1. Where are the speakers?
| A．At a fitness center. | B．In a sports field. | C．At a clinic. |
| A．Have a physical check. |
| B．Adjust his exercise program. |
| C．Offer the information of his injury. |
1. How did the man feel about his performance today?
| A．Greatly encouraged. | B．A bit dissatisfied. | C．Quite proud. |
| A．Patience. | B．Determination. | C．Luck. |
| A．Conducting an interview. | B．Holding a press conference. | C．Hosting a ceremony. |
1. What is the woman probably?
| A．A student. | B．A coach. | C．A basketball player. |
| A．5 minutes ago. | B．7 minutes ago. | C．10 minutes ago. |
4 . Simon James is a super-trail runner (越野跑步者) who encourages people to reconnect with nature in the name of exercise. He has completed Super Trail in the Alps, the Andes and the Himalayas. A late-night bet with a client (客户) got him tied to running.
“In 2006, a business client challenged me one evening in a bar to a 36-hour walk across 54 miles of the West Highland Way, and I foolishly said ‘yes’,” James said. “He then rang me the next day to tell me we would be running it.”
At the time, James was 20 kilograms overweight and the longest he had run before that was just under 8 miles, but he managed to finish that run and has never looked back.
According to a report, two-thirds of adults in the U. K. are overweight, one-fifth suffering from depression (抑郁). The huge influence caused by modern lifestyle has worsened these issues. We are aware of the importance of exercise in everyday life, and no amount of virtual meetings can make up for direct social contact. James said, “Only one thing can fix these problems — trail running.”
What is unique about trail running, he explained, is that “it reconnects us to our beautiful nature and connects our physical, mental and spiritual aspects, as well as providing us with an experience which can connect us to other people”.
Inspired, he quit his city life of working 16-hour-plus-days as a banker, and spent more time in trails and mountains.
James is now in charge of the trail running company Run the Wild. He said every run has been a gift following a physical operation in 2015, even though his doctor told that he could hardly run again. He said, “The outdoors is such a great place for us all to experience.”
1. How did Simon James take part in trail running?| A．He was inspired by a friend. | B．He tried to deal with his health issue. |
| C．He made a bet with a client. | D．He had a passion for workout. |
| A．It focuses largely on overweight British people. |
| B．It has little influence on people’s mental health. |
| C．It connects people through virtual community. |
| D．It helps to build the social connection for people. |
| A．Courageous. | B．Sociable. |
| C．Kind-hearted. | D．Determined. |
| A．A Unique Experience | B．A Trail to Nature |
| C．Running Wonder | D．Depression Disorders |
| A．The fitness equipment. | B．The water bar. | C．The changing room. |
| A．A game. | B．A player. | C．A commercial. |
| A．He breaks a rule. | B．He wins the game. | C．He gets three points. |
8 . 2024 Illustration Competition
Enter the competition most respected and admired in the industry for creativity in illustration, the Communication Arts Illustration Competition. Selected by distinguished professionals, the winning entries will be distributed worldwide in the Communication Arts Illustration Annual and on commarts.com, ensuring important exposure of the creations. Each winner will receive a professionalized Award of Excellence, made from solid aluminum, and an award certificate. Communication Art’s Award of Excellence is one of the most desired awards. If chosen, winning places you in the highest ranks of your profession.
What To Enter With
Any illustration first published or produced from Jan. 2023 to Jan. 2024 is qualified. Entries may originate from any country. Descriptions in English are necessary for the judges to read.
Entries Can Be Submitted In The Following Formats
Digital Images: RGB images in JPG format with a maximum file size of 2 MB. GIF images may be livelier, but would be turned down, and so would the PNG ones.
Motion Entries: In MOV, MP4 or MPG format, with a maximum file size of 500 MB.
Illustration Competition Categories & Entry Fees
Category | Single illustration | Series of illustrations |
Books (covers, jackets, etc.) | $ 40 | $ 80 (limit of 5) |
Motion (media for films, videos, etc.) | $ 90 | $ 180 (limit of 3) |
Student Work | $ 20 (Image) $ 45 (Video) | $ 40 (Images, limit of 5) $ 90 (Video, limit of 3) |
For more categories, please download the category PDF.
Late Fees
Entries must be registered no later than Jan. 13, 2024. Entries registered after that date will be charged a fee of $10 each. No entries can be registered after Jan. 27, 2024.
1. What will the winner gain?| A．A personalized award certificate. | B．Wide recognition in the industry. |
| C．Exposure to world-famous works. | D．A bonus from Communication Arts. |
| A．A student work from Argentina. |
| B．A newly produced motion entry. |
| C．A PNG image with a file size of 1 MB. |
| D．A series for covers of three illustrations. |
| A．$ 80. | B．$ 110. | C．$ 150. | D．$ 240. |
9 . Participating in art competitions is essential for students to gain formal recognition and impress college admission officers. Today, we have a list of art competitions on regional, national, and international scales.
EarthX Eco-Art Competition
It invites young artists aged 5-22 to create 2-D or 3-D art that illustrates the theme: Protectors for the Planet. The theme can be interpreted in various ways, including individuals taking action towards a more sustainable planet, or highlighting the efforts of environmental leaders working to sustain ecosystems.
Deadline: March 8, 2024
The Children’s Drawing Contest
Sponsored by International Certification Organization Network, the contest, whose theme this year is “Passing on Our Precious Earth to The Future”, invites children aged 7-15 worldwide to draw the kind of natural environment they would like to live in. 48 winners will receive special memorabilia. All entrants will receive a participation prize. Medium: Drawings with any type of paint, pastel, etc.
Deadline: May 31, 2024
Science without Borders Challenge
The competition is open to children and young people under the age of 16. We welcome entries from both groups and individuals to create art to promote public awareness of the need to preserve, protect, and restore nature. The theme is “The Sixth Extinction” and you can focus on the protection of endangered species. Acceptable media include paint, pencil, marker, crayon, ink, felt, and oil pastel.
Deadline: March 4, 2024
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, the longest-running literary and art competition in the US, provides opportunities and academic awards for creative young people to express their talent. The theme this year is “Tell Your Climate Story”. Students in the 9th to 12th grades can submit poetry, fiction and nonfiction to show their understanding of environmental issues.
Deadline: June 10, 2024
1. On which date can participants send their entries to EarthX Eco-Art Competition?| A．May 6, 2024. | B．March 15, 2024. | C．April 28, 2024. | D．February 9, 2024. |
| A．EarthX Eco-Art Competition. | B．The Children’s Drawing Contest. |
| C．Science without Borders Challenge. | D．The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. |
| A．They target students under the age of 20. | B．They are about environmental protection. |
| C．They require participants to write a story. | D．They only accept entries from individuals. |
10 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the topic of the photos of this year?| A．Flowers. | B．Animals. | C．Food. |
| A．By e-mail. | B．In person. | C．By post. |
| A．A cup. | B．Some money. | C．A camera. |
