英语口语教程（Oral Workshop）--中级 Lesson 18

 

Lesson 18

 How to Keep Fit

 Text A

 Ten years ago I used to be very fit. T cycled to work and I got a lot of exercise at the weekends. I used to play tennis a lot and go for long walks. In those days I didn't earn very much. I had a job in an office. It wasn't a very good job but I had a lot of time to do the things I enjoyed doing.

 Then, about eight years ago, I got a much better job. The pay was better. But the hours were a lot longer, too. I bought a Far and drove¹ to work every day. I began to take people out to lunch. 'Expense account²' lunches. And I began to put on weight, too. I stopped playing tennis and going for long walks at the weekend because I just didn't have any time for things like that any more. 

There's a lot of stress in a job like mine. Perhaps that's why I starred drinking more than I used to. For example,I used to have only half a glass of whisky³ when I got home, then I started filling the glass to the top. Then I had another glass , and then another. I started smoking⁴ a lot , too. I never used to smoke at all.

 Two months ago I had a heart attack. At first I just couldn't believe it. `I'm too young,' I said. Luckily it wasn't very serious. I was in hospital.a few days and they did a lot of tests. The doctor advised me to stop smoking and to eat less. He told me to do a lot of other things , too. But I don't see how I can do some of them and keep my job. For example, he advised, me to work less, and get more exercise. But I just havern't any time! My job takes everything out of me!

 Sometimes I wonder if I should get. anather jab. Perhaps I could do something like I used to do. But if I do that, I won't earn as much. I have a family to support: I have to think of them, too. I just don't know what I should do. What do you think?

 Text B

 Here is one person who really believes in keeping fit. Her name is Mrs Laura Taylor. She is 45 but looks at least 10 years younger. Let's listen to her story.

 It all started about two. years ago. Tn those days things were very different. I was overweight. I used to smoke a lot- about 30'cigarettes a day. I never got any exercise. I used to stay at home all day: I never went out into the fresh air, except to do the shopping.. And even then I used to take the car. 

One day I looked at myself in the misror.'My God,' I thought. `I look terrible t' I tried to touch my toes. I couldn't.do it. I found an old dress.I couldn't put it on. It was too small. Or rather, I was too fat! The next day I tried to jog⁵ a little. At first it was terrible. I mean I just couIdn't run. Not even a short distance. And at ftrst people used to laugh at me.

 `Why are you running? Are you in a hurry?' they shouted. But now I've completely⁶ changed the way i live. I've stopped reating meat and I've statted,eating far more fresh vegetables. My husband and daughter have started that, tdo. At first they didn't like the new food. But they've changed. About six months ago I sold my car and bought a bike. Recently I've started doing yoga exercises. My husband often goes cycling with me now and my daughter jogs⁷ with me in the evening. 'They've both lost weight and are much healthier than they used to be, too.

 Additional Information

 YOGA

 Have you ever tried to hold your breath⁸ for a long time and then let it out slowly? This is one of the techniques of an ancient Indian discipline⁹ known¹⁰ as Yoga. For thousands of years , people have used Yoga to help search for happiness and contentment.

 Students of Yoga often study for as long as 20 years before becoming masters, or Yogis. They learn many different physioal exercises. These exercises are designed to put the students in good Physical condition. Then they can concentrate¹¹ on deep religious¹² thoughts without worrying about physical discomforts¹³.

 Many Yoga exercises involve putting the body into difficult positions. Some of them are very hard to learn. Have you ever tried to fold your legs over one another? This is one of the basic Yoga positions. It is called the lgtus position. Most people find it difficult to stay in that positio for even a few minutes. But Yogis train themselves to remain in the lotus¹⁴ position for hours or even days. They are taught to overcome the physical discomforts of holding these positions. Other exercises and rules teach concentation- Yogis feel this is the key to finding¹⁵ inner¹⁶ peace. This kind of concentration¹⁷ is called meditation¹⁸.

 Yogis and many other people practice meditatjon. They claim that it makes them feel relaxed and peaceful. Some people say that it makes them feel better - just as good exercise does. But other people claim that it is a way of achieving a strong religious feeling. These peopie say that meditation helps them feel much closer to God.

 The word Yoga itself comes from an ancient Saqgkrit word meanin "union". What kind of union do you think the word refers to? Why would people want to have this kind of experience?

1 drove   

vbl.驾驶，drive的过去式；n.畜群

参考例句：

• He drove at a speed of sixty miles per hour.他以每小时60英里的速度开车。
• They drove foreign goods out of the market.他们把外国货驱逐出市场。

2 account   

n.叙述；帐目；帐户

参考例句：

• She left out an important item in her account.她的账目漏掉了一个重要的项目。
• He has made several withdrawals from his bank account.他从银行账户上提了几次款。

3 whisky   

n.威士忌酒

参考例句：

• I'm sure this whisky has been watered down.我敢肯定这瓶威士忌掺过水了。
• She poured herself a large tot of whisky.她给自己倒了一大杯威士忌。

4 smoking   

n.吸烟，抽烟；冒烟

参考例句：

• He was wise to give up smoking.他戒烟是明智的。
• He has decided to cut out smoking and drinking.他已决心戒烟、戒酒。

5 jog   

n. 轻推,轻撞,漫步; v. 轻推,蹒跚行进,慢跑

参考例句：

• I go for a jog in the park every morning.每天早晨我在公园里慢跑。
• I gave him a jog to wake him up.我轻轻推了他一下,叫醒他。

6 completely   

adv.完全地，十分地，全然

参考例句：

• She never completely gave up hope.她从不完全放弃希望。
• I feel completely in the dark on this question.这件事使我感到茫然。

7 jogs   

v.（使）慢走，慢跑( jog的第三人称单数 )；轻敲，轻推

参考例句：

• She jogs every morning to get rid of her excess weight. 为了减肥，她每天早晨慢跑。 来自辞典例句
• Turn left where the road jogs. 到这条路急转弯处向左拐。 来自辞典例句

8 breath   

n.呼吸，气息，微风，迹象，精神，一种说话的声音

参考例句：

• I'm just going out for a breath of fresh air.我正要出去呼吸新鲜空气。
• While climbing up the stairs the old man always loses his breath.那老人上楼时总是气喘吁吁的。

9 discipline   

n.纪律，风纪，训练，训诫；教养，修养，学科

参考例句：

• She needs the discipline of having to write an essay every week.她需要进行每周写一篇文章的训练。
• Everyone should keep discipline and you are no exception.每个人都应该遵守纪律,你也毫无例外。

10 known   

adj.大家知道的；知名的，已知的

参考例句：

• He is a known artist.他是一个知名的艺术家。
• He is known both as a painter and as a statesman.他是知名的画家及政治家。

11 concentrate   

vt.集中；聚集；浓缩；vi.集中；全神贯注

参考例句：

• You should concentrate on the road when you're driving.开车时注意力应集中在路上。
• Concentrate your mind on study,Don't look around.专心学习，别东张西望的。

12 religious   

adj.宗教性的，虔诚的，宗教上的；n.修道士，出家人

参考例句：

• She is very religious person who goes to church every Sunday.她十分虔诚，每个星期天都上教堂。
• It is hard for me to reject religious beliefs.要我抛弃自己的宗教信仰是困难的。

13 discomforts   

n.不舒适( discomfort的名词复数 )；不愉快，苦恼

参考例句：

• Travellers in space have to endure many discomforts in their rockets. 宇宙旅行家不得不在火箭中忍受许多不舒适的东西 来自《用法词典》
• On that particular morning even these discomforts added to my pleasure. 在那样一个特定的早晨，即使是这种种的不舒适也仿佛给我增添了满足感。 来自辞典例句

14 lotus   

n.荷花（莲花，莲饰）

参考例句：

• Lotus grows in Africa and Asia.荷花产于非洲和亚洲。
• I like enjoying the moonlight beside a lotus pond.我喜欢独自欣赏荷塘的月色。

15 finding   

n.发现，发现物；调查的结果

参考例句：

• The finding makes some sense.该发现具有一定的意义。
• That's an encouraging finding.这是一个鼓舞人心的发现。

16 inner   

adj.内部的，里面的；内在的，内心的；精神的

参考例句：

• The label is on the inner side of the box.标签贴在盒子内侧。
• Other people seek the mountains for renewal of their inner lives.另一些人到深山中去，寻求新的精神生活。

17 concentration   

n.集中；专注；浓度；浓缩

参考例句：

• She wrinkled her brows in concentration.她蹙额皱眉，陷入沉思。
• If smoke is going that way,then it means the concentration here should be decreasing.如果烟雾沿着这个方向飘，这意味着，这里的浓度应该是减少的。

18 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。