Passage Reading 段落朗读

Sufficient sleep is as important as good nutrition and exercise. When we sleep, our body has a genuine rest. Lack of sleep has harmful effects on both the physical and mental health. Our muscles will be weakened as a result of insufficient sleep, and we will find it difficult to do jobs that require physical strength. Furthermore, with weakened muscles the body needs less energy and any excessive calories will be stored as fat. Therefore, we will be more likely to put on weight. Worse still, if we do not have enough sleep, we are less able to concentrate on our work or studies. We can neither think nor make quick decisions.

Some people do not have sufficient sleep because their schedule does not leave enough time to sleep. They cannot afford the time because they have too many other and more important things to do. In other cases, people do not have enough sleep because they are suffering from insomnia. They find it difficult to fall asleep or remain asleep. They lie awake in bed tossing and turning for hours, or they wake up repeatedly during the night.

There are many causes of insomnia. First of all, it may be due to environmental factors. A person suffering from insomnia may actually be sleeping on a mattress which may be too soft or too hard. He may be feeling too warm to sleep. His bedroom may not be dark enough. Another factor is physical. If one eats or drinks excessively before going to bed, one will have difficulty falling asleep. In the same way, if one drinks too much coffee or tea, he may not sleep well. The last factor is the emotional or mental factor. Inability to sleep is very often due to nervous tension. For example, a heavy workload and too many extra-curricular activities account for the inability to sleep of many students.

权威名师解析：

注意nutrition, genuine, insufficient, excessive, concentrate, insomnia, extra-curricular等难词的发音。

nutrition  [nju:'triʃən]  （n） 营养

genuine  ['dʒenjuin]   （adj.）真正的；真实的

insufficient   [ˌinsə'fiʃənt]  （adj.） 不足的

excessive   [ik'sesiv]  (adj.) 过多的；过分的

concentrate  ['kɔnsentreit]  （v）集中；专心

insomnia    [in'sɔmniə]  （n） 失眠症

extra-curricular  ['ɛkstrə] [kə'rikjulə]   (adj.) 课外的

Free talk

How to Lead a Healthy Life?

权威名师解析：

1.  regular exercise (example: One of the secrets of good health is regular exercise)

2.  balanced diet (example: A balanced diet provides nutrition for your body.)

3.  sufficient sleep (example: A person can’t have enough energy to study or work without sufficient sleep)

4.  psychological health (example: Psychological health is as important as physical health to a healthy life)