So if you are one of those people who hasn’t found the perfect physical activity yet, here are some things to think about which might help you make the right decision for you. The first question to ask yourself is whether you would enjoy training in a gym. Many people are put off by the idea of having to fit a visit to the gym into their busy day. You often have to go very early or late as some gyms can get very crowded but with regular training you’ll see a big difference in a relatively short space of time. 【Q11】
Running has become incredibly popular in recent years. That’s probably got a lot to do with the fact that it’s a very accessible form of exercise that anyone can run even if you could only run a few meters to begin with 【Q12】. But make sure you get the right shoes. It’s worth investing in a high quality pair and they don’t come cheap. Another great thing about running is that you can do it at any time of day or night. The only thing that may stop you is snow and ice.
Swimming is another really good way to build fitness. What attracts many people is that you can swim in an indoor pool at any time of year 【Q13】. On the other hand, it can be quite boring or solitary. It’s hard to chat to people while you’re swimming lengths.
Cycling has become almost as popular as running in recent years. That’s probably because as well as improving their fitness many people say being out in the fresh air in a park or in the countryside can be fun 【Q14】, provided the conditions are right of course. Only fanatics go out in the wind and rain.
Yoga is a good choice for those of you looking for exercise, which focuses on developing both a healthy mind and body. It’s a good way of building strength and with the right instructor there’s less chance of hurting yourself than with other more active sports.【Q15】 But don’t expect to find it easy. It can be surprisingly challenging, especially for people who aren’t very flexible. Getting a personal trainer is a good way to start your fitness program. Obviously there can be significant costs involved. But if you’ve got someone there to encourage you and help you achieve your goals, you’re less likely to give up. 【Q16】Make sure you get someone with a recognised qualification though. Or you could do yourself permanent damage.
Whatever you do, don’t join a gym and you’re sure you’ll make good use of it. So many people waste lots of money by signing up for membership and then hardly ever go. What happens to their good intentions? I don’t think people suddenly stop caring about improving their fitness or decide they have more important things to do. I think people lose interest when they don’t think they’re making enough progress. That’s when they give up hope and stop believing they’ll ever achieve their goals. Also, what people sometimes don’t realize when they start is that it takes a lot of determination and hard work to keep training week after week【Q17&Q18】and lots of people don’t have that kind of commitment.
One thing you can do to help yourself is to set manageable goals 【Q19】, be realistic and don’t push yourself too far. Some people advise writing goes down but I think it’s better to have a flexible approach. Give yourself a really nice treat every time you reach one of your goals 【Q20】 and don’t get too upset if you experience setbacks. It’s a journey. There are bound to be difficulties along the way.
What advantage does the speaker mention for each of the following physical activities?
Choose SIX answers from the box and write the correct letter, A-G, next to Questions 11-16
听前预测：定位词 using a gym。
题目解析：我们先是听到了含定位词的信息“training in a gym”，其中 training 对应 using；然后听到了 training in a gym 的缺点“have to go very early or late as some gyms can get very crowded”，但这不是我们需要的信息，可以跳过；接着听到了 training in a gym 的优点“you’ll see a big difference in a relatively short space of time”
（在相对较短的时间内能看到很大的进步），对应 F 选项 fast results，因此答案为 F。
听前预测：定位词 running。
题目解析：首先我们听到了定位词 running，随即听到 running 的第一个优点“very accessible form of exercise—anyone can run—even if you can only run a few metres to begin with”，其中 anyone can run 对应 D 选项 fitness level unimportant，因此答案为 D。后面还提到了 running 的第二个优点“you can do it at any time of day or night”，但接着又说“the only thing that may stop you is snow and ice ”，因此 A
选项不能选。
听前预测：定位词 swimming。
题目解析：先是出现了定位词 swimming，然后出现了答案对应信息“you can swim in an indoor pool at any time of year”，其中 at any time of year 对应 A 选项 not dependent on season，因此答案为 A。
听前预测：定位词 cycling。
题目解析：先是出现了定位词 cycling，然后出现了答案对应信息“many people say being out in the fresh air in a park or in the countryside can be fun”，其中 fun 对应 B 选项 enjoyable，因此答案为 B。
听前预测：定位词 doing yoga。
题目解析：先是出现了定位词 yoga，然后出现了答案对应信息“there’s less chance of hurting yourself than with other more active sports”，其中 less chance of hurting yourself 对应 C 选项 low risk of injury，因此答案为 C。
听前预测：定位词 training、personal trainer。
题目解析：我们先是听到了定位词 personal trainer，然后听到了 personal trainer 的缺点 “significant costs”，但这不是我们需要的信息，可以跳过 ；接着往下听到了 personal trainer 的优点“if you’ve got someone there to encourage you and help you achieve your goals, you’re less likely to give up”，其中 encourage 和 less likely to give up 对应 G 选项 motivating（激发某人积极性的，使人有动力的），因此答案为 G。