Listening Exercises A2 – Keeping Fit

1.

A:   What’s your New Year’s resolution, Lee?

B:   I’m really going to get in shape this year. I’m going to exercise every day and lose five kilos. You watch.

2.

A:   Have you made any New Year’s resolutions?

B:   Sure. I’m going to give up smoking.

A:   Why don’t you enroll in a program that helps people stop smoking?

B:   That sounds like a great idea.

3.

A:   I need to get more exercise.

B:   You should do more walking. Maybe you could walk to the subway every day instead of taking the bus.

A:   Yeah, I think I will.

B:   And why not take up jogging?

A:   Let’s not push it. I can’t stand jogging.

4.

A:   What are you going to do for the New Year?

B:   Well, everyone tells me I look too thin. I need to put on a couple of kilos.

A:   Why don’t you join a gym and lift weights?

B:   No time. I think I’ll go back and live with my mom. She’s the greatest cook.

5.

A:   So, what are your New Year’s resolutions?

B:   Well, I’m going to change my diet and start eating healthier food.

A:   Really?

B:   Yep, I’m going to start eating less meat and more vegetables.

6.

A:   I’m getting a little fat in the stomach.

B:   Yeah – I noticed.

A:   Hey – come on! Anyway, I’m going to do something about it.

B:   Are you taking up jogging?

A:   No, but I’m going to start doing sit-ups every morning starting January first. Just like this. Watch. One…two…ugh!

1.

I used to lift weights, but I didn’t really enjoy it. So that’s when I started swimming. Now I do it about twice a week. It’s much more fun. I go to a nice pool near my office. It’s never too crowded, which is great. There are friendly people who go there, so it’s a good place to meet people.

2.

I go out every morning. It’s a great way to start the day. It’s more interesting than exercising at home like I used to. That was really boring. I go to a beach near my house. It’s lovely in the early morning. There’s hardly anyone there and you can listen to the oceans as you do it.

3.

I used to play both tennis and volleyball. But I play mainly volleyball now. I think it’s a lot more fun. I thought tennis was very tiring. It was also difficult to find a partner, and the courts were always crowded, too. With volleyball, I have no trouble finding somewhere to play.

4.

I used to take long walks every day, but it got boring. I wanted something more exciting, so that’s when I took up rollerblading^TM. It’s really fun! But, it’s not as easy as it looks. It took me a long time to learn how to do it. I fell a lot at the beginning. The great thing is you can do it almost anywhere. My friends think I’m kind of strange because none of them do it, but I love it.

5.

I finally bought myself a bicycle. It’s a great way to keep fit. I think it’s better than going to a health club. It took me a long time to learn to ride it in traffic. I nearly fell off a couple of times. I don’t often go on busy streets because that can be dangerous, but there are plenty of places where I can ride near where I live. I use it to get to work sometimes, but only if the weather is nice.

6.

I used to go to aerobics class, but I found it pretty silly – all that jumping around. So that’s when I decided to take golf lessons. It can be pretty expensive because you have to buy all your equipment and club fees are high. People think it’s very easy, but it’s not. It’s also good exercise because you have to walk a lot.

1.

I was a big athlete in high school. All I did was swimming, swimming, and more swimming! But I work now, and I never go swimming. I know that I should exercise more, but I’m just too lazy. Jogging? That’s way too much work, and it really makes my knees hurt. A lot of people I know are into bicycling, but I don’t have a bike. I guess there’s tennis, though. My wife loves it, and wants to teach me how to play. I’d like to play, I think.

2.

After my husband got sick last year, the doctor told him to lose 20 kilos. Since then, I’ve been trying to help him lose the weight by exercising with him. There isn’t much we can do together, though. We sometimes jog in the morning, but when he works late, he doesn’t want to wake up early. Our community center has an aerobics class in the evening, but he won’t go. He says it’s just for women, so neither of us does that. He wanted to try weightlifting, but the doctor said it was too dangerous. So, now I’m thinking about getting him golf lessons – for both of us, actually. The walking might be good exercise, and it might even be a little romantic, too!

3.

I may be retired, but I stay very active. I play tennis with my daughters every weekend, and I go golfing every day. I used to lift weights, too – and I’m talking about heavy weights. But I had to stop recently, because I had to have an operation on my back. Now I’m really worried that I’ll have to stop playing tennis and golf, too. I don’t really have a lot of hobbies or interests besides sports, so I really need to keep doing them. The doctor said swimming would help my back improve, so maybe I’ll try that.

4.

I guess I really need to get some exercise outside, in nature. Right now, I exercise all the time, but it’s always indoors I lift weights at an indoor gym, and I go swimming every weekend at an indoor pool. I even go jogging on an indoor track! I was watching TV last night when a bicycling competition came on. Now, I’m totally excited about bicycle racing! I would really love to try it.

1 b   2 e   3 c   4 a   5 d

Transcript

1.

A:   What are you doing here, Jim?

B:   Well, I need to lose some weight, so I’ve started lifting weights here.

A:   That’s great. I’ve been a member at this health club for two years, and I love it. I hope you enjoy it, too.

B:   I’m sure I will. Thanks.

2.

A:   You’re walking so fast, George. Where are you going?

B:   I’m walking to the park.

A:   But why are you walking so fast?

B:   Well, my doctor says to have a healthy heart, I need to take a long, fast walk five days a week. So, that’s what I’m doing.

3.

A:   It’s good to see you, Phyllis. How are you doing?

B:   Terrific. I’m swimming every day after work and it really calms me down.

A:   Yes, I’ve heard swimming can really reduce stress.

B:   That’s right.

4.

A:   Where are you going, Ted?

B:   To play tennis in the park.

A:   Why do you go there instead of going to the health club?

B:   After being in the office all day, I really need to get some fresh air.

5.

A:   What are you doing, Brenda?

B:   I’m practicing for my yoga class.

A:   Yoga? I didn’t know you did yoga.

B:   I just started. It’s supposed to make you stronger and more flexible. You should try it!

Likes: 1, 4, 5

Doesn’t like: 2, 3

Transcript

I’ve always been a very active person. I’ve been playing soccer since high school-I guess that means I’ve been playing for about twelve years now. It’s so much fun. My friends and I play every Sunday in the park. I watch people jog and play tennis in the park, but I think jogging and tennis are boring. Soccer is much more exciting. During the week, I go to the health club about three times. I usually lift weights for 30 minutes. I enjoy keeping my muscles strong. When I finish lifting weights, I go swimming in the pool for another 30 minutes. It’s so relaxing. The cool water always feels good when I’m hot.