Health and Exercise – You may scoff...

The Importance of Games and Sports

Games and sports are an essential part of a healthy and happy life. From childhood, human beings enjoy running, jumping, throwing and playing together. In the modern world, where much of our time is spent sitting before desks and screens, their importance has grown even more.

First, games and sports keep the body fit. Regular exercise strengthens the muscles, improves blood circulation and the working of the heart and lungs, controls weight and builds stamina. A person who plays regularly sleeps better, has a better appetite and is less likely to fall ill. As the saying goes, "A sound mind lives in a sound body."

Second, sports improve mental wellbeing. Physical activity releases tension and reduces stress, anxiety and depression. It refreshes the mind, so that students can study with better concentration. Games also train us to think quickly and make decisions under pressure.

Third, games bring happiness. Playing with friends gives joy, laughter and relief from the boredom of daily work. Winning gives pride and confidence, while losing teaches us to accept defeat and try again.

Finally, sports build character and unity. They teach discipline, teamwork, fair play, patience and leadership. People of different castes, classes and religions play together as equals, which promotes friendship and brotherhood. Sport can also bring honour to a nation, as when our athletes win medals at the South Asian Games.

In short, games and sports are not a waste of time but a necessity. They give us a fit body, a calm mind and a cheerful spirit, so everyone should make time for them every day.

(b) People often scoff at the idea of exercise until illness strikes.

The author points out that most people treat health casually and mock or ignore the idea of regular exercise while they are well; only when sickness actually strikes do they begin to value fitness and think about exercise.

Many people neglect health and exercise even though they know how important these are, mainly because of the pace and pressures of modern life. Two reasons commonly given in the text are:

1. Lack of time and a busy schedule. People are so occupied with work, study and earning a living that they feel they have no spare time for exercise. They spend long hours sitting at desks or in front of screens, and by the end of the day they are too tired to do anything physical. Exercise is thus pushed to the bottom of their list of priorities.

2. Ignorance and a careless attitude towards health. Many people do not take health problems seriously until they actually fall ill. They believe that illness happens only to others, or that they are still young and strong, so they eat junk food, skip meals, sleep late and depend on medicines instead of building good habits. They also lack awareness of how simple daily activity can prevent disease.

How this neglect affects their lives: Neglecting health and exercise leads to serious consequences. Physically, people become overweight, weak and easily tired; their immunity falls and they become prone to diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems and obesity. Mentally, they suffer from stress, anxiety and lack of concentration, which lowers their performance at work or study. Socially and economically, frequent illness means absence from work, loss of income and heavy medical expenses. In the long run, poor health shortens life and reduces its quality, so people who ignore exercise end up spending their later years in pain and dependence instead of enjoying an active, productive life.

Regular exercise is one of the most important habits for maintaining physical and mental health. According to the chapter, exercise is not merely a way to lose weight or build muscles; it is a lifelong investment in the body and mind. The chapter highlights several benefits of regular exercise, of which three are discussed below.

1. Physical fitness and stronger body: Regular exercise improves the efficiency of the heart and lungs, strengthens muscles and bones, and increases stamina. When a person exercises regularly, the heart pumps blood more effectively, supplying oxygen to every cell of the body. This keeps blood pressure and cholesterol levels under control, reduces the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, and helps the body maintain a healthy weight. A physically fit body is thus less vulnerable to chronic diseases and can perform daily tasks with greater ease and energy.

2. Mental well-being and stress relief: Exercise is closely linked with mental health. Physical activity stimulates the release of endorphins, often called "feel-good" hormones, which reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. After a good workout, a person feels relaxed, refreshed and more positive. Regular exercise also improves the quality of sleep, which in turn sharpens concentration, memory and decision-making. In this way, exercise acts as a natural medicine for the mind, helping students and workers cope with the pressures of daily life.

3. Discipline and self-confidence: Following a regular exercise routine demands time management, patience and self-control. A person who exercises daily develops discipline and a sense of responsibility towards his or her own health. As fitness improves, the person feels more confident about his or her appearance and abilities. This confidence carries over into studies, work and social relationships, making the person more active, optimistic and successful.

In conclusion, regular exercise contributes to a healthy life in a threefold manner — it strengthens the body, refreshes the mind and builds character. A person who makes exercise a daily habit enjoys better health, greater happiness and a more productive life. Therefore, exercise should be treated as an essential part of everyone's daily routine.

Health, Exercise and the Way We Live

I fully agree with the chapter's argument that health and exercise are closely connected to one's lifestyle and mindset. Good health is not merely the absence of disease; it is the result of daily habits and the attitude with which we approach them.

The text makes this clear through its discussion of how ordinary routines shape our bodies. People who walk to work, climb stairs, do household chores or play games in the evening remain active without ever entering a gym. Their lifestyle itself is their exercise. In contrast, someone who sits before a screen all day and then drives even short distances may fall ill despite having access to every modern facility. The difference lies not in wealth or medicine but in the pattern of daily living.

Mindset matters just as much. A person who believes exercise is a punishment will abandon it within weeks, while one who treats a morning walk as a pleasant habit will continue for years. The chapter rightly stresses that discipline and a positive outlook turn activity into routine. In my own experience, a friend who began cycling to college simply because he enjoyed it grew fitter and more confident than another who joined a gym under pressure and soon gave up.

Thus health is a habit, not an accident. If we choose an active lifestyle and a willing mind, exercise becomes a natural part of life, and good health follows.

don't: Many of the houses in this neighbourhood don't have garages. The subject "many of the houses" is plural, so it takes "don't".

Rules for Visitors to the Zoo

Dos

1. Do buy a ticket and follow the instructions given on signboards.
2. Do keep a safe distance from the cages and enclosures.
3. Do keep children close to you, and hold their hands.
4. Do throw litter only in the dustbins provided.
5. Do keep your voice low so that the animals are not disturbed.
6. Do report any injured or unusual behaviour of an animal to the staff.
7. Do follow the guides and keep to the marked paths.

Don'ts

1. Don't feed the animals, or throw food, stones or any other object at them.
2. Don't tease, shout at or try to touch the animals.
3. Don't climb over fences or railings.
4. Don't litter or spit anywhere in the zoo.
5. Don't smoke or carry alcohol, plastic bags or sharp objects.
6. Don't pluck flowers or damage trees and plants.
7. Don't use flash photography near the animals.

In-charge, Central Zoo

don't

"Sunglasses" is a plural noun (a pair of glasses is treated as plural), so it takes the plural auxiliary: My sunglasses don't cost much.