1 . Top running routes in the USA
Holidays for some people are all about relaxing on the beach but for others, it’s important to be out and about. Walking and running holidays allow travellers to explore the beauty of a country and get plenty of fresh air without spending too much money. Here are some of the most beautiful running routes (路线) in the USA — you may want to give these a go.
Mammoth Lakes
An area favoured by athletes from all over the world, Mammoth Lakes offers amazing views and plenty of trails (小路) along with a healthy running community for active travellers to explore. Well-known track coaches Joe Vigil and Bob Larsen brought marathon superstars to the area in 2001 and ever since, it has trained 12 Olympians who have earned two Olympic medals as well as three major marathon wins.
Three Rivers Heritage Trail
Perfect for runners who like a bit of variety on their route, the Three Rivers Heritage Trail offers 24 miles of path going through a number of neighbourhoods, popular shopping and entertainment districts (娱乐区) and green space providing the perfect guide to the city on two feet.
Naples
Naples is well-known for its high-end shopping, world-class culture and high-class dining. The best running trail is along Gulf Shore Boulevard and Gordon Road, with views of the white sandy beaches and water, and some of Naples boutique hotels and holiday homes.
Barr Trail
The Barr Trail is a trail that began as a way to enter mining (采矿) areas on Pikes Peak and later developed into a tourist trail. It starts in Manitou Springs, a little tourist town just west of The Springs, and climbs to the top of Pikes Peak in about 12 miles and 7,400 feet of vertical (垂直的) gain. This is not an easy route so be sure to pack the right supplies and rest when you need to.
1. What might you experience in Mammoth Lakes?| A．Running like an Olympian. |
| B．Meeting your favourite stars. |
| C．Taking part in a major marathon. |
| D．Being trained by Joe Vigil and Bob Larsen. |
| A．Three Rivers Heritage Trail. | B．Barr Trail. | C．Mammoth Lakes. | D．Naples. |
| A．Mammoth Lakes. | B．Barr Trail. | C．Naples. | D．Three Rivers Heritage Trail. |
| A．Naples. | B．Barr Trail. | C．Mammoth Lakes. | D．Three Rivers Heritage Trail. |
| A．Coal miners. | B．Window shoppers. |
| C．Competitive swimmers. | D．Experienced adventurers. |
2 . Anyone who’s lived through middle school knows those years can be particularly challenging. Some researches show youths across the U.S. are struggling with mental health. The physical health benefits of bike riding have been well-documented. Wilson, a researcher at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, and his co-authors carried out a new study to see if taking part in a cycling program could result in measurable changes in mind for teenagers.
The study involved more than 1,200 students, ages 11 to 14. Students participated in a cycling class for at least three days a week, for a period of 6 weeks. They learned cycling safety and practicing skills outdoors while raising their heart rate and just having fun. The students completed standardized questionnaires before and after the program designed to measure their health.
“We know cycling can benefit the body. Our research shows how it benefits the mind and social relationships as well. Bike riding can be an ideal activity for adolescents because of the benefits it offers,” said Wilson.
“Cycling engages several parts of brain function. You are looking at your hearing, you’re balancing, you’re navigating and turning. Oftentimes, you’re doing it with someone else, so there’s the positive effect of company or group activity,” said Allan Reiss, a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine.
While exercise has powerful mental health benefits, it’s not universal. For example, previous research has shown that teenage girls are at higher risk of mental health problems like depression and anxiety than boys. The current study found that, while middle school girls reported increased well-being after participating in the cycling program, that increase “may just reach the kind of baseline level for male students,” Wilson said. And other aspects of healthy living are also important, noted Wilson. The study found that teenagers who didn’t limit screen time to a maximum of two hours a day, or who got less than the recommended 8.5 hours of sleep, saw less improvement in their well-being, he said.
1. What does the new study mainly focus on?| A．Challenges in middle school. | B．Youths in America. |
| C．Physical benefits of cycling. | D．Mental effects of bike riding. |
| A．Attend the cycling class for a week. |
| B．Learn how to keep safe while cycling. |
| C．Raise their heart rate by cycling indoors. |
| D．Design questions to measure their health. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Doubtful. | C．Unclear. | D．Negative. |
| A．Application of the research results. |
| B．Doubts about the research methods. |
| C．Further explanation of the research findings. |
| D．Supporting evidence from previous research. |
Teamwork is an important part of the health and fitness program at Spirit Club, where most of the participants have disabilities.
Jared Ciner created the program two years ago, “Our main focus is the same thing as any other gym’s, which is to help people be active and healthy, but the difference is that we do change a little bit to make sure that it is right pace for the people we are working with, so that everybody can follow along.”
Ciner used to work as a director for a local organization aimed at helping people with disabilities and as apart-time personal trainer at gyms. “I noticed that many of the people who I was working with who had disabilities did not exercise, struggled with weight problems, and were looking for more physical methods and more social ways,” he said.
His volunteer experience in Ethiopia working with children from very poor families helped him understand the influence of organized physical activity, too. “That helped me realize how much organized physical activity can help people connect to each other and increase people’s self-esteem (自尊),” Ciner said.
Classes at Spirit Club are interactive, and students can come with parents. They participate in partnered workouts and learn balance, strength, speed and agility (灵活性). They are also encouraged to eat right.
Alan Bradshaw, who is mentally disabled, has been coming to classes for two years. “He recently lost 21 pounds,” said his mother. “He is more outgoing. When he first started, he couldn’t sit on the floor, get down on the floor. He is doing that now. Great changes have happened to him and it is an important step forward for him. He likes the gym because he can make friends easily and exercise at the same time,” she said.
1. What is the main purpose of the program at Spirit Club? (no more than 8 words)2. What was Jared Ciner before he created Spirit Club? (no more than 15 words)
3. What is Jared Ciner’s view on organized physical activities? (no more than 13 words)
4. How does the underlined part in the last paragraph mean? (no more than 2 words)
5. What do you think of Spirit Club? Give reasons in your own words. (no more than 25 words)
4 . Now, new research suggests frequent exercise might help you live well in another meaningful way—that is, in terms of income. Researchers investigated whether individuals who stayed active would earn more money as a result of their active lifestyle. It revealed that staying active not only resulted in higher present earnings, but also predicted increased future income throughout one’s life.
The researchers set out to explore three key correlations (相互关系)：How mobility-the ability to move, affected income, how mobility influenced income overtime, and whether exercise could help people maintain their mobility as they aged. The team analyzed data from Health and Retirement Study(HRS), the largest study tracking changes overtime in Americans aged 50 and above. This study takes into account various life aspects, including work, social status, health, psychology and family matters, as individuals age.
To evaluate the impact of current mobility on income, the researchers examined data from over 19, 000 respondents (调查对象) to determine how well they could perform simple tasks, such as climbing stairs, or moving around a room. Each person received a score, with 5 indicating full mobility and 0 indicating difficulties with these tasks. The researchers found that for each decrease in the mobility category, individuals lost out on an average of $3, 000 in annual income compared to their peers. Those who were active were also significantly more likely to remain working for longer than the other group. It appeared that engaging in exercise enabled individuals to maintain mobility and engage in professional life for a longer period of time than those who were less active.
Looking at earnings overtime revealed even more substantial benefits for those who remained active throughout their lives. Active individuals showed an overall income level that was $6, 500 higher, along with higher rates of employment. For the third part of the study, it’s not surprising that those who engaged in exercise continued to maintain their mobility after the age of 55 and had higher employment rates. Even exercising just one day a week showed improvements in mobility outcomes.
While this study doesn’t definitively prove that leading a healthy lifestyle directly leads to higher earnings, it strongly suggests that staying healthy and mobile brings benefits beyond just lower levels of disease.
1. What didn’t researchers take into consideration when designing their experiment?| A．Family matters | B．Work and social status |
| C．Health and psychology | D．Educational background |
| A．Increased mobility slightly reduces annual income |
| B．Greater mobility is closely related to higher income |
| C．Decreased mobility greatly increases the overall income |
| D．Maintaining mobility has nothing to do with the income |
| A．Favorable | B．Indifferent | C．Opposed | D．Doubtful |
| A．Exercise Lowers Levels of All Diseases |
| B．Exercise Promotes Work Efficiency |
| C．Exercise Helps to Make More Money |
| D．Exercise Ensures A Longer Lifespan |
5 . Some Winter Activities
Winter activities are underestimated (低估). The days may be shorter, but the list of fun activities isn’t. Don’t let the winter blues take over.
Finding your favourite.
Walking on snow.
Skiing. Those that love it really love it. Hitting the ski hills is an old wintertime tradition. It gets you outside, boosts your mood, and serves as a core workout. You don’t need the latest gear (设备) to be able to have fun.
| A．Go to the gym. |
| B．Learning something. |
| C．Most ski fields rent gear too. |
| D．Be active and try these winter activities. |
| E．The following are things you can do at home. |
| F．You needn’t be an athlete to enjoy this seasonal activity. |
| G．The key to keeping healthy is finding what you enjoy doing. |
6 . Trainers and parents saw children play sports at a young age and then saw them become professional. Many correlated the training to success. Competitive sports are good for young children because they teach children life skills, provide health benefits, and offer special opportunities.
To begin with, sports teach children life skills. A formal athlete stated, “I played soccer in high school and college and found team sports weren’t just about winning, but also about developing a solid ethic(行为准则), and learning why that’s important.” In short, playing highly competitive sports teaches kids many life skills like teamwork. People will have to use teamwork for the rest of their life, and sports can help them improve that skill. Taking part in sports can help develop a positive attitude towards life, which will help in the long run.
Sports are also good for kids because they provide health benefits. It is healthier for a kid to play a sport competitively than to waste time playing video games all day. Furthermore, a research group of University of California said, “96 percent of the participants(参与者) said they enjoy their sports. They’re all loving life.” That is to say, kids playing highly competitive sports tend to enjoy life instead of doing something else like watching TV.
On the other hand, some people might argue that competitive sports are bad for young children because they are so time-consuming. However, the time spent is not “robbing” kids of their childhood, but offers unique opportunities. Athletes can get success to live their dream life by playing sports. Even though sports are time-consuming, they offer distinctive opportunities.
In conclusion, competitive sports are good for children because they can provide wholesome benefits, create new experiences, and build skills that will last a lifetime.
1. Why is the formal athlete mentioned in paragraph 2?| A．To show a reason | B．To give an example. |
| C．To list a background. | D．To draw out a new point. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Uncertain. | C．Uncaring. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．Common | B．Unreasonable | C．Unique. | D．Frequent. |
| A．The ways to play sports. |
| B．The reasons for playing sports. |
| C．The problems of kids’ playing sports. |
| D．The benefits of kids’ playing sports. |
7 . In a world ruled by hard exercise and complex fitness programs, the simple act of walking is often ignored(忽略).
Heart Health and Weight Management
Walking is light heart exercise that helps improve heart health by increasing blood circulation(循环).
Pressure Drop and Clear Mind
Taking a relaxing walk or quick walk has been shown to give off endorphins, the body’s natural ”feel-good” materials. This leads to lower pressure levels, improved feelings, and improved mental health. Walking outdoors in nature or in a peaceful environment can provide a refreshing escape from the daily tasks.
Joint(关节)Health and Free Movement
Unlike active sports, walking is soft on the joints, making it a perfect choice for people of all ages and fitness levels.
Social Communication and Connection
| A．It helps oil joints and make them stronger. |
| B．It’s a cheap way to lead a healthier lifestyle. |
| C．So taking a walk can make your mind relaxed and fresh. |
| D．A quick walk after meals has been shown to benefit the stomach. |
| E．It cuts down the risk of heart disease and brings down blood pressure. |
| F．Walking is useful exercise that can easily be turned into a social activity. |
| G．However, walking remains one of the easiest and most useful forms of exercise. |
1. Probably most injuries happen to skaters’ wrists because ____________.
| A．few skaters wear wrist guards | B．the wrist is the most delicate body part |
| C．skaters often push out their hands when falling | D．skaters don't know how to protect their wrists |
| A．Those who wore helmets | B．Those who wore wrist guards |
| C．Those who wore knee pads | D．Those who wore no protective gear |
| A．To encourage people to learn skating. | B．To advise skaters to wear safety pads. |
| C．To advertise for skating protective gear. | D．To introduce ways of protecting skaters. |
9 . Many people have weight(体重) problems. These problems are bad for their health. One of the biggest reasons is that we sit around too much. So, the best way to lose weight is to move your body.
Turn off the TV. It’s the first thing you need to do. Once a week, turn off the TV and play some sports with your family. You can do something more interesting than sitting in front of the TV, such as playing games and taking a walk.
Walk more. Look for small ways to walk more. When you get the mail, take a walk around the house. Take the dog for a walk each day or ride your bike for 10 minutes before getting ready for work.
Do some housework. Watering the flowers, cleaning the windows, washing clothes and so on. These kinds of activities may not be vigorous(有力的) exercise, but they can keep you moving.
1. What is the biggest reason for weight problems according to the passage?| A．The hard work. | B．Watching TV for too long. |
| C．Too much sleep. | D．Sitting too much. |
| A．Turn off the TV. | B．Do some housework. |
| C．Do something you like. | D．Take a walk. |
| A．The writer talks about three ways to help move our body. |
| B．Walking a dog is a good way to exercise. |
| C．Some small ways can also help us walk more. |
| D．Playing games is the best way to move our body. |
| A．How to live a healthy life. | B．How to do something interesting. |
| C．How to lose weight. | D．How to spend your free time. |
10 . A new study has finally solved the problem of whether to eat breakfast before you exercise.
Researchers at the universities of Bath, Birmingham, Newcastle, and Stirling analysed the energy consumption of 12 healthy physically active men between the ages of 20 and 26. Each of the men completed three different trials: eating a breakfast of rice and milk and then resting (no exercise), eating the same breakfast two hours before cycling for 60 minutes, and finally not eating breakfast completely before doing the same 60 minutes of exercise. The study showed that fasted exercise (禁食运动) is the best for weight loss.
“These results suggest that for healthy young men a short-term energy lack may be more easily got if breakfast is worked off before exercise,” the study’s authors concluded. Here’s how it works: when you work out on an empty stomach, your body doesn’t have ready energy from food so it draws from other sources, like stored body fat, which makes your exercise more effective at burning fat—and helping you lose weight.
Additionally, exercising in a fasted state keeps your insulin (胰岛素) levels low, allowing your body to produce more growth insulin which also burns fat. “When insulin is rising—as is the case after you eat—your body will be in a state of wanting to store fat, not burn it,” Phoenyx Austin, MD, a sports medicine specialist, explained to MindBodyGreen. “It doesn’t matter if you exercise like a mad man after a meal. You won’t be able to burn body fat until insulin levels drop, which can typically take two or three hours, if not longer.”
But if you prefer eating breakfast before you exercise, don’t worry—there are benefits to be there, too. For instance, the researchers found that the men who ate breakfast first burned more carbohydrates(碳水化合物) while they worked out and sped up their metabolism(新陈代谢) for later on in the day.
1. What can we know about the 12 researched people?| A．They like exercising very much. |
| B．They are all young men and women. |
| C．They enjoy rice and milk very much. |
| D．They often do different trials in sports. |
| A．Cooked. | B．Prepared. | C．Skipped. | D．Delayed. |
| A．You will feel very hungry fast. |
| B．Your body will burn your fat. |
| C．You will exercise more madly. |
| D．You will feel tired more easily. |
| A．Keeping your insulin levels balanced. |
| B．Keeping your body using less insulin. |
| C．Letting your body produces less insulin. |
| D．Making your insulin levels down. |
