1 . Osaka, Japan—the defending champion China lifted the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Cup trophy(奖杯) with perfect 11 straight wins after easing past Argentina 3-0 here on Sunday. With their eleventh win, China won the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Cup.

This year, the World Cup has been played across different cities, and the Chinese team had training sessions even on traveling days when some participating teams chose to rest up after a tiring flight. “Coach Lang focuses on details of the technique in the training sessions, and I feel our team has become more balanced.” Captain Zhu Ting said. This firm(严格的) approach explains how China managed to turn the table(扭转局面) against the United States at the World Cup. Never give up, especially in adversity(逆境), and that's what the spirit of Chinese women’s volleyball team means.

When the team struggled, Zhu was always there, doing whatever was needed to carry the team forward. That’s why she has become a national volleyball icon(偶像), just like “Iron Hammer” Lang. As for Lang, she took over the flag from her former coach Yuan Weimin, who was behind China’s rise in the beginning. From coach Yuan to coach Lang, and spiker(主攻手) Lang to spiker Zhu, the flag bearers may have changed over time, but the craving for championships and the steely desire and determination remain the same.

Volleyball is a team sport and behind the on-court team there is always a supportive(给予帮助的) coaching team and staff. Lai Yawen is one of the members, shouldering responsibilities as both vice director of China’s Volleyball Management Center and assistant coach. Apart from coordinating(使协调) between coaches and players, Chinese coaches and foreign coaches and sometimes within Chinese coaches, she also has to do chores. During Rio 2016, assistant coach Yuan Lingxi headed for the arena(竞技场) at 6 am every day to film the matches and would return to the Olympic Village at 2 am when he would start analyzing China’s opponents(对手) and file(送交) reports. There are many Lais and Yuans that are not known by the public, but who remain indispensable for the team to overcome difficulties and reach their peak.

1. What does the underlined word “lifted” probably mean in Paragraph 1?

A．Stole.

B．Won.

C．Beat.

D．Expected.

2. What does the spirit of Chinese women’s volleyball team mean according to Paragraph 2?

A．Being a special team.

B．Sticking to the end.

C．Winning every game.

D．Training hard every day.

3. Why does Zhu Ting become a national volleyball icon?

A．Because she wins many awards in the World Cup.

B．Because she keeps strong desire and determination.

C．Because she takes lots of training after the tiring flight.

D．Because she does everything to help the team forward.

4. What does the author intend to express in the last paragraph?

A．Hard work is vital in volleyball matches.

B．The coach has a great influence on players.

C．The staff behind the on-court team are also important.

D．Understanding opponents is necessary to win the game.

4 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

As I worked as a sports journalist for my first 10 years with China Daily, I have     1     (close) followed how China has grown from a minor player in the international sports arena into a global sports power.

    2     it had a huge population, China was not much of a global force in sports until the1980s. However, it was very good at table tennis at that time. The first major international breakthrough for China came in 1981     3     its women’s volleyball team won the Women’s Volleyball World Cup. Understandably, sports fans went crazy. Parades celebrating the victory     4     (hold) on many university campuses     5     some students shouting slogans such as “revitalizing (振兴) China”, which has since become the goal of the nation.

    6     (motivate) by the victory, China invested more of the limited resources in training athletes. The investment paid off, as China got     7     (it) first Olympic gold medal in shooting in 1984. In all, Chinese athletes won 15 gold medals in the Los Angeles Olympics,    8     (set) the course to becoming a global sports power. In     9     past decade, Chinese athletes have been winning about 120 gold medals in international sports games every year.

As China invests more resources in the sports sector thanks to the fast-paced economic development and winning world titles becoming normal for Chinese athletes, the government started encouraging ordinary     10     (citizen) to play sports.

7 . Exercise and I have never had a good relationship because of my fear of sports.   From a young age, my dad __________ me into a dozen sports. I didn’t like any of them, __________.

When I entered University of Regina, my dad __________ telling me “You have to find a way to stay __________ ”or “You don’t want to get the Freshman 15, do you?” So I __________ to give swimming a shot, but I __________ managed to go to the pool twice during the fall semester (学期). Worse still, I was __________ to convince myself that “Yeah, that’s OK. ”

The spring semester came.   A friend of mine __________ me one day asking if I wanted to go to Zumba with her. All I knew about Zumba was that it was basically exercise dancing to Latin and pop songs. It didn’t sound too bad, but I couldn’t be __________ .

I went, and that was it. Zumba became my __________ of tea. The instructor would always say: “Don’t worry about the steps. Have fun. Do your own thing.” That removed my __________ about sports. I didn’t have to be __________. I didn’t even have to be good. I just needed to __________ the music and move. Zumba did __________ me from the Freshman 15, but it also did so much more. It let me make __________ with my unpleasant past with physical fitness, and enjoy staying healthy.

1.

A．expected

B．allowed

C．invited

D．pushed

2.

A．therefore

B．though

C．instead

D．besides

3.

A．avoided

B．kept

C．regretted

D．risked

4.

A．in shape

B．for fun

C．at ease

D．on business

5.

A．decided

B．happened

C．bothered

D．refused

6.

A．hardly

B．merely

C．constantly

D．gradually

7.

A．eager

B．content

C．embarrassed

D．disappointed

8.

A．teased

B．comforted

C．approached

D．annoyed

9.

A．happy

B．proud

C．careful

D．certain

10.

A．share

B．part

C．cup

D．mouth

11.

A．curiosity

B．passion

C．fright

D．confidence

12.

A．ambitious

B．enthusiast

C．adorable

D．perfect

13.

A．feel

B．accept

C．display

D．compare

14.

A．save

B．witness

C．discourage

D．separate

15.

A．trouble

B．sense

C．peace

D．contact

8 . For me, becoming an Olympian was not developing a gift of natural athletic ability, but an act of will.

In the summer of 1979, I started _______ for the Olympic trials(选拔赛) to be held the next year.I felt happy as I made progress towards my big _______. But then in November, an _______ situation appeared. I injured my back and couldn’t move. I had to leave the _______. Everyone felt _______ for me. Everyone but me.

I never believed this would _______me. However, my _______ was slow. With only a few months remaining, I knew I would never make it _______ I did something. So, I started training in the only way I could in my mind.

I bought films of the world­record holders in pentathlon (五项全能运动).Sitting in a chair, I _______ them over and over.I lay on the bed and imagined the experience of ________ at the trials. Some people thought I was crazy, but I wasn’t ready to ________ yet. I trained as hard as I could without moving a muscle (肌肉). I ________ this practice with all my heart.

By the time the trials actually began, I had been ________ enough to compete. ________,as I walked across the field, I heard a voice on the loudspeaker announcing my name.I could hardly hold back my ________ as the announcer said, “Second place,1980 Olympic Pentathlon: Marilyn King.”

1.

A．advertising

B．training

C．developing

D．organizing

2.

A．goal

B．decision

C．change

D．trip

3.

A．exciting

B．interesting

C．important

D．unexpected

4.

A．track

B．hospital

C．college

D．position

5.

A．proud

B．angry

C．sorry

D．grateful

6.

A．save

B．help

C．punish

D．stop

7.

A．learning

B．progress

C．understanding

D．action

8.

A．because

B．unless

C．if

D．once

9.

A．read

B．said

C．tasted

D．watched

10.

A．losing

B．competing

C．singing

D．dancing

11.

A．give up

B．break up

C．keep on

D．give out

12.

A．designed

B．believed

C．introduced

D．chose

13.

A．early

B．old

C．healthy

D．heavy

14.

A．Gradually

B．Frequently

C．Finally

D．Unluckily

15.

A．fear

B．words

C．regret

D．tears

10 . When Tony took up running as a hobby, he was 42 years old. Now 42 years later he’s a national champion and a world record holder. He never imagined at the age of 84 this is where he’d be, but then he doesn’t meet many people in their 80s who are out training four times a week. “I can see it’s a bit unusual, yes. But it’s been my life,” he told the reporter.

The retired officer runs at a track near his home in Leeds. At an event in Italy last month, he set a world record in the 80m hurdles with a time of under 17 seconds. But he sees no reason to slow down and his ambition is still to be competing when he passes a hundred.

“I probably won’t be doing a crouch start (蹲式起跑), because it’s only 16 years away,” he joked. Like anyone of his age, he’s had health problems. He’s had a string of severe heart attacks, but doctors have told him as long as it makes him feel good, he should carry on running.

“I can’t let my heart get in the way of my training. When I am running, I have to give it my absolute all. My heart is the last thing on my mind,” he said.

He trains every other day, dances and plays hockey and he recently cuts down on alcohol and chocolate. He said, “I’ve heard alcohol can lead to dementia (痴呆) and I don’t want that. I’ve cut down to one glass of wine every other day. I now have to stay as fit as I can be to keep up my lifestyle.”

Tony’s next birthday is next September. And the first thing he wants to do is become the world’s fastest 85-year-old.

1. How old was Tony when he set a world record?

A．42.

B．80.

C．84.

D．85.

2. Why did Tony say “My heart is the last thing on my mind” in paragraph 4?

A．Because he felt good while running.

B．Because he had only slight heart problems.

C．Because he didn’t care about his heart at all.

D．Because he was so concentrated to do his best while running.

3. What will Tony probably do after his 85-year-old birthday?

A．To have a good rest.

B．To change his lifestyle.

C．To take part in running competitions.

D．To be the fastest runner in the world.

4. What can we learn from Tony’s story?

A．No pains, no gains.

B．Old hearts are not old.

C．It’s never too old to learn.

D．Those who work hard live long.