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2.4 OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Embracing Outdoor Activities

The busy modern lives, particularly recently, force people to spend a long time in front of screens, which causes
their minds to take over all responsibilities, but their bodies to be forgotten. Maintaining a sustainable balance
between the body and mind is an inevitable necessity for humans’ physical and psychological well-being. That
is why people must connect with the Earth through outdoor activities to cater for the needs of their body, mind,
and soul. Experts unanimously agree that outdoor activities, whether extreme sports or simple activities, allow
people to focus on their health and keep a healthy balance between physiological and mental health. Not only
do the activities put human bodies in motion and provide fresh air, but they also help people share notable
moments with loved ones and strangers. Rather than being thrilling, exciting, and joyful, outdoor activities are
excellent means of getting in touch with people and spending fruitful time—discussing, producing something,
and organising new events—that genuinely take them away from screens. Participating in an outdoor
group activity also exposes people to a new challenge, possibly new terrain, and new people from various
backgrounds. Additionally, many outdoor activities require people to communicate and solve problems together
to deal with the obstacles they encounter during the activity. Collaboration with each other makes people critical
thinkers and problem solvers, helping them organise their lives. Accordingly, physical activity outside increases
self-esteem, self-confidence, and creativity, unlike when people are alone and struggling with stress, anxiety,
and depression, which overwhelm them.

a Match the highlighted words and phrases in the passage to the definitions below.

1. : in a way that is exactly what it appears to be and is not artificial
2. : a feeling of being happy with one’s own character and abilities
3. : to take part in an activity
4. : to begin to have control of or responsibility for something, especially in place of
somebody else
5. : the act of working with another person or group of people to create or produce something
6. : to need something; to depend on somebody or something
7. : to provide the things that a particular person or situation needs or wants
8. : in a way that is agreed or supported by everyone in a group
9. : unable to be avoided or prevented; certain to happen
10. : deserving to be noticed or to receive attention; important

b Underline and replace the synonyms of the given words and phrases in the sentences. Change
the form if necessary.

genuinely notable take over
cater for inevitable participate unanimously

1. Generally speaking, the most suitable facility that meets the needs of gifted children near here is that
school.
2. However energetic the adventurer was, he got exhausted after two days and could not indeed climb to the
top of the mountain last week.
3. The sportspeople played chess all week because bad weather conditions prevented them from being
involved in outdoor activities.
4. Taking charge of a project like planning a camping trip requires careful consideration of various factors
such as location, weather, equipment, and food.
5. During our hiking trip, we encountered remarkable examples of rare wildflowers that are not typically found
in the region.
6. People joining the activity accepted with one accord the new rules of the game, which have changed
recently.
7. The unavoidable risk of injury makes proper training and safety equipment essential for anyone engaging
in extreme sports.
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