1 . I was first going into this final day, the Junior Sled Dog Championship. We’d trained two years and wanted to beat Blake. I knelt down to pat Kenai and my hands ______ from nerves and excitement. Kenai tipped up his face to lick my chin. “You are ______, aren’t you?”

Just before the count down started, Blake shot me a _____ grin, hands trembling too. Then I heard, “Go!”______ I could yell   “Hike!”, Kenai leaped forward. The rest of the dogs _____ after. We started last. We flew down the long hill. Then we ______ a corner. I leaned to keep the sled steady. Kenai saw Blake’s team before I did. His tail flew up, and he ______ . Seeing his tongue still flopping forward, I let him go all out. We closed the ______. A bridge later, we inched closer. On the next hill, Kenai drew even with Blake’s sled and then we passed it.

____ our sled hit a branch. The runners caught. I lost my ______ and fell off the sled. Witnessing the sled come to a stop, I struggled through the deep snow to Kenai. I ____. His shoulder was bleeding.

“Kenai! No!” My voice came out a howl. Kenai ______ to stand. He looked at me, his blue eyes______ to keep on. He would do it, too. For one frozen moment I saw myself on the winner’s stand with the trophy (奖杯). But no. I bent and gently ______ Kenai in a blanket.

The race vet examining Kenai, I watched Blake accept the trophy. Kenai squirming in my lap, I leaned over upon him. Just at that moment, I felt a warm tongue on my wet cheek. I smiled and realized that I had the ____ that really counted.

1.

A．softened

B．shook

C．withdrew

D．extended

2.

A．clever

B．thirsty

C．helpful

D．ready

3.

A．broad

B．satisfied

C．tight

D．slight

4.

A．As

B．Beyond

C．Before

D．After

5.

A．pulled

B．charged

C．jumped

D．barked

6.

A．cut

B．missed

C．kept

D．rounded

7.

A．took off

B．flew away

C．turned around

D．bent forward

8.

A．race

B．difference

C．gap

D．goal

9.

A．Suddenly

B．Finally

C．Gradually

D．Occasionally

10.

A．way

B．hold

C．temper

D．sight

11.

A．quitted

B．insisted

C．sighed

D．froze

12.

A．struggled

B．decided

C．refused

D．pretended

13.

A．forcing

B．begging

C．ordering

D．persuading

14.

A．took up

B．put up

C．brought up

D．wrapped up

15.

A．achievement

B．companion

C．prize

D．friendship

2 . The title of “Aaron’s younger brother” was earned when I had won the second place in my first tennis tournament at the age of six. Whenever I ________ onto a tennis court, it was as though a gluey name label, which had been ________ stuck onto me.

I wanted to ________ Aaron, my older brother, whose fame had reduced me to a ________ tennis player. Then came a big tennis match against Aaron. As I shook Aaron’s hand at the start of the match, I stared at him and focused on how this match was going to ________ everything.

The tennis court seemed to stretch out further than usual, but I could still ________ the confident look on Aaron’s face. He knew that my honor ________ in comparison to his. Finally, we were down to the last set, neck and neck in points. That was when the setting sun cast his figure over me, ________ me that I would always be walking in his ________ if I did not prove myself.

I prepared myself for the finishing blow, ________ of Aaron’s past matches flooding through my mind as I ________ the weakness of his smash (扣球) the ball would always fly towards the left of the court. I extended my arm to the left in anticipation of where the ball was going to land. The ball made ________ with my racket and was lobbed over Aaron’s head successfully. He could do nothing but ________ his undefeated status as champion being removed by his younger brother.

While I was still enjoying the unfamiliar feeling of ________ minutes after the match was over, a man, whom I vaguely recognized from a ________ tennis club, approached me. “What is your name, son?” he asked. A smile spread across my face.

1.

A．marched

B．stepped

C．jumped

D．rushed

2.

A．frequently

B．originally

C．permanently

D．occasionally

3.

A．recommend

B．praise

C．evaluate

D．defeat

4.

A．nameless

B．hopeless

C．worthless

D．fearless

5.

A．appreciate

B．change

C．explore

D．settle

6.

A．put down

B．pull out

C．take up

D．make out

7.

A．disappeared

B．wrinkled

C．paled

D．doubled

8.

A．reminding

B．ordering

C．instructing

D．expecting

9.

A．trust

B．shelter

C．credit

D．shadow

10.

A．scores

B．images

C．records

D．highlights

11.

A．hid

B．admitted

C．recalled

D．overcame

12.

A．contact

B．progress

C．movement

D．adjustment

13.

A．maintain

B．improve

C．confirm

D．witness

14.

A．harmony

B．success

C．competition

D．relief

15.

A．previous

B．special

C．famous

D．tiny

3 . A football-loving penguin was unveiled as the official mascot of the 2023FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Streetwise and confident, Tazuni ______from the crowd thanks to her signature blue bunch of hair. Tazumi is a penguin based on the Eudyptula minor species which is ______ to New Zealand and Australia.

The name Tazuni is a ______of her home — the Tasman Sea — and “unity”, the key______of the event to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand in 2023.

Her football dreams come true when one evening she looks up to see fireworks ______ overhead coming from a nearby_______. The kids from beach ______ over a personalized football kit, and she ______walks into the stadium to showcase her talents.

“Tazuni stands for everything which makes the event unique, and her______ will resonate with millions of young fans around the world,” Fatma Samoura said. “Tazuni is the______mascot for this tournament, ______ all that is positive about the biggest women’s football event ever ______, and our sport-obsessed host nations who are ready to ______ the world.”

Like millions of youngsters worldwide, football is how Tazuni ______herself, and the event will provide______ for a new generation of football fans and participants from across the globe.

1.

A．takes off

B．sets aside

C．stands out

D．breaks away

2.

A．familiar

B．similar

C．common

D．equal

3.

A．choice

B．mixture

C．pride

D．concept

4.

A．source

B．sign

C．value

D．aspect

5.

A．float

B．explode

C．hang

D．rise

6.

A．stadium

B．field

C．square

D．village

7.

A．turn

B．take

C．get

D．hand

8.

A．shyly

B．cautiously

C．confidently

D．hesitantly

9.

A．adventure

B．disaster

C．story

D．exploration

10.

A．perfect

B．expensive

C．imaginary

D．beautiful

11.

A．recording

B．explaining

C．informing

D．demonstrating

12.

A．remembered

B．marked

C．celebrated

D．staged

13.

A．conquer

B．welcome

C．surprise

D．lead

14.

A．enjoy

B．behave

C．express

D．devote

15.

A．information

B．equipment

C．inspiration

D．guidance

4 . The Swimming Meet was three days away, and I was so ready for the backstroke race.

“Jamie Evans, breaststroke.”

Oh no! How I wished Coach Cafferty had NOT say _________ name! I couldn’t swim breaststroke! Laughter came from the seats which Callie and her friends sat on. I felt quite _________.

After Coach finished the list of names, I rushed to her and cried out, “Breaststroke is my worst, and I’m always last in practice. I’ll _________ our team’s score.”

“Jamie, you’re a strong swimmer. I think you can do _________ strokes.” Coach said, “I want you to push yourself outside of your comfort zone.”

“But... I will lose and be a _________ in front of everyone.” Patting my shoulder, Coach smiled, “Don’t care about others. Just race _________ yourself.”

The next day, my practice was awful. I had to stop to catch my breath several times. Callie made fun of me. Coach silenced her and _________ me, “You did well. Just count your strokes.”

I nodded, _________ I wished there would be a miracle that the meet would be canceled.

The miracle didn’t come; the meet did. I arrived at the pool hall and found all the seats were taken. The hall was _________.

My knees shook as my event got closer.

“I don’t think I can do this.” I turned to Coach __________.

“You’ll be fine,” She said, hugging me. “I will be right here __________. Remember, just swim your race.”

Then my event started.

Pull. Breathe. Kick. I kept __________ my line in front, ignoring swimmers on either side. I made my turn. My legs burnt, and I wondered __________ I could finish this race. I knew I had to keep kicking and counting strokes.

Pull. Breathe. Kick. Just one length to go. I kicked, but felt like moving through cement, I pushed myself forward. The wall came into sight. I touched it with the little __________ I had left.

I had finished last.

Coach handed me a towel. “You did it! I’m so proud of you!”

I bit my lip. “Yeah. I guess I’m the __________ of my own race. I had given my best.”

1.

A．my

B．her

C．his

D．your

2.

A．tired

B．bored

C．upset

D．lonely

3.

A．keep

B．check

C．forget

D．influence

4.

A．more

B．better

C．prettier

D．cooler

5.

A．dream

B．joke

C．memory

D．lesson

6.

A．to

B．along

C．past

D．against

7.

A．called

B．corrected

C．encouraged

D．interviewed

8.

A．so

B．or

C．and

D．but

9.

A．big

B．full

C．warm

D．bright

10.

A．seriously

B．excitedly

C．curiously

D．nervously

11.

A．resting

B．watching

C．enjoying

D．exercising

12.

A．focusing on

B．pointing at

C．searching for

D．worrying about

13.

A．how

B．why

C．when

D．where

14.

A．talent

B．energy

C．value

D．interest

15.

A．helper

B．creator

C．winner

D．leader

5 . On Oct. 11, hundreds of runners competed in a cross-country race in Minnesota. Melanie Bailey should have _________ the course earlier than she did. Her _________ came because she was carrying a _________ across the finish line.

As reported by a local newspaper, Bailey was more than two-thirds of the way through her _________ when a runner in front of her began crying in pain. She _________ to help her fellow runner, Danielle Lenoue. Bailey took her arm to see if she could walk forward with _________. She couldn’t. Bailey then _________ to let Lenoue climb onto her back and carried her all the way to the finish line, then another 300 feet to where Lenoue could get _________ attention.

Once there, Lenoue was _________ and later taken to a hospital, where she learned that she had serious injuries in one of her knees. She would have struggled with extreme __________ to make it to that aid checkpoint without Bailey’s help.

As for Bailey, she is more __________ about why her act is considered a big __________. “She was just crying. I couldn’t __________ her,” Bailey told the reporter. “I feel like I was just doing the right thing.”

Although the two young women were strangers before the __________, they’ve since become friends. Neither won the race, but the __________ of human kindness won the day.

1.

A．designed

B．followed

C．changed

D．finished

2.

A．delay

B．chance

C．trouble

D．excuse

3.

A．judge

B．volunteer

C．classmate

D．competitor

4.

A．race

B．school

C．town

D．training

5.

A．agreed

B．returned

C．stopped

D．promised

6.

A．courage

B．aid

C．patience

D．advice

7.

A．went away

B．stood up

C．stepped aside

D．bent down

8.

A．medical

B．public

C．constant

D．equal

9.

A．interrupted

B．assessed

C．identified

D．appreciated

10.

A．hunger

B．pain

C．cold

D．tiredness

11.

A．worried

B．ashamed

C．confused

D．discouraged

12.

A．game

B．problem

C．lesson

D．deal

13.

A．leave

B．cure

C．bother

D．understand

14.

A．ride

B．test

C．meet

D．show

15.

A．secret

B．display

C．benefit

D．exchange

6 . During the holiday season in 2015, Felicia Hall was battling depression. “I was unhappy, overeating fast food at night and not really caring for myself. I wasn’t physically _________, but always felt tired,” she says.

It wasn’t until New Year that Hall wanted to make a _________. A friend recommended Daily Burn, a workout program, and she _________ to sign up. “I registered, though not believing I can keep on. I even set a _________ on the phone to cancel it before the free trial ended,” says Hall. “Within two weeks, I did not _________. So I deleted the note.”

The _________ gained from Daily Burn also got her running. “I love the sound of _________ my feet on the ground, knowing my body is _________ of doing that,” she says. Hall also _________ her late-night fast-food sessions and started cooking healthy meals. After five months, Hall lost 20 pounds — and gained a new __________ on exercise, and on life. She consistently __________ the Daily Burn community group for support. And she __________ started teaching group fitness classes in her hometown. __________, she learned the power of positive thought and self-belief. “To be physically able to exercise and continue to __________ with it — it’s an amazing gift,” she says. “People not experiencing it aren’t __________ what something like this can do for a person. It’s not just physical — it’s mental. It’s everything.”

1.

A．sick

B．attractive

C．active

D．disabled

2.

A．difference

B．change

C．living

D．deal

3.

A．continued

B．managed

C．decided

D．promised

4.

A．reminder

B．deadline

C．monitor

D．timetable

5.

A．regret

B．forget

C．hesitate

D．withdraw

6.

A．confidence

B．wellness

C．passion

D．support

7.

A．laying

B．hitting

C．stamping

D．beating

8.

A．sick

B．afraid

C．sure

D．capable

9.

A．transformed

B．enriched

C．rescheduled

D．restored

10.

A．focus

B．emphasis

C．attitude

D．remark

11.

A．called on

B．relied on

C．appealed to

D．turned to

12.

A．even

B．still

C．ever

D．almost

13.

A．By chance

B．In fact

C．Above all

D．At first

14.

A．practice

B．combine

C．struggle

D．grow

15.

A．worried

B．aware

C．satisfied

D．certain

7 . For most, cross-country is an individual sport. But for Susan and Jeffrey, teamwork makes the dream ________.

Jeffrey, now 15, ________ cerebral palsy (脑瘫)at 22 months old due to heart rhythm disorder. Because of lack of oxygen, it also ________ damage to his brain. For his younger sister Susan, 14, Jeffrey is the one she loves. The two are very ________. When both of them registered at high school, she wanted to ________ a sport after school. She ________ cross-country would be a great sport not just for her, but also for her brother. “We like spending time together, and this is a(n) ________ we can spend time together after school.” Susan said, “It’s something he couldn’t do on his own, so in this way we can be ________ and do a sport together.”

Susan ________ Jeffrey in a wheelchair at every single practice. She said her brother’s ________ attitude helped her ________ the difficult training. Jeffrey’s positive attitude not only helped his sister, but all of his cross-country ________. Susan said at first, people were ________ around her brother and didn’t know what to do or how to act. But after getting to ________ Jeffrey, they accepted him and even took turns pushing him at practice.

But according to the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association’s ________ the siblings (兄妹)are only ________ to compete as exhibition runners, and their results do not ________. With the coaches, athletic directors and other runners’ support, the rules are changed. ________ their dream comes true.

“We felt glad to have ________ the way for runners that want to run with someone who can’t take part by themselves and make them have ________ access to sporting events,” Susan said.

1.

A．break

B．work

C．remain

D．go

2.

A．hid

B．developed

C．studied

D．controlled

3.

A．caused

B．suffered

C．removed

D．repaired

4.

A．different

B．sincere

C．silent

D．close

5.

A．point out

B．make up

C．compete in

D．play with

6.

A．distinguished

B．decided

C．read

D．imagined

7.

A．way

B．welfare

C．aid

D．association

8.

A．simple

B．busy

C．active

D．lucky

9.

A．pushed

B．walked

C．carried

D．set

10.

A．humorous

B．rude

C．responsible

D．positive

11.

A．contribute to

B．relate to

C．see through

D．get through

12.

A．workers

B．teammates

C．classmates

D．relatives

13.

A．kind

B．dynamic

C．nervous

D．plain

14.

A．know

B．sponsor

C．recognize

D．track

15.

A．rules

B．appointments

C．commitments

D．warnings

16.

A．determined

B．allowed

C．chosen

D．awarded

17.

A．match

B．add

C．change

D．count

18.

A．Constantly

B．Secretly

C．Normally

D．Finally

19.

A．led

B．followed

C．smoothed

D．confirmed

20.

A．rarer

B．quicker

C．safer

D．easier

8 . Everyone has hobbies. Hobbies bring us a lot of _______. For most of us, the activities we take part in are common and easy to do. However, there are other people who like to take _______. They are more interested in doing extreme sports, such as snowboarding, diving and rock climbing.

Many people _______ rock climbing. They can do it indoors on _________ walls or outdoors on real mountains. There are many advantages of rock climbing - it is fun and it also helps people _________ their worries.

The most important equipment to have is good shoes. They need to be half a size smaller than your usual size. The next thing you need is a harness (保护带). This allows you to _________ freely, but will hold you up if you fall. It's important to know how to use your equipment. If you are a _________, it's best to have lessons. A climber with experience can help you a lot when you are learning to climb.

Rock climbing is very _________ for people of different ages. Climbers, however, must be careful not to _________ the mountains. When some rock climbers climb, they sometimes leave a lot of __________ on the mountains. They should take it with them and throw it away into the dustbins. This will let future climbers enjoy a clean environment.

1.

A．health

B．happiness

C．wealth

2.

A．risks

B．notes

C．breaks

3.

A．hate

B．mind

C．enjoy

4.

A．simple

B．smooth

C．special

5.

A．forget

B．get

C．remember

6.

A．sit

B．move

C．fly

7.

A．climber

B．teacher

C．beginner

8.

A．relaxing

B．difficult

C．boring

9.

A．protect

B．prevent

C．pollute

10.

A．money

B．rubbish

C．water

9 . How Exercise may tame our anxiety

To better cope with all the dispiriting news this winter about rising Covid-19 _________, you might want to get out and play in the snow, according to a new report. The large-scale study of almost 200,000 cross-country skiers found that being physically active _________ the risk of developing anxiety over time.

Science already offers plenty of encouraging evidence that exercise can lift our _________. Experiments show that when people (and lab animals) start _________ they typically grow calmer, happier and less apt to feel sad, nervous or angry than before. Studies that focus on the links between one type of activity or behavior and various aspects of health or longevity, likewise find that more exercise is linked with substantially lower chances of developing severe depression; conversely, being _________ increases the risk for depression. A remarkable neurological study from 2013 even found that exercise _________ reductions in rodent anxiety, by prompting an increase in the production of specialized neurons that release a chemical that soothes over-activity in other parts of the brain.

_________, most of these studies were small, short term or mainly relevant to mice, leaving _________ many questions about what kinds of exercise might help our mental health, how long mood enhancements might potentially last, whether men and women _________ equally and whether it is possible to work out too much and perhaps increase your likelihood of feeling emotionally worse off.

So, for the new study, which was published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, exercise scientists at Lund University in Sweden and other __________ decided it would be worthwhile to __________ the long-term mental health of the thousands upon thousands of men and women who have raced Sweden’s famous Vasaloppet cross-country skiing event over the years.

The Vasaloppet, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this winter, is the largest series of cross-country ski __________ in the world, with crowds of racers annually lining up in the woods of central Sweden to fastly move and glide through races __________ in length from 30 kilometers, or almost 19 miles, to 90K, about 56 miles. Because this kind of endurance event requires abundant health, stamina and training, researchers previously have used data about Vasaloppet racers to study how exercise influences cancer risks, heart __________, and longevity.

The skiers, the researchers found, proved to be __________ calmer over the decades after their race than the other Swedes, with more than 50 percent less risk of developing clinical anxiety. Their results indicate the link between exercise and reduced anxiety is strong.

1.

A．diseases

B．patients

C．cases

D．numbers

2.

A．halves

B．divides

C．takes

D．increases

3.

A．abilities

B．moods

C．feelings

D．attitudes

4.

A．working out

B．getting along

C．hanging out

D．carrying on

5.

A．inactive

B．mobile

C．lively

D．lazy

6.

A．brings in

B．reacts to

C．results from

D．leads to

7.

A．However

B．Furthermore

C．Similarly

D．Otherwise

8.

A．open

B．close

C．back

D．clear

9.

A．transform

B．benefit

C．risk

D．enhance

10.

A．companies

B．institutes

C．foundations

D．jounals

11.

A．look into

B．get into

C．look up

D．keep up

12.

A．resorts

B．destinations

C．races

D．vacations

13.

A．ranging

B．changing

C．extending

D．stretching

14.

A．rate

B．operation

C．health

D．muscle

15.

A．frequently

B．effectively

C．considerably

D．slowly

10 . Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the Olympics, once said, “All _______ for all people.” Sports were also a big part of Jim’s life. Jim was always on the team. But his favourite sport was football.

One day in practice, something went horribly _______. Jim got seriously hurt. Doctors had to _________ his right leg below the knee. After weeks of treatment, Jim got a man-made leg. “I felt, like a baby, because I had to learn how to _______ again,” he said. However, Jim never lost his _________ spirit. “I took it on just as a _________.” he explains.

One goal kept Jim _______. “I was determined to get back and play football.” he says. His coach and teammates visit him, offering their _________.

When Jim returned to school, he was in a wheelchair. Jim’s school had a top football team. Would Jim be able to play at such a competitive level? At first, no one was _______. There was no need to worry. Before long, Jim mastered the use of his new __________. He was back on the football field and soon became one of the most __________ members of the team.

Jim also ________ playing wheelchair basketball and wheelchair football. He competed in weightlifting (举重) for people with disability as well.

Jim always says, “Don’t try to be something you’re not, be the ____________

you can be.” Jim’s best performance turns out to be better than anyone could have __________. Now he holds a world record for weightlifting. And he hopes to __________ in the Paralympics (残奥会).1.

A．honour

B．sports

C．stress

D．strength

2.

A．strange

B．unique

C．narrow

D．wrong

3.

A．work out

B．cut off

C．focus on

D．apply for

4.

A．quit

B．hike

C．survive

D．walk

5.

A．fighting

B．commenting

C．comparing

D．winning

6.

A．request

B．legend

C．challenge

D．friendship

7.

A．pretending

B．going

C．graduating

D．searching

8.

A．support

B．source

C．destination

D．diet

9.

A．sure

B．successful

C．official

D．graceful

10.

A．castle

B．flight

C．leg

D．tool

11.

A．injured

B．valuable

C．unusual

D．expensive

12.

A．admired

B．considered

C．remembered

D．began

13.

A．biggest

B．tallest

C．best

D．wisest

14.

A．known

B．realized

C．expected

D．provided

15.

A．cheat

B．cheer

C．sweat

D．compete