1 . Here’s a selection of the strangest races in the world.
Surf Dog Competition
Hundreds of participants (参赛者) from all over the US come to fight for the first prize. This annual event is an official dog surfing competition taking place in Imperial Beach in August and Huntington Beach in September. The attendance to the event is free of charge, however, donations are welcome.
Bring Your Own Big Wheel Race
If you think wheel toys are designed for kids only, you’re wrong. The race was initiated by John Brumit in 2000 when he rode down Lombard Street on his plastic wheel toy. That day, he was the only participant in the race. He continued his tradition every year, but few joined him. In 2006, someone posted a video of his race and as a result, the next year’s race featured hundreds of participants though there was no prize money. Since then, the annual race has been held on Easter Sunday in San Francisco.
World’s Ugliest Dog Contest
It’s an annual event held in June in Petaluma, California. But it’s not about making fun of the ugly dogs, but about encouraging them and showing the world that such dogs can also be happy and adorable. The competition has been held since the 1970s. The winner gets a check for $1,000.
Fur Rondy
Like the famous Spanish Bullfighting Festival, Alaska has its own tradition. It’s a bit transformed. Speedy reindeer (驯鹿) run after the participants in the race. This event is held every February in Anchorage, Alaska. Participants pay a small fee to attend it; some of them wear funny dresses, which children enjoy very much.
1. What made Bring Your Own Big Wheel Race popular quickly?A.Brumit’s strange race device. | B.A video of Brumit in the race. |
C.The prize money of the race. | D.The joy brought by the race. |
A.Surf Dog Competition. | B.Bring Your Own Big Wheel Race. |
C.Fur Rondy. | D.World’s Ugliest Dog Contest. |
A.They are free of charge. | B.They have ancient traditions. |
C.They are held annually. | D.They are favored by children. |
1. Which sport does the man like best?
A.Cycling. | B.Football. | C.Swimming. |
A.In winter. | B.In spring. | C.In summer. |
3 . Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature. However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your choice of sport might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemical and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses in good condition .This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas.
There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be “green gyms”. They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it’s free.
1. What do we know about golf from the passage?A.It is not played in Portugal and Spain at all. |
B.It causes water shortages around the world. |
C.It pollutes the earth with chemicals and wastes. |
D.It needs water and energy to keep its courses in good condition. |
A.it is free | B.it benefits our health |
C.it is resource-saving | D.it gets people close to the nature |
A.Cycling in a mountain. | B.Working out in a gym. |
C.Swimming in a sports center. | D.Playing golf in the countryside. |
4 . Darius and Johntel both love basketball and are captains of their high school basketball teams. They didn’t know each other.
Just hours before the game, Johntel’s mother died from cancer. Her sudden
Seeing him, Johntel’s coach called a time out, and players and fans
The opposing team understood the
As the team captain, Darius
Immediately, Johntel and his teammates
Johntel’s team won the game in the end. But as the two
A.Therefore | B.However | C.Besides | D.Otherwise |
A.disease | B.wound | C.death | D.accident |
A.cancel | B.watch | C.defeat | D.organize |
A.suggested | B.expected | C.ordered | D.insisted |
A.kind | B.heavy | C.healthy | D.cheerful |
A.Fortunately | B.Expectedly | C.Surprisingly | D.Hopefully |
A.surrounded | B.comforted | C.encouraged | D.called |
A.luck | B.fun | C.advice | D.support |
A.speak | B.play | C.study | D.work |
A.put off | B.give up | C.result in | D.escape from |
A.situation | B.lesson | C.meaning | D.mistake |
A.perform | B.accept | C.admit | D.avoid |
A.agreed | B.argued | C.proved | D.guessed |
A.start | B.lose | C.continue | D.stop |
A.offered | B.refused | C.hesitated | D.pretended |
A.already | B.even | C.only | D.still |
A.understood | B.wondered | C.believed | D.asked |
A.coaches | B.classmates | C.games | D.teams |
A.somebody | B.nobody | C.everybody | D.anybody |
A.disappointing | B.exciting | C.memorable | D.scary |
Mascots (吉祥物) for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games(残奥会)
A red lantern baby called “Shuey Rhon Rhon” and an
“They are designed
The name “Bing Dwen Dwen” is
Exercise is one of the most important
When you exercise
Make sure that an exercise plan
7 . They are probably the longest-standing and biggest rivals (对手) in international sport— Chinese badminton player Lin Dan, with his deadly smashes (扣球) and drop shots, and his Malaysian rival Lee Chong Wei, who is known for his spirit and determination.
Over the years, the two have competed with each other many times, and both have experienced victory and defeat. But Lin beat Lee the first two times they faced each other in the Olympic Games—in Beijing in 2008 and then in London in 2012.
And that was inadmissible for Lee. In fact, according to BadmintonBlaze.com, Lee once said that if he had the choice between winning an Olympic gold and beating Lin, he would absolutely choose victory over his old rival.
And he eventually did, at the 2016 Rio Games. When he beat Lin that day, Lee dropped to the floor, covered his face with his hands and looked around the stadium like a gold-medal moment although Lee eventually lost out in the final to another Chinese player, Chen Long.
All the years of trying to outdo each other have not only driven Lin and Lee to surpass (超越) themselves as players, but also developed a special friendship between the two.
They care for and encourage each other. They invited each other to their own weddings. And right before this year’s Malaysia Open, Lee, who wasn’t able to compete there on account of his nose cancer, wrote on social networking site Facebook, “My friend Lin Dan, you have my best wishes for this Malaysian Open. If I were to hope for a non-Malaysian to win the men’s singles title, I hope that it’s you my friend, my greatest rival.”
Lin and Lee are now pushing 36 and 37 respectively—ages by which most athletes would have retired—but they are planning to compete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, in the hope that they can play each other once again.
It’s as Badminton Association of Malaysia vice president David Wee once said of the two, “they bring out the best in each other”.
1. Which phrase can best describe their relationship?A.Familiar strangers. | B.Friends and enemies. |
C.Colleagues and rivals. | D.Teammates and competitors. |
A.Unacceptable. | B.Inescapable. |
C.Unexpected. | D.Impossible. |
A.He mistakenly believed he had won the gold medal. |
B.He was confident to defeat Lin Dan next time. |
C.He didn’t care about the Olympic gold medals. |
D.He took his victory over Lin most seriously. |
A.Lin ranks second to Lee in the world badminton. |
B.Lin is sure to compete against Lee at the 2020 Olympics. |
C.Lee has no intention to quit playing badminton in spite of his nose cancer. |
D.Lee wished Lin to win the men’s singles title in this year’s Malaysia Open. |
8 . “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. |
9 . Sports can help you keep fit and get in touch with nature. However, whether you are on the mountains, in the waves, or on the grassland, you should be aware that your sport of choice might have great influence on the environment.
Some sports are resource-hungry. Golf, as you may know, eats up not only large areas of countryside, but also tons of water. Besides, all sorts of chemicals and huge amounts of energy are used to keep its courses (球场) in good condition. This causes major environmental effects. For example, in the dry regions of Portugal and Spain, golf is often held responsible for serious water shortage in some local areas.
There are many environment-friendly sports. Power walking is one of them that you could take up today. You don’t need any special equipment except a good pair of shoes; and you don’t have to worry about resources and your purse. Simple and free, power walking can also keep you fit. If you walk regularly, it will be good for your heart and bones. Experts say that 20 minutes of power walking daily can make you feel less anxious, sleep well and have better weight control.
Whatever sport you take up, you can make it greener by using environment-friendly equipment and buying products made from recycled materials. But the final goal should be “green gyms”. They are better replacements for traditional health clubs and modern sports centers. Members of green gyms play sports outdoors, in the countryside or other open spaces. There is no special requirement for you to start your membership. And best of all, it’s free.
1. Which of the following is the author most probably in favor of?A.Cycling around a lake. |
B.Motor racing in the desert. |
C.Playing basketball in a gym. |
D.Swimming in a sports center. |
A.It is popular in Portugal and Spain. |
B.It causes water shortages around the world. |
C.It pollutes the earth with chemicals and wastes. |
D.It needs water and electricity to keep its courses green. |
A.it is an outdoor sport |
B.it improves our health |
C.it uses fewer resources |
D.it is recommended by experts |
A.show us the function of major sports |
B.encourage us to go in for green sports |
C.discuss the major influence of popular sports |
D.introduce different types of environment-friendly sports |
10 . Children who spend more time outdoors may have a lower risk of becoming nearsighted, new research suggests.
In the study, researchers looked at about 1,900 schoolchildren. The scientists found that the kids who had been instructed to spend more time outdoors over three years were 23 percent less likely to develop nearsightedness during this time than those who had not been instructed to spend more time outdoors. Moreover, among the kids who did become nearsighted during the study, the degree to which their eyesight worsened was slightly smaller among those who spent more time outdoors.
The researchers selected six schools and required the children, whose average age was 7 at the start of the study, to attend one additional 60-minute class of outdoor activities during each school day for three years. The parents of these children were also encouraged to engage their children in outdoor activities after school, especially during weekends and holidays. The other half of the children, from another six schools, continued their usual activity patterns. After three years, 30.4 percent of the kids in the intervention(干预) group had become nearsighted, compared with 38.5 percent of the kids in the other group.
It is not clear exactly why spending more time outside would benefit children’s eyesight, the researchers said. However, some research has suggested that the higher levels of light intensity found outdoors may increase the release of the chemical dopamine(多巴胺) of the eye. In turn, dopamine is known to restrain the type of growth in the eye that is associated with nearsightedness.
Based on the new results, the researchers recommend that children spend more time outdoors because of the potential benefits to their eyesight. However, it’s important to protect kids’ skin and eyes from UV light, which can be damaging.
1. What did the children in the intervention group do during each school day?A.Continue to do their usual activities. |
B.Spend one hour in doing eye exercises. |
C.Attend an extra class of outdoor activities. |
D.Participate in outdoor activities with parents. |
A.It can control people’s growth. | B.It can lead to poor sight. |
C.It means low levels of light intensity. | D.It is good to eyesight. |
A.recover. | B.increase. |
C.limit. | D.convey. |
A.How to prevent kids becoming nearsighted. |
B.How to protect kids’ skin and eyes from UV light. |
C.How to encourage kids to join in outdoor activities. |
D.How to design outdoor activities for kids to cure their nearsightedness. |