1 . Running is often tiring and a lot of hard work, but nothing beats the feeling you get after finishing a long workout around the track.

But while it’s long been believed that endorphins (内啡肽) —chemicals in the body that cause happiness—are behind the so-called “runner’s high”, a study suggested that there may be more to this phenomenon than we previously knew.

According to a recent study published by a group of scientists from several German universities, a group of chemicals called endocannabinoids (内源性大麻素) may actually be responsible for this familiar great feeling.

To test this theory, the scientists turned to mice. Both mice and humans release high levels of endorphins and endocannabinoids after exercise. After exercising on running wheels, the mice seemed happy and relaxed and displayed no signs of anxiety. But after being given a drug to block their endorphins, the mice’s behavior didn’t seem to change. However, when their endocannabinoids were blocked with a different drug, their runners’ high symptoms seemed to fade.

“The long-held notion of endorphins being responsible for the runner’s high is false. Endorphins are effective pain relievers, but only when it comes to the pain in your body and muscles you feel after working out,” Patrick Lucas Austin wrote on science blog Lifchacker.

Similar studies are yet to be carried out on humans, but it’s already known that exercise is a highly effective way to get rid of stress or anxiety. The UK’s National Health Service even prescribes (开药 方) exercise to patients who are suffering from depression. “Being depressed can leave you feeling low in energy, which might put you off being more active. Regular exercise can improve your mood if you have depression, and its especially useful for people with mild to moderate (中等的) depression,” it wrote on its website.

It seems like nothing can beat that feeling we get after a good workout, even if we don’t fully understand where it comes from. At least if we’re feeling down, we know that all we have to do is to put on our running shoes.

A teenage boy lived alone with his father. The two of them had a very special relationship. Even though the son was always “warming the bench”, his father was always in the stands cheering.

This young man was still the smallest in the class when he entered high school. But the son was determined to try his best at every practice. Throughout high school, he never missed a practice but still remained a benchwarmer all four years. His faithful father always in the stands, always with words of encouragement for him.

When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the football team as a “walk-on”. Everyone was sure he could never make the cut, but he did. The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster (候选名单) because he always put his heart and soul into every practice and, at the same time, provided the other members with the spirit they badly needed.

This persistent young athlete never missed a practice during his four years at college, but he never got to play in the game. It was the end of his senior football season, and as he ran onto the practice field shortly before the big playoff game, the coach met him with a telegram.

The young man read the telegram and became silent. Swallowing hard, he whispered to the coach, “My father died this morning. Is it all right if I miss practice today?” The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder and said, “Take the rest of the week off, son. And don’t even plan to come back to the game on Saturday.”

Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In the third quarter, when the team was ten points behind, a silent young man quietly slipped into the empty locker room and put on his football gear (一套设备). As he ran onto the sidelines, the coach and his players were astonished to see their faithful teammate back so soon.

“Coach, please let me play. I’ve just got to play today,” said the young man.

Such cheering you’ve never heard!

In the sport of track and field, athletes compete not only with one another but against themselves, and with each race they strive to achieve a new personal best.

For Brandon Schutt running in what would likely be his final cross-country match before graduating high school, his personal best turned out not to be about marking the fastest time but displaying the biggest heart.

Although it was difficult for him to advance to upcoming state meet last Thursday, if his time was good enough that day, he still had the potential to qualify for the match.

After running for one mile, however, Schutt realized he wasn’t going to be able to keep up the fast speed. Rather than risk injury, he slowed to a necessary pace that would allow him to enter the state meet.

Meanwhile, Omaha Burke High School sophomore (二年级学生) Blake Cerveny was running a very different kind of race. Aiming to beat his own personal record, after a fast start, he continued to push himself hard. With less than 400 meters to go, Cerveny’s legs cramped up (抽筋) and failed him. But his will did not. Determined to finish, Cerveny rose from the ground and continued on, only to fall again after another 150 meters… and again, he got up and started running. This time he’d made it only 25 meters more before going down. But he wasn’t done yet.

Concerned, his dad and his coach asked Cerveny if he wanted to stop. He didn’t. With a lot of effort, the young runner pulled himself up and with an unsteady gait (步伐), moved forward for one final push. It wasn’t enough. A less 100 meters from the finish line, he lay curled on the ground and his legs had simply given out.

Before Cerveny’s dad could reach his son, another runner—Brandon Schutt—was at his side to offer a helping hand.

However, his first attempt to get Cerveny up failed.

Deeply touched by the two boys’ story, the local TV station arranged an on-camera (摄像机拍摄的) reunion where the boys were given the chance to know each other.

6 . I had always been warmly praised for my 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_________that the team was already full of attacking players and what it needed was someone to_________on defence(防御). 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_________for a game against the Bucks, I was called out by the coach, Milwaukee, who gave me the_________to guard our court. Though feeling a bit_________, I accepted. Throughout the game, I continued playing the role.

Then, near the end of the game, in a(an) _________to widen the gap, Milwaukee gave me a precious__________. He asked me to organize an attack. Driving up the middle of the court, I__________the ball. It was a__________three-point play and minutes later 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__________.”