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The Culture of Fitness 健身风潮：大家一起动起来

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

A throng of well-toned bodies walks past. You join them and walk into the gym. You hear the sound of barbell weights clinking together and the labored panting of people doing some cardio on the treadmill. Today is the beginning of your commitment to health. Welcome to the culture of fitness.

一群拥有结实身材的人走过，你加入他们进入健身房，听见杠铃碰撞时发出的叮当声响，以及人们气喘吁吁、吃力地在跑步机上进行心肺训练。今天开始你决心注意健康，欢迎投入健身的行列。

Around the world, the number of overweight people is on the rise. A sedentary lifestyle and high-calorie food have expanded our collective waistline. Nowhere is this truer than in the United States, where two-thirds of adults are obese. Obesity gives rise to a number of problems, from a high risk of heart disease to social isolation. However, the best solution to this problem is simple: doing regular exercise! Fitness is about much more than just looking good. It is about overall health and well-being.

全球的过重人口总数正在攀升。久坐的生活方式及高热量的饮食，让我们的腰围日益加粗，此现象在美国尤为严重，当地有三分之二的成年人过胖。肥胖会引发许多问题，包括心脏病发的高风险到社会孤立等。然而此问题的最佳解决之道却很简单：规律的运动！健身不只是为了好看，而是为了整体的健康及安适。

Gyms began to spring up in the United States in the 1820s. By the turn of 20^th century, the bodybuilding craze started to pick up stream. To sell more gym memberships, entrepreneurs used images of strong, sculpted physiques and promoted exercise’s health benefits. The idea of fitness caught on among the general public. Today, more and more people head to the gym after work or school, or even on their lunch breaks. The overwhelming cry from health professionals, public policymakers, and fitness enthusiasts is “Let’s get moving!”

美国的健身房在1820年代如雨后春笋般出现，到了二十世纪初，健身热潮蔚为风气。为了广招会员，业者以健壮的雕塑体态做为形象，推广运动对健康的益处，健身概念因而引起一般大众注意。如今有愈来愈多人在下班或放学后，甚至是午休时间前往健身房。健康专家、公共政策制定者及热爱健身的人士都在大声疾呼「大家动起来！」

Vocabulary

单词发音

fitness [ˋfɪtnɪs] n. 健康

commitment [kəˋmɪtmənt] n. 承诺

overweight [ˋovɚ͵wet] adj. 超重的；过重的

on the rise  在上升, 在增加  increasing in frequency or intensity

sedentary [ˋsɛdn͵tɛrɪ] adj. 坐着的，需要（或惯于）久坐的

collective [kəˋlɛktɪv] adj. 集体的；共同的

give rise to  something 引起, 引发, 导致…  to cause something; to instigate something

isolation [͵aɪs!ˋeʃən] n. 隔离；孤立

overall [ˋovɚ͵ɔl] adj. 总的，全部的

spring up  突然出现, 迅速增长  to appear or develop suddenly; to sprout, as with a seedling

membership [ˋmɛmbɚ͵ʃɪp] n. 会员身分（或地位、资格）; 会员数

overwhelming [͵ovɚˋhwɛlmɪŋ] adj. 压倒的；势不可挡的

enthusiast [ɪnˋθjuzɪ͵æst] n. 热衷者﹐热心的人

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单词发音

throng [θrɔŋ] n. 人群；大群

well-toned 线条良好的

gym [dʒɪm] n. 体育馆﹐ 健身房

barbell [ˋbɑr͵bɛl] n. 哑铃﹐杠铃

clink [klɪŋk] n. 叮当声

labored [ˋlebɚd] adj. 吃力的

pant [pænt] v. 气喘，气促

cardio [ˋkɑrdɪo] n. 心肺训练

treadmill [ˋtrɛd͵mɪl] n.（运动使用的）跑步机

waistline [ˋwest͵laɪn] n. 腰围

obese [oˋbis] adj. 肥胖的；过胖的

well-being [ˋwɛlˋbiɪŋ] n. 舒适; 健康; 幸福

turn [tɝn]n. (世纪)初

bodybuilding [ˋbɑdɪ͵bɪldɪŋ] n. 健身法（举重，柔软体操等活动）

craze [krez] n. 狂热；风尚

pick up  加快, 加速 to increase in speed or amount

physique [fɪˋzik] n. 体格，体形

课文讲解

At first, gym workouts were all about building muscle mass and looking bigger. Dumbbells, cable-assisted weight machines, and bench presses filled gyms across the globe. Using this equipment, gym members could strengthen any part of their body – biceps, arms, chests, calves, you name it! A new job was also born: personal trainers. They could give guidance ranging from the proper use of equipment to a diet that facilitates bodybuilding.

最初的健身房锻炼完全是在增加肌肉量，以使肌肉看来更大。哑铃、钢索辅助举重机及仰卧推举机充斥全球的健身房。使用这些器材，健身房会员可强化身体任何部位－二头肌、臂肌、胸肌、小腿肌，任何你想得到的地方！一个新兴行业也应运而生：个人训练师，他们的指导范围涵盖器材的正确使用，以及促进健身的饮食。

Gradually, the trend moved from getting bigger to maintaining fitness. Treadmills and exercise bikes became gym equipment. Gymnastics and dancing classes also found their way into most exercise facilities.

健身趋势逐渐由练大肌肉转为保持健康。跑步机及运动脚踏车成为健身房的标准配备，多数健身机构并开始开设体操及舞蹈课程。

Walk into any exercise facility around the world and chances are you’ll be able to sign up for a yoga class. Doing yoga, you not only look and feel better, but also stay on the cutting edge of fitness culture. Another trendy exercise is Pilates. Developed in the early 20^th century by Joseph Pilates, it is intended to tone muscles and improve strength and flexibility. Both yoga and Pilates have Hollywood celebrities among their fans!

走进世上任何健身机构，都有机会加入他们的瑜珈课程。练瑜珈不仅可让人看起来及自己感觉起来更健康，同时也走在健身文化的最尖端。另一种时髦的运动则是彼拉提斯，这项约瑟夫．彼拉提斯于二十世纪初时开发的运动，目的在增强肌肉及改善强度与弹性。热爱瑜珈及彼拉提斯的人中，都不乏好莱坞名流。

Fads and fitness overlap in that both struggle to last. About 50 percent of people who start an exercise program can’t stick with it after six months. So what is the best way to keep motivated? Just go to the gym and surround yourself with people committed to fitness. You will feel better and healthier!

短暂风潮及健身运动的相同之处，就在勉力持续。展开运动计划的人中，约有百分之五十只能持续六个月。那么，甚么方法才最能保持机动？前往健身房，让自己置身于决心健身的人群中，你会感觉更舒服、健康！

−by Joe Henley

Vocabulary

单词发音

equipment [ɪˋkwɪpmənt] n. 設備

you name it【口】能說出(或想到)的任何東西(或地方等)

facilitate [fəˋsɪlə͵tet] v. 促進

gymnastics [dʒɪmˋnæstɪks] n. 體操

facility [fəˋsɪlətɪ] n. 設備，設施

sign up for 參加俱樂部(或課程學習等)

flexibility [͵flɛksəˋbɪlətɪ] n. 彈性﹐柔性

celebrity [sɪˋlɛbrətɪ] n. 名人，名流

fad [fæd] n. 一時的流行

overlap [͵ovɚˋlæp] v. 重疊

stick with【口】繼續; 堅守

surround ... with [səˋraʊnd] v. 圍繞

More Information

单词发音

workout [ˋwɝk͵aʊt] n.〔尤指運動的〕鍛鍊﹐訓練

dumbbell [ˋdʌm͵bɛl] n. 啞鈴

biceps [ˋbaɪsɛps] n. 二头肌

calf [kæf] n. 腓，小腿

chances are  可能

yoga [ˋjogə] n.（印度的）瑜珈；瑜珈功

trendy [ˋtrɛndɪ] adj. 時髦的；流行的

Pilates [pɪ'lɑtiz] n.普拉提（类似瑜伽的一种健身锻炼）

tone [ton] v. 使〔皮膚﹑肌肉等〕更強健﹐使更健康

in that 基於...的理由; 因為  for the reason that

Reading Questions

1.  What is one of the problems that may arise from obesity?

A.  Overall health and well-being.

B.  Increased risk of heart disease.

C.  A sculpted upper and lower body.

D.  A slimmer, more shapely physique.

2.  What is NOT mentioned in this article?

A.  Two-thirds of adults in America are obese.

B.  In the early 19^th century, gyms started springing up in America.

C.  Personal trainers teach proper use of gym equipment.

D.  Pilates helps people build up muscle mass.

3.  Which of these alternative titles is NOT appropriate for this article?

A.  Feeling a Little Chubby? Join a Gym!

B.  Fitness: An evolving Trend

C.  Combat Obesity with a Sedentary Lifestyle

D.  Make Time for Exercise – Your Body Will Thank You

4.  What can we infer from this article?

A.  The only way to build muscle mass is by doing gymnastics.

B.  Social isolation is the main reason why people decide to get fit.

C.  Many exercises only make you look good, not feel good.

D.  An entire industry has been built up around fitness culture.

Answer