Unit 9 sports

Section 1. Warming-up

1.1. Sport is a great way for everyone to get into shape. The basic benefits of exercise are increased weight control, lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system (to fight off illnesses), more flexibility for your body, and stronger and more toned muscles and bones. Can your enlarge upon the list of sport benefits? Does sport always guarantee health?

1.2. Read the following text and fill in the gaps with the words given below. What recommendations does the text contain? Do you find them valuable?

Physical fitness can help you to live longer, feel healthier and (…1…) with life’s problems. Various activities can help you keep fit: from running (…2…) to climbing mountains. For the average (… 3…) person, without much time to spare, activities like these are not very practical and, to be frank, they are (…4…). It is much better in my view to devote no more than half an hour every other day to doing exercises. The important thing is (…5…) to a routine so that you don’t say to yourself, “I won’t bother today!” or “I’ll do it later!” If you haven’t got the willpower (…6…) a routine like this, a sport like tennis might suit you better. Your partner will help you to remember to play (…7…) and you’ll be able to get your exercise outdoor, too.

Another good way of keeping fit is jogging: the important thing here is to build up slowly and not (…8…) it. It’s best (…9…) from roads so as not to breath in traffic fumes instead of fresh air and in case you get run over!

Taking exercise can be (…10…) but the feeling of being fit and healthy makes up for the few minutes a day it takes.

Words:

1. a waste of time 2) to overdo 3) non-sporting 4) cope 5) to stick

6) time-consuming 7) regularly 8) marathons 9) to keep away 10) to establish

Section 2. Reading

2.1. Now read what English scientists write about the role of physical activities for a healthy living. Do the vocabulary work given below and answer these questions.

1. Are benefits of regular exercise really that numerous? Which of them can be referred to physical / psychological ones?

2. What can substitute exercising in a gym for those people who have little spare time?

3. How can you change your weekly routine to make your life-style less sedentary?

4. What can help you achieve your goals?

About the Benefits of Exercise

Physical activity can halve your risk of developing many major illnesses, and substantially reduce the risk of early death. Evidence shows that regular exercise can:

• halve your risk of getting type 2 diabetes;

• halve your risk of developing heart disease;

• reduce high blood pressure;

• promote bone density;

• have beneficial effects if you have arthritis and back pain;

• reduce your overall risk of cancer;

• help to maintain a healthy weight in combination with a balanced diet;

• reduce the risk of death or poor health if you're already overweight or obese;

• reduce your risk of depression;

• treat depression;

• help you to feel better about yourself and reduce stress;

• improve your sleep;

• help to maintaining energy balance, psychological wellbeing and social interaction.