especially strong, tall or fast. Little wonder that everyone can now be seen throwing a green, orange or yellow plastic ball with holes in it across a net.
Pickleball is the first game I’ve ever wanted to win. I think it’s because of the excitement I feel when I hit an unreturnable ball down the middle of the court and score a point. Participating in a sport myself rather than cheering for others provides real proof that I can still work hard to achieve goals.
So, I’ve made a long-term commitment to it. I am embracing the game as my pickleball buddies embrace me. I’d forgotten how much fun it is to socialize while, doing something active. In that playful space of the court, I am facing directly my fears of winning and losing. In the meantime, doing something outside of my comfort zone feels magical. Now I wonder what contests I might be brave enough to enter next.
1. Why was the author surprised by what her teammate said in the recent game?| A．She thought her teammate was too weak. | B．She hadn’t considered winning or losing. |
| C．She didn’t know what her teammate meant. | D．She misunderstood the rules of the game. |
| A．It is what she is good at. | B．It allows her to make new friends. |
| C．It is affordable and accessible. | D．It has many health benefits. |
| A．She has overcome her fears of competitive sports. | B．She has realized her own limitations. |
| C．She has become a more energetic person. | D．She has recognized her talents for sports. |
| A．Become a professional athlete. | B．Recommend pickleball to more friends. |
| C．Explore some extreme sports. | D．Continue playing pickleball. |
8 . Fitness and healthy well-being have become very popular during recent times with many consumers wanting to look after their body more and more now. Because of this, and especially because we are living in the digital age, many fitness fanatics are using technology to enable them to track their progress and improve how they are working out; due to this, we have created a list of gifts that you can buy for fitness fanatics this Christmas.
The first gift that we have found is perfect for fitness fanatics is actually the NutriBullet that has benefits for not just fitness go-ers but also perfect for every kitchen. The NutriBullet allows for consumers to blend their pre- and post-work out shakes perfectly and can mix virtually anything in them from fruit to nuts to supplements. The best thing about the NutriBullet is how quick and easy it is to use and more importantly how easy it is to clean and tidy up.
Next up for the perfect gift for a fitness goer would be that of a fitness smart watch, specifically a FitBit Sense. FitBit have always been the industry leader when it comes to fitness smart watches as they have hundreds of indicators for you to be able to track how your health is pre, during and post fitness session.
Not only that, but the benefits of messages and phone calls through your phone which is always an added extra for the fitness fans. And finally, a pair of wireless headphones are also a great gift for fitness fanatics and the best on the market are the Bose SoundSport Wireless. Not only do they deliver with the best sound quality, but they are also the comfiest and defo the best for wearing when competing in fitness due to the way they fit in the ear; they certainly won’t be falling out. Reasonably well priced compared to competitors too like the Apple Airpods Pro too so defo worth the gift.
Click here to learn more!
1. With the NutriBullet, people can __________.| A．clean up the kitchen in just several minutes |
| B．do exercise in the kitchen easily |
| C．drink cleaner and healthier water |
| D．mix a variety of things conveniently |
| A．FitBit is a smart watch that can only be used to make phone calls. |
| B．FitBit can track you to the place where you work out. |
| C．FitBit offer you hundreds of indicators for asking about your health problems. |
| D．FitBit can be a good present for those who love taking exercise. |
| A．Their sound quality is the best. |
| B．They are easy to take with and easy to clean. |
| C．They can make phone calls. |
| D．They are comfiest and fit in the ear. |
| A．a magazine | B．a web page | C．a daily newspaper | D．a science fiction |
9 . The Happiness Effect
Most of us have heard the term “runner’s high”, but what exactly does this mean? Exercise creates chemical responses in the brain, which leads to both temporary and long-term mental health benefits. Here is how it works:
What happens when we are stressed?
Cortisol: This stress hormone (压力荷尔蒙) is linked to mood, motivation and fear. It also alters immune system (免疫系统) responses and suppresses the digestive system (消化系统).
Adrenaline: This stress hormone raises your heart rate, elevates blood pressure, and boosts energy stores.
Hypothalamus: This region of the brain is the body’s natural alarm system which stimulates the production of cortisol and adrenaline.
Hippocampus: Too much cortisol short-circuits (使……中断) cell production in the brain’s hippocampus region, damaging thought organization and memory formation.
Feeling overwhelmed? Hit the gym!
As your heart begins to pound, your brain chemistry reacts almost immediately to get you feeling better both physically and mentally.
Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF): BDNF protects the brain from emotional disorders and repairs damage from stress and depression.
GABA: Exercise lowers stress levels, which triggers the release of this calming neurotransmitter (神经递质). Frequent boosts of GABA build immunity to stress, enhancing your ability to take on life’s challenges.
Endocannabinoids: These natural chemical compounds play a role in processing appetite, pain sensation, mood and memory. They are very closely related to the active ingredients of the cannabis (大麻) plant.
Endorphins: Endorphins naturally get most of the credit for feelings of extreme happiness, but they play only a small part in the exercise-induced rush. These pain fighting peptides increase with as little as 20 minutes of exercise.
1. Which of the following statements is true?| A．During a 1000m race, one’s adrenaline level will stay still. |
| B．When someone came across a roaring dog, his or her hypothalamus may be simulated. |
| C．Cortisol is a hormone that can deal with stress efficiently. |
| D．Bad mood will not hurt the hippocampus region any way. |
| A．Brain derived neurotropic factor. | B．GABA. |
| C．Endocannabinoids. | D．Endorphins. |
| A．In a scientific journal. |
| B．In an advertisement about medical product. |
| C．In a nutritional biochemistry magazine. |
| D．In a sport magazine. |
10 . Running Headphones
Listening to music on headphones makes running and even working out at the gym much more enjoyable. Here are some alternatives to choose from.
| A. Jogman Beatsuit These headphones are really tough, so you don’t need to worry about just throwing them into your bag before or after a workout. As well as providing reasonably clear sound they will also last a remarkable eight hours on a single charge. |  |
| B. Voix Sports These headphones are impressively practical. Designed to fit firmly in your ear, however energetic you are, they’re tight without being uncomfortable, and have a handy remote and a mic for phone calls. They will also resist some water being spilt on them. |  |
| C. NorthPop-3 These stylish headphones have fantastic bass, giving you a bit of extra oomph when you run. They also have a tangle-free cable which avoids any time-consuming messing about before you set off on your run. |  |
| D. Sonic N-2 It’s hard to imagine using any other headphone once you’ve tried these. As well as being wireless and waterproof at a depth of 2m, they even have a built-in MP3 player that can hold up to 1,000 songs. A charge provides up to an hour of playback. |  |
| E. Belus BS7 If you’re on a tight budget, it can always feel risky buying a bottom of the market pair of headphones, but with these you needn’t worry. Not only do they provide fair sound quality, but they also come with a pouch to keep them in. |  |
| F. Spirit Pods The sound quality on these is decent, although you’re probably not going to be hugely impressed. They also come with a handy remote built into the cable to skip and pause songs with while you work out. |  |
| G. Soundbeats 2 If money is not an issue, then these are definitely worth considering. They make everything sound so crisp and they’re so light and comfortable that it’s easy to forget that you’re even wearing them. |  |
| A．The battery on Jogman Beatsuit has a surprisingly long life. |
| B．Belus BS7 is very strong and does not require gentle handling. |
| C．It is possible to keep in contact with other people while using NorthPop-3. |
| D．Soundbeats 2 allows users to move around their playlist of music easily while they are exercising. |
| A．Jogman Beatsuit. | B．Sonic N-2. | C．Spirit Pods. | D．Soundbeats 2. |
| A．Marketing managers. | B．Advertising planners. |
| C．Demanding audiophiles. | D．Brand sponsors. |
