Skating is such a popular activity among many Americans who like outdoor recreational activities. If ice skating is more convenient to people living in cold regions, roller-skating2 is even more popular—especially among teenagers3—throughout America. In fact, some American children like roller skating so much that they even roller skate to school and back home.
Martial arts4 are not only popular in East Asia, but also becoming more and more widespread in most parts of the United States. Among the types of martial arts practiced by Americans, Tae Kwon Do5 is probably the most popular in many regions in the country. Founded in Korea6, it is characterized7 by its fast, high and spinning8 kicks, which suits the taste of many Americans. The name Tae Kwon Do means the art of kicking and punching9. There is no use of weapons in this modern martial art. Generally speaking, Tae Kwon Do has become popular in America because it is a very powerful and exciting sport and very spectacular10 to see. It provides a chance for people to learn self-defense11 skills and to develop a sense of responsibility for oneself and others.
Another very popular martial art in the United States is Tai Chi Chuan12 originated in China. As the population of Chinese Americans keeps increasing, Tai Chi Chuan is becoming more popular in America. Every year more and more Tai Chi clubs are formed, considered an unusual blend13 of healing14 art and martial art and known to offer the participant15 the opportunity to become more aware of the natural laws.
While some Americans enjoy outdoor activities for recreation, others take pleasure in spending leisure at home as well. Similarly, some Americans prefer individual fitness activities and others favor social and community16 ones. Cooking, gardening, knitting17, arts and crafts18, listening to music, card games, and board games19 such as chess and checkers20, are all very popular home activities in America.
Cooking, to some, is their occupation21, but to others, it is a way of enjoying leisure. Cooking has a long history and, in fact, there had already been food and cooking before there was written history. Quite a number of Americans are fond of cooking not only because eating is their most essential22 need, but also because cooking offers them a lot of fun in enjoying the delicious food. Besides, cooking can help some people get more socialized23. Americans exchange recipes24, hold cooking competitions and hold potluck25 parties.
Besides cooking, gardening is also a very popular form of recreation in America, many Americans like gardening because it is so great fun. Some of the gardening lovers own acres26 of land, some only have a small backyard, some even live in an apartment without any yard, but they all grow all kinds of plants and flowers. No wonder many Americans believe that gardens can grow everywhere. Gardening provides people with fruits, flowers and fresh air, and it also allows all the family to work and play together. In many families, parents do the heavier work, while kids pitch in27 by digging holes, watering plants and weeding28 grass in gardening.
对于很多酷爱室外娱乐的美国人来说，滑冰是一项深受欢迎的活动。如果说在寒冷地带滑雪更方便，而在全美更加风行的则是溜旱冰——滑旱冰尤其受青少年的青睐。实际上，有些喜欢滑冰的美国孩子甚至滑着旱冰上学和回家。
武术不仅流行于东亚地区，在美国的大部分地区也有越传越广之势。美国人练习的武术种类很多，而跆拳道在许多地区可能尤受欢迎。跆拳道起源于韩国，其特点是踢腿又快又高并在转身中踢打，很适合美国人的口味。跆拳道的意思是拳打脚踢的艺术。这种现代的武术无需任何武器。总的说来，跆拳道在美国流行是因为它极具力量、令人兴奋、武打场面精彩。跆拳道使人们有机会学习自卫技巧，培养对自我、对他人的责任感。
另一种流行的武术是发源于中国的太极拳。随着美籍华人的不断增加，太极拳在美国也越来越受欢迎。每年有越来越多的太极拳俱乐部问世。人们认为太极拳神奇地将养生与武术结合在一起，使参与者有机会进一步认识自然规律。
有些美国人热衷于户外娱乐，而另外一些人喜欢在家里度过闲暇时光。与此类似，有些人愿意从事个人健身活动，而另外一些人则青睐社交和社区活动。烹饪、园艺、针织、美术、手工、听音乐、打牌、下棋（如国际象棋、跳棋），都是非常流行的家庭娱乐活动。
对有些人而言烹饪是一生的职业，而对另一些人而言则是一种休闲方式。烹饪有悠久的历史，实际上，食物、烹饪早在有文字记载之前就存在了。许多美国人喜爱烹调，不仅因为吃饭是他们最基本的需要，还因为他们可以享受美食，乐趣多多。此外，烹饪还可以促使人们相处更加融洽，为此美国人交流菜谱，举行烹饪比赛，举办自带饭菜的聚会等活动。
除烹饪外，园艺也是美国流行的一种娱乐方式。许多人热爱园艺是因为园艺极其有趣。有的园艺爱好者拥有几英亩土地，有的只有一个小小的后院，有的住在公寓里，连后院都没有，但都爱摆弄各色各样的花花草草，难怪美国人认为任何地方都可以开垦为花园。花园为人们提供水果、鲜花和新鲜空气，而且还可以让全家人共同劳动和娱乐。许多家庭的父母从事较繁重的活，孩子们则尽心尽力，参与挖坑、浇水和除草等园艺劳动。
1. recreation n． 消遣, 娱乐
2． roller－skate v． 滚轴溜冰，划旱冰
3． teenager n． 十几岁的青少年
4． martial arts 武术
5． Tae Kwon Do 跆拳道
6． Korea n． 韩国, 朝鲜
7． characterize v． 表现．．．．．．的特色
8． spinning n． 旋转
9． punching n． 冲压
10． spectacular adj． 引人入胜的
11． self－defense n． 自卫
12． Tai Chi Chuan 太极拳
13． blend [blend] n． 混和
14． healing n． 康复 healing art: 修身养性
15． participant n． 参与者
16． community n． 社区
17． knitting n． 针织
18． craft n． 工艺, 手艺
19． board game 棋盘游戏
20． checker n． 跳棋
21． occupation n． 职业
22． essential adj． 必需的
23． socialize v． 使社会化
24． recipe n． 处方
25． potluck n． 家常便饭
26． acre n． 英亩
27． pitch in 投入，置身其中
28 weed v． 拔（园子里的）（杂草）