1 . Are you preparing for a big test? If so, you may want to play some basketball in between hitting the books. Doctors are starting to find more and more information that suggests a connection between exercise and brain development. Judy Cameron, a scientist at Oregon Health and Science University, studies brain development. According to her research, it seems that exercise can make blood vessels(管), including those in the brain, stronger and more fully developed. Dr. Cameron claims this allows people who exercise to concentrate better. As she says, “While we already know that exercise is good for the heart, exercise can really cause physical changes in the brain.”
The effects of exercise on brain development can even be seen in babies. Babies who do activities that require a lot of movement and physical activity show greater brain development than babies who are less physically active. With babies, even a little movement can show big results. Margaret Barnes, a pediatrician(儿科医生), believes in the importance of exercise. She thinks that many learning disabilities that children have in elementary school or high school can be traced back to a lack of movement as babies. “Babies need movement that stimulates their five senses. They need to establish a connection between motion and memory. In this way, as they get older, children will begin to associate physical activity with higher learning,” says Margaret.
Older people can beef up their brains as well. Scientists from 11 universities studied a group of seniors ranging in age from seventy to seventy-nine. Their study showed a short-term memory increase of up to 40 percent after exercising just three hours a week. The exercise does not have to be very difficult, but it does have to increase the heart rate. Also, just like the motion for infants (婴儿), exercise for older people should involve some complexity. Learning some new skills or motions, such as with yoga or tai-chi, helps to open up memory paths in the brain that may not have been used for a long time.
For most people, any type of physical activity that increases the heart rate is helpful. The main goal is to increase the brain’s flow of blood. And your brain can benefit from as little as three hours of exercise a week.
1. According to the reading, what is the connection between exercise and brain development?| A．Exercise makes us stupid. |
| B．The brain needs special mental exercise. |
| C．Physical exercise helps us think better. |
| D．The more exercise, the bigger the brain. |
| A．40hours per week |
| B．three hours per week |
| C．three hours per day |
| D．40hours per month. |
| A．It includes learning new motions. |
| B．It can be done in groups. |
| C．It does not increase the heart rate. |
| D．It is easy to learn. |
| A．How to exercise |
| B．How the brain can change |
| C．How to get good scores on a test |
| D．How exercise helps the brain |
2 . Reformer Pilates Thursday and Friday, 5:30 pm-6:15 pm $110 for 6 weeks
Reformer Pilates will improve your balance and stability. You are guaranteed a challenging full body exercise. We will get your heart rate up through exercise having a low effect on your joints (关节).
Self-defense Monday, 6:30 pm-8:30 pm $79 for 5 weeks
This is a women-only program that covers the basics of self-defense. Self-defense classes can offer exercise benefits such as muscle tone (结实程度) and strengthening and improved balance. Such classes also help you improve your overall physical condition, your mental health and fitness and your chances of escaping from an attack.
Boxfit Wednesday to Friday, 6:45 am-7:45 am $140 for 8 weeks
Boxfit is a fitness class that uses the training principles from a number of martial art subjects. No body contact, ideal for both males and females of all fitness levels.
Virtual Women’s Fitness Program Monday and Thursday, 1:00 pm-2:00 pm $125 for 4 weeks
We are here to provide you with an exciting 4-week program to help make you energetic and encourage a deeper understanding for setting and achieving health and fitness goals.
1. Who are probably interested in Reformer Pilates?| A．People with muscle problems. |
| B．People who want to lose weight. |
| C．People with mental health troubles. |
| D．People who want to develop a better sense of balance. |
| A．Boxfit | B．Self-defense |
| C．Reformer Pilates | D．Virtual Women’s Fitness Program |
| A．To instruct. | B．To entertain. | C．To advertise. | D．To compare. |
3 . It was a cool early morning of the winter season. I was excited to start my morning walk. Every day I promised myself that I would start ‘ walking exercise ’ but it never happened. I saw so many people were engaged in this amazing habit but I could never push myself. So that day I was determined to take the golden opportunity!
I got everything ready， my shoes, socks, hand glove, and jacket, etc from the previous night. I didn’t know why 1 felt as if I were going to do some expedition (探险)! I was ready and started walking on the lonely road. The outside temperature seemed to be below 18 degrees. But I enjoyed the fresh air. Probably that day I was the only one who was walking on the road at that time. I think I was too early but anyhow I loved it!
After a few yards were covered, I felt delighted! Huge banyan trees (菩提树) were on both the roadsides. It was so calm and quiet all around except randomly the chirping (鸟鸣) sound of the little birds was repeated in the air. On one side of the road, a small pond was there. Since it was my first walking exercise, I thought to take a little rest just near the bank of the river and then continue. The sun was moving closer to the horizon scattering colors to the sky.
As the sky started shining brightly with beautiful yellow and red light like every day before the sunrise, I left that place and ended my journey furthermore. I thought to myself that the next day I would increase my exercise a little more. I turned and leisurely walked down towards my home.
1. What kind of person is the author according to the first paragraph?| A．A bit lazy. | B．Quite smart. |
| C．Very easygoing. | D．Challenge-loving. |
| A．Because the road was far away from the city. |
| B．Because no one took interest in walking here. |
| C．Because the expedition was very dangerous. |
| D．Because it was still too early in the morning. |
| A．To lead in the main topic. |
| B．To show the joys of morning walking. |
| C．To persuade readers to take walking exercise. |
| D．To prove that the author wasn’t ready for the exercise. |
| A．To take a different walking route. | B．To stay at home and get some rest. |
| C．To increase his walking exercise. | D．To go camping by the lake. |
4 . Five tips for safe running
We all know that exercise is good for our health. But some kinds of exercise may be better than others. Running, for example, may help to protect against heart disease and other health problems.
Running is good exercise, but it can be hard on the body.
Take it easy. Do not run too much, too soon or too fast. Most people get running injuries (受伤) when they push themselves too bad. The body needs time to get used to increase in distance or speed.
Listen to your body. Most running injuries do not come unexpectedly (意外地).
They may include body aches, sore muscles (肌肉) and pain that does not go away.
Take good notes. Take time after each run to write down what you did and how you felt. Look for patterns, things that happen over again. These notes will help you find the best exercise for you.
Cross train. As we said earlier, running is hard on your body. So physical fitness experts suggest some form of cross training to improve muscle balance and to help you stay injury free. They say, besides running, swimming, yoga, and riding a bicycle are good exercises.
| A．Get good running shoes. |
| B．Here are five ideas to reduce the risk of injury. |
| C．Muscles and joints (关节) need time to recover. |
| D．Running may also help you live longer |
| E．These exercises are easier on the body. |
| F．Usually, there are warning signs. |
| G．As advertisements for the running shoe Nike say, “just do it.” |
5 . Gyms that profit most from the January rush
Every year, like clockwork, many people go through the same routine. On December 26th and January 1st, as the fog of cheese, chocolate oranges and champagne lifts, regret creeps（悄悄出现）in. Online searches for “get fit” and “lose weight” increase.
Many gym recruits（新成员）will have their new sportswear on for high-intensity interval training. In the basement of Another Space, a club near London’s Leicester Square, music pumps and light flash as a trainer shouts instructions to a group of mostly young women. They are pushed through bursts of burpees, handclap push-ups and various kick and punches at boxing bags. The training is murderous.
They are at one end of a fitness market.
Pure Gym expects soon to reach 1 million members. Part of its appeal is that, unlike traditional gyms, members are not bound by a long contract. “We have taken a £500 decision and turned it into a £20 decision,” says Mr Cobbold.
| A．There will be other ripple effects（连锁反应）, too. |
| B．That will be good news for some gym goers because many will soon suffer a second round of regret. |
| C．However, the club’s luxurious changing rooms and bars relieve some of the pain. |
| D．Health clubs of all shapes and sizes stand ready to respond. |
| E．Spending on fashion items also increases around the time of joining a gym. |
| F．At the other are budget gyms, which have accounted for the big part of gym growth in recent years. |
6 . Playing sports offers you more than just physical benefits (好处).
Making new friends.
Playing sports enables you to create friendships you otherwise might not have formed.
Understanding the value of health.
Taking part in sports improves your health in many ways.
Building team spirit.
Sports provide children with the important lesson of learning how to work in a team.
Playing sports requires a lot of time and energy. Some may think this would take students’ attention away from schoolwork. However, the opposite is true. Sports require memorization, repetition and learning — skills that are directly relevant (有关的) to schoolwork.
| A．Doing better in your studies. |
| B．Everyone has to work together to achieve the goal. |
| C．To be a good athlete, you must take care of yourself. |
| D．Sports can help you in your study and fit in with society as well. |
| E．Sports bring teens together from different schools and backgrounds. |
7 . Exercising regularly not only helps you keep slim, but also improves your overall health and well-being. Different exercises produce different results, as they focus on alternate parts of the body. There are four broad exercise categories: endurance, strength, flexibility, and balance. Many people often only focus on one exercise type, but including all four in your workout will produce better results and reduce your risk of injury.
Endurance
Endurance exercises increase your breathing and heart rate. By doing endurance exercises, you are working to keep your heart, lungs, and blood-flow system healthy while improving your total fitness. Over time these activities will make everyday activities seem easier.
Strength
If you want to build up your muscles, then strength exercises, which are also known as “resistance training”, are right for you. Even the slightest increase in strength can make a huge difference in your ability to carry out daily tasks. Developing strong muscles also reduce your risk of weak bones.
Flexibility
Flexibility exercises help stretch your body’s muscles. This allows for more freedom of movement for other exercises and can also improve your range of motion, posture, ability to breathe deeply, and blood flow. Also, it reduces the muscle tension caused by stress.
Balance
Balance exercises help prevent falls and are especially important to older adults, helping them stay independent. Most good balance exercises are ones that keep you constantly moving with your feet on the ground. Heel-to-toe walking and standing on one foot are simple ways to improve balance.
1. How can a person benefit most from their exercise routine?| A．By combining different exercise types together. |
| B．By having enough rest between their workouts. |
| C．By concentrating on one training aspect at a time. |
| D．By increasing the frequency of their training gradually. |
| A．Strength and Balance. | B．Flexibility and Balance. |
| C．Endurance and Strength. | D．Endurance and Flexibility. |
| A．Arms. | B．Legs. | C．Waist. | D．Neck. |
8 . Are you preparing for a big test? If so, you may want to go play some basketball in between hitting the books. Doctors are starting to find more and more information that suggests a connection between exercise and brain development. Judy Cameron, a scientist at Oregon Health and Science University, studies brain development. According to her research, it seems that exercise can make blood vessels (血管), including those in the brain, stronger and more fully developed. Dr. Cameron claims this allows people who exercise to concentrate better. As she says, “while we already know that exercise is good for the heart, exercise can really cause physical changes in the brain.”
The effects of exercise on brain development can even be seen in babies. Babies who do activities that require a lot of movement and physical activity show greater brain development than babies who are less physically active. With babies, even a little movement can show big results. Margaret Barnes, a doctor, also believes in the importance of exercise. She thinks that many learning disabilities that children have in elementary school or high school can be traced back to a lack of movement as babies. “Babies need movement that encourages and excites their five senses. They need to establish a connection between motion and memory. In this way, as they get older, children will begin to connect physical activity with higher learning,” says Margaret.
Older people can develop their brains as well. Columbia University studied a group of seniors who have a short-term memory of up to 40 percent after exercising just three hours a week. The exercise does not have to be very difficult, but it does have to increase the heart rate. Also, just like the motion for babies, exercise for older people should not be too simple. Learning some new skills or actions, such as with yoga or tai-chi, helps to open up memory paths in the brain that may not have been used for a long time. For most people, any type of physical activity that increases the heart rate is helpful. The main goal is to increase the brain’s flow of blood. And your brain can benefit from as little as two to three hours of exercise a week.
1. What is the main idea of this reading?| A．How to exercise. |
| B．How exercise helps the brain. |
| C．How to get good scores on a test. |
| D．How the brain can change. |
| A．Exercise helps make our blood vessels. |
| B．The brain needs special mental exercise. |
| C．The more exercise, the bigger the brain is. |
| D．Physical exercise helps us think better. |
| A．three hours per week | B．40 hours per week |
| C．three hours per day | D．40 hours per month |
| A．It is easy to remember. | B．It can be done in groups. |
| C．It does not increase the heart rate. | D．It includes learning new motions. |
9 . How to Maintain a Healthy Body Weight
Our life is too much involved in work, earning money and eating junk food. Keeping the body in good shape should be the first priority in our daily schedule. Nutrition is a key factor, but our health depends not only on what nutrients we eat, but how much of those nutrients we absorb, and how well and how regularly the body’s waste products are eliminated.
Try not to eat too much junk food
Eat healthily when you eat out
When you see these words on the menu, skip these items altogether or share them so that you can eat a smaller part: “fried”, “cream sauce”, “cheese” and “dipped”. Don’t give up on going out to eat. Simply learn how to do it the right way and get a sense of how many calories there are in what you are ordering.
Make a habit of doing exercise every day
Find an exercise that you like. Don’t simply start exercising. Experiment with different activities in different settings with different people until you find the one that you love doing.
Make friends with people who you notice exercising in the neighborhood or walking at lunchtime. Take your lunch breaks with people who take a packed lunch to work. Your aim is to find like-minded people that share the goal of maintaining a healthy body weight. They can work out with you, give you tips and encourage you to keep going whenever you want to quit.
| A．Make friends with neighbors and co-workers. |
| B．Have lunch with your neighbors and co-workers. |
| C．You can maintain a healthy body weight, even if you eat out. |
| D．There is no such thing as the “best” exercise if you don’t do it often enough. |
| E．You will need to build a few healthy habits into your lifestyle. |
| F．Junk food is to blame for your weight gain, so try to eat less junk food. |
| G．You can find the best exercise once you start exercising with the help of trainers. |
10 . You may have seen them coming quickly towards you or passing you swiftly. They’re moving steadily, swinging what looks like a ski pole in each hand.
In the early days of Nordic walking, all walkers -- skiers and non-skiers alike- used ski poles. In 1988, an American company began making and selling poles especially for walking.
Although regular walking is healthy, studies have shown that Nordic walking is even healthier.
| A．Nordic walking poles are shorter than ski poles. |
| B．And there’s none of the danger of falling on skis. |
| C．But you aren’t on a ski hill, and there’s no snow in sight. |
| D．Nordic walking can be performed by anyone at any time. |
| E．Nordic skiers don’t just slide down hills. |
| F．Nordic walking is a form of popular sport. |
| G．With each step, Nordic walkers push themselves forward with one of their poles. |
