1 . 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 causes 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 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.

While     1     (hundred) of millions focus their eyes on the torch igniting (火炬点燃) during the     2     (open) ceremony of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou on Saturday, many will turn to their phones to soak in the     3     (excite) of that moment.

They will be able     4     (take) part in the first ever virtual lighting of the main torch tower in the Games' history, the most exciting part of its first ever digital torch relay.

First     5     (introduce) on Nov 27, 2022, the digital torchbearer program aims to break through the limits of time and space, so     6     more people can enjoy the Games, according to the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee.

It was     7     (official) started on June 15 this year, when the flame of the Asian Games was lit.

Over a hundred million users have signed     8     and passed on their digital torches, according to figures released by Ant Group, which     9     (develop) the digital platform and made it part of Alipay, one of     10     most popular mobile payment apps in China.

Since the 2022 Winter Olympic Games were successfully held in Beijing and Zhangjiakou, the Olympic spirit has been widely spread all around China.

Yours,

Li Jin

4 . Competing in the Mongol Derby

Standing at the finishing line, 70-year-old Bob Long spent a while reflecting on the achievement he’d just made. Behind him was the wild, endless Mongolian grassland extending into the distance. This American had just become the oldest person to ever complete and win the Mongol Derby, the world’s longest horse race.

Long, a rider all his life, entered the race after being inspired by All the Wild Horses, a movie based on the exhausting event.

Fearing that he wouldn’t be able to complete it, he set about preparing his mind and body for this “hardest, toughest, most demanding thing you can do on a horse”, an annual 1,000-kilometer race that was recognized as the world’s longest horse race by The Guinness Book of Records in 2011. He confirmed his belief that preparation can surpass (超过；胜过) youth, as some of the other riders were less prepared.

Although Long had been riding horses for many years, the hardship and uncertainty of the task pushed him to his limit and forced him to depend entirely on his own will. The race organizers had provided an extensive support network to keep an eye on the participants from afar. Despite that, the physical pressure of riding such a long distance made simple things like squatting (蹲) down at the end of the day almost impossible.

Along the vast race course there were unpredictable circumstances beyond Long’s control, however well prepared he’d been. Weather was one of them, which could switch from heavy rain to burning sun unexpectedly.

Above all else, the biggest obstacle was the state of mind. Without a living soul in sight, Long was desperate for interaction, guidance, and comfort. This feeling of loneliness accounted for his hope that one of his fellow competitors would catch up.

Regardless of the hardship, Long felt a sort of spiritual adventure while traveling through the wilderness. He was provided with some memorable moments while connecting with nature. He also grew to love the country and the communities along the route.

Still holding the passion for riding, Long never dismisses the idea of competing in another Mongol Derby.

5 . Over the past few decades, children have been taking part less in free play and more in organized sports. While doing organized sports has both social and physical benefits for young children, worries about safety and benefits increase.

Though most children are naturally likely to be physically active, not all kids are willing to get up and move. Soccer coach Joseph Luxbacher says, “Every kid has the possibility of being a good sportsman in different kinds of sports. Participating (参加) in organized sports such as the school soccer team introduces direction to children’s physical activities. Following a team schedule gives kids a set time and place to exercise. As a result, kids can be safe from accidents and be protected against physical harm.”

What’s more, participating in organized sports gives children time to communicate with others and shows good sportsmanship. For young children who may still be very self-centered, participating in team, sports teach them to think about the group and encourages them to be glad about the success of their teammates. Kids can also benefit from spending time with their coach and having a chance to develop a positive (良好的) relationship with an adult other than their parents, especially if the coach is both skilled and devoted (全心全意的) to being a positive instructor.

Playing organized sports requires a lot of time for practice and games, so it would seem that this could influence students’ study. Actually it can ameliorate students’ test performance. That’s because to play organized sports well, players have to memorize information, do repetitive actions, and learn from teammates. All these types of learning skills can make students score higher.

Since stress can come from many different sources — parents, coaches, teammates or themselves — many children who participate in organized sports feel pressured to succeed. While a little stress can be helpful in leading children to perform with increased focus and strength, too much stress will leave young kids feeling very tired. Organized sports are more likely to put the right amount of pressure on them.

As a player, Lang Ping brought honour and     1     to her country. As a coach, she led the China women’s volleyball team to     2     at world championships and the Olympics. As a person, Lang Ping is loved by fans     3         4         5         6    . When the Chinese team was preparing for the 2015 World Cup, her determination was     7    . The team that Lang ping had built was     8         9    . One of the best players had been     10    , and the team captain had to leave     11         12     heart problems. Losing two important players was a big     13    , but Lang Ping did not     14         15    . She had faced difficulties before, and she knew that her young players could win if they     16         17     as a team. Two weeks later, they were world champions! Then in 2016, Lang Ping led her volleyball team to Olympic gold in Brazil.

9 . Instead of working overtime in hopes of getting a pay rise, maybe you should go to the gym, as it could make you just as happy as that extra money.

An interesting new study shows people who are physically active have a greater sense of well-being (幸福) than those who are inactive, and that active people feel as good as inactive people who earn $25,000 more per year.

Researchers from Oxford and Yale Universities used data collected from 1.2 million Americans. They were asked, “How many times have you felt mentally unwell in the past 30 days, for example because of stress, depression, or emotional problems?” They were also asked about their exercise habits, choosing from 75 different physical activities, including mowing the lawn, doing housework, running, weightlifting, and cycling.

The researchers found that people who exercised often felt had for an average of 35 days per year while inactive people felt bad for an additional 18 days. All exercise types had a good influence. Social physical activities, for example team sports, were considered to have a better influence although cycling ranked highly.

However, it is possible to get too much exercise. According to a study, the mental health of those who exercised for more than three hours a day suffered more than that of those who weren’t physically active. The proper amount seems to be three to five times per week, lasting 30 to 60 minutes each.

10 . I had always been warmly praised for my basketball shooting ability when I was in high school. But when I went to Ohio State, I discovered that everyone on the team was ______ in his hometown.

To win a starting job on the team, I had figured I would have to ______ the coach with my shooting ability. But it turned out that the team was ______ full of attacking players and what it needed was someone to ______ on defence (防守). Unwillingly, I decided to take that role, but didn’t expect the ______ was to make all the difference to me later.

One day, when we were ______ a game against the Bucks, I was called out by the coach, Milwaukee, who gave me the ______ to guard our court (球场). Though feeling a bit ______, I accepted. Throughout the game, I continued playing the defence role.

Then, near the end of the game, in a(n) ______ to widen the score gap, Milwaukee gave me a precious ______. He asked me to organize an attack. Running to the center of the court, I ______the ball. It was a ______ three-point play and the championship was ours.

Standing there in that circle of cheering audience, I came to ______ the importance of teamwork. Just as Milwaukee said, “______ teams often have one or two players who stand out; good teams have five who work together. It is amazing what can be achieved when no one cares who gets the ______.”