英语四级听力练习集锦38

Passage 3 Exercise

A state of physical and mental health allows you to take part in exercise comfortably and enjoyably so that it doesn’t hurt, so that you can look forward to it, and feel good afterwards. If you are feeling down, exercise may help pick you up. Although researchers disagree on this issue, one review of past studies found that long-term exercise, especially when it includes long-lasting, strenuous¹ training sessions, has about as much of an effect on depression as psychotherapy.

Working out helps you deal with stress in your job, relationships or any area of life —possibly because exercise is a form of stress itself and helps condition your body to deal with it.When Australian researchers compared people who did 30 minutes of aerobic² exercise three times a week to those who practiced progressive relaxation³ techniques, they found that the former group responded better to acute stress and had lower blood pressure. Even a little exercise can make you think less anxiously. Studies have shown that any amount of exercise, from a brisk10 minute walk to an intense aerobics⁴ or weightlifting session seems to decrease feelings of anxiety.

Working out regularly may make you smarter now and lessen⁵ the possibility that you’ll lose brain function as you age. According to a recent animal study at the University of Illinois, exercise can actually help the brain develop new cells. In several studies, regular weight training or aerobic exercise was shown to improve the quality and duration of sleep. Naturally, this can make you less fatigued⁶ and be able to function better during the day. Like meditation⁷, hobbies or any other leisure activity, exercise gives your mind a needed break from everyday thoughts, responsibilities and commitments. Finally, there’s one more reason to keep exercising. When you work out regularly, your body simply functions better you are better, healthier and less likely to suffer painful physical conditions. And that just plain feels good.

1 strenuous   

adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的

参考例句：

• He made strenuous efforts to improve his reading. 他奋发努力提高阅读能力。
• You may run yourself down in this strenuous week.你可能会在这紧张的一周透支掉自己。

2 aerobic   

adj.需氧的，增氧健身法的，有氧的

参考例句：

• Aerobic exercise helps to build up stamina.有氧健身操有助于增强耐力。
• Aerobic dance is conductive to the health.有氧舞蹈有助于健康。

3 relaxation   

n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐

参考例句：

• The minister has consistently opposed any relaxation in the law.部长一向反对法律上的任何放宽。
• She listens to classical music for relaxation.她听古典音乐放松。

4 aerobics   

n.健身操，健美操，韵律操

参考例句：

• Doing aerobics is a good way to improve one's health.做有氧健身操是改善健康状况的一个好方法。
• Aren't you going to the aerobics class this morning?今天上午你不是去上有氧运动课吗？

5 lessen   

vt.减少，减轻；缩小

参考例句：

• Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.经常运动有助于减轻痛感。
• They've made great effort to lessen the noise of planes.他们尽力减小飞机的噪音。

6 fatigued   

adj. 疲乏的

参考例句：

• The exercises fatigued her. 操练使她感到很疲乏。
• The President smiled, with fatigued tolerance for a minor person's naivety. 总统笑了笑，疲惫地表现出对一个下级人员的天真想法的宽容。

7 meditation   

n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录

参考例句：

• This peaceful garden lends itself to meditation.这个恬静的花园适于冥想。
• I'm sorry to interrupt your meditation.很抱歉，我打断了你的沉思。