Every spring our school holds a sports day, when students can run in a race, swim in the pool, or play soccer on the field. My friend Amy, who runs faster than anyone else in our class, gets up at six so that she can (11) on the field before school. Last year she got the best score in the 100-meter race and broke the school record. (12) This year she wants to win again. (13), she has caught a bad cold, and her mother has told her to stay in bed until she feels better. I am too slow to win a running race, (14) I will join the swimming race. I hope Amy will be well soon.
My uncle is fifty years old, but he still looks young and (15). Ten years ago he was so heavy that he could not walk up the stairs without stopping, and a doctor told him that he had to take better care of his health. (16), he did not like exercise at all and often made excuses. Now he goes to the gym in his office building three times a week after work, and on Sunday mornings he plays golf with old friends whom he has known since high school. He also eats less steak and more fresh vegetables. (17) My uncle never stops exercising, (18) he knows his old problems could come back if he gets lazy.
Mike: Hi Ben, the City Sports Center has just sent out the list of its summer classes, and I think we should take one together. Look!
| Class | Day | Time | Price (a month) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swimming | Mondays and Wednesdays | 9:00-10:30 a.m. | $300 |
| Table tennis | Tuesdays and Thursdays | 3:00-4:30 p.m. | $300 |
| Tennis | Saturdays | 8:00-10:00 a.m. | $400 |
| Dance | Fridays | 7:00-8:30 p.m. | $250 |
| Students under 15 pay half price. | |||
Ben: I really want to try tennis, but I have piano lessons on Saturday mornings, and my mother will not let me miss them.
Mike: Then let us take table tennis, which is held inside, so we do not have to think about the rain or the hot sun.
Ben: Good idea! I am fourteen, so it will be cheap for me. My brother, who is sixteen, had to pay the full price last year.
Dear Mike,
Guess what? Our volleyball team won the match last Friday! We played against Green Hill High School, a big school whose team wins almost every year, and the score was 25 to 21 in the last game. Because we had practiced for two hours after school every day for two months, this win means a lot to us.
Our best player is Sandy. Although she is not tall, she jumps higher than anyone else on the team, and she never gives up, even when we are behind. The next match will be held on May 8 at the city gym and will start at 2 p.m. Can you come and cheer for us? Bring your sister, too, since I know she loves volleyball as much as I do.
Your friend,
Ben
Many people say they are too busy for sports, and they think they must go to a gym or join a team if they want to stay healthy. In fact, walking is good exercise, and it is free. Doctors say that thirty minutes of walking a day is enough for most people, even for those who have never played a sport.
You do not need a ball, a court, or special clothes; you only need a pair of good sneakers. Some people walk to the train station when they could take a taxi, and others use the stairs at work. In this way, they get exercise and save money, too.
If you think walking is boring, walk with a friend or listen to music. Even dancing in your living room is a good start.
In Class 302, which has 42 students, each student was asked last week to choose a favorite sport, and nobody could choose more than one. Here are the results.
| Sport | Boys | Girls |
|---|---|---|
| Basketball | 10 | 4 |
| Volleyball | 3 | 9 |
| Swimming | 5 | 6 |
| Table tennis | 2 | 3 |
Next Friday, Class 302 will play a volleyball match against Class 301 in the school gym, starting at 3:30 in the afternoon. Coach Lin, who is the chairperson of the school sports club, will come to watch, and he may choose a few good players for the school team. Students who want to play in the match should write their names on the list outside the classroom before Wednesday. Everyone else is welcome to come and cheer for the class, but please do not bring food into the gym.