Personalized Exercise

As the start of every year, many of us promise ourselves that a certain number of times a week we will go to the gym or attend an exercise class. But finally many of us just struggle to fit exercise into our lives, or start off well and then give up. Why do we have a good plan at the beginning and fail to achieve it in the end? How can we deal with the problem?   (1)  

It is important to determine your motivation first. Are you mainly interested in de-stressing or in getting fitter? If your goal is relaxation, then ask yourself if you want to do it energetically.   (2)   If you have a calmer style, you can do something quite different. You could choose solitary exercise, such as walking the dog or doing some gardening.   (3)   There are quite a lot of them, such as walking group, running groups, dance classes, etc. On your own, you could go horse riding or swimming, or just download fitness exercise programs and do it at home.

  (4)   If you have free time at the weekend, you could book some time with a personal trainer, who can come to your house, or you could meet him at the gym. If your life is not as regular, you could choose the next couple of minutes you have to try an exercise DVD, or put your running shoes on and run for any length of time.

As you see, everything counts when you are doing exercise. Whatever your lifestyle is, you will be able to have something that suits you.   (5)   Just sit down with a cup of tea, read this article again, and have a think about your options. Then finish the tea, get up, get going, and don’t stop.

A hobby is an investment（投资） of time. It also can be an investment of money and commitment. Many people choose to develop more than one type of hobby.   (1)   When it comes to choosing the hobby, consider the following factors.

Hobbies are usually an activity of some sort that brings out a certain skill that you have. When you have a talent like painting or woodworking, it can be easy to determine which hobby suits your skill.  (2)  Skill can be developed and challenged as you go along. It is not a necessary requirement. A hobby is fitting because you love it, not because you’re a professional（专业的）at it.

Some people particularly enjoy taking part in hobbies that they can do in a group with others. It can be a lot more fun to become a member of a hobby group than to sit alone in your basement（地下室）.   (3)    It’s important to share interests and network with other hobby enthusiasts （有热情的人）that do what you do.

Hobbies are generally an activity that you undertake because of the joy it brings you. Of course many people have discovered the joy that also comes with a hobby that earns you a living.  (4)    Just make sure you make the choice that fits your lifestyle and personal preference.

  (5)   But most of the skilled hobbies like art, building or writing have a series of lessons or tutorials（学习辅导，教程） that you can take to further your skills. In some cases it’s a really good idea to take lessons, especially if you are clueless as to where or how to begin. Step by step books for most hobbies can often be found in bookstores as well.

Get ahead by taking advantage of summer

Summer provides the best opportunity for future college applicants to separate themselves from the crowd. As the number of students who apply to colleges continues to rise, so too does the need for students to make an effort to distinguish themselves. Here are some great options to get you off to a head start:

A taste of college at home

Some universities and colleges offer a variety of advanced classes during the summer. Students can find a class that is not offered at their high school, which can help them find the pace of the real class more comfortable when they eventually start to take it.

Recently, online classes for credit（学分）are gaining popularity. One resource students can access is the Virtual High School – my.vhslearning.org. It is a nonprofit organization for online education that offers 24 AP courses, as well as dozens of other classes.

A taste of college far away

Experiencing a real college campus during a one-week or multi-week summer program is a great way to get a better understanding of whether the college is a good fit. Many of these programs offer hands-on experiences or guest lectures from experts.

Some are under the mistaken impression that attending a summer program at a good school gives them an advantage in the admissions process. “I don’t know that they are impressive just because a student did an academic program,” Greg Zaiser, head of admissions at Elon University, told The Charlotte Observer. “What impresses us the most is that students have identified something they want to study after the program.”

Community service

Volunteering is a great way to show interest in something you care about. It also lets you give back to your community, explore a career path and grow personally. Find ways to volunteer what matches your interests. Check out opportunities at hospitals or libraries; teach your favorite sport to disadvantaged youths; or work with animals.

Cycling is a good form of sports, here are some tips on how to do it safely and comfortably.

    ____  (1)  ___. Pushing with the wrong part of the foot can raise your risk of developing a painful injury of the heel, says Rob Werstine, a sports physiotherapist (理疗师) and board member of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, You should push with the ball of your foot, he says.

    Put on clothes. While it's warm, wear layers of clothing, with clothing close to the body that breathes and outer layers that do not absorb water. ____  (2)  ____.

    Be reasonable. ____  (3)  ____, don't sign up for a 50-kilometre ride. And while cycling is great exercise for people who want to get into shape, if your doctor advises you not to do tiring exercise, cycling shouldn't be your starting position, Werstine says. Walk to begin getting into shape and then graduate to cycling.

    Fix the fit. If you develop lower back pain or numbness in your hands and fingers from cycling, it could because your bike isn't adjusted properly for your height. ____  (4)  ____, but if you have continuing problems, consider consulting a bike fit physiotherapist, Werstine says.

    Be mindful. You have to pay attention on the roads to vehicles, other cyclists and pedestrians. ____  (5)  ____. Or do some reading about how to avoid dangerous cycling situations, bicyclesafe. com, for instance, listing 10 types of car-bike accidents and how to avoid them.

  Coffee is one of the most popular drinks around the world. ____  (1)  ____ Experts think that there are more flavors of coffee than there are of wine. Coffee contains caffeine, something that raises our awareness, keeps us from falling asleep or simply gives us a kick in the morning or after lunch.

   ____  (2)  ____ For a long time doctors have told people not to drink too much coffee, because it may lead to heart problems, high blood pressure, and headaches.

   Scientists have now found out that it is the quality of coffee and the way it is made that hold the key to our health. ____  (3)  ____ Among other things, this is linked to the consumption of a strong coffee. Experts also point out that different roasts and types of coffee beans have different effects on our health. Milk and sugar change the different levels of caffeine in a cup of coffee.

   A new study by a Harvard research group says that there is no link between coffee and health problems. Drinking several cups of strong coffee a day is not connected with early death or other heart diseases. Coffee has many advantages, as the new study suggests. While alcohol makes people sleepy and slow moving, coffee gives them energy. ____  (4)  ____

   Although a lot still needs to be uncovered about coffee, it seems to reduce the risk of cancer and diabetes (糖尿病). ____  (5)  ____ But reports show that people who drink coffee may develop Parkinson's disease later in life, or maybe not at all.

Improve your memory

  Some people often complain about their poor memory. Actually there are several ways to keep your memory sharp. This article will show you some simple tips.

    (1)   When you say these things, you begin to plant the thought in your mind and it may become true. Tell yourself you can remember anything as long as you put your mind to the task. You will see an improvement in your memory.

    (2)   If you have trouble remembering phone numbers or other blocks of numbers, it can be really helpful to try this method. If you remember them in smaller groups, like two or three digits, it will also be much easier to remember the number.

  Be sure to see a doctor if you really are losing your memory. A poor memory can be a sign that you are in low spirits.  (3)  

  Playing games also helps improve your memory. Any type of game that involves remembering things is wonderful.  (4)  Try and remember it when you have nothing better to do. A useful tip for anyone interested in games is to often work on solving word puzzles and similar types of games.    (5)    Not only will your memory probably improve, you will also have a great deal of fun.

根据短文内容,从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。有两项为多余选项。

Both men and women are living longer these days in industrialized countries.  (1)  In general, they can expect to live six or seven years more than men. One reason for this is biological.

One important biological factor that helps women live longer is the difference in hormones between men and women.  (2)  Between the ages of about 12 and 50, women produce hormones that are involved in fertility(生育能力). These hormones also have a positive effect on the heart and blood flow. In fact, women are less likely to have high blood pressure or to die from heart attacks.

  (3)  They help the body defend itself against some kinds of infections. This means that women generally get sick less often and less seriously than men. The common cold is a good example: women, on average, get fewer colds than men.  (4)  Scientists are still not exactly sure how genes influence aging, but they believe that they do. Some thinkthat a woman’s body cells have a tendency to age more slowly than a man’s. Others think that a man’s body cells have a tendency to age more quickly.  (5)  

How to stop sleeping in class?

   Sleeping in class prevents you from paying attention to the teacher as well as stops you from learning about the material that is being taught. It can also get you in trouble with your teachers. It is important to determine why you are falling asleep in class and try to change the situation so that you are able to stay awake and pass all of your classes.

   ____  (1)  ____

   ____  (2)  ____ It is reported that teenagers may need more sleep than adults. Go to bed earlier and, make sure you get as many hours of sleep as your body needs. This is a key to staying awake in class. If you are not tired, you are unlikely to fall asleep.

   Eat a healthy breakfast full of nutritious foods. ____  (3)  ____ If you get hungry or tired in the middle of the day, try eating a healthy snack like a piece of fruit or some biscuits.

   Get involved during class. ____  (4)  ____ Taking notes, asking questions and otherwise getting involved in classroom activities and discussions will make you far less likely to doze off.

   ____  (5)  ____ If you have a medical condition that is causing you to fall asleep in class, it will need to be treated by a professional. Prescription drugs may also cause sleepiness as a side effect, so discuss any medicine you are taking with your doctor.

 There’s no doubt that when it comes to friendship,you want positive people in your life and not negatives ones.  (1)  

Support when you need it·

    With positive friends,you don’t need to beg for help when you need it because chances are they will be there for you without asking.  (2)  

     Health benefits of being positive.

The more positive friends you have,the better you will be at remaining optimistic yourself.  (3)   For example,it helps people to deal with stress and illness better.Health benefits may include lower rates of depression,a greater ability to throw off colds,and a reduced risk of developing disease.   

     Bring out the best in you.

      (4)  This means trying new things,achieving goals,and having the kind of life you dreamed of for yourself.With positive people in your life,you’ll feel more comfortable sharing your goals because your friends will give you the emotional push you need to go after what you want in life.

  Attract More Positive Friends

  You naturally attract the kinds of friends who are most like you.So if you’re a downer,you’ll probably find that negative people flock to you.   (5)   The more you are able to maintain a positive attitude,the more like-minded people you’ll attract in return.