The new year has arrived for both the Chinese and Westerners. This is the time for those familiar resolutions in which we swear to exercise regularly. The famous joke in the United States is that Americans promise to follow a regular exercise program on Jan. 1, and by Jan. 3, they are back to TV watching and junk food eating. The Chinese have workouts down to an art, literally. I have seen the graceful tai chi exercises (太极拳), which seem magical to me. Slow movements are not a part of American exercise. But the majority of Americans just pound the road, running or walking, becoming future candidates for knee replacement surgery.I am not a go-to-the-gym kind of person. I don't like smelling my own sweat, much less someone else's. It is not a pleasant experience to encounter this smell on an exercise machine where you will be breathing in deeply for the next 30 minutes.I live in a ten-story building, which gives me an at-home stair steps. I shut my apartment door and walk 20 steps to begin stair climbing. With my iPod music's encouraging rhythm, I climb up and down for 30 minutes. No cheating allowed. The first few times, my leg muscles were aching. But training takes time, and now I step the stairs fairly easily. I rarely meet anyone as 99.9 percent of the residents of my building take the elevator. I sometimes frightened the residents who live on the bottom floors with my heavy breathing in the stair well. But then they quickly realize what I am doing.Some of the Chinese must think I am crazy, but I don't dare run on the sidewalks of Beijing. I don't see any other living soul doing this, and plus I would probably sprain (扭伤) my ankle on broken roads or from making a careless move when my tired ankles lose their intelligence. I try to do one of my climbings 30 minutes each day, and I have found the adrenalin (肾上腺素) theory really is true. Exercise makes you feel great, especially at the bargain price of zero yuan or dollars. 1. What is the author's main point in this passage?A) American exercise differently from Chinese.B) Gym exercise is unhealthy and out nowadays.C) Stair climbing is a good way of taking exercise. D) Beijing isn't the right place for outdoor sports.2. What does the author imply by saying "This is the time... swear to exercise regularly" (Para. 1)?A) The beginning of a new year is just the right time to take exercise constantly.B) Both the Chinese and Americans start taking exercise as a new year arrives.C) Neither the Chinese nor Westerners do any exercise at this time of a year.D) People's promises to exercise repeat every year because they hardly keep them. 3. What does the author say about the way most Americans exercise?A) Most Americans tend to take exercises that involve speed.B) It lacks in grace and magical attraction while they exercise.C) They tend to take exercise that may cause bone injuries. D) It makes the surgery on knees necessary sooner or later.4. What kind of exerciser is the author？A) He isn't hardworking and can hardly take exercise continuously.B) He dislikes the smell of sweat and enjoys his exercise alone. C) He is sensitive to smell and unsatisfied with the life in city.D) He tends to be critical about almost everything in his life.5. What does the last paragraph of this passage suggest?A) Compared with jogging, stair climbing is safer and costless. B) Most residents in Beijing are afraid of getting their ankles injured in street.C) No matter what it is, gym sport, jogging or stair climbing, it feels all great.D) Climbing steps 30 minutes every day won't make the author's ankle hurt.

The new year has arrived for both the Chinese and Westerners. This is the time for those familiar resolutions in which we swear to exercise regularly.   The famous joke in the United States is that Americans promise to follow a regular exercise program on Jan. 1, and by Jan. 3, they are back to TV watching and junk food eating. The Chinese have workouts down to an art, literally. I have seen the graceful tai chi exercises (太极拳), which seem magical to me. Slow movements are not a part of American exercise. But the majority of Americans just pound the road, running or walking, becoming future candidates for knee replacement surgery. I am not a go-to-the-gym kind of person. I don't like smelling my own sweat, much less someone else's. It is not a pleasant experience to encounter this smell on an exercise machine where you will be breathing in deeply for the next 30 minutes. I live in a ten-story building, which gives me an at-home stair steps. I shut my apartment door and walk 20 steps to begin stair climbing. With my iPod music's encouraging rhythm, I climb up and down for 30 minutes. No cheating allowed. The first few times, my leg muscles were aching. But training takes time, and now I step the stairs fairly easily. I rarely meet anyone as 99.9 percent of the residents of my building take the elevator. I sometimes frightened the residents who live on the bottom floors with my heavy breathing in the stair well. But then they quickly realize what I am doing. Some of the Chinese must think I am crazy, but I don't dare run on the sidewalks of Beijing. I don't see any other living soul doing this, and plus I would probably sprain (扭伤) my ankle on broken roads or from making a careless move when my tired ankles lose their intelligence. I try to do one of my climbings 30 minutes each day, and I have found the adrenalin (肾上腺素) theory really is true. Exercise makes you feel great, especially at the bargain price of zero yuan or dollars. 1. What is the author's main point in this passage?A)  American exercise differently from Chinese.B)  Gym exercise is unhealthy and out nowadays.C)  Stair climbing is a good way of taking exercise. D)  Beijing isn't the right place for outdoor sports.2. What does the author imply by saying "This is the time... swear to exercise regularly" (Para. 1)?A)  The beginning of a new year is just the right time to take exercise constantly.B)  Both the Chinese and Americans start taking exercise as a new year arrives.C)  Neither the Chinese nor Westerners do any exercise at this time of a year.D)  People's promises to exercise repeat every year because they hardly keep them. 3. What does the author say about the way most Americans exercise?A)  Most Americans tend to take exercises that involve speed.B)  It lacks in grace and magical attraction while they exercise.C)  They tend to take exercise that may cause bone injuries. D)  It makes the surgery on knees necessary sooner or later.4. What kind of exerciser is the author？A)  He isn't hardworking and can hardly take exercise continuously.B)  He dislikes the smell of sweat and enjoys his exercise alone. C)  He is sensitive to smell and unsatisfied with the life in city.D)  He tends to be critical about almost everything in his life.5. What does the last paragraph of this passage suggest?A)  Compared with jogging, stair climbing is safer and costless. B)  Most residents in Beijing are afraid of getting their ankles injured in street.C)  No matter what it is, gym sport, jogging or stair climbing, it feels all great.D)  Climbing steps 30 minutes every day won't make the author's ankle hurt.