Key facts:
Listening Section 2
In this section you will hear one main speaker who will speak directly to the listener. This could be quite informal, for example if it is a tour guide speaking to a group of tourists, or more formal if it is a recorded message. It will be on an everyday topic of general interest, so you don't need any specialist knowledge. All the information you need to complete the tasks will be contained in the recording. Today's example is an extract from a radio programme with ideas on how to get fit.
Task Type: Table Completion
For this type of task, you have to complete a table with specific information from the recording. Before you listen:
Presenter:… next on the show, we are we lucky enough to be joined by Dr. Randal McLeish., an eminent sports therapist who has worked with a number of top athletes, including the British Olympic Equestrian team. But today he's going to tell us how we can get off the couch and start to get into shape for the New Year.
Randy: Thank you kindly Jennifer, it's a great pleasure to be here on the show. Now, I want to begin today by looking at some of the most popular ways of getting fit, and how you can get started.
The first activity seems obvious: walking. We do it every day, but unfortunately, nowadays, most people don't walk enough. The great advantage of walking is that it costs absolutely nothing to do. You can also go out your own pace and vary the intensity to match your fitness level. Another advantage is that it’s a great way to get out and enjoy beautiful scenery, so what are you waiting for?
If you want to try a more intensive activity, you could try running; possibly the ultimate way to get fit. And almost anyone healthy can do it, although if you have a history of chest pain or high blood pressure, you should consult your doctor first. Like walking, running is very cheap. All you need is a good pair of trainers, or running shoes, which should cost you no more than about £50. But remember, when you go running, it is essential to warm up properly before you begin, otherwise you run the risk of seriously injuring yourself.
Another popular, inexpensive way to get fit is swimming. Most towns and now have leisure centres, so it should only cost you about £2 or so to go to a pool any time of year. Swimming is an excellent way to exercise most of your major muscle groups, and if you increase your pace, you can get a great aerobic workout, too. If you can keep going for a longer period, you'll also find it's a great fat-burning exercise.
Possibly the best exercise for your heart is cycling, as cyclists are half as likely to have heart problems as non-cyclists! So if you cycle to the shops, not only are you helping the environment, you are also extending your life expectancy. It's also fairly cheap, with a good mountain bike costing as little as £200. A lot of us do already have bikes; there are an estimated 27 million in the UK alone. The problem is a lot of us never actually use them.
If you fancy something more competitive, what about trying racket sports, like tennis or badminton? The great thing about these is that they are multiple sprint sports – in other words, the tax all your energy systems at once, and require skill, stamina and strength. If you are very out of shape, there is a higher chance of injury with these sports, so you need to be relatively healthy if you are going to try them, and make sure you warm up properly first. Equipment and club fees can make this a more expensive activity, but to get started, you should be able to buy a couple of fairly good quality tennis rackets and a set of balls for around £60, and a lot of public tennis courts are free or very cheap to rent.
Now, moving onto contemporary dance, …
(Information adapted from BBC Health & Living)
Complete the following table with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER in each space
ActivityEquestrian: Equestrian sports, which involve horses, such as show jumping, are not particularly popular in Taiwan.
Get into shape: I put on a lot of weight over Chinese New Year. I really need to get down to the gym and get into shape.
Fit: He runs 5 miles every day, so he must be really physically fit.
Trainers: Although they are deigned for doing sports, a lot of people wear Nike and Adidas trainers everyday.
Leisure centre: Most towns in the UK have a public leisure centre where you can go swimming, play racket sports and work out in the gym quite cheaply.
Life expectancy: At 83 years, French women have the longest life expectancy in Europe.
Stamina: Endurance events like the marathon require a huge amount of stamina.
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