Reading for comprehension

Read the text and discuss the questions that follow.

Lots of young people are not fit at all. They have already lost the energy and happiness that comes from the feeling really well.

Fitness comes from the way you live all the time; not just from some exercises done now and then. Good eating habits, wise drinking habits, regular sleeping habits, and plenty of fresh air and exercise kept up during the week (and right through the year) are all important parts of the way to keep fit.

Physical exercise is of an exceptional importance. The man or woman who takes regular exercise will stay physically fit, retain youthful vigour and, perhaps most important to many people, keep a youthful shape. Good muscle tone is not synonymous with bulging biceps or muscular things and most of the exercises are designed to keep you supple and make you look slimmer.

To keep in good shape everyone needs a certain amount of exercise and, unfortunately, people are leading increasingly sedentary existences.

Active and healthy life is especially important for students. They must keep fit to do well at the University. One has to get up early to get to the University in time, one has to spend long hours indoors attending lectures and seminars or reading in the library. One has to stay up late getting ready for seminars, writing compositions or doing exercises for one’s English classes. So one needs to be strong and healthy. What are the ways to keep fit? Here are some recommendations for you.

First of all you must miss no chances of outdoor activities. Of course, there is your physical training class but that’s definitely not enough. Skating or skiing in winter and swimming in summer must become part of your everyday life. Second, exercise. You must exercise whenever you can. Jogging has become quite popular nowadays and a lot of people run before breakfast. If you’re too busy in the morning, find some time for it in the evening. Third, regular meals are a must if you want to keep fit. Try to avoid going without any food for hours. Some students actually live on sandwiches. Remember that an apple, a glass of milk or just a raw carrot that you bring from home is a better snack than sandwiches and coffee. Fourth, and this is very important, smoking, drugs, spirits is something you must give up for good if you want to keep fit. If you are already an addict, stop today – even if you are half way through a pack of cigarette. It’s very dangerous. Try to avoid stress. It can cause illnesses.

There is nothing new in all this. The key word to all recommendations is everything. You must work on everything at once – exercise, diet, healthy habits. These are basic principles.

1. How can one keep fit?

2. How do various people you know stay slim?

3. What kinds of walking are the best?

4. What indoor activities help you to get fit?

5. What eating habits should you keep to?

6. Does smoking contribute to good health?

7. Who do you think the suggestions in the test are intended for?

Exercise 13. Arrange the discussion on the importance of being fit and healthy. You may start with:

Is there anything more important than health? I really doubt it. If your body suffers from any disorder your mind suffers with the body, too. You can’t be good either at work or at studies. Aches and pains lead to irritation, nervous breakdown, exhaustions, apathy.

Exercise 14. Remember the following proverbs. Think of their Russian equivalents:

1. Health is better than wealth. 2. Early to bed and early to rise makes people healthy, wealthy and wise. 3. A merry heart is a good medicine. 4. What can’t be cured, must be endured. 5. Prevention is better than cure.

Exercise 15. Read the text for fun.

A New Abbreviation

A famous American doctor came to England to study the latest methods. When he looked at the charts, he found that the system of abbreviations was familiar to him. They were the same as doctors used in the United States. He understood them all except for some charts marked GOK. He decided to consult a British colleague about it. “How can I suppose to understand this GOK?” he asked. “I see you have quite an epidemic of it! What does it stand for?” “Oh”, the British doctor answered. “That’s what we use when we don’t know the diagnosis. It means God Only Knows”.