12 Reading Read the text about what gyms were like in the past. First decide whether the statements (1–10) are true (T) or false (F) and put a cross ( ) in the correct box. Then identify the sentence in the text which supports your decision. Write the first four words of this sentence in the space provided. There may be more than one correct answer; write down one only. The first one (0) has been done for you. 5 True/False/Justification The origins of the gym Today people nurture an obsession with a so-called wellness lifestyle that puts a young, toned body at the top of the priority list. Gluten-free diets, green smoothies, yoga, and SoulCycle – you name it! However, if we go back in time, we’ll see that even our ancestors liked to hit the gym, though sometimes for different reasons than obtaining the perfect beach body. According to Eric Chaline, the author of The Temple of Perfection: A History of the Gym, throughout history, the gym has been “a place that assembled the artistic and the political, the enlightened and the reactionary, touching on many areas of life, culture, and society.”As a tribute to the gods, the ancient Greeks used to go to the gym naked, a notion integrated into the semantics of the word “gymnasium”, which translates as “school for naked exercise” and, reportedly, resembled an outdoor athletic field. Narcissus and his fellow ancient Greeks admired the naked male body, which they perfected by practicing competitive sports or exercising in gyms. The Romans, on the other hand, were a bit skeptical of obsessing over the body and its physical pleasures. In the Middle Ages, the body was feared as a well-spring of immoral pleasures that had to be kept in the dark, and those who gloried in their physiques received a tongue lashing. When the Renaissance commenced, artists brought the nude back in the game, combining it with pagan elements and Christian motifs. The result? Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and Michelangelo’s David, masterpieces that praised physical beauty as a symbol of divinity. Nowadays, it can be said that people have returned to the classical Greek model of body observance, making gyms socially necessary venues where people go to meet with friends or even find someone to date. The concept of a place established exclusively for exercise was actually launched in the 16th century, when Renaissance artists and physicians recognized the benefits of exercise: it provided an attractive figure and promoted a balance in health. Despite this, the idea that body shape could be changed wasn’t present until humanity’s attitude toward embodiment was altered during the Enlightenment. This period underlined the importance of physical education and the enjoyment of one’s own body. Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum es Verlags öbv
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODE3MDE=