Развитие речевых навыков

At our previous lessons we talked much about sport. We came to the conclusion that exercise is good for us, but most people really know very little about how to exercise properly. What do you know about exercise? Take this true-false test prepared by American doctors and we will clear up this question.

Before you read the text I would like you to answer my questions. Answering the questions, give your reasons.

1. They say if you want to keep fit it is enough to exercise twice a week. Is it right or wrong in your understanding?
2. There is an opinion that one should work up a good sweat when exercising to lose weight. Do you agree with this statement?
3. Do you burn more calories jogging one mile or walking the same distance?
4. Do you agree that vigorous stretching exercises keep muscles flexible?
5. What minimum amount of time should you exercise a day?

Развитие навыков чтения

Now I want you to look through the text and find out if you were right or wrong answering the questions.

What you do not know about exercise.

Exercise, everyone advises! But immediately, when you try, you run into trouble. There is so much contradictory, sometimes incorrect advice about exercising that you become confused. Test yourself on the following true-false quiz. It will tell you what you need to know.

1. To maintain an adequate level of physical fitness, you need to exercise only twice a week.
   False. Studies conducted by NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, show that unexercised muscles lose their strength very quickly. After 48 to 72 hours, you must use the muscles again to re-establish the good physical effects. And what does that mean to you? NASA scientists concluded that while daily exercise is most beneficial, three alternating days each week will maintain an adequate level of physical fitness.
2. To lose weight you should always “work up a good sweat” when exercising.
   False. Sweating only lowers body temperature to prevent overheating; it does not help you reduce. You may weight less immediately after a workout, but this is due to water loss. Once you replace the liquid, you replace the weight.
3. You burn more calories jogging one mile than walking the same distance.
   False. You use the same amount of energy whether you walk or jog the mile, since in both cases you are moving the same distance. The speed does not matter. Of course, if you jog rather than walk for 30 minutes, you will cover more distance, and therefore burn more calories.
4. Vigorous stretching exercises keep muscles flexible.
   False. Stretching exercises (for example, twisting or bending at the waist, touching your toes) should be done slowly, allowing the muscles to relax and “let go”. Vigorous stretching makes the muscles become tighter.
5. The minimum amount of time you should spend exercising in a day is 20 minutes.
   True. There are more than 400 muscles that attach to your skeleton. A good exercise routine should contract and stretch all these muscles, and this simply cannot be done wish four or five exercises in five or ten minutes. Many doctors believe that about 20 minutes is the minimum amount of time needed for an adequate workout.

B. How long it takes you to become physically fit depends on how unfit you are when you start. If you are out of condition, you certainly cannot shape up in a short while. However, shaping up does not do any good unless you plan to stay in shape, and that means exercising from now on. It takes as much exercise to stay in shape as it does to get there. But the work will not seem as hard after a while because your body will be in good condition – and all the moves will seem easier.

Важенина Людмила Михайловна, учитель английского языка

МОУ "Гимназия № 12"