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Virtual Gaming is No Replacement For Real Exercise

Science Daily (Mar. 4, 2008) – Video games like Wii Sports and Dance Dance Revolution can play an important role in getting kids off the couch and involved in physical activity. But are they a replacement for traditional exercise?

Definitely not, says Colleen Greene, M.A., wellness coordinator for MFit, the health promotion division of the University of Michigan Health System.

Virtual gaming is no replacement for real exercise,” Greene notes. “It’s a place to start, though. Kids can have fun doing it, they can feel a little better about actually trying the sport or activity.”

A relatively recent addition to the video game universe, these games are interactive and can require as little activity as a swing of the wrist to play golf or tennis, or as much effort as an intense dance routine or the full punches in a virtual boxing match. Most of these games do not qualify as aerobic exercise, though they do require more activity than traditional video games.

“Real calories can be burned during virtual gaming, although some studies have recently shown that it may be 60 to 70 calories an hour,” Greene notes. “This is nowhere near what an actual game or sport should be, which is three to four times that amount.”

Greene doesn’t discourage the use of these games – indeed, she notes, they can help to move kids’ confidence and hand-eye coordination.

“Active virtual gaming can have a role in a healthy lifestyle. It’s a place to start and have some fun. It’s a way to try something new in a non-threatening environment,” she says. “But really, you ought to get outside, give it a try and have some real fun.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that kids perform 60 minutes of physical activity on most days, preferably daily. The percentage of young people in the United States who are overweight has more than tripled since 1980.

(www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/...)

Vocabulary

aerobic – аэробный calorie – калория confidence – уверенность coordination – координация couch – диван, кушетка environment – окружающая среда intense – интенсивность interactive – интерактивный lifestyle – стиль жизни overweight – избыточный вес physical – физический

punch – удар (кулаком) recent – последний relating – относящийся replacement – заменитель swing – мах, колебание threaten – угрожать video game – видеоигры virtual – виртуальный wellness – хорошее здоровье wrist – запястье

Exercises

Ex.1. Match the words and their definitions / Соотнесите слова и их определения:

Wellness Punch Confidence Coordination Overweight Swing

The belief that you have the ability to do things well or deal with situations successfully Too heavy and fat A quick strong hit made with your first (closed hand) The way in which your muscles move together when you perform a movement A curved movement made with your arm, leg etc The state of being healthy

Ex.2. Translate into Russian / Переведите на русский язык:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the health promotion division of the University of Michigan Health System, Hand-eye coordination, to get kids off the couch, it’s a way to try something new, has more than tripled.

Ex.3. Make the words using the following letters / Составьте слова из букв:

1. pmeenlrceta - replacement

2. adoctroinor

3. sahiplyc

4. niccfondee

5. gevtohwire

6. ssdieea

7. neterponiv

Ex.3. Put the sentences into the right order / Пронумеруйте утверждения в соответствии с последовательность передаваемой в тексте информации.

• Video games can’t replace the real exercise.

• The amount of overweight people is increasing during recent years.

• Virtual games require very little activity.

• We can burn 60 to 70 calories an hour during playing virtual sport games.

• Virtual gaming can become the start point on the way to sports.

• Video games can help children to improve their confidence and coordination.