1 . Over the past decades, experts have done a considerable amount of research to explore different ways to encourage children’s learning. Especially, there has been a common focus on how physical activity, separated from the learning activities, can improve children’s learning. However, there has been less of a focus aimed the potential of integrating physical activity into the learning activities.
The main purpose of the Basket Mathematics study conducted at five Danish primary and elementary schools by researchers from the University of Copenhagen therefore was to develop a learning activity that integrates basketball and mathematics and examine how it might affect children’s motivation for mathematics.
756 children from 40 different classes at Copenhagen area schools participated in the project, where about half of them-once a week for six weeks-had Basketball Mathematics during gym class, while the other half played basketball without mathematics.
“During classes with Basketball Mathematics, the children had to collect numbers and perform calculations associated with various basketball exercises. An example could be counting how many times they could sink a basket from three meters away vs at a one-meter distance, and adding up the numbers. Both the math and basketball elements could be adjusted to suit the children’s levels, as well as being adjusted for whether it was addition, multiplication or some other operations that needed to be practiced,” explains Linn Damsgaard, a leading researcher.
The results showed that children’s motivation for math integrated with basketball was 16% higher compared to classroom math learning. Children also experienced a 14% increase in self-determination compared with classroom teaching. Meanwhile Basketball Mathematics improved their math confidence.
“We are planning to do research to examine whether the Basketball Mathematics model can strengthen performance in mathematics. Once we have the final results, we hope that they will inspire school teachers and principals to prioritize more physical activity and movement in such subjects. Eventually, we hope to succeed in putting these tools into school system and teacher education,” says Associate Professor Jacob Wienecke.
1. What is the purpose of paragraph 1?A.To show the advantage of the study. | B.To explain the reason for the study. |
C.To conduct a review of past research. | D.To introduce a way to raise math grades. |
A.All kids didn’t play basketball. | B.Kids were divided into 40 groups. |
C.It studied kids’math performance. | D.It tailored activities to different kids. |
A.More motivation for exercise. | B.More confidence in basketball. |
C.A gain in desire to learn math. | D.A rise in determination to learn. |
A.Make math learning easier. | B.Inspire students’ math confidence. |
C.Build physical activity into teaching. | D.Notice the benefits of physical exercise. |
2 . Why Play? Why Outside?
Play is important, even for adults. Here are some great reasons to get outside and play.
Being outdoors brings the senses to life. In fact, 75 percent of students surveyed by Weekly Reader said they felt better after spending time outside. “Hiking, exploring, and fishing help sharpen all of your senses,” says Betsy Keller, a professor of exercise and sports sciences. “Smell, sight... they’re all engaged when you’re outside.” Bonus!
Outdoor play eases your mind.
Are you stressed out? Having trouble concentrating?
Spending time outdoors brings you closer to the environment.
Hearing the leaves rustling underfoot and breathing in fresh air build awareness and appreciation of the environment, if you walk through the woods in search of cool birds and plants, you may find your mind expanding.
No woods nearby?
A.Playing outside helps your body |
B.Outdoor activities expand your senses |
C.You don’t need a huge park to enjoy nature’s benefits |
D.With your senses engaged, you’ll feel free and more creative |
E.So the next time you sit down to spend quality time with a TV |
F.Then take note of your senses after you’ve done something outside |
G.Too much time indoors —away from the natural world — may be a cause |
3 . In 1965 three fathers in Washington State faced a problem familiar to many parents in 2022: how to keep their restless children entertained. They threw together wooden paddles (乒乓球拍), a badminton net, and a perforated (有孔的) plastic ball. The sport “pickleball” was born, getting its name — according to one story — from a dog named Pickle, who kept running away with the ball.
Today pickleball, which is a mix of tennis, badminton and ping pong, is the fastest-growing sport in America. In the five years to the end of 2019, pickleball participation grew by more than 7%, while Americans’ overall activity level stayed flat. Now, the sport has picked up more swing thanks to COVID 19. Last March, when gyms closed, portable (便携的) pickleball nets temporarily sold out. “It’s a trend.” says Derek Heil, an employee at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Dallas, who has seen a sales spike for pickleball equipment over the last year. Players set up courts, which are half the size of tennis courts, in driveways.
The 3.5 million Americans who play pickleball are about one-tenth the number who play golf and one-fifth the number who play tennis. Yet there are reasons to bet on the sport’s spread. Like many outdoor activities, pickleball is social, but it is easier to learn than tennis and faster and less expensive than golf. Country clubs and recreation centers are changing some of their tennis courts into pickleball courts to meet demand. The more places there are to play, the more players will try the sport.
Hoping to predict where the ball is going to land, producers of tennis racquets (球拍) are starting to make pickleball kit too. “Pickleball is viewed as an opportunity,” says Stu Upson of USA Pickleball, the sport’s national governing body. As more people take up the sport, demand for televised matches and sponsorships will increase. Mr. Upson expects that one day pickleball will become an Olympic sport, although that may be a long shot.
1. What can we say about the sport pickleball?A.It was named after a restless child. | B.It was used to entertain dogs. |
C.It was invented by accident. | D.It was seen as a threat to tennis. |
A.Technique. | B.Increase. | C.Target. | D.Cycle. |
A.Pickleball has achieved its dominance in sports market in America. |
B.Playing pickleball was the most popular sport in the US during the quarantine. |
C.American’s participation in sports except pickleball decreased from 2015-2019. |
D.Pickleball is the first choice for people to socialize. |
A.Great popularity of pickleball in America. | B.The development of pickleball in America. |
C.The influence of pickleball on people’s lives. | D.The future of pickleball in the Olympics. |
4 . Lawn Games for Adults That’ll Make You Feel Like a Kid Again
Experts say that engaging in playful activities through adulthood can help lower stress, improve cognitive functions, and build social bonds with others, which is so much more than what your phone can do for you. So what are you waiting for? Round up the family, grab one of these lawn games for adults, and let the good time scroll.
Spikeball Game Set $59.99
The flexible, hula-hoop-sized net stands on its foldable legs and can be taken to the beach or the park to give four players plenty of space to run around. Start the two-on-two game by bouncing a ball off the net, sending it flying toward your opponents—they have three passes between them to send the ball back over to your team. When they miss, you score, and the first one to get to 21 wins.
The Pocket Shot $25.00
Who doesn’t love lining up cans and shooting them down with a slingshot? It’s demanding yet thrilling. The Pocket Shot is a super powerful slingshot that shoots at two or three times the rate of a regular slingshot. It’s super tiny, so it fits in your pocket.
Giant 4-Connect-In-A-Row $79.99
Two players at a time try to insert their red or blue coins into the wooden frame to form a vertical or horizontal line of all the same color. It’s way more challenging than you’d think.
1. According to the first paragraph, in what way can lawn games benefit adults?A.Stopping their phone use. | B.Boosting their confidence. |
C.Easing their pressure. | D.Building up their strength. |
A.Two. | B.Four. | C.Five. | D.Six. |
A.They need two players. | B.They are cheap to buy. |
C.They are of pocket size. | D.They take skills to play. |
A.Talk to his staff. | B.Lose some weight. | C.Set up a program. |
6 . The reasons skiers and snowboarders wear goggles or glasses might seem a little obvious, especially if you’ve ever hit the slopes yourself. Sunlight reflected off the snow can make it hard to see, and UV rays can even damage your eyesight. Special colored lenses also create contrast, so your whole path won’t look like one flat expanse of whiteness.
Olympic speed skaters, meanwhile, are racing inside on smooth ice.
According to NBC Olympics, glasses can increase visibility on indoor tracks, too.
That said, glasses aren’t a requirement.
A.How do they wear glasses? |
B.So why do they wear glasses? |
C.Some skiers are afraid of the sunlight. |
D.Some skaters’ lenses are tinted to help with that. |
E.You’ll occasionally see speed skaters with uncovered visages. |
F.Not to mention that eyewear shields your eyes from any snow you displace. |
G.But the biggest reason speed skaters opt for eyewear just might be their speed. |
7 . If you have watched the amazing Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, chances are that you have fallen in love with some winter sports and you’re already making sure your equipment is ready for them.
But there are still some other things to think about. Skiing and snowboarding are great winter sports that provide a total body workout.
A.Maybe you haven’t bought all the equipment. |
B.And that is when injuries are more likely to occur. |
C.Exercising in the cold decreases your body temperature. |
D.You should take advantage of this opportunity to have a rest. |
E.Probably, you have got your skis tuned and skates sharpened. |
F.All of them are areas that can be trained before the winter season. |
G.However, it can be hard on the body the first time you hit the slopes. |