Achieve3000; Lesson Page 1 of2

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Get Moving, Just a Little

Printed by; Debbie Rut Printed on; March 12, 2013

Article

LOS ANGELES, California (Achieve3000, September 14, 2011). It's not always easy to find time to exercise, particularly for adults. Still, experts say that regular exercise strengthens muscles, reduces the risk of some diseases, and promotes mental well-being. The more exercise, the better. The World Health Organization, as well as several governments, recommends that adults get at least 30 minutes of exercise daily. (Kids and teens should exercise for at least one hour a day.)

But not everyone has the time or the willpower to do that much exercise. So researchers in Taiwan set out to find the minimum amount of physical activity needed to reap health benefits. The study sought to determine if exercising less than the recommended amount was still helpful. About 416,000 Taiwanese adults were asked how much exercise they did the previous month. Based on their answers, they were put into five groups of varying activity levels. The groups ranged from inactive to highly active. Researchers kept track of their subjects' progress for eight years on average. Based on the health of each subject, they calculated each participant's predicted life expectancy.

Photo credit: AP / Apichart Weerawong, File

These men and women are doing morning exercises in a park. New research concludes that even 15

minutes a day of moderate exercise can add years to your life.

The study found evidence that people who exercised just 15 minutes a day—or 90 minutes a week—extended their life expectancy by three years, compared with those who did not exercise at all. Both men and women benefited equally from the minimum activity. Additional exercise beyond the 15 minutes led to even greater health benefits. The findings suggest that just 15 minutes of moderate exercise a day can lead to a longer life.

There were some limitations in the study. Subjects reported their exercise amounts rather than being monitored. Therefore, the exercise amounts might have been inaccurate. There also might have been other causes for the improvements in health. But researchers said they took into account other factors that might affect health, such as smoking and drinking. In addition, other studies have reached similar conclusions. In a study conducted by researcher I -Min Lee and coworkers, researchers found that people who engaged in 15 minutes a day of moderate physical activity had a 14 percent lower risk of heart disease compared with inactive people.

The message is this; You don't have to train for a marathon to start improving your health. A few walks around the block will help, too. In other words, "Get off the couch and start moving," said Lee.

Eighty-year-old Bemadette O'Brien has taken that advice to heart. Until 2010, she did not make time for exercise, except to occasionally walk around her neighborhood or swim in the pool at her local gym. After she found out she had diabetes, she decided to change her habits. Now O'Brien exercises between 15 and 45 minutes a day, five days a week. She mixes up her routine with water aerobics and strength training so she won't get bored.

"I feel healthy and energetic. And my balance is pretty good," O'Brien said.

http ://portal. achi e ve3 000. com/kb/lesson/do_print?lid= 103 73 &c= 1 &step= 11 3/12/2013

I. What is this article mainly about?

O About 416,000 Taiwanese adults were put into five groups of activity levels.

v-> A study found that people who exercised just 15 minutes a day improved their health.

'•--J Researchers found that children require more exercise every day than adults,

---''' Experts say that inactive people should start to exercise slowly.

2. What cause-and-effect relationship is described in this article?

^-b) A moderate amount of daily exercise can result in relief from all symptoms of diabetes.

lv!9 A moderate amount of daily exercise can cause people to want to train for a marathon.

vEJ A moderate amount of daily exercise can result in better health and a longer life.

(-5> A moderate amount of daily exercise can cause people to stop smoking and drinking.

3. Which is the closest synonym for the word energetic?

I A) Relaxed

(?) Subdued

(-& Lively

® Effective

4. The reader can infer from the article that

'---•-' The researchers hoped that the study would show that adults require more exercise than children.

^ b The researchers did not expect to see a difference in results of daily exercise based on activity levels.

•£'' The researchers felt that a large number of participants would give the most accurate conclusions.

^iy The researchers initially thought that 90 minutes of daily exercise would be the best amount.

5. This article would be most useful as a source for a student research project on

'-w-1' How people can improve their health

VV How people can learn new sports

'•S/ How to train for a marathon race

'--''' How to be involved in a scientific study

6. The news article states;

...Not everyone has the time or the willpower to do that much exercise. So researchers in Taiwan set out to find the minimum amount of physical activity needed to reap health benefits. The study sought to determine if exercising less than the recommended amount was still helpful.

Which would be the closest antonym for reap, as it is used above? & Obtain

Avoid

'•-S' Pursue

-•£'•• Summon