1 . A gym membership can be nice.
Spend 5 to 10 minutes warming up before every workout. Not sure what to do? Try jumping jacks, leg or arm circles, or even dancing. Just get your blood pumping. Do a progressive aerobic (有氧的) activity that uses the same muscles you want to work out.
Do strength training twice a week to build muscles. Strength training, also called resistance training, makes you stronger and builds endurance (忍耐力).
Set achievable goals that you can break into smaller tasks. It’s one thing to say you want to get fit, but that means something different for everyone.
A.After all, we work out to build our muscles. |
B.Equipment is the key to carrying out a workout plan. |
C.But you don’t have to have one to get into great shape. |
D.For instance, slowly jog if you are going for a longer run. |
E.Spend five to ten minutes cooling down after each workout. |
F.Figure out what you plan to achieve and make that your goal. |
G.Try to do exercises that work many parts of your body and make you feel stronger. |
2 . 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 |
3 . 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. |
4 . 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. |
5 . Various sports attract fans for different reasons: Spectator sports draw even more fans who just love to watch. Here are some of the most beloved sports worldwide.
Hockey-2 billion fans
Hockey, both on ice and on a field, wins a following of two billion enthusiastic fans worldwide. Field hockey is mainly played in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia, while ice hockey is particularly popular in Canada and the US, where kids grow up playing pond hockey. Unlike ice hockey, field hockey usually does not involve body contact in the form of checking and hitting.
Football-4 billion fans
Football, better known as soccer in the US, is by far the most popular sport in the world. Experts estimate that the origin (起源) of football may go as far back as two thousand years, beginning in ancient China during the Han Dynasty. One major reason for football’s global popularity is that unlike other sports that require expensive equipment, all you need to play football is a ball and your feet.
Volleyball-900 million fans
Volleyball pits two teams across a high net, each attempting to smash the ball onto the opponent’s floor. A popular variant, beach volleyball, is competed on sand by pairs rather than the regular six players per team. The crowd appeal of beach volleyball has grown greatly in recent years.
Tennis-1 billion fans
An estimated one billion people worldwide follow professional tennis tournaments and matches. In tennis, players on both sides of a net try to hit a ball with a racket so that it either goes past their opponent (对手) or bounces twice on their opponent’s side of the court to score points. Tennis superstars like Rafael Nadal, and Serena Williams are now household names around the world, with huge international fan bases.
1. Which sport attracts the most fans according to the text?A.Volleyball. | B.Hockey. | C.Football. | D.Tennis. |
A.Its long history. | B.Its great convenience. |
C.Its unique origin. | D.Its huge fan bases. |
A.Playing ice hockey involves body contact. |
B.Soccer is American people's favorite sport. |
C.Beach volleyball has attracted the most sports fans recently. |
D.A tennis player loses one point if his ball goes past his opponent. |
6 . Doing fitness routines is challenging and sometimes boring. Here is some advice on how to make exercise as fun as video games.
Have an objective
When you’re playing a game, there’s always an objective. It helps us focus on the task at hand and motivates us to keep playing until we win the game.
Compete against others
Adding an element of competition to your exercise routine can actually help you work out harder. If you’re seeking a similar motivation, look into fitness programs that encourage friendly competition. The app Zwift, for example, is a good choice.
Team up with others
Getting a group to work together toward a common goal was also an effective way to increase physical activity. You can try to recreate this dynamic by working toward an exercise goal with other people, particularly those who you have a close relationship to.
Add a sense of playfulness
Some people love video games because there’s a lot of unpredictability and surprise.
A.Exercise should be no different. |
B.Just remember every moment of playful engagement is a victory. |
C.But how to apply these techniques to our everyday fitness routines? |
D.Similarly, you can do many things to bring back a sense of childlike wonder. |
E.It allows you race against others around a virtual world using your own bike. |
F.This approach encouraged each member of the group to try to meet the day’s step goal. |
G.They can help you hold yourself accountable in a way you might not do with a stranger. |
7 .
Exergaming Exergaming is made up of exercise with video games. And there are lots to choose from. Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) is a fun way to work out. Simply stand on a platform and hit the coloured targets with your feet as you follow the instructions on the screen. You score points by hitting the right target at the right time. As the tagline (标语) says, “Taking dancing to a whole new level!” For a gentler form of exercise, try the “Wii Fit” series of games. You can do yoga, strength training and so on when standing on a balance board. Personalise your workout, or exercise with a friend, competing in games! |
Anti-shoes Anti-shoes are designed to exercise parts of your body while you’re walking. They’re meant to improve your figure, and strengthen your leg and back muscles. The shoes were invented by Swiss engineer Karl Maller. He discovered that the Kenyan Masai tribespeople (who often walk barefoot) don’t suffer from back pain and are famous for their perfect figure. So, he decided that the answer was a shoe with a curved sole (弯曲的鞋底). Walking on this type of shoe is similar to the rocking move of a foot walking on soft sand or grass. |
Zumba Zumba is a fun form of exercise. As their tagline says, “Drop the workout, join the party!” Zumba is a Latin-inspired fitness dance programme that uses hip-hop, samba, martial arts and belly dance moves to get you in shape. It was created by accident when a trainer forgot his exercise CD and used his own samba music instead. There are lots of different types of classes for all levels, including “Zumbatomic” for children aged 4 to 12, “Zumba Gold” for older participants, and “Aqua Zumba” among many others. |
1. If you want to reduce your back pain, you can choose ________.
A.DDR | B.Wii Fit | C.Anti-shoes | D.Zumba |
A.You can play “Wii Fit” games on a platform. |
B.Zumba is too difficult for the elderly to dance. |
C.Playing games also has good effects on health. |
D.Zumba is a combination of many types of dance. |
A.are interested in hiking | B.like trying new kinds of exercise |
C.like playing video games | D.want to improve dancing skills |
8 . You’ve probably heard countless times how exercise is “good for you”. But do you know that it can improve your mood too?
Exercising regularly can help prevent weight gain, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Exercises like jumping or lifting weights can help keep your bones strong. Also, when you exercise, your body makes chemicals that help you feel good. Exercise lowers your chances of depression and decreases feelings of anxiety.
Considering all the health benefits of being physically active, it’s easy to see why doing exercise is wise. And the great thing is that it’s never too late to start.
However, sometimes you may find it hard to keep exercising regularly. One of the biggest reasons people drop an exercise program is a lack of interest. If what you’re doing isn’t fun, it’s hard to keep it up.
A.Sports and activities that encourage flexibility are easy to find |
B.Exercise benefits every part of the body, including the mind |
C.But there are many different sports and activities you can try and see which one inspires you |
D.Strengthening the heart, muscles and bones isn't the only important goal of exercise |
E.Even small things can count as exercise |
F.Everyone can benefit from moving more and sitting less |
G.Plus, exercise can give you a sense of accomplishment after you achieve a goal |
9 . Running is often tiring and a lot of hard work, but nothing beats the feeling you get after finishing a long workout around the track.
But while it’s long been believed that endorphins (内啡肽) —chemicals in the body that cause happiness—are behind the so-called “runner’s high”, a study suggested that there may be more to this phenomenon than we previously knew.
According to a recent study published by a group of scientists from several German universities, a group of chemicals called endocannabinoids (内源性大麻素) may actually be responsible for this familiar great feeling.
To test this theory, the scientists turned to mice. Both mice and humans release high levels of endorphins and endocannabinoids after exercise. After exercising on running wheels, the mice seemed happy and relaxed and displayed no signs of anxiety. But after being given a drug to block their endorphins, the mice’s behavior didn’t seem to change. However, when their endocannabinoids were blocked with a different drug, their runners’ high symptoms seemed to fade.
“The long-held notion of endorphins being responsible for the runner’s high is false. Endorphins are effective pain relievers, but only when it comes to the pain in your body and muscles you feel after working out,” Patrick Lucas Austin wrote on science blog Lifchacker.
Similar studies are yet to be carried out on humans, but it’s already known that exercise is a highly effective way to get rid of stress or anxiety. The UK’s National Health Service even prescribes (开药 方) exercise to patients who are suffering from depression. “Being depressed can leave you feeling low in energy, which might put you off being more active. Regular exercise can improve your mood if you have depression, and its especially useful for people with mild to moderate (中等的) depression,” it wrote on its website.
It seems like nothing can beat that feeling we get after a good workout, even if we don’t fully understand where it comes from. At least if we’re feeling down, we know that all we have to do is to put on our running shoes.
1. What did scientists from German universities recently discover?A.Working out is a highly effective way to treat depression. |
B.The runner’s high could be caused by endocannabinoids. |
C.Endorphins may contribute to one’s high spirits after running. |
D.The level of endorphins and endocannabinoids could affect one’s mood. |
A.To find what reduces the runner’s high symptoms. |
B.To see the specific symptoms of the runner’s high. |
C.To identify what is responsible for the runner’s high. |
D.To test what influences the level of endocannabinoids released. |
A.Effect. | B.Goal. | C.Opinion. | D.Question |
A.They can help ease depression symptoms. |
B.They are the best way to treat depression. |
C.They only work for those with serious depression. |
D.They can help people completely recover from depression. |
10 . Exercise helps to keep us in good health. Doctors at the American Heart Association suggest getting at least 150 minutes of proper physical activity every week. Many people exercise for a few minutes every day or every other day. So, getting 150 minutes every week is easy.
But what about those times when you are sick? If you do not feel well, should you keep following your exercise habit? Following are the answers from health experts.
Edward R. Laskowski is a doctor at the Mayo Clinic. He and other experts have a general rule about exercising when you are sick. It is usually fine to exercise properly (not hard), he explains, if your symptoms are all “above the neck”. These signs may include a runny nose, sneezing (打喷嚏) or a sore throat.
Geralyn Coopersmith, a physical fitness trainer who has written several books on exercise offers similar advice. However, both Coopersmith and Dr. Laskowski suggest taking a break from exercising if signs of your illness appears “below the neck”. Pay special attention to symptoms such as chest congestion (胸闷), bad cough or pain in the stomach.
There are other symptoms that can tell you to avoid exercise. They include a higher than normal body temperature, a sense of feeling very tired, and widespread muscle pain.
Both Coopersmith and Dr. Laskowski suggest listening to your body. If you feel really bad, take a break and let your body rest. If you don’t feel too bad, these experts both suggest cutting down the amount of exercise. For example, if you usually run, take a quick walk instead.
1. How long should people do exercise according to doctors?A.No less than 150 minutes a week. | B.At least 150 minutes each day. |
C.At least a few minutes every day. | D.About 150 minutes every other day. |
A.walk instead of run | B.stop exercise |
C.ignore the symptoms | D.do less exercise |
A.Practice makes perfect. | B.Nothing seek, nothing find. |
C.Put your heart into exercise. | D.Act according to your abilities. |