Fifteen minutes of exercise could add years of life
Friday, September 02, 2011, 15:16 GMT+7
PRE-READING:
Look at the title and predict the main ideas of the article. Then, write down three wh-questions about the text.
Ex: How can 15 minutes of exercise add years to one’s life?
WHILE READING:
Set a time limit to read this article. An average reader can read at the speed of 250 words per minute. Note down your reading speed regularly to check your progress.
SKIMMING:
Within the time limit, read and summarize the main ideas of the paragraphs with your own words. Do not worry about unfamiliar vocabulary.
FIFTEEN MINUTES OF EXERCISE COULD ADD YEARS OF LIFE
Don’t despair if you can’t fit in the recommended 30 minutes of daily exercise. Growing evidence suggests that even half that much can help.
It’s still no excuse to slack off. Regular exercise strengthens muscles, reduces the risk of some diseases and promotes mental well-being. The more exercise, the better.
But not everyone has the time or willpower. So researchers set out to find the minimum amount of physical activity needed to reap health benefits. The findings by a study in Taiwan suggest just 15 minutes of moderate exercise a day can lead to a longer life.
This “may convince many individuals that they are able to incorporate physical activity into their busy lives,” Dr. Anil Nigam of the University of Montreal said.
Fitness guidelines by the World Health Organization, the U.S. and other countries recommend that adults get at least a half-hour of moderate workout most days of the week. This can include brisk walking, bike riding and water aerobics.
Realizing that it might be difficult for some to break a sweat, health groups have suggested breaking it down into smaller, more manageable chunks of time such as three 10-minute spurts a day on weekdays.
The latest study, a large one led by researchers at the National Health Research Institutes in Taiwan, sought to determine if exercising less than the recommended half-hour was still helpful.
The study found those who exercised just 15 minutes a day — or 90 minutes a week — cut their risk of death by 14 percent and extended their life expectancy by three years compared with those who did no exercise.
Word count: 274 words
SCANNING:
Use your notes to identify where you can find the answer to the questions you have made in the pre-reading stage.
POST-READING:
Glossary:
Pay attention to how the word is combined with other words in context. Do not learn the meaning of the word without sentences. Vietnamese should be the last resort after you have tried all the learning strategies.
• To despair (v): to become worried or anxious (Tuyệt vọng)
• A moderate exercise (noun phrase): exercise which is not too tiring or strenuous (Bài tập thể dục vừa phải)
• To incorporate (v): to include or add to an already existing object (Kết hợp)
• To extend life expectancy = to make life last longer (Kéo dài tuổi thọ)
Grammar:
Choose the correct meaning of the following idiomatic expressions.
1. To slack off
a. To wear slacks b. To relax
2. To reap benefits
a. To get advantages b. To harvest food
3. To break a sweat
a. To work out or exercise b. To destroy something
4. To cut the risk of death
a. To cheat death b. To extend staying alive
5. To break down (into)
a. To break something b. To make something more simple
To learn more about idioms look at Dr Grammar’s Introduction to Idioms.
Discussion:
Brainstorm some ways to keep fit using just 15 minutes per day. Then choose the best way for your situation.
ANSWERS:
1. B
2. A
3. A
4. B
5. B
This material is provided by the Australian Centre for Education and Training (ACET).
