1.身體健康及衡量指標
段落大意：身體健康的概念，其衡量指標包括力量、耐力、協調性、靈活性等。
Physical fitness refers to the ability of the human body to function with vigor and alertness, without undue（過度的） fatigue （疲勞）, to have ample（充足的） energy to engage in leisure activities, and to meet physical stresses. Muscular（肌肉的） strength and endurance, cardiorespiratory（心肺的） integrity, and general alertness are the overt（明顯的） signs of physical fitness. Physical fitness is usually measured in relation to functional expectations—that is, typically, by periodic tests measuring strength, endurance, agility （敏捷）, coordination, and flexibility. In addition, stress testing, which ascertains（確定） the body’s accommodation（適應） to powerful, sustained（持續的）physical stimuli（身體刺激）, is used to analyze fitness. If individuals are able to accommodate to the stressors, they are assumed to be fit.
2.鍛煉與身體健康
段落大意：經常進行係統性的鍛煉可以促進身體健康，運動強度應隨健康水平的變化而變化。
The level of physical fitness can be influenced by regular, systematic exercise. Moderate activity will maintain the individual at a level that is usually adequate to handle ordinary stress. If the fitness level is to be improved, however, it is necessary to participate in more intensive exercise that overloads the physiological （生理的） systems and thus promotes change.
3.促進身體健康的運動項目
段落大意：全身性運動能有效促進身體健康，如慢跑、遊泳、跳舞、快走等，人們可通過學校、健身房、私人俱樂部等不同場所獲得這些運動項目。
Exercises that demand total body involvement improve and maintain fitness most effectively—for example, jogging, running, swimming, vigorous dancing, cycling, and brisk walking （快走）. Organized games and sports that have long rest periods within the play only have minimal influence on fitness. Programs especially planned to help individuals attain fitness are offered in numerous places: schools and gymnasiums （健身房）, private clubs and studios, and special, professionally organized clinics that are attentive （關心的） to problems of cardiac （心髒的） and pulmonary （肺部的） function. The individual must be careful in choosing an exercise program and should ensure that it is staffed by experts in physical education or medicine.
4.心理健康的概念
段落大意：心理健康不僅僅指未患心理疾病, 它的標誌是持續的個人成長、有生活目標、自我接受、與他人保持積極的關係。
Mental health refers to a psychological state of well-being, characterized by continuing personal growth, a sense of purpose in life, self-acceptance, and positive relations with others. Some people define mental health as the absence of mental illness, but many psychologists consider this definition too narrow. Mental health can also refer to a field of study encompassing （包含） both mental health and mental illness.
5.心理健康的指標
段落大意：心理學家列出心理健康的許多不同指標，包括自我接受和自尊、個人成長、生活目標、良好的人際關係、對環境的掌控力，以及自治力等。
Psychologists have identified a number of distinct dimensions of mental health. These include self-acceptance, or self-esteem, which is characterized by a positive evaluation of oneself and one’s past experience, personal growth, which is reflected in one’s sense of continued psychological growth and development, a sense that one’s life has purpose and meaning, positive relations with others, environmental mastery, which is the capacity to manage effectively in the surrounding world, and autonomy （自治）, which is a sense of self-determination and the ability to control one’s own life. Self-acceptance, relations with others, environmental mastery, and autonomy usually improve as a person ages and gains life experience. However, many people find that their personal growth and sense of purpose in life begin to decline in midlife.
6.心理學家對心理健康的不同看法
段落大意：一些心理學家認為心理健康是在正麵情感和負麵情感間維持平衡的能力，一些心理學家則強調環境對心理健康的影響。
Some psychologists regard mental health as the ability to maintain a balance between positive and negative emotions, such as elation （高興） and sadness. In this view, a person who displays emotional extremes in either direction is less well-adjusted. Other psychologists emphasize the role of one’s environment in influencing well-being. This perspective holds that mental health is reflected in a person’s overall happiness with various domains （範圍） of life, such as social relationships, work, and community life.
7.影響心理健康的一些重要因素
段落大意：研究者發現，工作、家庭生活及社會角色是影響心理健康的重要因素。
A number of different aspects of life can influence mental health. In a mid-1970s study of people living in the United States, researchers identified critical areas that influence one’s mental health. These areas are working life, family life, and the social role that one occupies in the community. Negative experiences in these areas, such as an unreasonable boss or turbulent（狂暴的） family life, can reduce one’s overall sense of well-being.
8.遺傳因素對心理健康的影響
段落大意：一些研究表明，遺傳因素對心理健康和快樂水平有著重要的影響。
Some studies suggest that genetic（遺傳的） factors may partly determine one’s level of happiness and mental health. People seem to display a characteristic level of well-being, with some people usually feeling happy and others typically feeling sad or unhappy. Researchers have found that although people’s moods change in response to both positive and negative events, the effect wears off（逐漸減弱） over time. For example, people who win the lottery（彩票） or receive an unexpected promotion may feel happier at first, but over time they return to their former characteristic level of mental health. Research suggests that one’s genetic background—that is, the genes inherited （遺傳） from one’s parents—explains more than half of the differences in people’s characteristic mood levels. Genes may also partly determine the range of ups and downs that people feel, including whether people have large mood swings or remain stable from day to day.
9.應對逆境的兩種方式
段落大意：應對逆境的能力對心理健康至關重要，人們應對逆境的方式大不相同，主要可分為關注情緒型和解決問題型兩種。
The ability to cope with adversity （逆境） can be crucial for the mental health of the individual. Coping means successfully dealing with problems that arise in life. People differ substantially （極大地） in the way they cope with adversity. Some people engage in emotion-focused coping, a strategy that focuses on managing one’s emotions. Examples of this coping strategy include distracting one’s attention from the problem, denying the problem, venting （發泄） one’s emotions, or sharing emotions with others. A second form of coping, problem-focused coping, involves efforts to reduce stress by solving the problem. People who use this strategy take active steps to overcome the problem, such as seeing a counselor to repair a relationship or looking for a new job in response to problems at work. They may also seek advice from friends and family members.
10.通過學習獲得應對逆境的能力
段落大意：研究發現，應對逆境的能力可以通過學習獲得。在陷入逆境前或剛遭遇危機時，學會如何應對逆境能有效防止出現心理不健康的情況。
Some people use coping skills more effectively than others. However, research has shown that people can learn new coping skills. For example, counselors can teach children how to handle difficulties in school. Adults can be taught skills to cope with stressful life events, such as job loss and divorce. Teaching people coping skills before they encounter adversity, or when they are in the early stages of a crisis, appears to be an effective method of preventing poor mental health. Learning effective coping strategies also directly improves mental health by improving one’s sense of mastery and self-esteem （自尊）.
11.社會支持與心理健康
段落大意：來自朋友和家庭等的支持會促進心理健康。
Social support from friends and family members also promotes good mental health. This support can take several forms. Other people can offer concrete help in a crisis, such as providing shelter for families victimized by a natural disaster or alerting an unemployed person to a job opportunity. In addition, other people can provide an important source of emotional support. Friends can respond with concern, empathy （同情）, and advice to a person facing difficulties or loss. They boost confidence and self-esteem by offering reassurance and compliments. Self-help groups provide support by enabling people with similar problems to share their experiences and emotions. Conversely （相反）, research has shown that negative social interactions, such as constant criticism and belittlement （輕視） from other people, can undermine mental health.
12.體育運動有助於心理健康
段落大意：體育運動，如有氧運動和放鬆活動等，有助於保持心理健康。
Other ways of maintaining good mental health involve physical activities. For example, research has shown that regular aerobic（有氧的） exercise helps to boost self-esteem, relieve depression, and improve concentration. Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and meditation, also help to combat the effects of stress.
13.壓力的不同定義
段落大意：對不同人來說，壓力有著不同的定義。然而大多數心理學家在這一問題上達成了共識。
Stress refers to an unpleasant state of emotional and physiological （生理的） arousal （覺醒） that people experience in situations that they perceive as dangerous or threatening to their well-being. The word “stress”means different things to different people. Some people define stress as events or situations that cause them to feel tension, pressure, or negative emotions such as anxiety and anger. Others view stress as the response to these situations. This response includes physiological changes—such as increased heart rate and muscle tension—as well as emotional and behavioral changes. However, most psychologists regard stress as a process involving a person’s interpretation and response to a threatening event.
14.壓力是常見現象
段落大意：壓力是常見的現象。工作、社會關係或生活中的許多問題都會導致壓力。
Stress is a common experience. We may feel stress when we are very busy, have important deadlines to meet, or have too little time to finish all of our tasks. Often people experience stress because of problems at work or in social relationships, such as a poor evaluation by a supervisor or an argument with a friend. Some people may be particularly vulnerable （脆弱的） to stress in situations involving the threat of failure or personal humiliation. Others have extreme fears of objects or things associated with physical threats, such as snakes, illness, storms, or flying in an airplane, and may even become stressed when they think about these perceived threats. Major life events, such as the death of a loved one, can cause severe stress.
15.壓力的正麵作用和負麵作用
段落大意：壓力既有正麵作用，又有負麵作用。壓力是對危險的正常反應，可提高積極性。但若處理不當，會導致嚴重的問題。
Stress can have both positive and negative effects. Stress is a normal, adaptive reaction to threat. It signals danger and prepares us to take defensive action. Fear of things that pose realistic threats motivates us to deal with them or avoid them. Stress also motivates us to achieve and fuels （激起） creativity. Although stress may hinder （妨礙）performance on difficult tasks, moderate stress seems to improve motivation and performance on less complex tasks. If not managed appropriately, stress can lead to serious problems. In personal relationships, stress often leads to less cooperation and more aggression. Exposure to chronic stress can contribute to both physical illnesses, such as heart disease, and mental illnesses, such as anxiety disorders（焦慮症）. Psychologists usually focus on how stress affects body functioning and how people can use stress management techniques to prevent or minimize its negative effects.
16.不同的緊張性刺激
段落大意：不同的人對造成壓力的環境有不同的看法。
The circumstances that cause stress are called stressors. Stressors vary in severity （嚴重性） and duration. For example, the responsibility of caring for a sick parent may be an ongoing source of major stress, whereas getting stuck in a traffic jam may cause mild, short-term stress. Some events, such as the death of a loved one, are stressful for everyone. However, in other situations, individuals may respond differently to the same event—what is a stressor for one person may not be stressful for another. For example, a student who is unprepared for a chemistry test and anticipates a bad grade may feel stress, whereas a classmate who studies in advance may feel confident of a good grade. For an event or situation to be a stressor for a particular individual, the person must appraise （評估） the situation as threatening and lack the coping resources to deal with it effectively.
17.壓力對心理健康的影響
段落大意：壓力對心理健康有著重要的影響。壓力主要源於生活中的大事，如離婚、失業、生病等，而且壓力會導致壓力，使處於壓力中的人雪上加霜。此外，創傷性事件會造成創傷後應激障礙。
Another important influence on mental health is stress. In general, people experience stress when the demands placed on them exceed the resources they have available to meet those demands. Significant sources of stress include major life events, such as divorce, death of a spouse（配偶）, loss of a job, and illness in the family. These events can overwhelm （壓倒） a person’s ability to cope and function effectively. In addition, one source of stress may lead to another, as when financial hardship follows job loss. People who experience unusually traumatic （創傷的） events, such as rape and natural disasters, may develop post-traumatic（創後的） stress disorder. People may experience chronic stress when confronted with a continuing set of demands that reduce their ability to function. Examples of such demands include working long hours under difficult circumstances and caring for a chronically ill relative. Economic hardship, unemployment, and poverty can also produce chronic stress and undermine mental health.
18.日常生活與工作中的壓力 Ⅰ
段落大意：生活中的重大變故會導致壓力，如家庭成員死亡、離婚、入獄、失業、生病等。有時一些看似積極的事件也會造成壓力。
The most stressful events for adults involve major life changes, such as death of a spouse or family member, divorce, imprisonment, losing one’s job, and major personal disability or illness. For adolescents, the most stressful events are the death of a parent or a close family member, divorce of their parents, imprisonment of their mother or father, and major personal disability or illness. Sometimes, apparently positive events can have stressful components. For example, a woman who gets a job promotion may receive a higher salary and greater prestige, but she may also feel stress from supervising coworkers who were once peers. Getting married is usually considered a positive experience, but planning the wedding, deciding whom to invite, and dealing with family members may cause couples to feel stressed.
19.日常生活與工作中的壓力 Ⅱ
段落大意：很多壓力都來源於日常生活、工作中的麻煩事，這些小事日積月累可能會造成極大的壓力。
Much of the stress in our lives results from having to deal with daily hassles（麻煩）pertaining to （關於） our jobs, personal relationships, and everyday living circumstances. Many people experience the same hassles every day. Examples of daily hassles include living in a noisy neighborhood, commuting（通勤） to work in heavy traffic, disliking one’s fellow workers, worrying about owing money, waiting in a long line, and misplacing or losing things. When taken individually, these hassles may feel like only minor irritants （刺激物）, but cumulatively （累積地）, over time, they can cause significant stress. The amount of exposure people have to daily hassles is strongly related to their daily mood. Generally, the greater their exposure is to hassles, the worse their mood is. Studies have found that one’s exposure to daily hassles is actually more predictive （預兆的） of illness than to major life events.
20.壓力對健康的影響
段落大意：壓力同時影響著身體健康和心理健康。
Stress influences mental health as well as physical health. People who experience a high level of stress for a long time and who cope poorly with this stress, may become irritable （易怒的）, socially withdrawn, or emotionally unstable. They may also have difficulty concentrating and solving problems. Some people under intense and prolonged （延長的） stress may start to suffer from extreme anxiety, depression, or other severe emotional problems. Anxiety disorders caused by stress may include generalized（全身性的） anxiety disorder, phobias （恐懼症）, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder （強迫症）. People who survive catastrophes sometimes develop an anxiety disorder called post-traumatic stress disorder. They re-experience the traumatic event again and again in dreams and in disturbing memories or flashbacks（幻覺重視） during the day. They often seem emotionally numb and may be easily startled or angered.
21.如何應對壓力
段落大意：應對壓力的方式因人而異。能否很好地處理壓力反映著一個人的性格特征及生活態度。
Coping with stress means using thoughts and actions to deal with stressful situations and lower our stress levels. Many people have a characteristic way of coping with stress based on their personality. People who cope well with stress tend to believe they can personally influence what happens to them. They usually make more positive statements about themselves, resist frustration, remain optimistic（樂觀的） even under extremely adverse （不利的） circumstances. Most importantly, they choose the appropriate strategies to cope with the stressors they confront. Conversely, people who cope poorly with stress tend to have somewhat opposite personality characteristics, such as lower self-esteem and a pessimistic （消極的） outlook （觀點） on life.
22.社會支持與壓力
段落大意：一些研究發現，社會支持能幫助保持心理健康，提高應對壓力的能力。
A large body of research has linked social support to good health and a superior ability to cope with stress. For example, one long-term study of several thousand California residents found that people with extensive social ties lived longer than those with few close social contacts. Another study found that heart-attack victims who lived alone were nearly twice as likely to have another heart attack as those who lived with someone. Even the perception of social support can help people cope with stress. Studies have found that people’s appraisal of the availability of social support is more closely related to how well they deal with stressors than the actual amount of support they receive or the size of their social network.
23.漸進式肌肉放鬆幫助緩解壓力
段落大意：漸進式肌肉放鬆可以幫助緩解壓力。
Two major methods of relaxation are progressive （漸進的） muscular relaxation and meditation. Progressive muscular relaxation involves systematically tensing and then relaxing different groups of skeletal（骨骼的） muscles, while directing one’s attention toward the contrasting sensations（感覺） produced by the two procedures. After practicing progressive muscular relaxation, individuals become increasingly sensitive to rising tension levels and can produce the relaxation response during everyday activities, which is often conducted by repeating a cue word （提示詞）, such as “calm,”to themselves.
24.冥想幫助緩解壓力
段落大意：冥想可以帶來許多積極結果，如沉思、智慧，以及意識狀態的轉變。
Meditation, in addition to teaching relaxation, is designed to achieve subjective goals such as contemplation （沉思）, wisdom, and altered states of consciousness. Some forms have a strong Eastern religious and spiritual heritage （遺產） based in Zen Buddhism （禪宗佛教） and yoga. Other varieties emphasize a particular lifestyle for practitioners. One of the most common forms of meditation, transcendental （超越的） meditation, involves focusing attention on and repeating a mantra （禱告文）, which is a word, sound, or phrase thought to have particularly calming effects.
25.有氧運動幫助緩解壓力
段落大意：有氧運動可以幫助緩解壓力。
Aerobic exercise, such as running, walking, biking, and skiing, can help keep stress levels down. Since aerobic exercise increases the endurance of the heart and lungs, an aerobically fit individual will have a lower heart rate at rest, lower blood pressure, less reactivity to stressors, and quicker recovery from stressors. In addition, studies show that people who exercise regularly have higher self-esteem and suffer less from anxiety and depression than people who are not aerobically fit. The American College of Sports Medicine recommends exercising three to four times a week for at least 20.minutes to reduce the risk of cardiovascular （心髒血管的） disease.
26.全球化帶來的健康問題
段落大意：交通發展促進全球化進程，導致疾病在全球範圍內迅速傳播。
Life-threatening diseases represent one facet of globalization. Improvements in transportation that have helped usher （引入） in globalization have also made it possible for infectious diseases to spread rapidly around the globe. In 2003, for example, a deadly form of pneumonia （肺炎） known as severe acute respiratory （呼吸的）syndrome（綜合征）（SARS） quickly posed a worldwide health threat as airline passengers infected with the virus spread the illness.
27.有關藥物專利法的討論
段落大意：在疾病主要影響著窮人的情況下，卻幾乎沒有任何為他們提供新藥的研究，因為他們無法支付相關費用。針對這一問題，人們對藥物的專利問題展開討論。
In the case of diseases that primarily affect poor people, little or no research is being done to provide new medicines because the people affected are too poor to buy them. A major struggle has emerged regarding AIDS treatment over whether patent（專利權）laws will continue to require that people pay high prices for life-saving drugs or whether lower-cost generic （非專利的） medicines can be provided. This issue has been intensively discussed as part of the debate over the WTO’s Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights （TRIPs）. Western pharmaceutical （製藥的） companies that do the research and development wish to defend their investments and argue that without such protection from the law less will be spent to develop new life-saving drugs. The developing countries argue that scientific breakthroughs should be shared as widely and inexpensively as possible. They have resisted the extension of property rights.