Lawrence Huff hummed (发出连续低沉的声音) as he led his class of yoga students on a recent Friday afternoon.
Dressed in orange, the practitioners sat with their legs crossed.
In the back of the classroom, an officer sat with his arms folded, watching every move.
Every Friday, Huff volunteers to teach yoga to prisoners at the Metro West prison in Florida, the US. The 71-year-old has been doing this for the past five years, and simply wants to share his love of yoga. “I come here as a volunteer and they are my students,” Huff said. “I really don’t get nervous. I know where I am, but I don’t view them individually as criminals, but just as people participating in a class.”
With the prison housing about 1,800 prisoners at any given time, there’s a waiting list to get into the class.
“I know this is a jail...but one day or another, these people are going to get released, so we want to make sure that they are productive members of society,” said Juan Diasgranados, public affairs manager for the prison.
Huff teaches yoga at two other jails and several libraries in Florida. When he’s not teaching yoga, he works as a substitute teacher at local schools. He said he got the idea for the yoga classes because he knew someone who had gone to prison, so he contacted local prisons and began offering his yoga services.
But what keeps him coming back each week? “Because the people are so appreciative. They are very enthusiastic about every aspect about it,” he said. “Because they spend most of their time in a dorm and are undergoing all kinds of stress, the classes are a peaceful space for them.”
Some prisoners have said the weekly yoga classes have given them something to look forward to, as they offer a break in their routines.
“It makes me feel focused; it recharges me,” one 42-year-old prisoner from Miami said.
“I was always familiar with yoga but didn’t actually understand it fully.
“Now that I am in here, there are all these books and literature around. I started studying it and now understand it. I have taken it to another level.”
4.How might Huff describe teaching yoga in prisons?
A.Worthwhile. B.Disappointing.
C.Profitable. D.Terrifying.
5.How is Huff’s yoga class with the prisoners?
A.It helps the prisoners to get to know each other better.
B.It is only given to those who will be released soon.
C.It is very popular with the prisoners.
D.It has made many prisoners more productive.
6.What’s the most valuable part of doing yoga in some prisoners’ eyes?
A.It improves their physical health.
B.It gives them a break from stress.
C.It helps them feel like a normal person.
D.It helps them fit better into society.
7.What is the best title for the passage?
A.Yoga Is for Everyone B.How to Practice Yoga
C.The Benefits of Yoga D.A Chance to Volunteer
答案
[语篇解读] Lawrence Huff每周五都到监狱里给囚犯们上瑜伽课,瑜伽课深受囚犯的欢迎。瑜伽课可以帮助囚犯们缓解压力,保持心境平和。
4.A 推理判断题。由第八段内容可知,囚犯们上瑜伽课有助于缓解他们的压力,让他们感觉内心平和。囚犯们对此都非常感激,充满热情。故可推知,他认为自己的做法是值得的。故选A项。
5.C 推理判断题。由第五段中的“With the prison housing about 1,800 prisoners at any given time, there’s a waiting list to get into the class.”可知,在这所容纳大约1,800名囚犯的监狱里,一直有囚犯等待着上瑜伽课。由此可以推知,瑜伽课非常受囚犯们的欢迎。故选C项。
6.B 细节理解题。由倒数第四段“Some prisoners have said the weekly yoga classes have given them something to look forward to, as they offer a break in their routines.”可知,每周一次的瑜伽课给了他们期盼,瑜伽课让他们可以从常规生活中缓解一下。结合第八段中Huff所说的话“Because they spend most of their time in a dorm and are undergoing all kinds of stress, the classes are a peaceful space for them.”可知,瑜伽课可以缓解他们的压力。故选B项。
7.A 主旨大意题。Lawrence Huff每周五都到监狱里给囚犯们上瑜伽课,瑜伽课深受囚犯的欢迎。瑜伽课可以帮助囚犯缓解压力,保持心境平和。由此体现瑜伽课对任何群体都有好处,故选A项。
