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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Keep fit, even when it's cold.
Beginners.
Winter is just about here in Wenatchee. The air is cold; we have heavy frost most mornings. Thankfully, the days are still quite sunny, even though they are short. What do children do in the afternoons, after school, to keep fit? Even after a long day at school, they still need to exercize. Swimming is a great sport. When it is too cold outside, children can swim comfortably in a warm swimming pool. Two of my boys take lessons. Their coaches teach them to swim well, moving their arms and legs properly to be effective swimmers. When they started lessons, they splashed around a lot. Now, after a few weeks, they move smoothly1 and quickly through the water. A bit of coaching can make a big difference! Another thing that has increased is their appetite. After their swimming sessions, they are starving and usually ask for a big, juicy hamburger or some tacos.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: heavy frost, heavy snow, heavy rain. To keep fit = to exercize. To swim (swimming); to bike (biking); to run (running) etc. A coach = a teacher and trainer of a sport. A lesson/ class/ a session.
Verbs: When they started lessons, they splashed around a lot = same as imperfect, 'they would splash around a lot' (they were in the habit of splashing around).
Advanced.
As the cold, dark season of Winter approaches, it is very tempting2 to stay at home where it is warm and cozy3. The trouble is, we all need exercize. This time of year is also when, traditionally, we make more comfort foods which tend to be heavy and rich. It is not a bad thing in itself. Most people crave4 these things in the Winter, as if we were bears fattening5 ourselves up in preparation for a long sleep. But, we don't hibernate6; we are certainly conscious and active through the Winter. It is important, therefore, to stay fit and healthy by exercizing. It is good for our moods as well. Swimming is a great sport. It is one of those activities that you can enjoy at any age. After a bit of training, you can improve your stroke, breathing, and speed. It is a wonderful way for children to release pent-up aggression7. I think that there is a sort of primordial8 comfort in warm water as well, maybe a memory of the womb. I'm sure this Winter I will be found leaping in and having fun.
Grammar notes.
Useful expressions: it is tempting to...; the trouble is.....; ... in preparation for....;
Verbs: to crave; to hibernate; to train; to improve; to release.
Related words: to splash, a stroke, sport, speed, to leap (in/ out/ around).
1 smoothly | |
adv.平滑地,顺利地,流利地,流畅地 | |
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2 tempting | |
a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
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3 cozy | |
adj.亲如手足的,密切的,暖和舒服的 | |
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4 crave | |
vt.渴望得到,迫切需要,恳求,请求 | |
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5 fattening | |
adj.(食物)要使人发胖的v.喂肥( fatten的现在分词 );养肥(牲畜);使(钱)增多;使(公司)升值 | |
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6 hibernate | |
v.冬眠,蛰伏 | |
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7 aggression | |
n.进攻,侵略,侵犯,侵害 | |
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8 primordial | |
adj.原始的;最初的 | |
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