1 . 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.     1     , keep these things in mind to help you increase your chances of running success.

·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     2     .

·     3    

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

    4    , it’s important that you wear properly for your workouts. The most important piece of equipment for running is a good pair of running shoes, so be sure to do some research before you purchase a pair. Visit a running specialty store and ask an employee to fit you for a shoe.

•Running through pain

    5     If something hurts when you run, you need to stop and treat the pain. Remember: It doesn’t make you less of a runner if you listen to your body to keep it healthy.

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

2 . In early 2018, I was training for the London Marathon—the first and only marathon I would ever run in my life. I had treated myself to an expensive fitness watch that tracked my time, pace and splits.

At the end of my final training run—an exhausting 21 miles (34km) —I threw myself down on the floor the moment I got home, only to see my watch had failed me. Twenty-one miles briefly flashed on the screen before it went blank and disappeared for ever. I screamed in pain. That tragic image of me crying on my living room floor pretty much sums up my relationship with exercise tracking technology.

It can be a total joy to watch your data change on running apps as you get stronger and faster. I once got a kick out of it, but at some point it became a stick I used to punish myself. I would watch my pace, compare it with other people’s or criticize myself for not doing it 30 seconds faster. I never really recognized exercise tracking as a problem. It seemed to me that tracking was the route to self-improvement, and the point was to improve, wasn’t it? The point was to be better.

In the past year, the concept of “being better” has taken on a different meaning. My mental health dropped, and things that were once easy such as brushing my teeth became unimaginably difficult. Being better stopped meaning getting faster or stronger. It meant taking care of myself and feeling some joy in a day. Once I started getting better, I reflected on what in my life made me happy and what did not. So, I stopped tracking my runs and simply deleted years’ worth of data that was once very important to me and now meant nothing.

What has become very clear to me since I quit tracking my runs is that I genuinely love doing them. I run around my local park with a silly little smile on my face. I love it so much. But I do not love running quickly. I do not like races. I do not want to be pushed to be faster. Things I notice about my runs now include: how my legs feel and how my mind feels afterwards-clear and focused. I notice dogs, the smell of the wild plants along the canal and the sunshine (OK, wind and rain) on my face.

I am better. Or sometimes I am worse. But either way I’m slowly plodding along, and that’s good enough.

1. The author cried after the final training run because she ________.

A．had to stop working out	B．became physically worn out
C．lost the data on the watch	D．felt a sharp pain in the legs

2. The author used to view exercise tracking as ________.

A．a fun hobby for enjoyment	B．a strong need for recognition
C．a method of escaping punishment	D．a way of being a better runner

3. What does “being better” mean to the author now?

A．Getting pleasure out of winning races.	B．Being more focused on her life goal.
C．Freeing herself from demanding tasks.	D．Improving her overall well-being.

4. What can we conclude from this passage?

A．Adjustment brings happiness.	B．Passion is the key to success.
C．Sports contribute to happiness.	D．Success equals self-improvement.

3 . 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.

2. What was the main challenge for the author during the initial stages of Nordic walking?

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.

3. What does the author want to show by mentioning people with Parkinson’s?

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.

4. What is the author’s intention in writing this passage?

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.

4 . What’ s a micro activity? I consider this question about the word “micro” whenever it appears.

    1     Quite literally, it means “extremely small”. But in this article, a micro activity will refer to something which takes up no more than five minutes of your time.

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.     2    As we get older, our muscles (肌肉) tighten. But if we self-massage, these muscles will feel cared for. According to the Mayo Clinic, massage can reduce stress and increase relaxation.

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.     3    

Let Loose

Whether it be dancing, skipping or something else, our body should do whatever it feels like doing without judgment.     4    Thus we will feel happy and relaxed.

Be Still

    5    Your body loves movement. But we must find a few moments of stillness throughout our day. By devoting ourselves to more stillness, we can find ourselves more at peace and less stressed even under hard circumstances.

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.

6 . 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.     1     Follow these steps to make exercise one of them.

Remove obstacles.     2     Do you tend to run out of time in the morning? Get your workout clothes out the night before so you’re ready to go as soon as you get up. Do you skip your evening workout if you go home first? Keep a gym bag in the car, so you can head out straight from work.

    3     A goal of exercising for 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week may sound good. But how likely are you to follow through? The more ambitious your goal is, the more likely you are to fail, feel bad about it and give up. So, it’s better to start with easy exercise goals you know you can achieve.

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.     4     When you’re starting an exercise program, it’s important to give yourself immediate rewards when you successfully complete a workout or reach a new fitness goal.

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.     5    

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.

7 .

Can you stand on one leg for 10 seconds? Balance could be a matter of life and death. The World Health Organization estimates that 684,000 fatal falls occur each year, making falling the second leading cause of unintentional injury death. Some of these falls are caused by more serious conditions -but many aren’t. According to George Locker, a long-term practitioner of tai chi, a loss of balance is a medical problem that can’t be treated with drugs or surgery, despite its effects. Increasingly,efforts are being made to remedy(补救) the balance problem among the groups already most affected by it. Tai chi,practiced by an estimated 50   million people in China,is an option. Studies have shown that as little as eight weeks of practice can improve older adults’scores on the Tinetti test —a   commonly   used   measure of competence in basic tasks such as rising from a chair and walking—as well as reducing fear of falling. Longer periods of study show further benefits. Whatever activity you choose the lesson is to work on your balance before you need to. not after it becomes an issue. As Locker puts it everyone’s told to save money for their retirement and nobody’s taught to save their balance. But both are difficult to get back once they’re gone.	Just 15 minutes a day of practice can be beneficial, but do more if you have time Starting earlier helps: try the exercises below on a hard, level surface.
	Easy Level: Standing on one leg—with your hands resting on a work surface if you' re feeling unsteady — see how long you can maintain your balance. Do this one while you’re brushing your teeth.
	Medium Level: For this movement, start from standing and take a big step forwards, bending your front leg until your trailing knee just brushes the floor. Then push off your front leg and return to a standing position.
	Hard Level: Try step-ups on to a step or box: put one foot on to a box and push through that heel to step up so both feet end up together. To ensure you aren’t using your trailing leg to help ,keep your toes off the ground on that foot.

1. What does George Locker think of a lack of balance?

A．It is costly to get treated with drugs and surgery.

B．It is a minor issue that doesn’t affect one’s overall health.

C．It is a problem without any medical solution.

D．It is a problem that can be easily fixed by exercising.

2. Which of the following best illustrates the Medium Level practice?

A．

B．

C．

D．

3. What is the lesson conveyed in the passage regarding balance and health?

A．Balance is the top leading cause of sudden death from injuries.

B．It is essential for those affected by balance issues to seek help.

C．Taichi is the most effective way to improve one’s balance.

D．It is wiser to work on balance as early as possible.

8 . The rate of childhood obesity in the U.S. has tripled over the past 50 years. But what this trend means for children’s long-term health, and what to do about it (if anything), is not so clear.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) made waves this year by recommending that doctors put obese kids as young as two years old on intensive, family-oriented lifestyle and behavior plans.     1     This advice marks a shift from the organization’s previous stance of “watch and wait,” and it reflects the AAP’s belief that obesity is a disease and the group’s adoption of a more proactive position on childhood obesity.

Yet the lifestyle programs the AAP recommends are expensive, inaccessible to most children and hard to maintain — and the guidelines acknowledge these barriers. Few weight-loss drugs have been approved for older children, although many are used off-label.     2     And surgery, while becoming more common, has inherent risks and few long-term safety data — it could, for instance, cause nutritional deficits in growing children. Furthermore, it’s not clear whether interventions in youngsters help to improve health or merely add to the stigma overweight kids face from a fat-phobic society. This stigma can lead to mental health problems and eating disorders.

Rather than fixating on numbers on a scale, the U.S. and countries with similar trends should focus on an underlying truth: we need to invest in more and safer places for children to play where they can move and run around, climb and jump, ride and skate.

    3    In 2020 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found, unsurprisingly, that kids’ sports participation increases with their parents’ incomes: about 70 percent of kids whose families earn more than $105,000 a year participate in sports, but only 51 percent of middle-class kids and 31 percent of children at or below the poverty line do. This disparity hurts people of color the most. More than 60 percent of white children, for instance, participate in athletics, but only 42 percent of Black children and 47 percent of Hispanic children do. Experts blame these problems on the privatization of sports — as public investment in school-based athletics dwindles, expensive private leagues have grown, leaving many kids out.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, children between ages six and 17 should get at least an hour of moderate to intense physical activity every day. Yet only 21 to 28 percent of U.S. kids meet this target, two government-sponsored surveys found. The nonprofit Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance evaluates physical activity in American children, and in 2022 the group gave the U.S. a grade of D–.

Why is it so hard to get kids moving? In addition to fewer opportunities at school, researchers cite increased screen time, changing norms around letting kids play outdoors unsupervised, and a lack of safe places for them to play outside the home.

New York City, for example, had 2,067 public playgrounds as of 2019 — a “meager” amount for its large population, according to a report from the city comptroller — and inspectors found hazardous equipment at one quarter of them. In Los Angeles in 2015, only 33 percent of youths lived within walking distance of a park, according to the L.A. Neighborhood Land Trust. Lower-income neighborhoods tend to have the fewest public play spaces, despite often having a high population density.     4    

Kids everywhere need more places to play: trails, skate parks and climbing walls, gardens and ball fields, bike paths and basketball courts. Vigorous public funding to build and keep up these areas is crucial, but other options such as shared-use agreements can make unused spaces available to the public.

A．Moving more may not prevent a child from becoming overweight, but studies show clearly that it helps both physical and mental health.

B．And although rural areas have more undeveloped outdoor space, they often lack playgrounds, tracks and exercise facilities

C．A lack of safe places for them to play outside the home also contributes to kids obesity.

D．It also suggested prescribing weight-loss drugs to children 12 and older and surgery to teens 13 and older.

E．Increased screen time and changing norms around letting kids play outdoors are unsupervised.

F．They have significant side effects for both kids and adults.