2 . My son loves hockey (曲棍球). As his supportive fan, I watched him paying in all the matches across half of USA this year, and I’ve learned that losing maybe best for kids.

In his third season in 2022, my son’s team never lost more than three straight games. There was happiness, boasting, celebration, pizza. In short, it was a typically good youth hockey season. He improved as a player, but did not much change as a person.

However, what happened the next year added its story to the legends of sporting inability. Not only weak but prettily bad, this team lost 40 of their first 50 games, most of the defeats coming in the course of two losing streaks (倒霉的时刻). For a time, I worried that these streaks would kill my child’s love of the game.

But that’s not what happened. As bad as it got, the losing was clarifying. It kept out the kids who were in it less for the game than the glory, leaving just the die-hards behind. What started as a list of 17 of the team was cut down to 12. It was especially instructive for the kids. It taught him a great truth of the world: For everyone good, there is someone better.

What more, the kids were learning the game in a way that only losing can teach. Each player got to play everywhere, to learn and appreciate the role of every position on the ice. They kept an eye on the payers from the other team too, studying and applying the tricks of success. In an effort to break the streak, they went back to basics, accepted the intelligence of the hockey ancients: If playing like a team, they can defeat a collection of all-stars; If doing small and unimportant tasks well, they can get the goal.

This new team had personalities and could never be listed, no matter the score. They had learned the most important lesson: You can lose without being beaten. They squeaked into the state game, then made it all the way to the final, where the winner was decided in overtime (超时赛). When they lost that game and went into the handshake line, it was not as runners-up but as a team that had been made into winners in the only way that will stick — by losing.

4 . Tennis great Billie Jean King is a great athlete and a pioneer in sport and she won four singles titles at the US Open between 1967 and 1974. Now, the same tennis officials with whom she often competed with have paid her a special honor. US Open organizers named their venue (会场) the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at the beginning of this year’s championship. The decision came as a surprise to the star.

Billie Jean King had her first tennis lesson at the age of 11, and became interested in it. Six years later she made herself known winning the first of 20 titles at Wimbledon in the doubles championship. King went on to become the first female athlete to earn $100,000 in a year. But her greatest achievements may have been off the game. She devoted herself to fighting for equal status (地位) for women and women in sports that went far away from tennis.

A unique chance arrived and it proved a perfect way for King to further change the place of women in sports in 1973. She was challenged to play a man-tennis great Bobby Riggs. The men organizing the event expected it would provide great fun and the event was reported by sportscaster (体育评论员) Howard Cosell. But King found he focused on her appearance, never mentioning her athletic achievements. King saw it as a crossroad in her fighting for women’s equality in sports. She did win, further opening chances for girls in sports.

But some young female athletes now don’t take these chances seriously. When asked what they knew about Billie King, they looked puzzled. “They’ve got many chances to play and it’s a good thing. However, we still have a long way to go for girls and women in sports and that’s what I want-- I want the dream to be equal” She said.

Games close with fond memories

The 31st FISU World University Games concluded on Tuesday night in Chengdu, Sichuan province,     1    (win) wide praise from officials and athletes alike.

The closing ceremony     2     (hold) at the Chengdu Open Air Music Park. It was the     3     (one) time that the closing ceremony of a large international sporting event has been held in a park. The ceremony aimed     4     (leave) the audience worldwide with fond memories of a unique Chengdu, from     5     they got to know China and fell in love with its people, the organizers said.

A total     6     6,500 student-athletes from 113 countries and regions     7     (compete) in 269 events of 18 sports at the Chengdu games, which opened July 28. China led the medal tally (奖牌榜) with 103 gold, 40 silver     8     35 bronze. Japan was in second place with 21 gold. South Korea and Italy ended up in third and fourth places, respectively, as South Korea won two more bronze medals.

During the closing ceremony, the FISU flag was handed to a     9     (represent) of Rhine-Ruhr, Germany (德国莱茵-鲁尔区), which     10     (host) the 32nd FISU World University Games in 2025.

Yours,

Li Hua

8 . It was the final part of the 2016 World Triathlon (铁人三项) Series in Mexico. With just 700 meters to go, Alistair in third place and his younger brother, Jonny, was in the ________. Alistair pushed himself towards the finish line in the________heat, but as he came round the corner, he saw his brother about to ________onto the track. Alistair had to choose-- brotherly love or a chance to ________the race?

For Alistair, the choice was clear. His brother was ________. He had to help. Alistair ran towards Jonny, caught him and started pulling him towards the finish line. Alistair then________ his brother over the line. The move put Jonny in second place and Alistair himself in third. It was an________ end to the race, but Alistair did not want to discuss it with the media. He just wanted to see his younger brother, who had been________ to the medical area.

The brothers have been doing triathlons since they were children.“________, when your older brother is doing it, you think it’s a cool thing to do.” says Jonny. Alistair says that they________ each other as much as they can when they train. Despite________over “stupid things” now and then, Alistair agrees that having a brother is an advantage. “Throughout my entire life, I’ve had my brother trying to beat me at everything I do. It has been an hugely________force.”

Watched by millions, the ending to the race has ________ opinions: should the brothers have been disqualified (使丧失资格) or highly ________ for their actions? But for Alistair, his decision was easy to explain:“Mum wouldn’t have been happy if I’d left Jonny behind.”At that moment, he was no longer an athlete aiming for a medal -- he was just a ________.

I’m Li Hua. I am very glad to tell you that a sports club will be set up in our school.

Yours,

Li Hua