【推荐2】Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. rebounds               B. smoothly               C. qualified               D. court          E. performance F. closely                    G. playing             H. incredible             I. legendary            J. crushed K. willing

A Giant on and off the Court

At first glance, it’s easy to see why Yao Ming made it to the NBA — he’s 7 feet 6 inches. But there have been a few 7 ft 6 in centres in the past and how many of them were 8-time All-Star and 5-time All-NBA? The answer is — none.

This     1     Chinese basketball player has made it to the Hall of Fame not just because of his height, but also due to his skills and great spirit. Yao’s career-high per-game averages are 25 points, 2.0 blocks, and 10.8     2    . Yao has become an NBA legend and has changed the way the world used to see NBA.

Before Yao played for the Houston Rockets in the NBA, he had been a player for Shanghai Sharks in the CBA (the Chinese Basketball Association). His contribution to the sport and the spirit of sportsmanship has gone beyond the     3    . He is, thus, the sole non-American player to date to lead the NBA in All-Star voting. He has proven his skills and talents and has stood out throughout his journey from     4     in the CBA to the NBA.

Yao was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in April 2016. The other legendary players who were elected along with him include Allen Iverson and Shaquille 0’Neal. However, Yao became     5     for a place in the Hall of Fame back in 2012. So humble was he that he requested to delay considering his nomination (提名) because it was too early. The Hall allowed his request and also left the decision to Yao as to when he was     6     to restart the process.

With Yao playing for the NBA, not only did his fans from China begin to follow the American version of their CBA, but Asian Americans were also inspired to follow the sport more     7    . He has also been the first Asian star who was picked first overall. It was also something different and outstanding that an Asian was part of commercials of all the major brands in the US, including the likes of Nike, Reebok, Apple, Pepsi, and Coca-Cola.

His overwhelming presence and     8     in the NBA also contributed to the increase in awareness about both Asian Americans and Asians for people from other cultures. In other words, he became the face of the eastern world.

Yao’s     9     success resulted from many factors. To tell the truth, if it were not for Li Yaomin (deputy GM, Shanghai Sharks) to force him, Yao Ming wouldn’t have entered the NBA draft so     10     and the world wouldn’t have witnessed this magnificent Chinese player shining in basketball’s biggest festival.

【推荐3】请在方框中选择合适的词汇，填入答题卡的空格中（只填代码），使短文完整连贯。
注意： (1) 每个选项至多只能使用一次； (2) 方框中有一个多余词汇。

A. take up       B. suggested       C. favorite       D. career       E. responded to       F. in shape G. down        H. at a certain time       I. to have completed       J. rather than       K. setting the record for

Mathea Allansmith isn’t your typical grandmother. She’s the oldest woman in the world     1     a marathon. She was 92 years 194 days old when she crossed the finish line at the 2022 Honolulu Marathon,     2     the oldest female to finish a marathon.

Mathea, now 94, of Koloa, Hawaii, USA, stays in shape all year round by running seven days a week, no matter what the weather is. Whether there is rain or sunshine, she covers 36 miles every week, even when she’s on holiday. The retired doctor didn’t     3     running until she was 46 years old—after a friend     4     she should run two miles per day.

“The Honolulu Marathon is my     5     marathon mainly because it doesn’t close the gate     6     , which allows even the slowest runner to finish the race,” she said. “It’s one of the best races.

Mathea, who doesn’t allow her age to slow her     7     , thinks she is the happiest person when she’s on the road. She enjoys running for miles and waving and saying hello to the people she passes. To stay in shape, Mathea keeps a steady training routine (惯例) . “I train all year round but increase the mileage (里程) 18 weeks before a marathon,” she said.

Mathea said it was her     8     as a doctor that allowed her to understand how her body and mind     9     diet and exercise. “I see the direct relation between moving and health,” she said. “It is important to reduce stress     10     ignoring it without a plan on how to do so. Of course, exercise of any kind is a natural stress reducer.”