B2难度（FCE）

Team Sports Help Reduce Stress and Improve School Performance

A recent study discovered that playing group sports can help lower stress and make students feel more confident about handling schoolwork, even during difficult times like the COVID-19 lockdowns. Researchers from the University of Waterloo found that students who took part in activities like fitness classes and sports before the pandemic felt less stressed and more capable of handling challenges during the lockdown.

The study collected information from 116 students who played sports at their school. They answered questions about their stress levels and feelings of competence in January 2020, before the pandemic, and April 2020, after the lockdowns started.

Steven Mock, one of the researchers, said that being involved in sports had benefits beyond just being physically healthy. It also helped students feel better overall, even during tough times. He suggested that learning to handle challenges and losses in sports might help students develop important skills like adaptability, which could help them deal with unexpected problems like the pandemic.

Before the pandemic, most students had low stress levels. The main things they worried about were schoolwork, making new friends, and reaching personal goals. After the lockdowns began, the top sources of stress changed to online tests, the impact of the pandemic on their lives, and managing schoolwork.

The study also found that graduate students and international students played fewer sports before the pandemic, which might affect their well-being. The researchers suggested that schools should consider including sports as a way to improve students' mental health and happiness.

Theodore Roosevelt, a former U.S. president, was a big fan of sports in school. Despite being a weak child with asthma, he became a talented college boxer and wrestler. He continued to play sports even after becoming president and encouraged his own children to participate as well. He believed in working hard at everything, whether it was school subjects or sports.

生词学习

Competence (noun) /ˈkəmpɛtəns/ 

- the ability to do something successfully, 能力 

Example sentence: Sally showed great competence in playing the piano.

Adaptability (noun) /əˌdæptəˈbɪlɪti/ 

- the ability to change or be changed to fit new situations, 适应性 

Example sentence: Her adaptability allowed her to succeed in various jobs.

Pandemic (noun) /pænˈdɛmɪk/ 

- a disease that affects people all over the world, 大流行病 

Example sentence: The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we live and work.

Lockdown (noun) /ˈlɒkdaʊn/ 

- a situation in which people are not allowed to enter or leave a building or area freely, 封锁 

Example sentence: The city was put under lockdown to control the spread of the virus.

Well-being (noun) /ˌwɛlˈbiːɪŋ/ 

- the state of feeling healthy and happy, 幸福 

Example sentence: Regular exercise can improve your physical and mental well-being.

读后思考

How do you think being part of a sports team can help students develop important life skills and handle stress better?