Health & Fitness‏

Picture this: Two very fat men enter an ice cream shop. They sit down and order two giant sundaes

. After enjoying their rich desserts, they go to a health club and have a good workout. They’re trying to work off all those calories they ate. Who would be so silly? Some Americans would. When it comes to health and fitness, Americans have mixed emotions. On the one hand, they are concerned about their health. On the other, they have some very unhealthy habits.
想像一下這個景象：兩個大胖子進入一家冰淇淋店，他們坐下來點了兩客大聖代。
吃完高熱量的甜點後，再去一家健身俱樂部好好地運動一番，想把吃進去的熱量消
耗掉。誰會這麼傻呢？有些美國人就是這麼傻。談到健康與健美，美國人有矛盾的
情結，他們一方面關心自己的健康，另一方面又有一些很不健康的習慣。
Americans know the benefits of having a healthy diet. In school, children learn to eat a variety of healthy foods. People grow up aware of the value of counting calories. They hear about the health dangers of chemicals added to packaged food. They realize they shouldn’t eat too many sweets or fats. Many American consumers read labels carefully for nutrition information. That way they can compare products and eat the best foods.
美國人知道健康飲食的好處。孩子們在學校裡學著吃各種健康食物。人們從小
到大也非常注意計算食物的熱量。他們聽說了現成食品中所添加的化學物質會損害
健康；也了解不該吃太多的甜食或富含油脂的食物。很多美國消費者仔細地研讀標
籤上的營養成份，以便能夠比較產品而吃到最好的食物。
Keeping fit —or maybe getting in shape—is often high on the list of New Year’s resolutions for Americans. In the past two decades, fitness has become a fad. Many Americans have joined health clubs to work out with professional equipment. Sports stores sell athletic shoes and clothing for every possible exercise situation. People can even buy weights and equipment and set up their own exercise center at home!
保持健美——或者保持勻稱的身材——通常是美國人新年新計劃中高居前面的一項。
過去2 0年來，健美已蔚為風尚。很多美國人加入健身俱樂部，使用專業的設備
做運動。運動商品店裡售有各種運動項目所需的運動鞋和服裝。人們甚至買啞鈴和
訓練的設備，在家裡設置專屬的運動中心！
But despite this seeming emphasis on health, a large number of Americans don’t practice what the experts preach. All-American eating habits tend to be less than
wholesome. Due to the fast pace of life, fast food restaurants have become
quite popular. When people are in a hurry, food doesn’t have to be healthy, just fast.
Even in grocery stores, junk food items commonly fill shopping carts. At parties and
on holidays, people eat foods that are fun, but not always good for them.
不過儘管他們看起來似乎很重視健康，很多美國人並不照著專家的勸導做。
所有美國人的飲食習慣都不太符合健康原則。由於生活的步調很快，速食餐廳變得
相當受歡迎。當人們在趕時間的時候，食物不一定要對健康有益，只要快就好。即
使在食品雜貨店裡，垃圾食物經常堆滿購物的推車。遇宴會和度假時，人們吃些令
他們開心的食物，但不見得對他們的身體有益處。
Modern technology has also added to the problem. Due to computers and other devices that make life easier, many Americans are not very active. Television has turned many people into couch potatoes. Statistics give health experts good reason to be disappointed. Americans exercise less than they used to. The number of people taking part in fitness activities dropped from 41.7 million in 1991 to only 32 million in 1993.
現代科技也使問題更嚴重。由於電腦和其他各種設備簡化了生活中許多的事情，很多
美國人不太喜歡活動。電視已經將很多人變成那種老是喜歡窩在沙發上看電視吃零食
的「沙發馬鈴薯」了。統計資料令健康專家們感到失望，美國人已不再像從前那麼常
運動了。參與健身活動的人數，從一九九一年的4，1 7 0萬人到一九九三年已降為3，
2 0 0萬人。
of teenagers watch at least an hour of TV every day, and 38 percent watch over three hours. As a result, the average American gained eight pounds during the 1980’s. At least one-third of Americans weigh 20 percent more than their ideal weight.
在高中生當中，只有3 7 %的學生一星期運動三次，然而，卻有7 0 %的青少年每天至少看
一個小時的電視，有3 8 %則看超過三個小時。結果在1 9 8 0年代，美國人的平均體重增加
了八磅，至少有三分之一的美國人比理想體重超重20%。
Still, by many standards, Americans enjoy good health. Medical care in the United States, while expensive, is among the best in the world. The U.S. Government requires
strict food inspections to ensure that food is of the
highest quality. Food producers must label products accurately. Many
resources, such as magazines, TV programs and even the Internet, allow people
to find out how to improve their health. Americans know how to make themselves more
healthy. They just need to do it.
不過從很多的標準來看，美國人仍然擁有健康。美國的醫療照顧雖然昂貴，但卻是
全世界最好的。美國政府要求嚴格的食品檢驗，以確保最佳的食物品質。食品製造
者必須在產品上貼上精確的標籤。很多資訊來源如雜誌、電視節目、甚至網際網路
都提供人們增進健康的方法。美國人知道如何讓自己更健康，然而他們只需要實際
行動。


⊙Word Bank
fitness (n) 健康；強健
sundae(n) 冰淇淋聖代
workout (n) 做運動；健身
calorie (n) 卡路里（熱量的單位）
nutrition (n) 營養
preach (v) 勸告；鼓吹
wholesome (adj) 健全的；有益健康的
device (n) 設備
couch potato (n phr) 愛窩在沙發上看電視吃零食的人
strict (adj) 嚴格的
ensure (v) 確保
accurately(adv) 正確地
Internet (n) 網際網路



@The Day's Phrase
 Meet the world’s largest living lizard
科摩多巨蜥-來見識世上現存體型最大的蜥蜴
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
身體沒有靈魂是死的, 信心沒有行為也是死的。
Don't forget to put your dishes away. I always do. 別忘了把你的碗盤收好。我都有收。

Sorry I took so long. My bus got stuck in traffic.
對不起我來晚了。我那班公車塞在路上了。 Thanks for helping me with that extra work. I owe you one.
謝謝你額外地費心幫我。我欠你一份人情。

Races around the world push runners to their limits
卓越奔騰
世界各地的賽跑讓跑者發揮極限

You left the stove on and forgot about it. Never do that.
你把爐子開著又忘了。別再犯了。

Choosing the right location can be the most important decision a business makes
地點決定一切
選擇正確的地點可能是做生意時最重要的決定
I like that idea you mentioned. Good thinking.
我喜歡你提的那個主意。想得好。

You want to borrow my car? I don't think so!
你想借我的車嗎？我不能借你。