The Sydney to Melbourne Ultramarathon, an endurance race of 875 km, was considered the toughest in the world. It used to be a five-day race, with only the world-class athletes daring to attempt it. Most athletes who took part in this ultramarathon were under 30 years of age.
Cliff was a farmer from Australia with a dream of running a race. When he attended the race, he was 61 years old. He had no specialized sportswear. Instead, he wore galoshes overalls. When he appeared at the venue, the onlookers thought he was probably a spectator. To their surprise, Cliff picked up a race number.
Having grown up on a farm, Cliff had to go out to round up the sheep every time there was a storm, because his family could not afford horses or tractors. Two thousand sheep scattered across two thousand acres of land—it took him as long as three days of chasing the animals, but he always succeeded.
The race began, and the strong and young racers started leaving Cliff behind. The racers had a strategy. They would be running hours each for the five days of the race, and sleep for the remaining 6 hours. Nonetheless, Cliff had no such strategy! Being an amateur athlete, he was not familiar with any such game plan. So, he just ran on and on, and the next morning, when the other athletes woke up, they found that the old man had caught up with the others by jogging all night. By the final night of the race, he had surpassed the other competitors and became the champion.
The next time Cliff’ caught attention again when he was 76. He took up the challenge of running along Australia’s border, across a distance of 16,000 km with the aim of raising money for homeless children. Unfortunately, his crew member fell ill, and Cliff had to withdraw from the race, after running for 6520 km.
Cliff, a simple farmer, created a one-of-a-kind history. Instead of withering away, he started his new life, and showed the world that it’s never too late to start following the heart and pursuing dreams.
1. What’s the function of ‘under 30 years of age’?| A．To classify the group of the race. |
| B．To introduce the level of the race. |
| C．To emphasize the toughness of the race. |
| D．To demonstrate the popular age of the race. |
| A．He had life experience. |
| B．He used an advanced sportswear. |
| C．He trained hard at times. |
| D．He adopted a well-designed strategy. |
| A．Intelligent and generous. | B．Ambitious and optimistic. |
| C．Persevering and sympathetic. | D．Determined and insightful. |
| A．Cliff, the winner of many running races. |
| B．Cliff, a simple Melbourne ultramarathon runner. |
| C．Cliff, a kind charitarian keen on raising money. |
| D．Cliff, a senior farmer running after his dream. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】You signed up for soccer, and played every game of the season. Sure, you're not the best player on the team, but most days you gave it your all. Do you deserve a trophy (奖杯)?
If the decision is up to Carol Dweck, the answer would likely be no. She's a psychology professor at Stanford University, California. She says a player doesn't have to be the best to get a trophy. But those who receive an award should have to work for it. She suggests trophies go to the most improved player, or the one who contributed most to the team spirit, as well as to those who play the best.
“The trophy has to stand for something,” Dweck told TFK. “If we give a trophy to everyone, then the award has no value.” Dweck argues that giving kids trophies for particular reasons, such as improving in a sport, teaches kids that adults value hard work and trying our best.
Others say that there's no harm in giving awards to all kids who play a sport, regardless of how they played or whether or not they improved.
“I think we should encourage kids' participation in sports,” says Kenneth Barish, a psychology professor at Weill Cornell Medical College, in New York City. “A trophy is one way to encourage kids' efforts.”
Barish argues that when we single out only the best or even the most improved players with a trophy, we are teaching kids the wrong lesson. We are sending the message that winning is everything. “Winning is only part of the equation (等式),” Barish told TFK. “Playing sports also teaches kids about teamwork and the importance of exercise.”
There will be plenty of opportunities for kids to learn about competition as they get older, says Barish. They'll soon realize that only one soccer team wins the World Cup and only one football team wins the Super Bowl. For now, he thinks there's nothing wrong with letting all kids who play a sport feel like winners. That means trophies for everyone.
1. According to Carol Dweck, which player should receive a trophy?| A．Tony, the most attractive player of the soccer team. |
| B．David, a soccer player who is both clever and funny. |
| C．Peter, who is ready to help his partners to score goals. |
| D．Jim, a soccer player who tries his best to win the game |
| A．There is no sense in giving a trophy to everyone. |
| B．Kids fond of playing sports should be rewarded. |
| C．Kids should be given trophies for trying their best. |
| D．It is necessary to encourage kids' participation in sports. |
| A．honor | B．choose |
| C．value | D．stress |
| A．Who deserves a trophy? | B．All kids deserve a trophy |
| C．What does a trophy deserve? | D．Best player deserves a trophy |
【推荐2】Writing contests are a great way for high school students to showcase their creative skills. Here are some of the top free writing contests for high school students.
Young Lions Fiction Contest
Award Amount: $10,000
Deadline: Usually in September
The Young Lions Fiction Contest was established in 2001 by the New York Public Library. Five finalists are recognized, with one taking home the grand prize of $10,000. To qualify, the author must be 25 or younger and submit a novel or a collection of short stories.
53-Word Story Contest
Award: Publication in Prime Number Magazine
Deadline: 21st of each month
Hosted by Prime Number Magazine, writers are put to the test and have to respond to a prompt (提示) with a 53-word story. The prompt changes each month, and the responses must be 53 words exactly. Only stories are permitted and only one submission per writer per month is allowed.
Signet Essay Contest
Award Amount: $1,000 to be used towards your higher education
Deadline: April 22, 2021
I£ you are a Wuthering Heights fan, then the Signet Essay Contest is the one for you. Five high school juniors or seniors can win an award for their two to three — page essays. You must select one of the five prompts1 based on the events and characters in Wuthering Heights.
Ocean Awareness Contest
Award Amount: Scholarships up to $1,500
Deadline: June 15, 2021
The Ocean Awareness Contest aims to recognize writers while raising awareness about the climate crisis. Students can submit visual art, film or music. Each category has specific qualifications, so make sure to check.
1. How many people can get the grand prize in Young Lions Fiction Contest?| A．One. | B．Five. | C．Six. | D．Ten. |
| A．It is held on the last day of each month. |
| B．The participants can choose any topic. |
| C．It awards winners a large sum of money. |
| D．The entry must contain exactly 53 words. |
| A．They are all free of charge. |
| B．They provide scholarships. |
| C．They accept various forms of works. |
| D．They center on environmental issues. |
The Asian Games is the largest sporting event in Asia. Its predecessor (前身) was the Far Eastern Games. In 1948, Guru Dutt Sondhi, the leader of Indian sports, felt that the Far Eastern Games were not good enough to reflect the level of Asian sports and the unity spirit of Asian people, and suggested building the Asian Games so that all Asian countries could join.
The Hangzhou Asian Games will be the third Asian multi-sport event held in China, with 12,417 athletes from all 45 Asian countries and regions joining. Some rising sports that are popular among young people will make their first appearance at this year’s Games, such as break dance and e-sports. Weiqi, a mind sport, will return to the Hangzhou Games after a 13-year absence since it appeared at the Guangzhou Games in 2010. Certain regional sports in Asia, especially dragon boat racing, kurash, and sepak takraw (库拉什和藤球), though not recognized as Olympic sports, will also be medal-awarded events at the Asian Games.
In the lead-up to the sporting event, the design details of the victory ceremony elements, including bouquets (花束), trays, and podiums, were exposed. The bouquet, named “Fruits of Victory”, mixes traditional Chinese elements such as rice ears and lotus pods, meaning fruitful harvests, and wishes the athletes a journey of achievement and honor. The medal tray’s design is inspired by the ripples of the West Lake and describes the elegance (优雅) of lakes and hills. The podium (领奖台) sports a purple rainbow on its outside, reflecting energy and innovation (创新). Its surface, painted in white, shows the spirit of unity, harmony and mutual success among Asian nations and regions.
On August 25, two sports culture exhibitions kicked off in Hangzhou to celebrate the upcoming Asian Games. With just several days remaining, organizers are fully prepared to host the Games, and it is sure to impress all the athletes and attendees (参加者), and leave a heritage (遗产) of a smart and green event for people.
1. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?| A．The goal of the Asian Games. |
| B．The origin of the Asian Games. |
| C．The attendees of the Asian Games. |
| D．The demand for hosting the Asian Games. |
| A．The Games will be the most Asian athletes in history. |
| B．Weiqi will be a competitive event for the first time at the Games. |
| C．Break dance and e-sports will make their first appearance in the Games. |
| D．Regional sports will be performed in the opening ceremony of the Games. |
| A．Unity and harmony. | B．Noble and elegance. |
| C．Energy and innovation. | D．Harvest and achievements. |
| A．A news report. | B．A travel website. |
| C．An exhibition guide. | D．A science magazine. |
【推荐1】Gently holding a baby hummingbird (蜂鸟) between her hands, Lattouf says, “Hello, cute little guy. Are you very hungry?” It’s the newest patient at Lattouf apartment in Mexico City where she has nursed hundreds of the tiny birds back to health over the past decade. Under Lattouf’s caress (爱抚), the bird relaxes little by little.
This is often how Lattouf’s days have gone since she turned her apartment into a clinic (诊所) for sick, injured or baby hummingbirds. Most of the hummingbirds are in the bedroom where Lattouf sleeps. They stay there until they are strong enough to fly and feed themselves. Then she moves them to a neighboring room to prepare them to finally be freed.
With dozens of the tiny birds buzzing overhead, Lattouf explained that she began caring for them a year after surviving colon (结肠) cancer in 2011. It started with one hummingbird that had an eye injured by another bird. A veterinarian (兽医) friend encouraged her to try to help it. The bird became her close partner, staying on her computer screen while she worked. “It wrote me a new life,” she said of the nine months when the bird lived with her. It helped pull Lattouf out of the sadness and loneliness she had experienced after her husband’s 2009 death followed by her cancer. Later, friends began bringing her more hummingbirds.
Lattouf says she never turns away a bird. “Most come to me as babies. Many come to me broken,” she said. Some have injuries to wings after running into things or falling from nests. Some get sick because of drinking polluted water from hummingbird feeders, which are popular in the city. Now the demand for her services has jumped because someone put a video about her work on the social platform TikTok that has been viewed more than 1.5 million times.
The city is filled with threats to hummingbirds like constant construction projects that replace flower gardens with concrete. But Lattouf remains optimistic. “We do everything possible,” she said.
1. What do we know about Lattouf?| A．She tried to save hummingbirds. | B．She wanted to be a nurse. |
| C．She liked to live in Mexico. | D．She used to be a doctor. |
| A．Her love for hummingbirds. | B．Her needs for a partner. |
| C．Her encounter with an injured one. | D．Her friend’s encouragement. |
| A．She has worked hard. |
| B．She has shared videos about the tiny bird. |
| C．More people get to know her services by TikTok. |
| D．She has accepted every injured hummingbird. |
| A．Brave and realistic. | B．Outgoing and active. |
| C．Generous and optimistic. | D．Humorous and energetic. |
【推荐2】Every year, usually in November, famous British people go to London for a special award ceremony Pride of Britain Awards. It celebrates Britain’s heroes—ordinary people who have shown bravery in a dangerous situation or who have done a lot to help others. When the nation needs a bit of cheering up, maybe we need more people like Dante Marvin.
Dressed in a tiny white suit, Dante was focused on in a wheelchair. He was a pocket rocket of positivity, taken to the stage with a loud “What’s up, London?” like a rock star. Dante Marvin told all celebrities present that he would not let a bone disease get in the way of his Raising efforts. Despite his own illness, he inspires everyone he meets. He often beams at others and works hard to spread happiness to others as an ambassador for the children’s charity, Variety.
Dante, 11, from Liverpool, suffers much more than most. He had 16 broken bones in his mum Rachael’ s body and was born with fragile bone disease and scoliosis (脊柱侧凸). He has broken 92 bones in his life—as a sneeze or slap can injure him—and has received 17 separate operations to insert metal chips. Rachael says, “I don’t prevent Dante doing anything. He just gets on with it. He hates seeing other children sad. If I take him to the hospital, he is more bothered about the crying children and tries to comfort them. I am so proud of him.”
Dante is so grateful for his new yellow wheelchair that has been donated by Variety. He said, “My message to anyone with a disability is ‘don’t give up.’ He reminds people of his motto—there are no disabilities, just abilities. Presenting Dante with the award—Child of Courage, Jason Manford, a famous comedian, asked if he’d like to be a comedian and Dante told him he never stops laughing.
1. Who is Pride of Britain Awards intended for?| A．Special talents. | B．Civilian heroes. |
| C．Outstanding children. | D．Super stars acting modestly. |
| A．Glares. | B．Fires. |
| C．Smiles. | D．Guesses. |
| A．Dante’s suffering and quality of helping others. |
| B．The importance of good family education. |
| C．Examples of Dante’s spreading happiness. |
| D．The symptom of fragile bone disease. |
| A．Dante’s dream is to be a comedian. |
| B．Jason Manford is a humorous host. |
| C．The award helps achieve one’s goal. |
| D．Dante is always optimistic and joyful. |
【推荐3】In June, 11-year-old Nigerian ballet dancer Anthony Mmesoma Madu was filmed barefoot, spinning and leaping gracefully in the air and landing in concrete, rain puddles (水坑). Just a few short months later, he has become an Internet star and gained a famous scholarship in America.
Madu thought he was being recorded for a study session by his ballet instructor, instead, the short video of him practicing his moves was posted on social media and has been shared widely across the world, with some of his fans including Hollywood actors Cynthia Erivo and Viola Davis.
His dancing also caught the attention of Cynthia Harvey, the artistic director of the ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Dance in New York. Harvey was so impressed by his talent that she tracked him down and offered him a scholarship with the American Ballet Theatre where he will attend a summer school in 2021.
Madu says his interest in ballet developed after watching Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princesses, a 2006 cartoon about 12 princesses who share a passion for the dance. "When I was watching the cartoon, I told my mum that I want to do ballet." he said.
He eventually got the chance to learn the dance after relocating to Ojo, a suburb (郊区) of Lagos with his mother, where they met Daniel Owoseni Ajala, founder of the Leap of Dance Academy. Ajala founded the dance academy in 2017 and has been teaching ballet for free to children who are unable to pay for a dance education since then.
When the self-taught instructor learned of Madu's desire to dance, he said he encouraged Madu's mother to let him sign up. It was during one of their sessions that he recorded Madu's dance video, but he never imagined that it would circulate rapidly.
"The video wasn't something we imagined to come out the way it did. It was just something that was supposed to show corrections of movements. It was bigger than I imagined, and I started getting calls. Celebrities were posting us," he said.
1. What can we know about Anthony Mmesoma Madu?| A．He decided to apply for a scholarship. |
| B．He became one of Viola Davis' big fans. |
| C．He posted his short video on social media. |
| D．He impressed many people by his dancing. |
| A．After attending a dance academy. | B．After moving to a suburb of Lagos. |
| C．After watching a lively cartoon. | D．After meeting Daniel Owoseni Ajala. |
| A．Demanding but sympathetic. | B．Warm-hearted and respectable. |
| C．Stubborn but generous. | D．Creative and outstanding. |
| A．A Non-profit Dance Academy | B．A Wonderful Dance Performance |
| C．A Self-taught Ballet Instructor | D．An 11-year-old Nigerian Ballet Boy |
【推荐1】I enjoyed this trip for the opportunity to witness the Cranes (鹤) returning from Wood Buffalo National Park, some with their young of the year. I wondered, at the changing skies of Saskatchewan, often the vivid oranges and pinks of a sunset made me pause, but it was the clouds of feathers as ducks, geese, and cranes lifted off fields and lakes in numbers so numerous, they blocked out the sky at times, that blew my mind.
The desire to travel and explore is strong within the human condition. We might think we must journey “away” to enjoy a holiday, and sometimes we do. But other times, a simpler exploration, digging deeply into landscapes and cultures that we think we know, reveals the best sights.
I grew up in Saskachewan when cranes were fighting back from extinction, and I wasn’t a birdwatcher. But, returning with Eagle-Eye Tours as a bird-loving RCGS Travel Ambassador, I wondered at the conservation successes that allowed us to find these rare birds reliably.
My favourite memory from the trip is of an old farmer driving a large truck who slowed down for our group, standing in the middle of a road, excitedly watching a flock of cranes. Rather than scolding us for blocking traffic, he invited us into his backyard for a better view! He explained how he’s been providing quiet reserves for many years as the birds stop to rest and feed before flying south to Texas. It’s moments like this that make the travel special, and companies like Eagle-Eye Tours craft itineraries (行程) that allow these unexpected discoveries.
I enjoyed sharing these experiences with other nature lovers on the Royal Canadian Geographical Society branded trip and look forward to doing it again in October 2024.
1. What do the changing skies indicate?| A．The worsening environment. | B．The coming change of the weather. |
| C．The imbalance of nature. | D．The success of protecting cranes. |
| A．A trip of relaxation. | B．A trip of exploration. |
| C．A trip of friendship. | D．A trip of protection. |
| A．To explain why the protection goes well. |
| B．To describe how local people live their life. |
| C．To show that farmers are friendly to tourists. |
| D．To prove that everyone is a true bird lover. |
【推荐2】Courtney Rich of Utah, was running in the Salt Lake City marathon. But as she headed into Mile 24, she began to feel the one thing that she didn’t want to do: collapse. It began creeping up on her and then suddenly overtook her.
“I wanted them to see Mom finish strongly. Those are things I tell my kids as often as I can when things are hard or they’re playing in their own sports. ‘Just do your best and that best is going to be a little different every day,’” she said. But at that moment, she knew she wasn’t going to be able to finish the race. “When I can feel my legs slowing down and I know I’m going to disappoint my kids,” Rich said. “By Mile 24… I looked at my watch and that’s when I called my husband and was in tears,” she said. “I was just having a little pity party for myself for a minute.”
“Next thing I knew, my daughter ran out,” Rich recounted. “I kind of saw her out of the corner of my left eye and I realized it was Avery. I just put a huge smile on my face. I stuck out my hand, she grabbed it and all of a sudden, my legs that were hurting and the heaviness of my body just felt lighter and we just ran to the finish line hand in hand.”
The proud mom said Avery told her that she did what she knew her mom needed at that moment. “That is absolutely Avery’s character. She sees people. She has sympathy. She notices people and is aware of just feelings and needs,” Rich said.
“Don’t ever brush aside the inspiration to do a small act of kindness for someone because you just never know what impact that will have on people,” Rich added.
1. What happened to Rich on Mile 24?| A．She was disturbed by a party. | B．She was overcome by tiredness. |
| C．She was struggling to cross the finish line. | D．She received an unexpected call from her husband. |
| A．Confused. | B．Refreshed. | C．Astonished. | D．Worried. |
| A．She is reliable and creative. | B．She is energetic and friendly. |
| C．She is sympathetic and considerate. | D．She is ambitious and intelligent. |
| A．Failure is often the case in our life. |
| B．Inspiration is more important to a successful mother. |
| C．We should hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. |
| D．The smallest moment of kindness can have a huge impact. |
【推荐3】Bright and early on the morning of our first full day in Antarctica (南极洲), L’ Austral’s Captain Fabien’s voice woke us up as it came through a loudspeaker. If we looked outside right now, he said, we’d see a beautiful sea of icebergs (冰山) in the golden sunlight. My sister and I jumped out of bed, staring in amazement as we sailed past giant pieces of ice. In the distance, we spotted a group of humpback whales feeding on smaller fishes. Next door, my parents were also waking up to the sights of a new day in Antarctica. Over breakfast, my sister and I excitedly told them about the whales we saw from our room that morning.
You might not immediately think “family vacation” when talking about a trip to Antarctica, but tour companies like Adventures by Disney are changing that. The company offers guided group trips to destinations across all seven continents in the world.
Our adventure started when we flew to Buenos Aires and explored the beautiful Argentine capital for a day. After leaving Buenos Aires, we flew to Ushuaia on an Adventures by Disney plane. Then, it was the journey toward the Drake Passage. After a speedy Drake Passage crossing, we reached Antarctica early, adding a half day to our scheduled four days on and around the continent.
To those unfamiliar with Adventures by Disney, the fact that you can experience Antarctica — the most distant, extreme continent — with Disney might be surprising. During the trip, there were thoughtful acts, from stamped postcards to send from an Antarctica post office to a champagne (香槟) party on our final stop of the journey; Adventures by Disney truly thought of everything for us. Antarctica is a life-changing destination packed with experiences that can’t be copied. We experienced Drake Passage seasickness, hiked up ice hills alongside lovely animals, and had a taste of champagne. And honestly, it’s going to be hard for the next family trip we take to compete.
1. Why did Fabien speak to passengers early in the morning?| A．To ask them to remain seated. |
| B．To wake them up for breakfast. |
| C．To warn them of possible dangers. |
| D．To remind them of the beautiful sights outside. |
| A．Visiting Antarctica with children being a good idea. |
| B．Most people not being able to enjoy family vacations. |
| C．Most people not considering Antarctica as a family vacation place. |
| D．A guided trip being an uncomfortable way to explore a new destination. |
| A．What the author had learned during the journey. |
| B．How the author and his family traveled to Antarctica. |
| C．What the author and his family had seen in Antarctica. |
| D．How the author felt about the Drake Passage crossing. |
| A．It was tiring but extreme. |
| B．More time should be added to it. |
| C．It was a family journey of a lifetime. |
| D．There should be more thoughtful acts. |
