5 Read these two accounts of personal health and fitness, which were also published in a health magazine. Both people answered the questionnaire. Can you decide how?
Ten years ago I did a lot of exercise. I went to the beach and played football for seven or eight hours. But since I started working and studying at the same time I just haven't had time for that sort of thing. I'm afraid I'm getting fat. I like walking, but in Brazil we don't really have the right climate for it, so I usually take buses or taxis. I always walk up stairs rather than take the lift. It's the only gymnastics I do!
I know sugary, salty and fatty foods aren't good for me, but I never worry about what I eat. My mother does all the cooking; she usually fries things and hardly ever grills. But I eat lots of fresh fruit every day: apples, oranges, bananas. I love strawberries, but we don't often have them in Santos. Even though I'm Brazilian I don't drink much coffee - just a cup between classes.
I never think about my lifestyle, but I don’t think it's unhealthy. I don't smoke because I get bronchitis frequently. At the weekends I don't usually come home until 2 or 3 in the morning. Then I sometimes turn the television on, and immediately fall asleep!
I get quite a lot of exercise. The tube station is about ten minutes from my flat, so of course I do that walk twice a day, five times a week. Then I go to aerobics two or three times a week. Sometimes I miss a week or two, but I always pick it up again. I avoid lifts if I can – I’ll walk up about four floors. Unfortunately, where I’m working at the moment I’m on the sixth floor, so I have to take the lift.
I’m generally very careful about what I eat. I don’t eat sugary or fatty foods if I can possibly help it, because of my weight and my teeth. But I don’t worry about salty foods much. At home I usually grill than fry food. If I’m eating out I never have anything fried, always grilled. I eat fruit every day for lunch: an orange and a banana, and sometimes an apple as well. But one thing that is bad is that I drink an awful lot of coffee, always more than twelve cups a day.
I think I lead a healthy life. I don’t smoke. I have tried it but I didn’t like it. Once in a blue moon I fall asleep in front of the television. I usually wake up looking forward to the day, but at the moment I don’t because I don’t like the girl I work with. I certainly do at the weekends!
6 Decide who is healthier and fitter: Sue or Jose Augusto. Is your lifestyle like either of theirs?
7 Look through the article and match the words in bold to their synonyms
in the list.
● lively
● to reduce
● exiting
● speed
● walk
● stomach
● help
8 Read the article quickly and choose the most suitable heading from the list A-F for each part 1-5 of the article. There is an extra heading that you don’t need to use.
A Get a good night’s rest
B Find time to relax
C Sit up straight!
D Spend more time in the open air
E Don’t overdo it
F Go for a run
1 In the hectic world of today, people are always searching for more ways of keeping fit and healthy. Susan Jones has been looking into some of the ways of looking good and feeling good.
1 |
4 Running is excellent exercise. Before you start running, you should warm up first, using slow movements that make all your muscles work. But be careful! If you stretch when your muscles are cold, you might do yourself an injury. Always wear
7 comfortable clothing and make sure your trainers are in good shape. If you wear shoes that give good support to your whole foot, you will put less pressure on your
9 knees. You should start exercise slowly; at pace you can keep up 15-20 minutes.
10 Try to exercise on soft ground as this will protect your knees and hips from too much stress.
2 |
12 It’s Ok if you go to bed late occasionally but if you regularly cut down on your sleep, it will soon start to have a bad effect on your skin. If you get a good night’s rest, it will do your appearance the world of good. It’s not called beauty sleep for nothing! Lack of sleep can cause acne or dry skin. Make sure you get a good night’s 16 sleep by going to bed and getting up at regular times: don’t burn the candle at both ends. During the day, keep active: if you don’t get enough exercise during the day, you may end up sleepless all night.
3 |
19 Did you know that standing, sitting and walking badly can make you look heavier than you really are? If we watched the way we sat and stood, it would improve our appearance a great deal. Stand in front of the mirror with your feet apart and your legs straight. Pull in your tummy, check that your ears, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles are in line with each other. You should be feeling and looking better already!
4 |
24 Most of us live in large polluted cities. If we got more fresh air, we would look healthier and more attractive. A brisk walk is one of the best things you can do for your circulation and appearance. Walking slowly is useful but a quick pace gets more oxygen into your lungs. So don’t just go for a pleasant stroll, try and find an area that doesn’t have much pollution, and get moving!
5 |
Many young people feel guilty about eating too much chocolate, and some even
30 say they are addicted to it, though there is no evidence to support this. Chocolate does contain a lot of fat, however, and therefore any addicts out there would do better to eat less. However, if your diet is balanced, you needn’t feel guilty:
eating chocolate in moderation is fine - but don’t eat it instead of a proper meal!
9 For questions 1- 6, choose the correct answer A, B, C or D.
1 The writer says that you should
A start running as quickly as possible.
B run slowly before you start exercising.
C do stretching exercises before you warm up.
D warm up by moving your body slowly.
2 Why is running on soft ground best?
A It makes your hips stronger.
B You will feel more relaxed.
C It’s better for your knees.
D It protects your trainers.
3 The author says going to bed late
A doesn’t matter most of the time.
B will make you feel dry.
C does harm to your skin.
D is alright if you get up early.
4 Some people look heavier than they are because
A they sit a lot.
B they don’t walk enough.
C they don’t stand with their backs straight.
D they eat too much chocolate.
5 The best way to get fresh air is
A walking slowly in the park.
B walking quickly along the street.
C strolling in the open air.
D walking quickly where there is no traffic.
6 It is alright to eat chocolate
A if it gives you pleasure.
B if it doesn’t contain a lot of fat.
C if you avoid eating a lot.
D after a proper meal.
10 What do these expressions mean? Choose the correct answer using the context in the article to help you decide.
1 If you “warm up” (line 4) you:
A put more clothes on.
B get ready to do something.
2 If something is “in good shape”, (line 7) it:
A is in good condition.
B looks good.
3 If you “keep something up”, (line 9) you:
A continue with it.
B go faster.
4 If you “burn the candle at both ends” (line 16):
A go to bed early and get up late.
B go to bed late and get up early.
5 If you are “addicted” to something, (line 30) you:
A can’t do without it.
B hate it.
LISTENING
Taking exercise
11 One of the ways you can get medical information in Britain is by phoning a number in the HEALTHCALL directory. This is recorded information provided by the telephone company. You are going to hear the recorded tape for exercise.
Section 1
Section1 of the tape mentions five parts of the body. Here is a summary of Section 1 of the tape. The information is not all correct.