Table of Contents
BEST IELTS General Reading Test 127
GENERAL READING TEST 127 – PASSAGE – 3
GENERAL READING TEST – 127
READING PASSAGE – 3
The Wrong Way To Practice
If you are like most people, you might think that practicing yoga or any fitness routine in lieu of lunch seems like a great idea. If you go against this popular notion, however, you may find yourself loading up on carbohydrates and feel too sluggish in the middle of your yoga routine. If you are familiar with either one of these scenarios, you might not realize just how important a proper balance in nutrients and fibers can be when you exercise. Fitness experts believe that no matter what type of workout routine you end up doing, you need to breathe fully and more importantly, you should not be digesting in an intense way while you work out.
What is the best way to solve this tricky problem, then? Most dieticians agree that the best approach is to eat small portions rather often. In other words: give yourself permission to snack throughout the day! Interestingly enough, this idea of snacking has been thought of in quite a negative way, since it is commonly associated with “junk foods”, such as potato chips and other sweets. However, if you want to fuel your body in a way that gives off sustained energy, go directly for nutritious foods rather than sweets. The key to snacking, experts say, is to combine a serving of carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats. In layman’s terms, carbohydrates are digested quickly and provide rapid energy, while the other elements will help curb cravings.
Additionally, there is new evidence that eating the right balance of carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats before exercising can even promote the avoidance of common injuries and pitfalls while exercising. Think about it this way: if your body does not contain any carbohydrates, the body will use up nutrients and fibers in your muscles. The result is a likely muscle tear or a strain that is difficult to get rid of. On a basic level, physical therapists agree that these injuries would be considered less serious (nor result in obligatory therapy sessions) if diets were altered based on the physical conditioning at hand. For example, if an athlete decides to train for a triathlon, he or she should make sure to get daily carbohydrates through food and supplements. Of course, this basic principle applies to even the most casual athletes who exercise a few times a week.
When focusing on the comprehensive process of exercising, it is important to keep in mind that what you do after your practice can be just as important as what you do beforehand. After any sort of workout or practice, it is best to snack once again with the same balance of carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats for a sustained energy that lasts all day. If you practice in the morning, for instance, it is of utmost importance that you consume calories beforehand. If not, you run the risk of fainting or getting too close to exhaustion. This is just one way how the body shows signs of exhaustion due to poor nutritional habits. Other examples include headaches, body aches, and general malaise.
On the other hand, for those who practice in the middle of the day, snacks should be consumed about an hour or two beforehand. A great option could include sliced apples, walnuts, or a light lunch that could be easily digested by the body. If this is not possible, an adequate substitute would include holistic energy supplements, which work toward providing the body with the necessary nutrients needed to sustain exercise without an unnecessary amount of fatigue. According to expert dieticians, this will help with getting the largest amount of benefits out of the workout without feeling the midday slump, which tends to be the biggest complaint from people who exercise during the day.
For those who exercise in the evening, leading scientists believe that skipping dinner could actually be a solid choice in order to burn a healthy amount of calories. The reasoning for this is that if you eat in the late afternoon, your body will be fueled enough for your workout, and you will feel satisfied with the end product. In other words, your body will most likely not feel the need to eat, yet it will still be burning calories in a healthy manner. Dieticians warn, however, that you should eat a light dinner if you feel faint after your evening workout. In fact, this is especially important for expecting mothers and those over the age of fifty-five.
Although the information provided is quite general, it is important to keep in mind that this advice from leading professionals is meant for people who are in tip-top medical condition. As such, it should not be used for those who suffer from chronic illnesses or have a long-standing history of disease, such as heart disease or high cholesterol. Additionally, only approach the aforementioned tips if you have been practicing a certain workout regimen for at least a few months. In any case, experts urge all athletes, both new and experienced, to try out various routines and programs before committing strenuously to a given practice in haste.
Questions 28-34
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
28. Common belief posits that no matter the exercise type,
A. you should stick with a program for at least a few months
B. you should be more concerned with breathing rather than digesting
C. you should examine fibers and nutrients in food afterwards
D. you should speak with a licensed dietician
29. Dieticians would state that
A. eating small portions throughout the day is healthy
B. nutritious foods are not always better than sweets
C. carbohydrates are not digested quickly
D. all fats can be healthy
30. Injuries can be avoided by
A. eating primarily healthy fats before exercising
B. stretching extensively before exercising
C. eating a proper balance of foods after exercising
D. eating a proper balance of foods before exercising
31. If the body does not have enough carbohydrates
A. people will have stronger muscles
B. people can faint
C. it will pull nutrients from muscles
D. muscle strains and tears will be unlikely
32. People who exercise in the morning
A. can expect lower levels of digestion
B. may be energized if they do not eat beforehand
C. must eat three meals per day
D. may be exhausted if they do not eat beforehand
33. People who exercise in the afternoon
A. should eat foods that are easily digested
B. will most likely feel sluggish afterwards
C. should switch to practicing at a different time
D. should eat more protein
34. People who exercise in the evening
A. burn the most calories
B. should eat something if they feel faint afterwards
C. must skip dinner
D. will most likely feel the need to eat afterwards
Questions 35-40
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage? In boxes 35-40 on your answer sheet, write
YES – if the statement reflects the claims of the writer
NO – if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN – if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
35. Most people are not properly informed of how important proper eating can be.
36. Sweets are never helpful when it comes to intermittent snacking.
37. In this day and age, it is difficult to avoid common injuries.
38. Habits before and after exercising are equally important.
39. Leading professionals only ever publish tips for those in proper health.
40. Energy and passion are enough to help someone immediately change their eating and exercise plans.
ANSWERS ARE BELOW
ANSWERS
28. B
29. A
30. D
31. C
32. D
33. A
34. B
35. YES
36. NOT GIVEN
37. NO
38. YES
39. NOT GIVEN
40. NO