Level 2 · Reading series
Lesson 39 · Stretch Before You Start
Audio track 39
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Before we started basketball practice, our coach gave us five minutes to stretch. I used to think stretching was boring.
Then he said, "Your body is like an instrument. A piano sounds better when it is prepared. Your muscles move better when they are warmed up."
That example helped me. Stretching was not empty time before the real practice. It was part of practice.
Now I stretch slowly and check how my body feels.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
篮球训练开始前，教练给了我们五分钟做拉伸。以前我总觉得拉伸很无聊。
后来他说：‘身体就像一件乐器。钢琴准备好了，声音才会更好；肌肉热起来，动作才会更顺畅。’
这个比喻帮我理解了拉伸。它不是正式训练前无用的等待，本来就是训练的一部分。
现在，我会慢慢拉伸，留意身体各处的感觉。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- stretch
- 拉伸；训练前活动身体。
- used to think
- 以前总以为；现在看法已改变。
- boring
- 无聊的；主人公过去的感受。
- instrument
- 乐器；教练把身体比作乐器。
- prepare
- 准备；钢琴与身体都需要进入状态。
- muscle
- 肌肉；热身后动作更顺畅。
- warm up
- 热身；训练前逐渐活动身体。
- example
- 例子；钢琴的比喻帮助理解。
- real practice
- 正式训练；拉伸也是其中一部分。
- check how ... feels
- 检查……的感觉；留意身体的反应。
Background notes (Chinese)
教练用乐器准备演奏来帮助学生理解运动前的准备。不同运动的热身方式不完全一样，课文着重表达：运动开始前留出时间活动身体，也属于训练本身。