Three How often do you work out?
每隔多久锻炼一次？

1 Introduction
A Concerning physical exercise, American men and women, boys and girls, generally fall into one of two categories. Many Americans are extremely over weight and seldom exercise. One the other hand, many other Americans love to exercise and are in great shape. Many keep a fitness program; some exercise once a week, and some even less. Many have found physical exercise a productive way to deal with stress.
关于体育锻炼，美国男女老少，基本上可分为两类。许多美国人极度超重，很少锻炼。另一类是，其他很多美国人酷爱锻炼，身体很结实。 很多人都定有运动计划，一些人一周锻炼一次，一些人锻炼得更少。许多人发现锻炼身体对于缓解压力很有成效。
B Just as exercise makes the bones, muscles, heart, and lungs stronger, researchers think that it helps the brain learn new things and remember old information better.
由于锻炼身体可以使骨骼、肌肉、心脏和肺活量增强，研究者认为它还可以帮助大脑学习新知识以及更好地巩固记忆。
C The sport middle-aged American people like to do are aerobics, bicycling, swimming, playing tennis, weight training, and doing yoga. Young adults enjoy all kinds of sports and fitness activities.
中年美国人喜欢的体育项目有增氧体操，骑自行车，游泳，打网球，举重，还有瑜珈。年轻人喜爱各种体育运动，健身活动。

2 Sample Sentences
1. I get a lot of exercise and I play lots of sports, but I’ve never had such a terrible backache.
我经常做运动，而且经常打球，但是我从未背痛过。
2. You’re in great shape. / You are really fit.
你体格真健壮。
3. I lift weights for an hour at a gym.
我在体育馆举重一个小时。
4. I think aerobics are quite popular with teens and young adults.
我想健美操在青少年人中很流行。
5. My husband has a regular fitness program. / He keeps a fitness routine.
我丈夫拥有一个很有规律的健身计划。/ 他坚持按时锻炼身体。
6. What else do you do to keep fit?
你还做些什么运动来保持体形？
7. What types of exercise do you do?
你做哪些类型的运动？
8. I go swimming at the pool on campus.
我去校园里的游泳池游泳。
9. How well do you play badminton? / How good are you at basketball?
你的羽毛球打得怎么样？你的篮球打得怎么样？
10. Where are the tennis courts?
网球场在哪里？

3 Conversations
1. The difference.
Janice: How good are you at sports, Bill?
Bill: Are you kidding? I’m terrible! But I love to watch sports. I go to football or baseball games a lot. And I read sports magazines every week.
Janice: Wow!
Bill: Do you like sports, Janice?
Janice: Oh, yes. I like to exercise. But I don’t watch sports or buy sports magazines. I don’t have much time to do those things.
Bill: Oh, I see. You know, we spend time doing different sports. How much time do you spend exercising?
Janice: Well, I guess I exercise about two hours a day. I do aerobics three times a week, and the other days I play badminton1 with my husband. I always feel good afterward2.
Bill: That’s great！ I’ve heard people say that before.
Janice: Well, why don’t you try to get some exercise? It’s difficult, but very rewarding3.
Bill: Oh, I’m too lazy to play sports, and I’m not good at anything either. It hardly excites me.
【译文】
——比尔，你对体育运动有多在行？
——你开玩笑吗？我很差劲！但是我爱看球赛。我经常去看足球赛或者棒球赛。而且我还每周看体育报。
——哇！
——珍妮斯，你喜欢体育运动吗？
——噢，对。我喜欢运动。但是我不看球赛，也不买体育报。我没有时间做这些事。
——噢，我懂。你知道，我们把时间花在做不同的运动上。你一般锻炼多长时间？
——我想每天大约锻炼两个小时。我一周做三次健美操，其它时候我和我老公打羽毛球。之后，我总是感觉很好。
——那太好了! 我以前听别人这样说过。
——那，你为什么不试着做些运动呢？虽然难，但是很有益。
——噢，我太懒了，不想打球，而且我什么都不在行。我对运动没兴趣。

2. Donna, a young Chinese student, is talking with an American teacher.
Donna: I don’t understand why you always look so happy, so energetic. It seems like you’ve got good news everyday.
Gary: Really? Do I look happy all the time?
Donna: All I know is you look quite differently from other teachers.
Gary: Oh, do you know why? Actually, it’s easy. Because I always exercise. My exercise, I think, is very hard. I often feel very good after conquering4 these difficulties. I feel alive！
Donna: Oh, I know. I saw you doing pull-ups one time on the campus5 and some students trying to imitate6 you.
Gary: Yeah, they are doing it for fun. Seldom would people like my exercise. It’s difficult and boring.
Donna: It’s true. Many students do the exercise when they have to. We have P. E. once a week.
Gary: But I think Chinese students need to exercise more. Besides exercise will help them learn new things better. Don’t students want to have a good memory?
Donna: Of course. I didn’t know that. I only know exercise makes bodies stronger. I should take some exercise then. Do you have any suggestions?
Gary: Well, do what you like to do. It can be anything. Jogging, doing aerobics, going bicycling, and playing ping-pong. Absolutely anything. Doing three or more workouts a week is good for you. But remember to do some stretches7 first.
Donna: Oh, I know. Thank you.
【译文】
——我不知道你为什么看起来总是这么高兴，这么有活力。好像你每天都有好消息。
——真的吗？我看起来总是很高兴吗？
——我所知道的是你看起来与其他老师很不同。
——噢，你知道为什么吗？实际上，答案很简单。因为我老是做运动。我觉得我做的锻炼很难做。克服这些困难之后， 我经常感觉很好。我觉得我在活着！
——噢，我知道了。有一次我看见你在校园里做引体向上，还有一些学生在模仿你。
——是啊，他们做是为了好玩。很少有人会喜欢我做的运动。很难又枯燥无味。
——这倒是真的。许多学生做运动是迫不得已才去做。我们一周有一次体育课。
——但是我认为中国学生需要多锻炼。而且锻炼身体可以帮助他们更好地学习新知识。学生难道不想记忆力好吗？
——那当然。我还不知道呢。我只知道锻炼强身。那么我也应该做些锻炼。你有什么建议吗？
——开始可以做你喜欢做的。可以是任何运动。慢跑、做健美操、骑自行车，还有打乒乓球。什么都可以。一周运动三次或者更多次对你很有好处。但是记住先舒展一下肢体。
——哦，我知道。谢谢。

3. Don is walking on the street. She saw someone in front walking like her American friend Kate. She is going to come up and say hello.
Don: Hi, Kate.
Kate: Hi, Don. What a surprise!
Don: Yeah, I saw someone walking like you, but I wasn’t sure. We haven’t seen each other for how long? Almost three months? But you look quite different now.
Kate: Have you noticed what has changed?
Don: Oh, you look quite slender and more vivacious8. What have you been taking? Are you on a diet?
Kate: Yes. I’m on a diet, but I’ve not taken anything. I just eat less and exercise more. And it really worked in the past three months. I’ve lost twelve pounds.
Don: Wow! That’s great. I sincerely want to achieve9 my weight loss10 goals, but it’s difficult for me to keep up the exercise. Also you know, old habits are hard to break.
Kate: What kind of exercise do you think I do? I just go to dance everyday after work. I’m taking an amateur11 dance class. I dance two hours everyday.
Don: Dance? You only go dancing? That’s not hard. I can do that.
Kate: Sure. Join my class next week.
【译文】
——嗨，凯特。
——嗨，唐。真是意想不到啊！
——是啊，我看见有人走路像你，但我不敢肯定。我们多久没见面了？差不多三个月吧？但是现在你看起来很不同了。
——你注意到了有什么变化没有？
——哦，你看起来苗条多了，也精神多了。你在服什么？你在减肥吗？
——是。我在减肥，但是没有服任何东西。我只是吃得少，多做运动。而在过去的三个月里真的生效了。我减了十二英磅。
——哇！那太好了。我真想实现我的减肥计划，但是我很难坚持运动。而且你知道的，老习惯很难改。
——你认为我做什么运动？我只是每天下班后去跳舞。我在上一个业余舞蹈课。我每天跳两个小时。
——跳舞？你只是去跳舞？那不难。我可以做。
——那当然。下周来我们班吧。

4. Mr. Zhang wants his American friend Shirley to help him date an American girl. He is coming to Shirley’s apartment.
Shirley: Hi, Mr. Zhang. What’s wrong? You don’t look so happy. How was your date?
Mr. Zhang: I was turned down again. It’s frustrating. I guess you’ve got to teach me some skills.
Shirley: Me? I’m even less experienced than you are.
Mr. Zhang: At least you know what American women generally like in a man.
Shirley: Believe it or not, I guess American women like a man in good shape, which Chinese women may not care about so much. That’s my honest opinion. I know you have been trying very hard.
Mr. Zhang: American men are naturally taller than Chinese men. So even if I exercise, there aren’t many chances.
Shirley: No, that’s not true. I’ve met two American women who were married to Chinese. But those Chinese look very strong and healthy. So if you exercise more often, I bet it will surely be easier for you to date American girls. How old is Jacky Chan? He’s small and short. But I bet he can have any American woman he wants.
Mr. Zhang: You know, that’s going to be a tremendous12 change for me. Because I never exercise.
Shirley: Why don’t you try then? Even if it doesn’t help you find an American girl, you could still have a stronger and healthier body. You won’t lose anything by doing that.
【译文】
——嗨，张先生。 你怎么啦？你看起来不是很高兴。你的约会怎么样？
——又泡汤了。真令人丧气。我猜你得多教我一些技巧。
——我？我比你还没经验。
——至少你知道美国女人基本上喜欢男人的哪一点。
——信不信由你，我猜美国女人喜欢一个男人健壮，这点中国女人可能不会很计较。这是我很诚恳的想法。我知道你一直在努力。
——美国男人生性就比中国男人高大。所以即使我锻炼身体，也不会有很多机会。
——不，那也不对。我遇到过两个美国女人嫁给了中国人。但是这些中国人看起来很强壮、健康。所以如果你锻炼经常一些，我猜你肯定会更容易交到美国女孩子。成龙多大岁数了？他体格矮小。但是我打赌他要任何一个美国女人都可以。
——你知道的，对我来说这将会是一个天翻地覆的变化。因为我从来都不做运动。
——那你怎么不试试呢？即使它不能帮你找到一个美国女孩，你还可以拥有更加强壮、更加健康的体魄。这样做你都不会有什么损失啦。

4 Words and Expressions
1. badminton 羽毛球
2. afterward 之后,以后,后来
3. rewarding 有益的;有报酬的
4. conquer 攻克,攻取
5. campus 校园,大学,
6. imitate 模仿,以...作为范例
7. stretch 伸长，舒展肢体
8. vivacious 活泼的;快活的;有生气的
9. achieve 完成,实现，达到目的
10. weight loss 失重，重量损失
11. amateur 爱好者，外行的,不熟练的
12. tremendous 巨大的,极大的