Comprehension check

Ex. 1. Read the text. Provide each paragraph with an appropriate heading (choose among the proposed variants):

1. Swimming.

2. Lifetime Sports.

3. Bicycling.

4. How to Choose Sports.

5. Running.

6. Walking and Other Lifetime Sports.

Ex. 2. Translate paragraph 1 in writing.

Ex. 3. Read the text again and choose the correct alternative for each of the following questions:

1. Why do people engage in lifetime sports at a young age?

1. to become fit;

2. to develop habits and sport skills that they can use for a lifetime;

3. to stay in good health.

2. What is one of the most efficient and inexpensive ways to achieve cardiovascular endurance?

1. running;

2. handball;

3. golf.

3. Why it is important to have an exercise for flexibility in addition to running.

1. because there are few benefits to the muscles in the upper body;

2. because running may cause the muscles in the legs to shorten, but flexibility exercises will help prevent this;

3. because flexibility exercises improve muscular endurance.

4. What promotes cardiovascular endurance without the risk of joint injuries?

1. skiing;

2. tennis;

3. swimming.

5. What do disadvantages to bicycling include?

1. the hazard of severe weather and heavy traffic;

2. the quality of roads;

3. the risk of injuries.

6. What sport is helpful in maintaining ideal weight and decreasing percentage of body fat?

1. ice skating;

2. bowling;

3. walking.

Ex. 4. Put 8-10 questions on the text so that they cover its content.

Text 7. The social aspects of smoking

1. Think about a situation in which you have been in a room with smokers¹. You probably were able to see clouds of smoke² or smell burning cigarettes. How do you think you and others in the room were affected by the smoke? The smoking behavior of others can affect you whether you are a smoker or a nonsmoker. When you are around smokers, you may inhale the smoke from their cigarettes. The smoke you inhale from these cigarettes is called sidestream smoke³. Sidestream smoke is also referred to as passive smoking. The smoke that a smoker inhales⁴ and exhales⁵ from his or her own cigarette is called mainstream smoke⁶.

2. Some studies show that sidestream smoke can be harmful to the nonsmoker⁷. The Surgeon General's report on the consequenc­es of smoking indicates that sidestream smoke contains harmful chemicals that are much higher in concentration than those found in mainstream smoke. This occurs because the smoke burned from the cigarette is released directly into the air rather than being trapped in the smoker's lungs⁸. As a result, if you compared sidestream smoke to mainstream smoke, you would find that sidestream smoke contains twice as much tar⁹ and nicotine¹⁰, five times as much carbon monoxide¹¹, and even higher levels of other harmful chemicals.

3. Many nonsmokers are annoyed by sidestream smoke. They may experience watery eyes and headaches. Certain individuals may be allergic to smoke and suffer upper respiratory congestion¹². Others, such as those with heart or asthma problems or those who wear contact lenses¹³, may be especially sensitive to side-stream smoke. Sidestream smoke threatens their health.

4. There is growing evidence that parental cigarette smoking may be harmful to children's health. Babies of parents who smoke have been shown to have higher than normal incidents of bronchitis¹⁴ and pneumonia¹⁵ than children of nonsmoking parents. In addition, respiratory and ear infections may be more common among children of parents who smoke.

5. Many steps are being taken to protect the nonsmoker. Many restaurants have no smoking sections. Commuter trains in many cities have reserved cars for nonsmokers. Many cities are passing laws that forbid smoking in certain public areas as well as in certain work settings.

Notes: 1) курильщики; 2) курение; 3) пассивное курение; 4) вдыхает; 5) выдыхает; 6) активное курение; 7) некурящий; 8) легкие (анат.); 9) смола; 10) никотин; 11) одноокись углерода; 12) закупорка верхних дыхательных путей; 13) контактные линзы; 14) бронхит; 15) воспаление легких.