Exercise 11. Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.

My first piece of advice to people who want to start getting fit is: don’t buy an exercise bike. Typically, people who buy them use them for a week or so and then forget about them. They are effective if they are used regularly but you need to be determined. Most people will find it much easier to go for a gentle jog around the park.

As well as being easy to do, jogging is also relatively cheap compared to most other sports. You don’t need to buy expensive clothes if you’re just going running around the park or on the beach. The main thing is that they’re comfortable, and that they keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. There is one piece of equipment, however, that you will have to spend time and money on, and that’s your running shoes. Remember that you are not looking for a fashion item, but for something that will support your feet and protect you from injury. They can be expensive, but if they are good quality they will last you a long time. It's always best to get expert advice, and the best place for that is a sports shop.        

As for the actual jogging, the secret is to start gently, and not to do too much at the beginning – especially if you haven’t had any exercise for a long time. Try a mixture of walking and running for ten minutes about three times a week at first. Once you are happy doing that you can then start to increase the amount you do gradually. After a few months you you should hope to be able to run at a reasonable speed for twenty minutes three or four times a week. It's important that you feel comfortable with whatever you do. If you do, you’ll start to enjoy it and will probably keep doing it. If it makes you feel uncomfortable, you’ll probably stop after a short time and return to your bad habits. In any case, training too hard is not very effective. Research has shown that somebody who exercises for twice as long or twice as hard as another person doesn’t automatically become twice as fit.

123. Which of the following would serve as the best title for the passage?

A. Exercise bikes         B. Gentle jogging        C. Keeping fit              D. Running shoes

124. What is true about the exercise bikes?

A. Exercise bikes do not help you get fit.

B. It is more costly than most other sports.

C. Many people prefer it to gentle jogging.

D. Most people don’t use it for very long.

125. The word "determined” in the passage probably means ____.

A. confident                 B. decisive                   C. flexible                    D. positive

126. According to the author, you should ____.

A. go jogging around a park or on the beach

B. go to sports shop for high quality running shoes

C. keep warm at all times when you are jogging

D. spend time and money on fashionable items

127. The word "injury" in the passage is closest in meaning to ____.

A. bleeding                  B. breaking                 C. shocking                  D. suffering

128. It is stated in the passage that ____.

A. you are advised to start jogging by walking for ten minutes

B. you should expect to feel much uncomfortable when jogging

C. you should jog three days a week and walk on the other days

D. you won't necessarily be a lot fitter by running twice as fast

129. The word “gently" in the passage is opposite in meaning to ____.

A. abruptly                  B. effectively               C. rapidly                     D. smoothly

130. The word “that” in the passage probably refers to ____.

A. a mixture of walking and running              B. about three times a week

C. actual jogging at first                                 D. exercise for a long time