1 . The benefits of regular exercise are well documented but there’s a new bonus to add to the ever-growing list. New researchers found that middle-aged women who were physically fit could be nearly 90 percent less likely to develop dementia in later life, and as they did, it came on a decade later than less sporty women.
Lead researcher Dr. Helena Horder, of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, said : "These findings are exciting because it’s possible that improving people's cardiovascular （心血管的）fitness in middle age could delay or even prevent them from developing dementia. "
For the study, 191 women with an average age of 50 took a bicycle exercise test until they were exhausted to measure their peak （最大值的） cardiovascular capacity. The average peak workload was measured at 103 watts.
A total of 40 women met the criteria for a high fitness level, or 120 watts or higher. A total of 92 women were in the medium fitness category; and 59 women were in the low fitness category, defined as a peak workload of 80 watts or less, or having their exercise tests stopped because of high blood pressure, chest pain or other cardiovascular problems.
These women were then tested for dementia six times over the following four decades. During that time, 44 of the women developed dementia. Five percent of the highly fit women developed dementia, compared to 25 percent of the women with medium fitness and 32 percent of the women with low fitness.
"However, this study does not show cause and effect between cardiovascular fitness and dementia, it only shows an association. More research is needed to see if improved fitness could have a positive effect on the risk of dementia and also to look at when during a lifetime a high fitness level is most important. " She also admitted that a relatively small number of women were studied, all of whom were form Sweden, so the results might not be applicable to other groups.
1. What is on the ever-growing list mentioned in the first paragraph?| A．Positive effects of doing exercises. |
| B．Exercises suitable for the middle-aged. |
| C．Experimental studies on diseases. |
| D．Advantages of sporty woman over man |
| A．To predict their maximum heart rate. |
| B．To assess their cardiovascular capacity |
| C．To change their habits of working out |
| D．To detect their potential health problems |
| A．It aimed to find a cure for dementia. |
| B．Data collection was a lengthy process. |
| C．Some participants withdrew from it. |
| D．The results were far from satisfactory. |
2 . Fitness Magazine recently ran an article titled “Five Reasons to Thank Your Workout Partner.” One reason was: “You’ll actually show up if you know someone is waiting for you at the gym,” while another read: “You’ll work harder if you train with someone else.” With a workout partner, you will increase your training effort as there is a subtle competition.
So, how do you find a workout partner?
First of all, decide what you want from that person. Do you want to be a better athlete in your favorite sport? Or do you just want to be physically fit, able to move with strength and flexibility? Think about the exercises you would like to do with your workout partner.
You might think about posting what you are looking for on social media, but it probably won’t result in a useful response. A workout partner usually needs to live close by. If you plan on working out in a gym, that person must belong to the same gym.
My partner posted her request on the notice board of a local park. Her notice included what kind of training she wanted to do, how many days a week and how many hours she wanted to spend on each session, and her age. It also listed her favorite sports and activities, and provided her phone number. Any notice for training partner should include such information.
You and your partner will probably have different skills. Just accept your differences and learn to work with each other. Over time, both of you will benefit — your partner will be able to lift more weights and you will become more physically fit. The core of your relationship is that you will always be there to help each other.
1. What does the author intend to tell us in the first paragraph?| A．The significance of training harder. | B．The importance of a workout partner. |
| C．Ways of thanking a workout partner. | D．Reasons to increase training efforts. |
| A．Living nearby. | B．Searching online. | C．Working in a gym. | D．Training regularly. |
| A．By process. | B．By example. | C．By comparison. | D．By classification. |
| A．How to post a notice on social media. | B．How to balance exercise and health. |
| C．How to become a better athlete. | D．How to find a proper workout partner. |
3 . Morocco’s national women’s soccer team is set to make its first appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. After years of being largely hidden, Moroccan women’s soccer is getting new growth at home and around the world.
During one game in May, the audience was not very big. The game was between a Moroccan national women’s professional league team and the armed forces team called ASFAR. ASFAR, a strong women’s team in Morocco, won 7 to 0.
Dressed in a shirt reading “Morocco” in Arabic, Aliae Benazzouza went to the field to meet the players. “I was very happy,” the young girl said. Idriss Benazzouza is Aliae’s father. “I teach my daughters confidence, not fear,” he said. “There is no difference between men and women in physical exercise.”
The national women’s team is known as the Lionesses. Benazzouza said the Lionesses shows “how women’s soccer has progressed” in the North African country. He said the team has filed him with joy.
Morocco hosted the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. The event drew large numbers of fans and augmented interest in this year’s worldwide women’s championship.
Hiba Karami plays for a local team called Fath Union Sport. The development in women’s soccer has made a dream of hers a reality. Last year, Karami was one of the players playing for Morocco in the FIFA under-17 Women’s World Cup. “Some kids or men would say that women belonged (属于) in the kitchen and weren’t made for soccer,” she said. “I knew that I loved the game and that I would play. Boys in my neighborhood accepted me because I played better than they did and they thought of me as a role model.”
Nouhaila Benzina also plays for the national team and for ASFAR. She said her soccer career (职业) opened up new chances for her. The 25-year-old never saw soccer going against her clothing. Many look up to her. “This makes me want to work harder to show girls that they can achieve great things,” Benzina said.
1. Which matches Aliae’s father’s opinion?| A．Women athletes are more popular. | B．Women should work for happiness. |
| C．Women play better than men in soccer. | D．Sports are fit for both men and women. |
| A．Lost. | B．Increased. | C．Showed. | D．Compared. |
| A．She was good at soccer. | B．She was friendly to them. |
| C．She was a famous player. | D．She taught them to play soccer. |
| A．Relaxed. | B．Worried. | C．Helpless. | D．Confident. |
4 . Is it bad to work out in cold weather?
Burn extra calories
In cold climates, your body needs to perform extra heat to keep your body warm. Brown fat is the type of body fat that helps control body temperature. When you’re outside in the cold, brown fat burns calories in order to increase body temperature.
Help increase willpower
Working out in the heat can cause you to become tired more easily, since it increases sweating and your heart rate more rapidly.
Exercising outside during the winter is thought to be one useful way to avoid a type of disorder or depression that tends to affect people during the dark winter months. Sunlight and exercise both have a positive impact on your mental (精神的) condition. They help give out more “feel good” chemicals, including serotonin and endorphins.
Help you sleep better
The combination of sunlight exposure (暴露) during the daytime, fresh air and physical activity can help you relax and sleep well at night.
Exercising in cold weather isn’t for everyone, though. If you have any health problems, it is advisable to talk with your health care provider first.
| A．Support heart health |
| B．Improve your mental health |
| C．It can make you take regular exercise |
| D．In this process it can likely help you to lose weight |
| E．Sunlight is important for controlling your sleep-wake cycle |
| F．As long as you take preventive measures, it is actually pretty beneficial |
| G．On the other hand, exercising in the cold can allow you to work out longer |
5 . If you’ve heard of “pickleball,” chances are that you connect the sport with seniors. That’s not surprising, as it was the 55-plus set that began growing the sport at the end of last century. But today, pickleball is attracting players of every age as it becomes more and more popular across the U.S. and around the globe.
Pickleball is a combination of badminton, ping-pong and tennis. It’s played on a badminton-sized court with a low net like that used in tennis. Players use a bat that’s smaller than a tennis racquet (球拍), but larger than a ping-pong bat.
In 2021, more than 4.8 million people in the U.S. were playing pickleball. That’s about four times as many people as were playing in 2010, and makes pickleball one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S. and North America. So, what’s the appeal?
In North America, indoor and outdoor pickleball courts can be seen everywhere. About 66 new locations open every month. In addition, the game is being introduced to kids in middle school and high school PE classes.
Pickleball may even become an Olympic sport one day, especially if the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) gets its way. Created in 2010, the IFP’s goal is to make pickleball universally present around the world.
| A．It’s well along the way. |
| B．But what, exactly, is it? |
| C．Then what is the reason behind this? |
| D．It’s also a sport on many college campuses. |
| E．Games may be played as singles or doubles. |
| F．It has long been a favorite in places like community centers. |
| G．That pickleball is easy to learn is perhaps the basis of its popularity. |
6 . 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 |
7 . I’m a walker, logging an average of 9000 steps a day several times a week around my neighborhood. On recent trips to Copenhagen and Stockholm, I noticed tall, fit Scandinavians (斯堪法尼亚人) walking along on city streets with poles, as if they were cross-country skiing without any snow.
It was a surprise to learn that the addition of the poles makes it a more vigorous, full-body exercise than simply walking – and, as a 76-year-old looking to stay healthy while enjoying the outdoors, I decided to give it a try.
There’s plenty of help online for the new Nordic (北 欧的 ) walker: stand tall, swing your arms out as if to shake hands, and plant your poles with vigour. Then there’s the little matter of the strap (带子) on the pole. This allows the walker to grip the pole when thrusting forward and then relax that hand as the other hand pushes forward – a skill of coordination that builds stronger muscles.
For a warm-up, I started slow: Nordic walking down the hall that extends from my front door to the deck. Keeping balance wasn’t my only problem. The novel use of my arms and upper body was surprisingly demanding. After half an hour, my heart was pounding and I was sweating, but I still wasn’t much good.
Still, I carried on because there’s no arguing with the exercise’s benefits. Nordic walkers’ upper-body exercise increases their heart rate significantly more than walking without poles. And according to cardiologist Dr Aaron Baggish, with poles “you’re engaging 80 to 90 per cent of your muscles.” It also helps people with Parkinson’s, says Burrill. “We put poles in their hands and it’s amazing because they start walking with real rhythm.”
After a few clumsy days of being convinced I would never succeed, suddenly everything clicked. Not only was I able to coordinate the movements, I was aware that my heart, arms and core were getting a workout. Nordic walking is a form of exercise I expect to enjoy for years to come.
1. What inspired the writer to try Nordic walking?| A．Enjoying the outdoor skiing. | B．Observing Scandinavians walking. |
| C．Getting tired of simple walking. | D．Fancying a healthy lifestyle. |
| A．Building strong muscle in the arms. |
| B．Using arms and upper body harmoniously. |
| C．Sweating with heart pounding. |
| D．Feeling discouraged for lack of progress. |
| A．The great benefits of Nordic walking. | B．The wide practice of Nordic walking. |
| C．The urgency to promote Nordic walking. | D．The promising future of Nordic walking. |
| A．To persuade readers to try Nordic walking for fun. |
| B．To share the experience of trying a new fitness activity. |
| C．To emphasize the great difficulties of Nordic walking. |
| D．To compare Nordic walking with simple walking. |
8 . What’ s a micro activity? I consider this question about the word “micro” whenever it appears.
The following recommendations are micro activities you should do for your body.
Self-Massage (自我按摩)
Self-massaging should become a part of your daily musts.
Intensive Exercise
There are many benefits of intensive exercise (高强度运动). And do you know what else it does for your body? It makes your body realize it can do so much more. In less than five minutes, the goal is to break a sweat. This can be from running or lifting weights.
Let Loose
Whether it be dancing, skipping or something else, our body should do whatever it feels like doing without judgment.
Be Still
| A．Did you regret doing it? |
| B．What does it really mean? |
| C．Don’t give yourself too much pressure. |
| D．It should be as necessary as brushing your teeth or taking a shower. |
| E．Every activity involves some sort of movement. |
| F．The playful nature helps bring out the inner child and promotes creativity and joy. |
| G．It doesn’t matter which activity you choose, so long as you bring intensity to that workout. |
9 . Walking has been considered as one of the best possible exercises. For many people, daily walking offers massive and long-term physical and mental benefits.
But the scenery is almost as important as the sweat. Just by going outside, you are stepping out of your habitual surroundings and your comfort zone, which is necessary if you want to open your mind to new possibilities. You can walk through a tree-filled neighborhood.
Walking outside cultivates our ability to collect new ideas and take in new sights, sounds, smells, and flavors. Shinrin-yoku, a common form of relaxation in Japan, suggests that being in the forest and walking among the trees there can lower your stress levels.
So instead of setting a fitness goal, why not set a creativity goal that starts with walking outdoors?
Walk not just for exercise. Walk for wonder.
| A．Unfortunately, you often fail to do it. |
| B．Engage more closely with your surroundings. |
| C．The movement aspect of walking is obviously key. |
| D．Without enough energy, you cannot wonder or create. |
| E．But to receive the benefits, you do not have to live in a forest. |
| F．This habit, however, isn’t just a beneficial pursuit but an element of innovation. |
| G．Alternatively, you can wander around a park and observe people relaxing or birds singing. |
10 . How to make exercise a habit that sticks
There’s a reason why so many New Year’s resolutions to get in shape crash and burn before February rolls around. And it’s not that you simply don’t have what it takes.
Remove obstacles.
Reward yourself. People who exercise regularly tend to do so because of the rewards it brings to their lives, such as more energy, better sleep, and a greater sense of well-being.
Choose activities that make you feel happy and confident. If your workout is unpleasant or makes you feel clumsy or inept. you’re unlikely to stick with it. Don’t choose activities like running or lifting weights at the gym just because you think that’s what you should do.
| A．Set yourself up for success. |
| B．Start small and build motivation. |
| C．However, these tend to be long-term rewards. |
| D．Instead, pick activities that fit your lifestyle, abilities, and taste. |
| E．Plan ahead for anything that might get in the way of exercising. |
| F．Science shows us that there’s a right way to build habits that last. |
| G．Plan your workout for the time of day when you’re most awake and energetic. |
