TOPIC 127

TOPIC 127: Some people say that physical exercise should be a required part of every school day. Other people believe that students should spend the whole school day on academic studies. Which opinion do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

Essay 1

Though physical recreations and intellectual activities are two basic ways in which people spend their leisure time. In my opinion, the former is more important for my generation, who is in twenties and is studying hard for their academic achievements. This is based on a consideration of age, our main occupation and the characteristics of two forms of recreation.

People of my age are full of energy and physically active, but we have to sit for hours a day racking our brains. We need a complement that can give us more physical exercises and divert our attention from studying. A intellectual activity, like reading a book, playing a chess game can help us escape from the worries and forget our study for a moment. But there is no physical activity, what's more, they are more or less still a form of mental recreation. For instance, we may feel mentally tired after games of chess and our study will be affected. In contrast, a physical recreation can provide us with a lot of physical activities and real mental relaxation. A ballgame, for example, can build up muscles, flex joints, speed up blood circulation and enhance bodily organs. We may feel physically exhausted, but we can be absorbed in study more easily.

In the view of above, however, it doesn't mean that one form is "meat" and the other is "poison". Occasionally, when we are physically exhausted and we are in good mood, a chess game or a good TV program can be very helpful.

(Essay ID: 343. This is a 5 point essay)

Essay 2

While physical exercise is important, I do not believe that it is the school's responsibility to provide physical training for its students. That is something that everyone can take care of on his or her own.

Many students get plenty of physical exercise as part of their daily life or recreation. A student who bicycles ten miles to and from school does not need more exercise. A good physical education program must take a student's outside activity into consideration. Otherwise, some students will spend valuable class hours repeating physical exercise.
If a school offers such activities, it also suggests that students will be graded on them. The range of possible physical activities is great: football, swimming, weight lifting, ballet, ballroom dance, yoga, skiing, horseback riding, and golf are just a few. However, the number that a school could offer is small. Some students could get bad grades in physical education simply because the school could not provide an activity they enjoy or do well. This seems unfair. Research suggests that participation, not excellence, in these activities determines the physical benefits the body will get.

Another issue is economic. Many schools do not have the money to provide gym facilities, playing fields, and athletic equipment for their students. Other schools are located in cities where that kind of space just isn't available. A few schools would rather keep money for academic purposes.

Schools can certainly encourage physical activity. They can provide space for notices about activities, events, and classes for physical activities. They can encourage students to plan time away from academic studies to get some exercise. However, I think that providing exercise should not be the school's responsibility.

(Essay ID: 224 )