My dad and I had been looking forward to the Stale cross-country race of my senior year of high school, which would be the climax (顶点) of my existence.
I was the fastest runner on my team, and I was supposed to make it into the top fifteen. We had been working towards this race for three years. It was everything to me, and it was everything to my dad. He was a runner and was wild with joy by my success in running. He made it to every race, even flying home early from business trips to see me run. I always listened for his voice, which rang above the crowd-telling me to relax my arms, calling out my time. He pushed me. He cheered for me. He believed in me. We spent countless hours on the sandy canals of Arizona. Breathing in the dust of the desert, the blossoms of the orange trees, and the terrible smell of the dairy farm, we made our way across the city. We pounded miles and miles into our running shoes, marking with every step the path to greatness. It was a journey that was just ours. A dream passed on from one generation to the next.
Then the big day came. It was hotter than normal - too hot. My throat felt like a field of cotton, cracked with the summer heat, as I waited for the gun to fire. I gazed out at the crowd; dozens of familiar faces from church and school flickered across my view. They had come for me. They were counting on me. I saw my dad set his watch, worry and excitement etched across his face. With the sound of a gunshot, the race began.
For the first two and half miles, I felt great. I had never before been so ready for something. The weeks leading up to the race were filled with hard practices and a strict diet. The scorching sun beat upon my back, blinding me with its brilliance. Nothing was going to stop me, though.
注意：1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
However, without warning, my strength was running out.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I whispered, “I’m so sorry I disappointed you, Dad.”
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“Jordi! Wake up!” Father’s voice called from the hallway, and I sat up quickly. The day finally came! The day that I would be a castellar—a tower builder. Mama had breakfast ready. “Are you prepared for your moment of fame?” Papa asked in excitement. My throat was suddenly very dry, and the bread got stuck as I swallowed. Taking a big swig of juice, I put on a smile. “I'm ready” I would do well. I wanted to make him proud.
Here in the eastern part of Spain, casteller groups were very popular. My city hosted the competition this year. Before that, I’d watched my parents compete. But never before had I been part of the tower. It was so high. And it sometimes fell. I was hesitant to be up there. But for the past year, I had been practicing the climb. I was twelve, and I must not be a coward (胆小鬼). So for the first time in a competition, I would help build the tower!
In town, I saw that the center was packed with people and casteller teams from all over the country. Hands sweating, I was waiting for our turn to compete. Mom came and patted me on the shoulder. “Have focus. Have faith.” I nodded to show that I understood and would do my best to follow the suggestions.
Soon, too soon, it was our turn.
My father and three of the strongest men stood in a circle facing each other as they held tightly to each other’s arms. Four more strong men stepped behind, each wrapping his arms around the chest of a man and giving him a bear hug. Then fifty more men and women crowded behind and began pushing on their backs to keep them tightly together.
Our base was solid. Four smaller men climbed onto the backs of the base group and stood on their shoulders. They then grabbed onto each other’s arms and held firmly, creating a strong second tier (层). Another group of men would form the third tier. Then, a group of women, including Mom, started climbing and began to form the fourth tier. Our tower was growing taller and taller.
注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Paragraph 1: Then suddenly it was kids’ turn to make the last tier.
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Paragraph 2: “Jordi. Easy!” My mother whispered the words.
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3 . As I put down the exercise equipment, my brain tries to focus on what my trainer has said.
“Describe that to me,” asked Rob. He is looking for an answer that required me to connect my brain to my body.
Yes, I know. My brain is connected to my body — the thing that has been carrying my head around for the last 56 years. Since completing my undergraduate degree I have been increasingly immobilized by my working life. Sitting still at a desk, staring at a screen, it’s mostly through my fingers that I connect to my brain.
“I felt great,” I reply. “I could feel it in my back.” Rob is quick to encourage and set up more weight. Then cheerfully he’ll say “okay, next set.”
Every accomplishment in my life has been centered in my head — grades, degrees, promotions, published papers and teaching. But on reflection, I wasn’t paying much attention to my body.
Weightlifting is different. Rob is a trainer and manager at my local gym, my guide in helping me with a single goal — get strong. Despite my age, size and beginner status, Rob has made me feel safe. He is always close by, watching and posing questions. Like “where did you feel that?” or the more general request, “Describe that for me.”
Early on I took these as rote (机械性流程) pleasantries (客套话). Over time I realized he wanted more than just routine answers. Having shown me how to do an exercise, Rob would encourage me to think about the muscle or chain of muscles as they moved. The questions were a test of that connection. Gradually, I started thinking my way back into my body. Not my body as a whole but as individual, connections to newly identified places. Intentionally. Specifically. Magically. It’s surprisingly difficult.
I am five months into a new way of living with this 56-year-old body. It talks to me in a tally different way now. It reminds me of my capabilities, my muscles calling me to move, demanding to be challenged. And I long to continue this dialogue so that I’m ready the next time Rob says: “Describe that to me.”
1. What can we learn from the third paragraph?| A．The author is allergic to exercise. |
| B．The author has been living an active life. |
| C．The author doesn’t understand the trainer. |
| D．The author’s fingers may be flexible. |
| A．To help her release pressure. |
| B．To help her feel her muscles working. |
| C．To keep her focused on work. |
| D．To stop the embarrassing atmosphere. |
| A．The author’s gratitude to Rob. |
| B．The author’s solid determination. |
| C．The author’s recommendation to readers. |
| D．The author’s confusion about weightlifting. |
| A．A brand-new lifestyle. |
| B．An effective way of exercise. |
| C．Weightlifting: my favorite exercise. |
| D．Keeping muscles connected. |
4 . Hangzhou, China—a stunning opening ceremony laden with Hangzhou characteristics amazed the world on Saturday, as President Xi Jinping declared the 19th Asian Games open.
With the city’s profound history, culture and its modern image presented in an eye-catching and high-tech fashion, the opening show helped to express the host’s warm hospitality and its wish to unite the world through sports. Following an opening performance depicting the autumn equinox (秋分), one of China’s 24 solar terms that celebrates the harvest season, over 50,000 spectators burst into cheers as Xi announced the opening of the Hangzhou Games, making the Zhejiang provincial capital the third Chinese city to host the continental sporting gala, following Beijing in 1990 and Guangzhou in 2010.
Wang Hao, president of the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou Organizing Committee, said Hangzhou is honored to play host to such a grand event, which started on September 23rd. Raja Randhir Singh, the acting president of the Olympic Council of Asia, showed appreciation for the Chinese host’s meticulous (细心的) organization in his speech. “You have done a fantastic job in preparing for the Asian Games. The one-year postponement due to the pandemic was unprecedented in OCA history, but your diligence and determination will bear fruit over the next 16 days and you will be rewarded with the most magnificent and successful Asian Games ever,” said Singh.
Supported by new technologies, the Hangzhou ceremony boasted many historic firsts. For the first time in China, organizers switched from a traditional fireworks show to a virtual display, projected (放映) onto a giant curtain screen the size of nine IMAX screens.
To adhere to the principle of delivering the greenest possible Games, zero-emission methanol was used to fuel all of the torches and the main cauldron. For the finale, hundreds of millions of virtual sparks, each representing a participant of the online torch relay, formed the shape of a human torchbearer, who ran into the stadium to light the main cauldron together with the physical relay’s final bearer — Zhejiang native and Olympic champion swimmer, Wang Shun.
1. Why was the autumn equinox depicted at the beginning of the Hangzhou Asian Games Opening Ceremony?| A．Because Hangzhou wants to show its warm hospitality. |
| B．Because Hangzhou wishes to unite the world through sports. |
| C．Because Hangzhou highlights the history of China. |
| D．Because Hangzhou wishes participants a good harvest in the game. |
| A．It is the fourth time that China has hosted the Asian Games. |
| B．The Asian Games was supposed to be held in 2022. |
| C．Wang Hao sang high praise for the organization of the game. |
| D．Raja Randhir Singh was responsible for the organization of the game. |
| A．By fueling all torches and the main cauldron with coal. |
| B．By displaying virtual fireworks and demonstrating the history of the city. |
| C．By employing zero-emission methanol and installing a giant curtain screen. |
| D．By representing a participant of the online torch relay |
| A．Technology and Tradition Combine for the Hangzhou Opening Gala |
| B．History Goes Down in the Hangzhou Opening Gala |
| C．Meticulous Organization is Praised by the World |
| D．Best Wishes are Conveyed in the Hangzhou Opening Gala |
1. What sport does the man like best?
| A．Volleyball. | B．Softball. | C．Basketball. |
| A．Classical music. | B．Pop music. | C．Jazz. |
| A．He hangs out with them. |
| B．He plays sports with them. |
| C．He shares music with them. |
| A．At 2:30 p.m. | B．At 3:30 p.m. | C．At 3:00 p.m. |
6 . In the sport world, athletes usually compete to achieve a new personal best. For one Nebraska teen Brandon Schutt, his personal best turned out not to be about marking the fastest time but
Before the race, Schutt knew if his time was good enough, he had the
Meanwhile,another runner, Blake Cerveny, aiming to
His
Before medical workers
In today's
| A．exhibiting | B．opening | C．winning | D．breaking |
| A．target | B．strength | C．potential | D．future |
| A．Therefore | B．However | C．Consequently | D．Moreover |
| A．make it | B．drop in | C．give up | D．go on |
| A．applied | B．slowed | C．contributed | D．accustomed |
| A．keep | B．enjoy | C．break | D．get |
| A．energy | B．support | C．pain | D．expectation |
| A．kicked | B．failed | C．moved | D．shook |
| A．brain | B．memory | C．body | D．will |
| A．shot | B．dropped | C．jumped | D．rose |
| A．efforts | B．risks | C．steps | D．measures |
| A．held back | B．bent down | C．gave out | D．backed away |
| A．cured | B．remembered | C．recognized | D．reached |
| A．complain | B．quit | C．leave | D．run |
| A．chance | B．escape | C．attempt | D．rescue |
| A．silent | B．calm | C．still | D．balance |
| A．final | B．enough | C．light | D．easy |
| A．competitive | B．fantasy | C．physical | D．material |
| A．challenging | B．astonishing | C．inspiring | D．puzzling |
| A．friendship | B．sportsmanship | C．leadership | D．ownership |
Su Bingtian stormed to victory in the men's 100-meter final at China's 14th National Games
8 . As a hockey parent, while watching my son played from Mite to Bantam, House League to Travel, I’ve learned that losing may be best for kids.
In his third season in 2019, 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 incompetence. Not merely 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. 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 weeded 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’s 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 their opponents too, studying and incorporating the tricks of success. In an effort to break the streak, they went back to basics, accepted the wisdom of the hockey ancients: If playing like a team, they can defeat a collection of all-stars; If doing small and unappreciated tasks well, they can get the goal.
This new team had character and could never be counted out, no matter the score. They had learned the most important lesson: You can lose without being beaten. They squeaked into the state tournament, then made it all the way to the final, where the winner was decided in overtime. 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.
1. What does the author think about the son’s team in the third season in 2019?| A．The team had a bad performance. |
| B．The team didn’t live up to the author’s expectations. |
| C．The team played typically well and won all the games. |
| D．The team didn’t have the spirit of facing failure. |
| A．The losing made the kids better understand hockey. |
| B．The losing helped the kids learn a great truth of the world. |
| C．The losing separated true player from those playing for glory. |
| D．The losing boosted the kids’ teamwork. |
| A．For everything big, there is something bigger. |
| B．Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. |
| C．God helps those who help themselves. |
| D．The hardest battle you’re going to fight is the battle to be just you. |
| A．How Kids Can Deal With Losing | B．What Kids Can Learn From Losing |
| C．Why Kids Can Benefit From Losing | D．How Kids Can Get Over From Losing |
Tom and his friend were walking to work. They were talking about the big football match.
"Are you going to see the match?" Tom's friend asked him.
"No, I must go to work." Tom said.
Tom worked in the office of Mr. Bates. When Tom got to the office a letter was waiting for him. He opened it.
"Dear Tom." the letter began. "I'm writing to thank you for all your help. I'm sending a ticket for the big match. I cannot go to the match because I am ill. I shall see it on TV. You can go to the match with my ticket."
Tom looked at the ticket. He could not believe that he had it. A ticket for the big match!
He looked at the ticket again. "I must go to the match." he thought. "I must. But how can I go? How can I get out of the office? I can't tell Mr. Bates that I'm ill. He will know what I'm doing. He'll know I'm trying to get out of the office and go to the big match."
Tom thought and thought. He could not do any work. Then, at twelve o'clock, he knew what to do. He stood up and walked to a telephone at the end of the street. He spoke to his sister, Jean. "Jean, this is Tom," he said. "I want you to make a telephone call to my office. Ask to speak to Mr. Bates. Tell him you are speaking from a doctor's office. Tell him that my mother is ill."
He put down the telephone and went back to the office. At one o'clock, Mr. Bates came up to him.
"I have had bad news for you, Tom," he said. "Your mother is ill. The doctor telephoned. You must go to her."
"Thank you." Tom said. "I'll go now. I'll come back as soon as I can." He left the office quickly for the football ground. The big match did not start until three but the ground was nearly full. But Tom's ticket was a good one. He could stand near the front. The football match was very good. Many people saw the match on TV. People at home could see everything in the football ground.
1.所续短文词数应为150词左右；
2.至少使用5个短文中标有下划线的关键词；
3.续写部分分为两段，每段开头已为你写好；
4.续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph 1:
The next morning, when Tom walked into the office, Mr. Bates came up to him.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
Turning around, Tom saw a new television on the wall.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10 . Even light activity such as housework might help to keep the brain young, researchers say, adding to a growing body of evidence that, when it comes to exercise, every little helps.
Writing in the journal Jama Network Open, the international team of researchers report how they came to their findings by studying at least three days of activity-tracker data from 2,354 middle-aged adults from the US, together with the participants' brain scans.
From the latter, the researchers worked out individuals' brain volume, a measure linked to ageing: about 0.2% of the volume of the brain is lost every year after the age of 60. Loss or shrinkage (萎缩) of brain tissue is linked to dementia (痴呆), Spartano noted.
After taking into account factors including sex, smoking status and age, the team found that every extra hour of light physical activity per day was linked to 0.22% greater brain volume, equal to just over a year's less brain ageing. What's more, those who took at least 10,000 steps a day had a 0.35% greater brain volume than those who took, on average, fewer than 5,000 steps a day—equivalent to 1.75 years' less brain ageing.
However, the study has limitations. It used mainly white participants, and cannot prove cause and effect. The authors add that not all time spent sedentary is necessarily "bad" for the brain—particularly if people are engaged in a task that takes a lot of thinking.
Dr James Pickett, head of research at Alzheimer's Society, said, "Don't worry if you're not hill-running, but find something you enjoy and do it regularly, because we know that what's good for the heart is good for the head."
1. What can be inferred from the statistics in Paragraphs 3&4?| A．Loss of brain tissue is linked to disease. |
| B．Light physical activity raises the brain volume. |
| C．Taking 10000 steps per day is best for our brain. |
| D．Light physical activity slows down the brain ageing. |
| A．Sitting. | B．Walking. | C．Sleeping. | D．Working. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Supportive. | C．Objective. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．Regular exercise makes you happy. |
| B．The more exercise, the better. |
| C．Doing what you like regularly is beneficial. |
| D．Light physical activities are the best. |
