一項新的科學研究提出騎自行車上班可以減少患心臟病和癌癥的風險。本期《隨身英語》和大家一起探討為什么騎自行車是最好的體育鍛煉方式之一。

課文內容

Vocabulary: exercise 詞匯: 鍛煉

Most of us know that the risk of getting ill is reduced when we look after ourselves. Taking regular exercise has proven to be good for our health and scientists have found that the risk of getting cancer and heart disease is reduced when we take part in physical activity – and now they've found cycling to work is one of the best activities to do this. Well, good news for me then!

The biggest study into the issue, linked using two wheels with a halving of the risk of cancer and heart disease. The five-year study of 250,000 UK commuters also showed walking had some benefits over sitting on public transport or taking the car.

Pedalling to work is already popular in many cities across the world. Some forward-thinking authorities have built cycle lanes to make the commute safer, as well as providing secure places to lock them up. Some companies also provide facilities for their employees to get changed and cleaned up when they arrive at work. It all makes good sense - according to people surveyed in this study, regular cycling cut the risk of death from any cause by 41%, the incidence of cancer by 45% and heart disease by 46%.

For me, cycling to work is quicker and cheaper than using public transport and it's my only form of exercise. And whereas going to the gym to lose a few pounds takes effort and commitment, cycling has just become part of the work routine. Clare Hyde from Cancer Research UK says "This study helps to highlight the potential benefits of building activity into your everyday life. Anything that gets you a bit hot and out of breath … can help make a difference."

But what exactly is it that is making cycling a much healthier option? The research, published in the British Medical Journal, found it wasn't the result of weight loss but it could be that cyclists are leaner and have lower levels of inflammation in the body.

Of course, any exercise is good for you but it's thought that cycling is better than walking because the activity is longer and more intense. Dr Jason Gill, from the University of Glasgow, told the BBC "You need to get to work every day so if you built cycling into the day it essentially takes willpower out of the equation."  For me, it's the best and most enjoyable workout I can have – and I don't need to wear skin-tight lycra clothes, as long as I wear the most important accessory, a helmet.

詞匯表

risk 風險
heart disease 心臟病
physical activity 體育活動
two wheels （比喻）自行車
benefit 好處、益處
pedalling 騎車
forward-thinking 有超前思維的
to lose a few pounds 減肥
routine 規(guī)律，慣例
weight loss 體重下降
leaner 瘦一些，更瘦
inflammation 炎癥，體內熱能
intense 強烈的
willpower 意志力
workout 鍛煉
helmet 頭盔

測驗與練習

1.  閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. What did the study find happened to the risk of cancer and heart diseases to those people who cycled regularly?

2. Why does the writer in this article not use public transport?

3. True or false? The study found it was weight loss caused by cycling that made cyclists less at risk from getting cancer?

4. According to the article, when could you do cycling as an exercise for getting healthy?

5. Which word is used to mean 'regularly travel to and from work'?

2. 請你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處 。

1. Smokers who use e-cigarettes to quit are more likely to succeed than those who use __________ alone.

willing       willpower       powerwill       willpowers

2. The company boss said the restructuring will result in a __________, stronger organisation.

routine       risky       intense       leaner 

3. White blood cells are key to fighting infection, but high levels can be a sign of __________, which is linked to coronary heart disease.

inflaming       inflamed       inflammation       inflaying

4. Doing a crossword everyday gives you a mental __________ and helps boost your brain.

routine       workout       helmet       inflammation  

5. Oscar the dog, changed his diet, lost a few kilos and went on to win a pet __________ competition.

heart disease       weight loss       weight gain       physical activity

答案

1. 閱讀課文并回答問題。

1. What did the study find happened to the risk of cancer and heart diseases to those people who cycled regularly? 
The biggest study into the issue, found cycling halved the risk of cancer and heart disease.

2. Why does the writer in this article not use public transport?
He found cycling to work is quicker and cheaper than using public transport and it's my only form of exercise.

3. True or false? The study found it was weight loss caused by cycling that made cyclists at less risk from getting cancer?
False. The study found it wasn't the result of weight loss that reduced the risk of cancer but it could be that cyclists are leaner and have lower levels of inflammation in the body.

4.According to the article, when could you do cycling as an exercise for getting healthy?
On the way to or from work. Dr Jason Gill, from the University of Glasgow, told the BBC "You need to get to work every day so if you built cycling into the day it essentially takes willpower out of the equation." 

5. Which word is used to mean 'regularly travel to and from work'?
Commute.

2. 請你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處 。

1. Smokers who use e-cigarettes to quit are more likely to succeed than those who use willpower alone.

2. The company boss said the restructuring will result in a leaner, stronger organisation.

3. White blood cells are key to fighting infection, but high levels can be a sign of inflammation, which is linked to coronary heart disease.

4. Doing a crossword everyday gives you a mental workout and helps boost your brain.

5. Oscar the dog, changed his diet, lost a few kilos and went on to win a pet weight loss competition.