健康研究人员表示，若想在健身房、健身课程或跑步中获得最佳的锻炼效果，应选择一天中最适合自身天然生物钟的时间。

This new study from Pakistan suggests synchronising exercise to match people's natural sleep-wake cycles or internal body clock could offer the greatest health benefits.

这项来自巴基斯坦的新研究表明，将锻炼时间和个人的睡眠觉醒周期或体内生物钟同步，能给健康带来最多益处。

Volunteers who tried it had better sleep, lower blood pressure and healthier blood sugar levels overall. In the study, a group of 40 to 60-year-olds with at least one heart risk were categorised: 70 as morning larks and 64 as night owls. Over three months, some did almost daily exercises at times that matched their body clock, while others did the opposite.

尝试了这种锻炼方式的志愿者普遍睡眠质量更好、血压更低且整体血糖水平更健康。研究中，一组年龄在 40 到 60 岁、具有至少一项心脏病风险因素的人被分为了两类： 70 个 “百灵鸟” 和 64 个 “夜猫子”。在三个月间，一部分人几乎每天都在符合生物钟的时间锻炼，而另一部分人则相反。

The findings suggested that forcing a 5am workout on a night owl didn't give great results. Why? The researchers say because the body clock affects hormone and energy levels across the day, which in turn, could influence exercise performance and adherence.

研究结果表明，强迫一个 “夜猫子” 在清晨五点锻炼并没有带来很好的效果。这是为什么呢？研究人员解释说，这是因为生物钟会影响人全天的激素和能量水平，进而影响运动表现和对锻炼计划的坚持。

词汇表

synchronising 使…同步
sleep-wake cycles 睡眠觉醒周期
body clock 生物钟
blood pressure 血压
morning larks 百灵鸟，早起的人
night owls 夜猫子，晚睡的人
hormone 激素，荷尔蒙
adherence 坚持，遵守

听力练习

一、听第一遍音频，回答问题。

1. What is this study about?

二、用一分钟阅读下列问题，然后听第二遍音频并回答问题。

1. It's better to exercise early in the morning.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

2. How old were the participants in the study?
a. 40-60 years old
b. 40 years old
c. over 60 years old

3. Participants in the study had existing heart risks.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

4. Participants in the study ran and lifted weights every day.
a. True
b. False
c. Not given

5. What does the body clock affect?
a. hormone levels
b. energy levels
c. both of the options above

三、听第三遍音频，将句子补充完整。（提示：可以反复听，直到听清楚每一个词）

1. Volunteers who tried it had better sleep, lower blood pressure and healthier blood sugar levels ______________.

2. The findings suggested that forcing a ______________ on a night owl didn't give great results.

答案

一、听第一遍音频，回答问题。

1. What is this study about?

This study is about when the best time is to exercise, depending on someone's natural sleep-wake cycles or internal body clock.

二、用一分钟阅读下列问题，然后听第二遍音频并回答问题。

1. b. False. This new study from Pakistan suggests synchronising exercise to match people's natural sleep-wake cycles or internal body clock could offer the greatest health benefits.

2. a. In the study, a group of 40 to 60-year-olds with at least one heart risk were categorised.

3. a. True. In the study, a group of 40 to 60-year-olds with at least one heart risk were categorised.

4. c. Not given. The type of daily exercises participants did is not mentioned.

5. c. The researchers say because the body clock affects hormone and energy levels across the day, which in turn, could influence exercise performance and adherence.

三、听第三遍音频，将句子补充完整。（提示：可以反复听，直到听清楚每一个词）

1. Volunteers who tried it had better sleep, lower blood pressure and healthier blood sugar levels overall.

2. The findings suggested that forcing a 5am workout on a night owl didn't give great results.