1 . Torsongan Bullik is a 28-year-old cross-country skier. When he was a freshman in junior high school in 2009, he excelled at long-distance running. As an amateur in 2016, he finished third in the Xinjiang Wusu International Marathon. And then a passion for cycling revealed itself as his hometown hosted the Tour of Sayram Lake, a national road race for amateur cyclists.
“The high-spirited cyclists, their flashy costumes and helmets fascinated me,” he recalls. “I felt that cycling was really cool.”
In 2012, Torsongan’s father gave him a mountain bike that cost 5,000 yuan ($695), which was a lot of money for his family. He loved the bicycle so much that he used it at every opportunity. Two years later, he entered his first competition, although there was no fairy-tale ending as he lost his balance on a steep slope. But he was determined and kept testing his limits. This paid off as he has won medals at all levels of the sport in China.
On Oct 18, 2018, Torsongan was the first to cross the finish line during a high-altitude bike race in the Xizang autonomous region. But surprisingly, it was the national cross-country skiing team that he impressed with his endurance (耐力). They were in search of new talented athletes for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
Accepting the invitation from the team marked a turning point for Torsongan’s career, but challenges remained. “After training with the team during the day, I had to go to the gym to level up my upper-body strength in the evening,” Torsongan said in an earlier interview.
He didn’t make the final list, but worked as a technician assisting (帮助) in the operations of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Regardless of the outcome of the 14th National Winter Games, Torsongan enjoyed the challenge of competing, and has his eyes set on the next race.
“I will continue with my efforts. As long as I don’t give up, I still have a chance to compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics,” he says.
1. What set Torsongan on the cross-country skiing road?| A．He felt that skiing was really cool. |
| B．He studied on cross-country skiing. |
| C．A professional team looked for someone with talent. |
| D．He hoped to fulfill his father’s expectations. |
| A．Determined and hard-working. | B．Cautious and responsible. |
| C．Strong and humorous. | D．Talented and productive. |
| A．He used to be a professional long-distance runner. |
| B．His hard work of bike training didn’t paid off. |
| C．He didn’t accept the invitation from the team. |
| D．He was a technician in the Beijing Winter Olympics. |
| A．Encouraging others to join in his activity. |
| B．Becoming a technician assistant in his hometown. |
| C．Continuing his dream at the next Winter Olympics. |
| D．Becoming a long-distance running player. |
2 . Tai chi, a traditional, slow-moving form of Chinese physical exercise, is known to increase flexibility and improve balance. New research has been conducted to determine whether tai chi has an influence on lowering blood pressure in people with prehypertension (高血压前期).
In the study, Chinese scientists put 342 adults with prehypertension into two groups. The average age of people taking part in the study was 49. About half the participants (参与者) took part in aerobic exercise, including jogging, climbing stairs and cycling. The other half was trained to practice tai chi. Both groups got hour-long exercises four times a week.
Nearly 22% of the people who practiced tai chi saw their blood pressure fall to be normal, compared with nearly 16% of people in the aerobic exercise group. And fewer patients in the tai chi group went on to develop high blood pressure than patients in the aerobic exercise group.
So what is it about tai chi that helps lower blood pressure? “The practice tends to get more of a response from the parasympathetic (副交感的) nervous system, which is the network of nerves that relaxes your body after periods of stress or danger,” says Ruth Taylor-Piliae, a professor at the University of Arizona’s College of Nursing.
“I think the beauty of tai chi is that you don’t have to have a special gym membership, you don’t have to have special clothing,” Taylor-Piliae says. “Once you learn tai chi, you can do it anytime and anyplace. And it does provide a calming and relaxing effect.”
Evidence suggests it can also help protect against cognitive fall and even improve memory. But you have to practice it continually to get the most benefit.
1. What is the function of paragraph 1?| A．To offer some examples. | B．To explain a definition. |
| C．To introduce the topic. | D．To give people suggestions. |
| A．They were divided into two groups. | B．They suffered from heart disease. |
| C．They were 49 years old. | D．They got exercises five times a week. |
| A．It can make people calm down. |
| B．It requires training and specialized equipment. |
| C．It has no influence on the parasympathetic nervous system. |
| D．It is suitable for individuals with aerobic exercise experience. |
| A．A Traditional Sport | B．The Benefits of Aerobic Exercise |
| C．Exploring Chinese Physical Exercise | D．Managing Blood Pressure with Tai Chi |
3 . Starting a daily running routine needs determination. Looking back on my old running routine, it wasn’t so much the passion that affected my sticking to a regular schedule — but it was the environment. There had to be no rain pouring down, there had to be not many people on the basketball court and the ambient (周围的) temperature had to be just right. Or maybe I was just making an excuse for myself not to get up at 5 in the morning?
I was quite successful at doing so when I was 15 and when it was summer. When I was overweight, I ate more snacks than the actual full meals in a day, and I hardly got off the sofa. One summer day, I decided that it was time to put a stop to the idea that I was just the fat kid. I didn’t want to put in that box anymore. There was a tipping point (临界点) where inspiration happened, and discipline (自律) just took over from there. I needed to make sure that I ran 10 laps of the park a day — this was the contract (契约) I made with myself that summer. And if I achieved that, I knew I’d be closer to my goal of being just a kid with normal weight.
Ten laps, six days a week — sometimes no breakfast, hardly a bite at dinner, one snack a day—this lasted two months. I’d lost over 30 pounds that summer, which was roughly a quarter of my body weight. Some days, I didn’t have the motivation. But the contract I made with myself kept reminding me — if I’d break it, would I even bother making future self-contracts anymore? There were sleepy days, and there were days when I should have rested my trembling knees, but discipline won over them all.
1. What do we know about the author’s past running routine?| A．It was made by the author’s parents. | B．It mainly depended on the environment. |
| C．It referred to many people at site. | D．It failed in the end. |
| A．The author didn’t live a healthy lifestyle. |
| B．Summer is a season for people to be fat. |
| C．Good eating habits could make one put on weight. |
| D．Getting up late made him a fat kid. |
| A．He felt looked down upon when he was fat. |
| B．He couldn’t find a right word to describe his size. |
| C．He made up his mind to achieve his goal of losing weight. |
| D．He was too fat to find the right size of clothes or shoes. |
| A．My Running Routine Was Affected by the Environment. |
| B．It Was Unpleasant to Be Overweight. |
| C．I Made a Contract on Running. |
| D．Discipline Helps Achieve My Goal. |
1. What was the speaker’s feeling this morning?
| A．Excited. | B．Tired. | C．Nervous. |
| A．100-meter freestyle. | B．150-meter freestyle. | C．200-meter freestyle. |
| A．The result of her competition. |
| B．Other swimmers’behaviors. |
| C．The judge’s instructions. |
| A．47 points. | B．50 points. | C．53 points. |
5 . Scientists are now digging into precisely why exercise holds so many benefits for our mental health and memory. The answer, studies say, lies in our brain chemistry.
Each time you work up a sweat, your body releases feel-good happy hormones (荷尔蒙), including endorphins, dopamine and endocannabinoids, the latter being responsible for the so-called runner’s high. Now researchers are also pointing to myokines (肌肉因子) as an important contributor to the mental health benefits of exercise. When our muscles contract, myokines are released into the bloodstream, helping your muscles and organs communicate. They think this communication increases resilience to stress, reduces symptoms of mental suffering and anxiety and has a direct effect on depression.
A 2021 scientific report published in Neuropharmacology showed evidence that myokines boost brain function, like improving memory and mood. “Myokines reduce systemic inflammation (炎症), which is especially beneficial for people with drug-resistant depression whose low mood is linked to high inflammation,” explains Dr Jennifer Heisz, an expert in brain health and associate professor in the department of kinesiology at McMaster University in Canada.
A recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine showed that treatment for depression can be much more effective when physical activity is added to the usual care. Participants found benefits after 12 weeks of exercising for 30 to 60 minutes a day. “While exercise is not a replacement for professional mental health treatment, physical activity can complement and enhance the effects of the treatment,” says lead researcher Ben Singh, a research fellow at the University of South Australia.
“It is amazing to consider how moving our bodies can heal our minds,” says Heisz. Whether you’re cycling, walking around your neighbourhood or doing yoga, getting sweaty is good for your body and mind. To get the biggest overall health boost, the key is to zero in on sports and activities you enjoy, so you’ll keep going back to them.
1. How do myokines boost our mental health?| A．By bonding muscles with organs. |
| B．By slowing down our bloodstream. |
| C．By contracting muscles through the body. |
| D．By releasing happy hormones in our brain. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Negative. |
| C．Uncertain | D．Approving. |
| A．Adapt to. | B．Give up. |
| C．Focus on. | D．Put off. |
| A．By making comparisons. |
| B．By presenting research findings. |
| C．By offering suggestions. |
| D．By conducting some experiments. |
6 . As China’s first ever full-time Formula One (世界一级方程式锦标赛) driver, Zhou Guanyu makes a living by doing the sort of things many people can only dream about: traveling the world and racing in a fast car.
“I think the only
Zhou has been putting his all into
It was back in Shanghai in 2004 that-at just 5 years old-Zhou
There was a
Zhou is often
| A．problem | B．difference | C．difficulty | D．importance |
| A．guessing | B．controlling | C．proving | D．declaring |
| A．reading | B．playing | C．driving | D．swimming |
| A．growing up | B．getting up | C．going up | D．staying up |
| A．simple | B．interesting | C．available | D．popular |
| A．watched | B．followed | C．researched | D．examined |
| A．lose | B．stress | C．develop | D．measure |
| A．stayed | B．dealt | C．fought | D．taken |
| A．way | B．lack | C．role | D．loss |
| A．received | B．imagined | C．composed | D．created |
| A．reached | B．chose | C．left | D．forgot |
| A．continue | B．discover | C．consider | D．manage |
| A．matched | B．compared | C．adapted | D．devoted |
| A．career | B．hobby | C．influence | D．result |
| A．normally | B．naturally | C．regularly | D．definitely |
7 . Reasons to Put on Your Rollerblades and Hit the Pavement
Rollerblading (旱冰) is great for building balance, strengthening muscles, and improving mental health. It’s also a cheap, fun, and eco-friendly way to get your daily exercise in.
It’s fun
We all know that we should be exercising several times a week, and picking a workout that is fun naturally motivates us to get up and get going.
It’s cheap
Rollerblading is also a great exercise choice because it costs very little.
It’s eco-friendly
Skater and climate activist, Gerhard Ladstatte explains why he started Friday Night Skating, a free street skating event. “We want to move without burning fuel.” People looking for an oil-free way to get to a workplace that isn’t too far from home, while combining daily exercise into their routine, can consider rollerblading to work.
It’s good for your mental health
Like any form of aerobic exercise, skating is associated with a number of wellness benefits.
| A．In other words, rollerblading has it all. |
| B．Exercise and fresh air can reduce stress. |
| C．Not only is skating cheap, it also benefits nature. |
| D．All you need is a pair of skates and some safety equipment. |
| E．Rollerblading is an exciting way to get in fresh air and exercise. |
| F．It’s easy to see why so many people are discovering the joys of skating. |
| G．Unlike a bicycle, you don’t need to find a place to store your skates while you work. |
High-school sports were about the biggest thing that happened in the town of Verden. And sports were important in Lauren Wray’s family. Both of Lauren’s brothers were high-school athletes. Like others, she longed to be on the basketball team too. But the special point was, she had Down syndrome (唐氏综合症).
Mr. Wray and his wife never told Lauren that she was different. They treated her like their other children. They didn’t want her to feel disabled or different.
One day, for the extreme love of playing basketball, Lauren ran to her father and announced with great excitement. “I’m gonna play basketball. Daddy. I am joining the girls’ high-school basketball team.” Hearing that, Mrs. Wray and Mr. Wray were too surprised to believe what their daughter said. Lauren’s reflexes (反应能力) were slow. They knew how hard and unbelievable it would be for her to play basketball, let alone to be on the basketball team. But they decided to stand by her.
The next afternoon. Mr. Wray parked in front of the school gym. Inside, Coach Forsythe saw Mr. Wray, and he said, “I am glad Lauren came out for the team.” Lauren stood alone at the other end of the basketball court, shooting free throws. Other girls played together on the other side. After every shot, Lauren excitedly shouted, “Woo hoo !” At first, Lauren was in high spirits and so energetic. But things didn’t go smoothly. Her disability made her so clumsy (笨拙的) in the field. Having not made the basket for a long time, she was so discouraged. She gained nothing from the first training.
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: Later that night, Mr. Wray found Lauren lay on the couch, downhearted.
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Paragraph 2: Mid November, the season’s first basketball game arrived.
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9 . Competing for a Trip to Soma Bay, Egypt
Soma Bay is a perfect place for sunny relaxation. If you take a trip there, you can also take part in the competition we organize.
The Destination
Lapped by the Red Sea on three sides and with views of sandy beaches and desert mountains, Soma Bay can attract nature lovers most, Spreading across almost 2,500 acres, the Egyptian tourist attraction has an 18-hole golf course designed by Gary Player, a golfing enthusiast, as well as the largest Thalasso spa in Africa. Kiteboarding, diving and horse riding are all on offer, too.
Of Soma Bay’s five accommodation options, a five-star hotel enjoys a fantastic location on the highest point of the Soma Bay peninsula. It has a number of guest rooms and suites with private balconies, as well as four on-site restaurants, You can enjoy beach-side pizza, take afternoon tea, or stop for a drink by the 18th hole. They are all offered by the hotel.
The Prize
With the official permission of Soma Bay, the winner can enjoy a four-night stay in a classic room at the five-star hotel on a half-price basis. The prize includes return economy class flight tickets with overhead cabin luggage from the UK to Hurghada International Airport up to the value of £650 per person, with direct routes available from cities including London, Manchester and Bristol, plus return airport transfers to Soma Bay (UK transfers aren’t included).
To Enter
Answer the following question online at natgeotv,com/uk/competitions:
ON WHICH SEA IS SOMA BAY LOCATED?
Competition closes on 31 October 2023.
The winner must be a UK adult resident, aged 18 or over.
1. What does the five-star hotel offer?| A．Games on a golf course. | B．Tickets for kiteboarding. |
| C．Something to eat and drink. | D．Accommodation on the beach. |
| A．A free stay in the perfect hotel. | B．A return airport transfer to the UK. |
| C．A possible direct flight ticket from Bristol. | D．A first class flight from the UK to Hurghada |
| A．It welcomes children. | B．It covers multiple questions. |
| C．It targets at Egyptian citizens. | D．It ends on the last day of October. |
10 . What are the limits of the human body? Is there a point at which it is physically impossible to do something?
“One thing we’ve all learned in the last 30 years or so is that just about anything is humanly possible,” says Dr. Jack Wilmore, author of Physiology of Sport and Exercise. “As time goes by, I think you’ll see more records continue to fall in every sport. The talent pool is better than ever. With more and better athletes involved and competing, records will fall and new standards will be set.”
Many believed it was physically impossible for a human to run a mile in under four minutes, but Roger Bannister proved that theory wrong with a three-minute, 59-second mile in 1954. Today, sub-four-minute miles are considered routine even in high school. And Bob Beamon stretched human performance in the 1968 Olympics with his historic long jump of 8.90 metres. In an event where a record is usually broken by mere inches, he broke the previous jump record by more than 21 inches, but even his record was broken in 1991.
One factor is now becoming more understood and heavily emphasized: sports psychology. Getting inside the athlete’s head can be as effective as training and long workouts. According to Wilmore, the psychological aspect of sports has become more and more esteemed. He points out that most professional teams have hired sports psychologists for their players.
In addition, every aspect of athletics --- training, nutrition, injury treatment --- is far better than it’s ever been. “Besides, children today tend to specialize in one or two sports instead of competing in several as was common twenty-five years ago,” Wilmore says. “That means they start concentrating on a sport much earlier and more intensely, and they become much better at it.”
“There’s a lot we don’t know yet about the human body,” he adds. “And one of those things is the full range of human potential. It would be foolish to try and put limits on what the human body can do.”
1. Which statement will Wilmore probably agree with?| A．It is preferable to set universal standards for athletes. |
| B．Athletes will become the most sought-after celebrities. |
| C．It is necessary for athletes to learn the limits of the body. |
| D．Athletes will continue to surprise us with their achievements. |
| A．To introduce two great athletes. |
| B．To show some of the latest world records. |
| C．To prove the limits of the body can be pushed. |
| D．To explain what athletes can achieve under stress. |
| A．Similar. | B．Valued. |
| C．Complex. | D．Specialized. |
| A．They participate in far more sports. |
| B．They are less likely to get injured in sports. |
| C．They begin playing sports at a much earlier age. |
| D．They become more skilful at one particular sport. |
