牛津上海版高二下More Reading

牛津上海版高二下More Reading

Unit 1 More reading P12-13

For health and beauty

Read the article below from a website on exercise.

Aerobics is one of the most beneficial and also one of the most beautiful forms of exercise. Any physical activity that makes your pulse get quicker and your breathing get deeper is a kind of aerobic exercise. The word 'aerobic' means 'with oxygen' or 'having oxygen'. Aerobic exercise therefore aims at making the heart and lungs work at a higher rate so as to supply more oxygen to the muscles. The benefits of aerobic exercise include having a stronger heart, lower blood pressure, stronger bones, better sleep, less body fat, more energy and less stress.

It is suggested that you do aerobic exercise for twenty to forty minutes, three to four times a week. Only then will you begin to reach your optimal level of general fitness. When you exercise, the speed at which your heart beats, or your pulse rate, tells you how intense your workout is. People who are not fit but want to lose weight should keep their pulse rates low and do moderate exercise for a longer time. People who are quite fit can do exercises that require large amounts of energy. They can even compete in marathons. There are many forms of aerobic exercise, including running, swimming, cycling and skiing. Walking is the most common form of aerobic exercise. Most people do it every day! It is low intensity and is recommended for beginners. Running is suitable for almost everyone, but it is important to remember not to overdo it.

You must pace yourself and always wear good quality shoes. By doing this type of balanced, relaxing exercise, our responses get quicker, our mind sharper, and we become more efficient and productive.

To sum up, aerobic exercise is good for everyone. It can lead to a better quality of life!

Unit 2 More reading P26

A smile a day keeps the doctor away

Read the following leaflet about the benefits of laughter in our lives.

Have you ever heard the proverb 'laughter is the best medicine'? Everyone knows that it is fun to laugh and that laughing makes you feel good. Now doctors and researchers are

telling us that laughter is good for our health and may even prevent illnesses such as heart disease. Laughter helps reduce stress and lower blood pressure and pulse rates. It strengthens the immune system and helps us deal with pain just like real medicine does. In fact, laughter is so good for our health that laughing 100 times a day is equivalent to exercising for ten minutes on a rowing machine!

Laughter is also good for our minds. When people are stressed, they watch funny films to laugh away emotions such as anger, sadness and fear. This is why laughter is increasingly being used in hospitals as a form of therapy. More and more hospitals are encouraging patients to laugh. They have started showing comedies on hospital TVs and, on the advice of doctors, clowns visit some hospitals to bring laughter to the patients.

One group who arranges such visits is the Humour Foundation, an Australian charity. Set up in 1997, it runs the Clown Doctor programme. This programme uses clown doctors to help children who are ill or who have undergone surgery feel better. They cheer these children up with jokes, magic shows, songs and balloons.

You cannot deny the truth that laughter is good for you. The city's hospitals are now starting their own clown doctor programme and are looking for your help. Anyone with a sense of humour and a desire to help others can apply. If you would like to volunteer, please contact the Public Health Bureau for more details. Remember a smile a day keeps the doctor away!

Unit 3 More reading P42-43

Different cultures, different colours

Find out how people in different cultures think about colour by reading this leaflet for business travellers published by an international business magazine.

Different cultures do not always agree on their colour associations. Depending on the country, it can make a big difference whether you wear red or white to a wedding, or what colour you wrap presents in. Therefore, it is essential that you should remember which colours are used in different circumstances in different places. In this way, you will not offend anyone or embarrass yourself.

● Want to impress your host on that business trip to China? Red is the perfect colour for wrapping gifts. It is used on red packets and red lanterns during the Spring Festival, and is even the colour of wedding dresses, symbolizing happiness and prosperity.

● Avoid using black for gifts in the USA! Black is the colour worn to funerals in the USA and Europe, as it is the colour of darkness and night.