1 . Phys ed (physical education) is making a comeback as a part of the school core curriculum, but with a difference.    1    Instead of learning how to climb a rope, children are taught to lift weights, balance their diets and build physical endurance. In this way, kids are given the tools and skills and experiences so they can lead a physically active life the rest of their life.

    2    In many cases, that may mean not just replacing the old gym-class model with fitness programs but also starting up phys ed programs because school boards often “put P.E. on the chopping block, cutting it entirely or decreasing its teachers or the days it is offered,” says Alicia Moag-Stahlberg, the executive director of Action for Health Kids. The difference in phys ed programs is partly due to the lack of a national standard. “Physical education needs to be part of the core curriculum,” she added.

The wisdom of the new approach has some scientific support. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have showed how effective the fit-for-life model of gym class can be.    3     The researchers also found that teaching sports like football resulted in less overall movement, partly because some reluctant students were able to sit on the bench.

Another problem with simply teaching group sports in gym class is that only a small percentage of students continue playing them after graduating from high school.     4    

2 . Can exercise during childhood protect you against memory loss many years later? Exercise early in life seems to have lifelong benefits for the brain, in rats at least.

“This is an animal study, but it shows that physical activity at a young age is very important — not just for physical development, but for the whole lifelong track of cognitive development during ageing,” says Martin of the University of Toronto, Canada. “In humans, it may put off the appearance of Alzheimer’s symptoms, possibly to the point of preventing them.“

Martin’s team divided 80 young male rats into two equal groups, and placed running wheels in the cages of one group for a period of six weeks. Around four months later — when the rats had reached middle age — the team taught all the rats to connect an electric shock with being in a specific box. When placed in the box, they froze with fear.

Two weeks later, the team tested the rats in three situations: exactly the same box in the same room, the same box with the room arranged differently, and a completely different box in a different room.

The rats without access to a running wheel when they were young now froze the same percentage of times in each of these situations, suggesting they couldn’t remember which one was dangerous. But those that had been able to run in their youth froze 40 to 50 percent less in both changed box settings.

“The results suggest the amount of physical activity when we’re young, at least for rats, has influence on brain and cognitive health — in the form of better memories — when we’re older,” says Arthur Kramer of Northeastern University in Boston, who has found that, in humans, exercise improves the growth of new brain cells.

A．physical activity is important for physical health

B．using the running wheels is of benefit to the rats’ growth

C．physical activity can prevent human’s Alzheimer’s symptoms

D．exercise when young can prevent memory loss when older in rats

A．exercise

B．development

C．benefit

D．study

3 . The human body is designed to move. But modern lifestyles and office jobs rarely give us the chance to move around. As we know, we sit while we’re eating, we sit in the car and we sit while we're watching TV. And many of us sit for many hours at work.

New research shows that sitting less than three hours a day might extend your life by two years. Peter Katzmarzyk, a scientist at the University of Louisiana in the southern United States, says that sitting is ubiquitous in our lives, meaning it is something we do all the time, everywhere.

However, Mr.Katzmarzyk says even that does not mean you can sit for the rest of your waking hours. He also says you may exercise often. “We can’t throw away physical activity. It’s extremely important. We have 60 years of research showing us that.”

Mr.Katzmarzyk and his colleagues are part of a new generation of researchers studying how sitting all day affects length of life. “Studies that have assessed the relationship between sitting and mortality (死亡率)or television viewing and mortality are very rare. There have only been a few of them, actually five or six now，in the last four or five years.” They found that cutting television time to less than two hours a day could add one-point four years to life.

Luckily, change is already coming to some offices, especially in the design of desks. A “standing desk” lets people stand while they are working. Another new design is called the “treadmill desk”. A treadmill is an exercise machine that lets you walk in one place. Even some U.S. schools are beginning to experiment with desks that are part bicycle to keep children moving, That’s one of the strategies that many companies are using now.

Mr. Katzmarzyk also says studying this problem has inspired his team to make a few changes in their own lives.

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.     1    

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.     2    

Listen to your body. Most running injuries do not come unexpectedly (意外地).     3    

They may include body aches, sore muscles (肌肉) and pain that does not go away.

    4     There is no single best shoe for every runner. You should find the shoe that offers the best fit and support for your feet. More importantly, you should replace your shoes every 500 to 800 kilometers.

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.     5    

6 . Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature. However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your choice of sport might have great influence on the environment.

Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemical and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas.

There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.

Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be “green gyms”. They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it’s free.

10 . How to Exercise

Exercise is a key part of staying healthy, but figuring out how to get more active can be tough.    1    Always listen to your body’s limits, and ask your doctor for advice in case of any medical issues. Importantly, create an exercise routine.

    2     When you warm up, target the muscles you plan on exercising, but use less intense movements. For instance, walk for 5 to 10 minutes before jogging or doing a lower body workout.

Try to get 30 minutes of aerobic exercise per day. As a rule of thumb, you should get at least 30 minutes of moderately intense aerobic exercise daily. Examples include going for brisk walks and a jog, running, cycling and swimming.

Include strength training at least 2 days per week. Strength training involves using free weights, resistance bands, or your own body weight to strengthen your muscles. For starters, try doing upper and lower body workouts 1 day a week.    3    

Mix up your routine to keep things interesting.    4     That can motivate you to stay on track. Additionally, switching your workouts will exercise your entire body and help prevent injury.

Walk for 5 to 10 minutes and stretch to cool down.    5     Cool down by walking for 5 to 10 minutes and stretching the muscles your workout targets.