1 . Benefits of Walking in Cold Weather
As winter blankets the world in a coat of ice and fresh cold air, the idea of going outdoors fora walk might seem less attractive.
Strengthened Immune System
Remaining in colder temperatures can actually improve your immune (免疫的) system. As your body adapts to the cold, it produces more white blood cells.
High Spirits
The winter blues, also known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), can affect many individuals during the colder months. Fortunately, walking in cold weather has been linked to improved emotion and reduced signs of sadness. The fresh air and physical activity inspire the production of endorphins, the body’s natural emotion enhancers (增强剂).
Improved health and energy level
Cold-weather walking can provide an excellent heart workout. The combination of light movement and the body’s reaction to the cold increases heart health by improving circulation (血液循环) and lowering blood pressure. Over time, this can make your blood system healthier.
So, as the winter winds blow and snowflakes fall, consider wearing your warm clothes and taking a walk outside.
A.The cold weather does not cost energy. |
B.They play a key role in fighting off diseases. |
C.Winter, especially, is an opportunity to go slowly. |
D.They leave you feeling more positive and excited. |
E.However, don’t let the cold temperatures prevent you. |
F.Let each walk be a big step towards a healthier, happier you. |
G.The benefits of walking in cold weather go beyond physical health. |
2 . When Tony took up running as a hobby, he was 42 years old. Now 42 years later he’s a national champion and a world record holder. He never imagined at the age of 84 this is where he’d be, but then he doesn’t meet many people in their 80s who are out training four times a week. “I can see it’s a bit unusual, yes. But it’s been my life,” he told the reporter.
The retired officer runs at a track near his home in Leeds. At an event in Italy last month, he set a world record in the 80m hurdles with a time of under 17 seconds. But he sees no reason to slow down and his ambition is still to be competing when he passes a hundred.
“I probably won’t be doing a crouch start (蹲式起跑), because it’s only 16 years away,” he joked. Like anyone of his age, he’s had health problems. He’s had a string of severe heart attacks, but doctors have told him as long as it makes him feel good, he should carry on running.
“I can’t let my heart get in the way of my training. When I am running, I have to give it my absolute all. My heart is the last thing on my mind,” he said.
He trains every other day, dances and plays hockey and he recently cuts down on alcohol and chocolate. He said, “I’ve heard alcohol can lead to dementia (痴呆) and I don’t want that. I’ve cut down to one glass of wine every other day. I now have to stay as fit as I can be to keep up my lifestyle.”
Tony’s next birthday is next September. And the first thing he wants to do is become the world’s fastest 85-year-old.
1. How old was Tony when he set a world record?A.42. | B.80. | C.84. | D.85. |
A.Because he felt good while running. |
B.Because he had only slight heart problems. |
C.Because he didn’t care about his heart at all. |
D.Because he was so concentrated to do his best while running. |
A.To have a good rest. |
B.To change his lifestyle. |
C.To take part in running competitions. |
D.To be the fastest runner in the world. |
A.No pains, no gains. |
B.Old hearts are not old. |
C.It’s never too old to learn. |
D.Those who work hard live long. |
3 . Lloyd Black, who became a member at Anytime Fitness in Semmes, Alabama, last year at age 90, was named as the club’s Member of the Month for January.
Ashley Seaman, the gym’s general manager, congratulated Black in a Facebook post that went viral (走红). “We have seen nothing but inspiration from him since he started,” Seaman wrote in the post along with a photo of Black wearing his overalls (工装裤). “He says he is 91 years young and talks about how much his workout routine has helped him in his daily routine. Seeing someone like him encourages others to keep it up and include fitness in their life. Seeing him in the gym three times a week working out in his overalls brightens our day.”
Black said he started working out to keep up with his lifestyle. “I had reached the point where I could no longer do simple housework, so I started going to the gym and it has really helped.” said Black. “I’m also inspired by my dad who never gave up.”
Black’s gym routine includes the running machine, upper body strength training and the leg press. As a result of his work at the gym, Black finds it easier to cut the grass at his house and work in his woodworking shop. He experiences less daily discomfort and moves more easily.
According to Seaman, Black has become a valued member of the gym through his devotion to improving his personal fitness, his helpfulness and his warmth toward other members.
While Black is not a member of Facebook to see the reaction to the post, he has received local attention for his fitness journey. “I don’t feel very comfortable being in the limelight, but if it encourages someone else, I’m willing to do it” said Black.
1. What was included in the Facebook post?A.Black’s basic information. | B.Black’s gym routine |
C.Seaman’s photo. | D.Seaman’s praise. |
A.He like swearing shorts to workout |
B.He has been working out for three years. |
C.He started working out on his father’s advice. |
D.He benefited a lot from working out at the gym. |
A.All alone. | B.Out of date. | C.Well known. | D.Different from others. |
A.Use it or lose it. | B.Accept it or leave it. |
C.Take life as it comes. | D.Use is a second nature. |
The Benefits of Exercise
Regular exercise has a range of benefits for both physical and mental health. Firstly, exercise helps to strengthen the heart and improve cardiovascular health. It can also help to maintain a healthy weight and prevent obesity. Additionally, exercise boosts mood and reduces stress levels. People who exercise regularly often report feeling happier and more relaxed. Finally, exercise can improve cognitive function and memory. It has been shown to enhance concentration and increase mental clarity.
Questions:
1. What are the benefits of exercise for physical health?
2. How does exercise affect mood?
3. What are the cognitive benefits of exercise?
5 . Common Mistakes New Runners Make
Running is a great way to get in shape and just about everyone can do it. However, many make a number of common mistakes, which can interfere (妨碍) with training or lead to injury.
·Doing too much too soon
One of the biggest mistakes new runners make is doing too much too soon. Slowly easing into a training program will help reduce the risk of injury, so you can continue on with your new running routine
·
Beginners might think they need to run every day (or nearly every day) to meet their fitness or weight-loss goals, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Running is a high-impact activity which can be really hard on your body. So it’s important to give your body a rest between workouts.
·Not wearing the right equipment
•Running through pain
A.Not taking rest days |
B.If you’re just starting out |
C.Comparing yourself to others |
D.Running can be uncomfortable at times |
E.It’s important not to use the same muscles |
F.While it may be true that you don’t need expensive equipment to take up running |
G.Experts suggest increasing your running distance by no more than 10% each week |
6 . Staying fit while indoors
During this special time, it’s a good idea to do some indoor exercise. Exercising has many benefits.
Run in place
Start by kicking your feet behind you as you run. Then, bring your knees up as high as possible when you feel like you’ve warmed up. Start by running in place for five minutes.
Work on mountain climbers.
Start by getting into a standard push-up (俯卧撑) position.
Begin by getting into a plank (平板支撑) position. Then, bend your elbows and lower yourself toward the floor but do not touch the floor. If this is too difficult, bend your knees as you do the push-ups. Start by doing a set of 10, and work your way up to three or four sets.
Tone your legs with squats (深蹲)
To do a squat, stand with your feet hip-width (与臀部同宽) apart. Then bend your legs. Bring your bottom as low as you can. Stand back up and repeat the motion. Work your way up to doing three sets of 20.
A.Try planks for full body toning (身体紧实) |
B.The hard work will pay off big time |
C.Do push-ups to tone your upper body |
D.Then bring your left knee to your chest |
E.Then, try to run in place for ten minutes |
F.If that is too difficult, lower yourself onto your elbows |
G.If you want an added challenge, hold weights while you squat. |
7 . How exercising changed their life
Name: Katelyn Block, 19 The problem: At the end of her junior year of high school, she fell into a serious eating disorder. The change: She was an athlete, but while she was sick, she stopped running. Later, she decided to get back into running. She made the decision to build her body back from the ground up. With a few months of hard work and determination, she graduated from high school with a healthy body. | Name: Amalia Biro, 24 The problem: Amalia was a horseback rider with her sight set on the Olympics, until one day she was thrown off a horse, leaving her left knee badly injured. The change: She ran a 5K at the request of her friend. Running lets her clear her head. She found herself starting to turn to running instead of breaking away from her social life. And she was in good shape and felt better than before. |
Name: Sarah Jane Parker, 28 The problem: She had a lot of fear and anxiety about different things. The fear was taking over her life. The change: She tried indoor rock climbing with her friend’s encouragement. When she finally managed to climb to the top, she fell in love with the sport. Eventually she used the courage she got from climbing to break away from her fear. | Name: Kimberly Whittaker, 25 The problem: Two car accidents in one month made Kimberly have joint problems in both knees and pain in her lower back. The change: She joined a gym and worked with a physical trainer three times a week to help her become healthy again. She took spin classes (动感单车) the most often because she felt like she was able to focus her energy just on riding. |
A.She got a fever. | B.She was anxious. |
C.She couldn’t eat normally. | D.She hurt her knees. |
A.They had the same dream. | B.They attended the Olympics. |
C.They didn’t trust themselves. | D.They should thank their friends. |
A.By changing her diet. | B.By seeing a doctor. |
C.By joining a gym. | D.By studying hard. |
8 . Creative ways to change your workouts
Most people know working out is good for your health, both physical and mental.
Create a word or image with your exercise route
Runners often map routes through city streets that create a word or image, then use a GPS device to “draw” it as they run.
Join a free fitness group
Exercising can be more fun with others, so look for group fitness opportunities. Many communities offer free exercise opportunities. Fitness in the Park is a summer-long activity that has been operating in New York state for a decade. Everyone is welcome to head to one of 18 different parks.
Sure, you can run a 5 K. But why not try orienteering (定向越野赛)? This timed navigational sport requires you to use detailed maps to find orange-and-white flags that are hidden in parks or remote areas. Races involve difficult running routes
Dance
Whether you take a class or practice at home, dancing is a great way to get your body moving. Dancing doesn’t seem like exercise to a lot of people, which is why it’s always a popular choice.
A.Hit the road. |
B.Sign up for a new-to-you event. |
C.Participants have ranged in age from about 10 to over 70. |
D.But staying motivated — especially for the long term — can be a struggle. |
E.The event is timed, so people often jog or power walk from flag to flag. |
F.You can do the same, whether your favored exercise is running, walking or biking. |
G.It’s also something you can do anywhere, to any kind of music, salsa, hip-hop — it all works. |
9 . Exercise is good for us. It reduces the risks of dying from all causes, including cancer and heart disease. But many people who work all week have little time for exercise. So, they might try to do something to increase their heart rates over the weekend—go for a long run, take a bike ride or hike in the mountains. But is it healthy to avoid exercise during the workweek and then try to fit it all in during the weekend?
A new study suggests that, yes, it is healthy. Australian researchers at the University of Sydney did the study. It took place over a nineyear period. During that time, the researchers looked at the selfreported exercise habits and health examinations of more than 63,000 adults in England and Scotland. Then they connected that information to death records.
The researchers found that people who exercised only one or two days a week improved their chances of living longer than people who did not exercise at all. Even those who are fat could extend their lives by exercising a couple of days per week.
Emmanuel Stamatakis is the senior author of the study. He says that he found it very encouraging that even people who exercised as little as one or two times a week appear to lower their risk of early death. In other words, their health improves even if they don’t meet the suggested weekly amount of physical activity. However, to be in the best health, Stamatakis says more exercise is better.
The WHO suggests that adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate to intense activity per week. For the best results, the organisation suggests 75 minutes per week of intense physical activity. However, if you are busy with work and family duties, exercise as much as you can.
1. In which part of a website can we find this text?A.Science. | B.News. |
C.Sports. | D.Health. |
A.It was carried out in three places. |
B.It lasted for more than nine years. |
C.It studied both children and adults. |
D.It was led by Emmanuel Stamatakis. |
A.A little exercise is better than none. |
B.We’d better do exercise on weekdays. |
C.Fat people usually live shorter than thin people. |
D.Exercise habits have a big influence on death. |
A.Paying attention to the risk of early death. |
B.Trying to do more exercise if we have time. |
C.Getting at least 150 minutes of activity a week. |
D.Avoiding doing much intense physical activity. |
10 . For people suffering from depression, there’s an all-natural treatment they should use — getting more exercise. It could help fight depression, even if people have a genetic risk, new research shows.
For the study, researchers collected information from nearly 8,000 people and found those with related genes were more likely to have depression over the next two years after examining them. But that was less likely for people who were more active at the study’s start, even if they had a family history of depression. Higher levels of physical activity helped protect even those with the highest genetic risk of depression.
Both high-intensity (高强度) exercise and low-intensity activities were associated with a reduced risk of depression. Adding four hours of exercise a week could lower the risk of a new episode (一段经历) of depression by 17%, according to the study. “Our findings strongly suggest that, when it comes to depression, being physically active has the potential to remove the added risk of future episodes in individuals who are genetically risky,” said lead author Karmel Choi. “On average, about 35 additional minutes of physical activity each day may help people to reduce their risk and protect against future depression episodes.”
Depression is a common mental illness globally, with more than 264 million people affected. “Depression is so ubiquitous, and that underlines the need for effective approaches that can impact as many people as possible,” Choi said. And mental health and primary care providers can use the findings to advise patients that there’s something meaningful they can do to lower their risk of depression.
1. How did the researchers reach their conclusion?A.By analyzing a mass of data. |
B.By conducting genetic research. |
C.By comparing various levels of activity. |
D.By tracking the subjects for many years. |
A.Physical activity betters medical treatment. |
B.Exercise is able to decrease and prevent it. |
C.Different levels of exercise intensity matter the same. |
D.Exercising 35 minutes daily is the most effective treatment. |
A.Harmful. | B.Complex. |
C.Unusual. | D.Common. |
A.To discuss a disease. |
B.To introduce a method. |
C.To analyze a genetic risk. |
D.To explain a phenomenon. |