Five reasons why girls should play sports

Why play sports？ You might say “ get exercise and you’d be right.” To have fun？ That’s true， too. But there’s more. In fact， there are at least 5 more reasons. According to the Women’s Sports Foundation， girls who play sports get a lot more than just fit.

Girls who play sports do better in school. Girls might think that sports will take up all their study time. But research shows that girls who play sports do better in school than those who don’t. Exercise improves learning， memory， and concentration （专注力）， which can give active girls an advantage in the classroom.

Girls who play sports learn teamwork and goal-setting skills. Sports teach valuable life skills. When working with coaches， trainers， and teammates to win games and achieve goals， girls are learning how to be successful. Those skills will serve them well at work and in family life.

Sports are good for a girl’s health. Besides being fit and keeping a healthy weight， girls who play sports are also less likely to smoke. And later in life， girls who exercise are less likely to get breast cancer（乳腺癌）.

Playing sports builds self-confidence（自信）. Girls who play sports feel better about themselves. Why？ It builds confidence when girls know they can practice， improve， and achieve their goals. Sports are also a feel-good activity because they help girls get in shape， keep a healthy weight， and make new friends.

Exercise cuts the pressure. Playing sports can lessen （减轻）pressure and help girls feel a little happier. How？ The brain chemicals （化学物质） freed during exercise improve a person’s mood. Friends are another mood-lifter. And being on a team creates close relations between friends. It’s good to know their teammates will support them ― both on and off the field！

阅读选择

1. One of the reasons for a person to play sports may be .

A. to have funny stories

B. to get exercise

C. to kill time

2. Why do girls who play sports do better in school？

A. Because sports will take up all their study time.

B. Because sports teaches valuable life skills.

C. Because exercise improves learning， memory， and concentration.

3. Sports are good for a girl’s health because .

A. girls who exercise are less likely to get breast cancer

B. sports teaches valuable life skills

C. girls who play sports are also likely to smoke

4. The reason why playing sports builds self-confidence is that playing sports .

A. helps girls feel a little happier

B. can lessen girls’ pressure

C. helps girls get in shape， keep a healthy weight， and make new friends