1 . “The Worthington Christian defeated the Westerville North by 2—1 in an Ohio boys’ soccer game on Saturday.” That’s according to a story that appeared last month in The Columbus Dispatch. That lead was written not by a sportswriter, but by an artificial intelligence (AI) tool.
Many news organizations are now examining how AI might be used in their work. But if they begin their “experimenting” with high school sports because they are less momentous than war, peace, climate change and politics, they may miss something crucial. Nothing may be more important to the students who play high school sports, and to their families, neighborhoods, and sometimes, the whole town. That next game is what the students train for, work toward, and dream about. Someday, almost all student athletes will go on to have jobs in front of screens, in office parks, at schools, in hospitals or on construction sites. They may suffer blows and setbacks. But the high school games they played and watched, as well as their hopes and cheers, will stay vivid in their memories.
I have a small idea. If newspapers will no longer send staff reporters to cover high school games, why not hire high school student journalists? News organizations can pay students an hourly wage to cover high school games. The young reporters might learn how to be fair to all sides, write vividly, and attract readers. That’s what some celebrities in sports did, and do.
And think of the great writers who were inspired by sports: Hemingway on fishing, Bernard Malamud and Marianne Moore on baseball, Chen Zhongshi on football, and CLR James on cricket, who said, “There can be raw pain and bleeding where so many thousands see the inevitable (不可避免的) ups and downs of only a game.” A good high school writer, unlike a robot, could tell readers not just the score, but the stories of the game.
1. Why is the lead mentioned in the first paragraph?A.To introduce an original idea. | B.To show AI’s wide application. |
C.To bring in the opinion about AI. | D.To stress AI’s importance to news. |
A.Hopeful. | B.Eye-catching. | C.Competitive. | D.Far-reaching. |
A.Rich in contents. | B.Fair in comments. |
C.Centered on results. | D.Targeted on readers. |
A.News Organizations Are Abusing AI | B.High Schoolers Can Do What AI Can’t |
C.Great Writers Are Crazy About Sports | D.AI Ruins High School Students’ Memory |
2 . The Price of a Dream
I grew up poor. We had little money, but plenty of love and attention. I understood that no matter how poor a person was, they could still afford a dream. My dream was athletics.
By the time I was sixteen, I was good at baseball and football. My high school coach was Ollie Jarvis. He not only believed in me, but taught me the difference between having a dream and showing conviction (信念).
One summer a friend recommended me for a summer job. This meant a chance for money in my pocket — cash for dates with girls, certainly, money for a new bike and new clothes, and the start of savings for a house for my mother.
Then I realized I would have to give up summer baseball to handle the work schedule, and that meant I would have to tell Coach Jarvis I wouldn’t be playing. I was afraid of this, but my mother said, “If you make your bed, you have to lie in it.”
When I told Coach Jarvis, he was as mad as I expected him to be. “Your playing days are limited. You can’t afford to waste them,” he said.
I stood before him with my head hanging, trying to think of the words that would explain to him why I dream of buying my mom a house.
“How much are you going to make at this job, son?” he demanded.
“Three point twenty-five an hour,” I replied.
“Well,” he asked, “is $3. 25 an hour the price of a dream?”
That question exposed the difference between wanting something right now and having a goal. I devoted myself to sports that summer, and within the year I was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates to play rookie-league ball, and offered a $20, 000 contract. I signed with the Denver Broncos in 1984 for $1.7 million, and bought my mother my dream house.
1. Why was the writer grateful to Coach Jarvis?A.Because Coach Jarvis made him set a goal. |
B.Because Coach Jarvis supplied him with new clothes. |
C.Because Coach Jarvis gave him financial support. |
D.Because Coach Jarvis helped him show conviction. |
A.Balance summer baseball and the work schedule. |
B.Refuse the job offer for summer baseball. |
C.Give up summer baseball for the job. |
D.Ask his coach Jarvis for advice. |
A.You must eat the bitter fruit of your own making. |
B.Believe in yourself, but above all be patient. |
C.You must rely on yourself first, then others. |
D.A good beginning makes a good ending. |
A.He failed to buy his mother a house. |
B.He succeeded as a sportsman. |
C.He became a successful businessman. |
D.He made some money in the summer job. |
3 . These days, videos of “ diving grandpas” from north China’s Tianjin are popular on the Internet. In the videos, they jumped off the Shizilin Bridge into the 7-meter-deep Haihe River. However, on Wednesday, they announced that they would give up the sport.
With an average age of 60, the diving grandpas have much experience in diving. They started as a group of local diving lovers. They went swimming in the city’s rivers, and later they tried their hand at diving. The hobby has now lasted for more than thirty years.
Videos on the Internet have drawn lots of tourists from across the country to the Shizilin Bridge over the Haihe River, where “diving grandpas” perform diving. However, some inexperienced divers, trying to follow“ diving grandpas”, have met with accidents and got themselves injured. Some of the grandpas have begun volunteering to keep order for the crowds that come to see the performance on the bridge. However, accidents still continued to happen. As reported, members of the Blue Sky Rescue team in Tianjin said that they rescued 14 people at the risk of drowning or other injury in just two days.
The grandpas then made a difficult decision. They stopped diving off the bridge. They also prevented inexperienced locals and children as well as tourists from diving from the bridge . The grandpas welcomed the tourists to Tianjin, especially pointing out the other great places of interest and delicious food around the Shizilin Bridge.
1. What can we learn from Paragraph 2?A.The diving grandpas made a living by diving. |
B.The diving grandpas came from all over China. |
C.The diving grandpas made diving a life-long hobby. |
D.The diving grandpas began diving when they were little. |
A.The weather became colder. |
B.They were too old to carry out the task. |
C.The bridge was too crowded with tourists. |
D.They hoped to prevent accidents from happening. |
A.Kind and honest |
B.Energetic and warm-hearted |
C.Brave and talented |
D.Outgoing and optimistic |
A.Diving became a popular activity in Tianjin. |
B.Diving without guidance may cause injury or death. |
C.“Diving grandpas” helped speed up tourism in Tianjin. |
D.“Diving grandpas” gave up diving for tourists’ safety. |
4 . According to research, about 21.5 million American children between the ages of six and seventeen are involved (参与的) in a team sport.
A 2006 report shows that taking up sports can increase both emotional and behavioral well-being in teenagers. And increased well-being can lead to higher confidence, which results in better overall performance.
Actually, sports give children an opportunity to communicate with adults in valuable and positive ways, which can help them develop closer relationships with adults. This effect is especially great when children don’t get along well with their family members.
Although most effects of sports on children are good, there can be disadvantages. If the pressure to win is overemphasized (过分强调) or the expectations of parents or coaches become too great, kids may experience lots of stress.
A.Being physically fit is linked to having a higher IQ. |
B.They may take part in sports for fun or to develop some skills. |
C.However, children hardly play sports when they become older. |
D.It can cause worries, headaches, stomach aches, and muscle pain. |
E.For example, children involved in sports are likely to do well in their studies. |
F.Organized sports require children to work together to achieve a common goal. |
G.Many children say sports have helped increase their conversations with parents. |
5 . Why do we play sports? You might say “to get exercise” and you’d be right. To have fun? That’s true, too. But there’s more.
Girls who play sports do better in school. You might think that playing sports will take up much of your study time.
Girls who play sports learn teamwork and goal setting skills. Sports teach us valuable life skills. When you work with coaches, trainers, and teammates to win games and achieve goals, you’re learning how to be successful.
Playing sports improves self-confidence.
A.Exercise cuts the pressure down. |
B.In fact, there are at least 5 more reasons. |
C.Regular exercise improves the quality of life. |
D.Girls who play sports feel better about themselves. |
E.Those skills will serve you well at work and in family life. |
F.Playing sports offers children more than just physical benefits. |
G.But research shows girls who play sports do better in school than those who don’t. |
6 . Many things make the 2022 World Cup one of the most unique world cups in the history of football. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most interesting facts about the 2022 World Cup that make it unique in every way.
1. Application of the new technology
Earlier this year Adidas revealed “Al Rihla,” the official match ball of the 2022 World Cup. Al Rihla translates as “the journey” in Arabic and it is designed to support the highest game speeds as it travels faster in flight than any FIFA World Cup ball created before it in the tournament’s 92-year history. The new ball features the latest Adidas Suspension System at its core, containing a motion sensor that tracks every touch of the game at a rate of 500 times per second.
2. Record number of visitors
One of the most interesting facts about FIFA 2022 in Qatar is the number of visitors expected to arrive in the country during the event. As expected, the 2022 World Cup Qatar will probably receive a record number of visitors by the time the tournament ends. The reason behind this is simple to understand. Being one of the best countries in the Middle East, Qatar is also located right in the center of the world and close to most of the countries in the world.
3. Stadium is equipped with Centralized Air Conditioning
While the World Cup is nearly impossible to hold during the summer given the fact that temperatures in Qatar can touch 50 degrees Celsius, switching to the winter slot has brought some peace. However, is the problem solved? As far as winter is concerned, even daytime temperatures during winter can be quite high. Therefore, Qatar has found a solution to this. For the first time, the country host the World Cup in an air-conditioned stadium. All eight stadiums are fully air-conditioned, providing fans with a comfortable viewing experience.
1. In the 2022 World Cup, which is the new ball’s feature?A.The speed sensor. | B.The core. | C.The suspension system. | D.The monitor. |
A.Qatar is easy to reach. |
B.Qatar is a beautiful country to visit. |
C.Qatar is the richest country in the Middle East. |
D.Qatar is close to most of the countries in the world. |
A.Switch the game to the winter slot. |
B.Cool drinks are offered to audience for free. |
C.Host the World Cup in air-conditioned stadiums. |
D.Fans are provided with a comfortable viewing experience. |
7 . Cat-Cow, Crow, Downward-facing dog and Pigeon: these names might sound like animals but they are actually yoga poses.
What is yoga?
Yoga is exercise for the body and mind. It combines moving your body into different positions while focusing on your breathing. Yoga was first practiced around 5, 000 years ago in what is now northern India, where it was linked to the religion of Hinduism. For example, a yoga sequence was developed to greet Surya, the Hindu god of the Sun.
Yoga encourages you to connect your mind and body and to link your existence to the wider universe. Many people find this helpful because they are reminded of the “bigger picture”, which can make their worries or unhelpful thoughts feel more manageable. Yoga's focus on breathing and movement can be calming.
What if my body isn't bendy?
Yoga isn’t just for gymnasts.
A.How do I get started? |
B.Why is it good for me? |
C.It’s a skill that can be learned by anybody. |
D.Take your time with these poses and keep practicing ones that you find difficult. |
E.Learning how to move your body into these poses does take practice but your wellbeing is likely to improve. |
F.However, yoga has now evolved and is practised all over the world by people of different faiths and backgrounds. |
G.Research has shown that yoga can be especially helpful for young people's mental health by giving time out from daily distractions and boosting concentration. |
8 . Nowadays, our phone is capable of just about anything through various apps. Here, we’ve rounded up some of the good apps for fitness (健康).
Wakeout
Because of COVID-19, many people’s fitness has suffered due to long periods of sitting or lying. Wakeout’s attractive feature is that it’s a fitness app that doesn’t ask you to roll out a yoga mat, or clear space. Instead, Wakeout will recommend exercises that can be done immediately, whether you’re sitting or lying down. You can schedule workouts for the day, or relax before your bedtime.
Seven-7 Minute Workout
Seven-7 Minute Workout aims to give you the most benefit possible in just 7 minutes through a series of quick exercises that target specific areas of your body. There’s no equipment need. It’s free to use, but joining the 7 Club for $10 a month (or $60 a year) will give you access to a wider range of exercises, personal workout plans, and guidance from a personal trainer.
30 Day Fitness
30 Day Fitness provides hundreds of exercises with video instructions for each of the 30 days, plus a personal workout history, so you can see how far you’ve come. You get a week for free, but it’ll cost you $5 a week for access after that.
Loona
Can’t rest your mind and body at night? You’re not alone, as many of us suffer from an inability to switch off at night. Instead of just playing lullabies (催眠曲) at bedtime, Loona wants to help balance your mood throughout the day, keeping anxiety down and helping you to be in a stable mood at bedtime.
1. What is the major benefit of Wake out?A.It is attracting. | B.Its convenience. |
C.Its long periods. | D.Its good service. |
A.It provides free guidance. | B.It offers free personal trainers. |
C.You can exercise wherever you are. | D.You can exercise without equipment. |
A.About $5. | B.About $10. | C.About $15. | D.About $30. |
9 . Recently, the organizers of the 2024 Paris Olympics have suggested that breakdancing be included in 2024, making it closer to becoming an Olympic sport. The other 3 sports—surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing—all made debuts in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. That is to say, audience watched these three sports as Olympic events for the first time.
The organizers stressed that four sports had been chosen since they would reflect the city’s identity and help take the Olympics to the street. They added that the purposes were to deliver a Games that was able to keep up with the times and encourage new audience and attract young people. Breakdancing is a typical example which can be played without the limitations of time and places in urban and other environments.
As one of the sports at the Young Olympic Games in Buenos Aires in 2018, breakdancing now could see its popularity greatly raised. But the International Olympic Committee (IOC) needs to approve the French suggestion before it can be formally added to the 2024 Paris Olympics sports programme.
With new IOC rules first introduced to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Host cities can select sports and propose them for inclusion in those Games if they are popular in that country and add to the Game’s appeal.
Antonio Espinos Ortueta, the president of the World Karate Federation said, “Our sport has grown rapidly over the last years. We believe that we have met all the requirements and that we have the perfect conditions to be added to the sports programme. However, we have learned today that we still haven’t had the chance to prove our value as an Olympic sport.”
1. Which of the following is closest in meaning to the underlined word “debuts” ?A.Announcements. | B.Appearances. |
C.Attractions. | D.Advertisements. |
A.It attracts people of all ages. |
B.It is the symbol of Paris. |
C.It was performed in 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics . |
D.It can be played anytime and anywhere. |
A.Give useful advice. | B.Offer enough support. |
C.Give detailed explanations. | D.Have the last word. |
A.He thought it easy for a new sport to be included in Olympics. |
B.He thought breakdancing was far from ready to be an Olympic event. |
C.He couldn’t be sure of the final decision of IOC. |
D.He found it likely for breakdancing to be performed in Olympics. |
10 . A potato farmer, Cliff Young took part in a Sydney to Melbourne ultramarathon (超级马拉松) race in1983. Coached by his mother who was 81 at the time, Cliff Young started the marathon with work shoes and work clothes.
Competing against world-class marathon runners who were backed up by big sports companies and spent hundreds of hours preparing for the race, Cliff Young’s training method was just running after his sheep. He told the organizers he could run after his sheep for a few days and that he could surely compete with other runners.
The ultramarathon generally took 5 days to compete and this potato farmer’s decision seemed suicidal. In fact, some tried to stop him from running the super-difficult race because they thought Cliff Young could die because of the heat and fatigue(疲劳). After all, he was 61 years old!
To cut the story short, Cliff Young managed to finish the race. While the young racers slept, he continued to race throughout the night. The young athletes left him far behind until the very last night where he finally led the marathon. Not only did Cliff Young, a 61-year-old potato farmer, survive the race, but he even managed to win the marathon and actually broke the race record by 9 hours! He even gave away his prize money to the rest of the runners after him.
After the win, he continued to run in many ultramarathon races and even set standards in the world of endurance racing. His running style, named “The Young Shuffle” is a famous running technique used by many runners in the world today.
Cliff Young showed that being old is not a problem, and being a champion doesn’t mean you need to have super-human strength, just super-human will!
1. What can we say about Cliff Young’s training?A.It was very informal. | B.It was well scheduled. |
C.It was difficult for him. | D.It was suitable for everyone. |
A.Quite simple. | B.Highly risky. |
C.Really surprising. | D.Extremely reasonable. |
A.Self-confident and far-sighted. |
B.Animal-loving and easy-going. |
C.Strong-minded and big-hearted. |
D.Open-minded and hard-working. |
A.A marathon race held 37 years ago. |
B.A true story of an amazing sportsman. |
C.The development of “The Young Shuffle”. |
D.An old champion’s advice to young runners |