1 . The greatest sports moments often have a wonderful flow state behind the victories or performances. Being in flow refers to the moments where distraction reduces, and concentration
It was a
Facing the desperate situation, I could
5 points to go, 4 points to go... My opponent started getting visibly
Despite a small game, it inspired me a lot. Not being able to control how our opponent plays, we can
| A．limits | B．decreases | C．heightens | D．changes |
| A．tough | B．competitive | C．crazy | D．close |
| A．lose | B．win | C．tie | D．restart |
| A．adjustments | B．reservations | C．efforts | D．mistakes |
| A．call | B．make | C．leave | D．take |
| A．defense | B．attack | C．celebration | D．relief |
| A．figured | B．tried | C．pointed | D．stuck |
| A．Sighing | B．Breathing | C．Regretting | D．Struggling |
| A．attention | B．interest | C．insight | D．appreciation |
| A．confused | B．desperate | C．exhausted | D．uneasy |
| A．right | B．impossible | C．opposite | D．previous |
| A．swollen | B．bright | C．sharp | D．bloodshot |
| A．wild | B．silent | C．mad | D．deaf |
| A．Going against | B．Cutting off | C．Holding to | D．Recovering from |
| A．wonder | B．determine | C．predict | D．consider |
1. What will the competition try to find next year?
| A．The best dancer. | B．The best actor. | C．The best singer. |
| A．At 10:30 am. | B．At 9:00 am. | C．At 8:00 am. |
| A．It will be free for the first week. |
| B．It will open earlier than expected. |
| C．It will be bigger than the old one. |
| A．On a program. | B．In a gym. | C．At home. |
3 . Cash Composition Contest
In support of Financial Literacy Month (April), Michigan State University Extension and 4-H, a youth organization, are coordinating (协调) the Cash Composition Contest. Youths residing in Michigan are encouraged to answer this year’s essay question with an essay of 300 words or less. The 5 top-scoring essays will each win a $100 gift card thanks to the generous sponsorship by Extra Credit Union.
Timeline
April 30, 2023: Essay submission due by 11:59 pm
May 31, 2023: Winners notified
Cash Composition Topic
What is the difference between a need and a want? Discuss how you determine if something is a need or a want. How can you make sure you have enough money to get your needs and still enjoy some of your wants? Share how needs and wants might change throughout one’s life.
Grading Standards
● Quality of Writing
● Organization and Information
● Grammar
Guidelines
Participants must:
● Between 9—12 years of age as of January 1, 2023 living in the state of Michigan.
● Have knowledge of money management such as saving, spending, borrowing, and planning appropriate for age and grade level.
Requirements
● Youths must have parental or guardian permission to apply and participate.
● The application form must be completed by a parent/guardian.
● Youths must write an essay (300 words or less)on the assigned topic above.
● Essays must be submitted on the contest registration page.
● The essay must be the work of the student submitting it. It is highly recommended that youths write their essay prior to completing the registration/submission form.
1. Who will sponsor the contest prizes?| A．Michigan State University. | B．Extra Credit Union. |
| C．A local youth organization. | D．The state of Michigan. |
| A．The changes throughout one’s life. |
| B．The ways to improve quality of writing. |
| C．The need for charity management. |
| D．The discussions on needs and wants. |
| A．Submitting the essay on April 29. | B．Writing an essay of 300 words. |
| C．Filling the application form in person. | D．Finishing the essay before registration. |
4 . It’s easy to talk yourself out of exercising. Even when you have the best intentions to work out, excuses are so easy to find — “I’m too tired”, “I’m busy” or “The weather is bad”. Don’t worry!
※ Take baby steps.
You’ll never try to run 10 miles just in a single day, right? When you do too much too soon, you’ll end up injured and discouraged. Take it easy as you get stated. Maybe you only run a quarter of a mile during your first week.
※ Show the clock who is boss.
Health experts say that you should aim for at least 150 minutes of exercise a week, plus weight training at least twice a week. If you work too late to get to a gym, keep a set of weights at home. If you can’t do 30 minutes at once, break it up into 10 or 15 minutes’ sections.
※
Your workout should be just as much a habit as brushing your teeth or eating breakfast. When it’s part of your routine, you won’t even have to think about it. In a few months, fitness can be regular in your day.
※ Keep it real.
You’re not going to shake off 30 pounds in a week.
※Celebrate.
It takes weeks to see real changes. Therefore, even a pound of weight loss or a pound of muscle gain is the reason to reward yourself.
| A．Do it for yourself. |
| B．Try to get used to it. |
| C．Go out with friends or buy a pair of jeans. |
| D．Keep a fitness journal to record your progress. |
| E．Aim for something that is realistic as a first step. |
| F．The following tricks can keep your fitness routine on track. |
| G．When it gets easy for you, you’ll surely make it more challenging. |
5 . To keep social distancing and work at home during the pandemic (流行病) has led to less time moving around, and more time sitting and looking at screens. For many office workers, working at home means spending hours sitting at our desk.
Start small
People trying to start exercising often get caught up in an “all or nothing” thinking which means either I do zero or I do two hours. And if I don’t get two hours, then it doesn’t count, or it’s not good enough.
Part of developing a good exercise habit is to know yourself well. Knowing what’s possible and what’s not realistic for you. For instance, if you’re not a morning person, don’t plan to exercise in the morning. And if you hate running, don’t run just because someone tells you it’s good for you.
Walk whenever you can
Sitting less and walking more will make a big difference. Use your stairs instead of an elevator. And if you don’t have to go out, just walk room to room back and forth to get those extra steps. If you have a meeting, use the break of that meeting to walk around.
| A．Make sure to know yourself well |
| B．Choose a suitable time for yourself |
| C．All these steps will count and be helpful |
| D．That’s a great place for everybody to walk |
| E．But five minutes is believed to be better than none |
| F．And it is ruining our health physically and mentally |
| G．You can think of possible ways for you to start or stick to |
6 . 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. |
7 . “When I grow up, I want to be a runner.” These words are spoken by thousands of Kenyan children. 50 percent of the Kenyan top runners are members of Kalenjin, one minority race of the country. They make up less than two percent of Kenya’s population. This fact has puzzled sports scientists. They have spent considerable time and effort trying to answer one question: What enables the Kalenjin people to run so fast?
Although the question seems simple, finding the answer has proven to be difficult and controversial. A team of Danish sports scientists spent 18 months and discovered the Kalenjins had remarkably slow heart rates even when running long distances. The Kalenjins live in high-elevation（高海拔） villages in the Rift Valley in western Kenya. People living at high elevations produce more red blood cells, which aid in the transport of oxygen throughout the body. Because the air is thinner and contains less oxygen at high elevations, the body produces more red blood cells. Scientists believe there is a connection between increased red blood cells and low heart rates and that both may enable high-altitude athletes to outperform those who train at low altitudes. The Danish scientists also studied the bodies of the Kalenjins and compared them to those of the Danes. They found that the Kalenjins have longer “birdlike” legs. The Kalenjins also have lower body mass indexes (a measure of body fat based on weight and height) and shorter bodies than Danish people.
As a result of the Danish study, some scientists made the conclusion that the Kalenjins possess what is called a “speed gene(基因)”. However, Kenyan runners were offended by this conclusion They credited their success to hard work and endless hours of training.
Although the controversy over the “speed gene” remains unsolved, British runner Mo Farah’s experience offers an interesting perspective on the subject. In 2005, he realized he wasn’t meeting his potential as a runner. A group of Kenyan runners were training in England then. After he accidentally observed the Kenyans’ strict training routines and dedication to their sport, Farah said it was like a switch had been turned on in his head. He began eating healthy foods, going to bed early, and training harder than he had ever trained in his life. As a result, Farah’s running career exploded. He has won seven world and Olympic titles in the 5000m and regularly beats Kenya’s top runners!
Farah’s story proves what Kenyans have known all along. Regardless of genetics, their success would not be possible without hard work, dedication, sacrifice, and mental toughness. Their “secret” is simple. Train hard, run fast, and never give up.
1. What interested the sports scientists?| A．Kenyan sports history. |
| B．Kanlenjins’ running ability. |
| C．Kanlenjins’ training methods. |
| D．Kenyans’ enthusiasm for sport. |
| A．Physical condition. | B．Hard training. |
| C．Living style. | D．Strong will. |
| A．Convincing. | B．Astonishing. |
| C．Unacceptable. | D．Important. |
| A．To show running methods count. |
| B．To encourage British athletes. |
| C．To prove effort pays off. |
| D．To support gene theory. |
1. 表示祝贺；
2. 评论与赞赏；
3. 表达祝愿。
注意:1. 词数100左右；
2. 可适当增加细节，以使内容连贯.
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