1 . The Best Mountain Bike Trails (小径) in the US
The Tahoe Rim TrailWhere: Lake Tahoe, CA & NV
Distance: about 165 miles
The trail is popular with hikers, backpackers (背包客), and mountain bikers, so don’t expect to have much loneliness. You’ll have views of bright blue Lake Tahoe nearly the entire time. Most mountain bikers do the eight sections (段) of the Rim Trail in separate trips rather than doing the full loop (圈) as it’s too tiring. Also, make sure you’re familiar with the routes because some sections are closed to bikers.
The Gooseberry Mesa South RimWhere: Hurricane, UT
Distance: about 8 miles
There’s a reason why the world-famous Red Bull Rampage mountain bike competition is held here—the land is beautiful and suitable for big jumps and fun rock climbs. However, it’s not for beginners. But if you’re willing to take it on, you’ll be able to enjoy impressive views and a lively trip.
The Sidewinder Mountain Biking TrailWhere: Burke, VT
Distance: about 35 miles
Sidewinder is a small part of the 100 miles of trails within Vermont’s well-known Kingdom Trails system. If you love the feeling of a quick downhill line similar to sitting in the front of a rollercoaster more than actually riding a bike, you’ll love Sidewinder. The trail is a one-way trail made for experienced bikers.
The East Tiger Summit TrailWhere: Issaquah, WA
Distance: 1.5 miles
Tiger Mountain is loaded with mountain bike trails for everyone from beginners to experts, so you can choose the trail if you have a group of bikers of different levels. Almost anyone with basic skills or above should be about to handle this trail, which is good since it’s one of the best trails in the entire PWN.
1. What can bikers do along the Tahoe Rim Trail?A.Enjoy beautiful lake views. | B.Bike freely in each section. |
C.Finish a loop easily within a day. | D.Experience the pleasure of biking alone. |
A.It has the longest distance. |
B.It provides superfast downhill riding. |
C.It is suitable for bikers of different levels. |
D.It offers an impressive landscape along the way. |
A.The Tahoe Rim Trail. | B.The East Tiger Summit Trail. |
C.The Gooseberry Mesa South Rim. | D.The Sidewinder Mountain Biking Trail. |
2 . Are you looking for a fun way to improve your fitness? Look no further than tennis! This fast-paced sport offers more than just a good time on the court. Here are a few reasons why you might want to pick up a racket (球拍) and start swinging.
Become more agile (敏捷的) and flexible. Tennis, as you may know, demands quick reactions, swift changes in direction and agile movements.
Strengthen your mental wellness and growth mindset. Tennis training encourages discipline and requires a person to be in what is known as a growth mindset. It can help improve your psychological resilience (适应力), which is the ability to thrive when being exposed to hardship.
Strengthen your overall strength. Have you ever noticed that tennis isn’t just about the arm movements?
Build social interaction. Some sports can be played or done on your own, such as swimming. Tennis is not one of them.
A.Playing with a partner is a good chance to make friends. |
B.These activities improve your overall coordination, balance and overall flexibility. |
C.Who knew that hitting a ball could be so good for your heart? |
D.Improve your heart’s health. |
E.It can definitely be a useful skill in life. |
F.It actually involves many muscle groups. |
G.Tennis protects mental as well as physical health. |
3 . No FIFA World Cup would be complete without “psychic(通灵的)” animals predicting the winners, and Qatar 2022 was the same. A range of animals—big and small—have tried to predict the scoreline.
It all started with Paul, the ”psychic“ octopus(章鱼). He put TV experts to shame with an unbelievable group of correct World Cup winner predictions at the Aquarium Sea Life Center in Oberhausen, Germany. He correctly predicted eight World Cup matches at South Africa’s tournament in 2010, including Spain beating the Netherlands in the World Cup final.
Paul’s successor, Rubio the octopus, did not end well. It became a star in Japan for its 100%success in predicting group-stage matches, including Japan’s win against Colombia in the 2018 World Cup held in Russia. Rubio did not get the chance to make its prediction for the Round-of-16 after it was cut into pieces and turned into seafood.
Taiyo the otter had good news for Japanese fans at the 2022 World cup in Qatar, correctly predicting Japan’s group-stage win over Germany. From his home at the Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa in Japan, Taiyo was given three buckets(桶)to choose from—Japan(blue), draw (yellow)and Germany(red)—and did not hesitate about picking up his tiny football and placing his bet on Japan. He was widely praised online for his action.
And let’s not forget another star—Marcus, the “mystic pig”. In the 2018 World Cup, Marcus predicted a World Cup victory for England after selecting apples with the England flag on British morning television. However, Marcus’ fortune-telling record was shattered when England was knocked out in the semi-final.
Nelly the elephant from Serengeti Park in Hodenhagen, Germany, also meant business when she had a group of 30 out of 33 matches correct predictions in the 2006 World Cup, the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 Euro.
Camilla the ”mystic“ camel from Melton Mowbray in England did have good news for England, however. She correctly predicted the Three Lions’ group-stage win over Iran at the Qatar World Cup. Her owners said that their camel was ”never wrong“.
1. What can we learn about Rubio?A.It ended up being eaten. | B.It missed the 2018 World Cup. |
C.It performed much better than Paul. | D.It became famous after the Round-of-16. |
A.It knew Japanese players well. | B.It could recognize many colors. |
C.It was quick at decision-making. | D.It was good at catching a football. |
A.Updated. | B.Shared. | C.Removed. | D.Broken. |
A.He doesn’t give his opinion. | B.He is doubtful about them. |
C.He thinks them interesting. | D.He is supportive to them. |
4 . Running and walking are both excellent forms of exercise. Those who regularly do either usually have healthier hearts, stronger bones and lower body weights than those who do little exercise. But does it matter whether you spend time walking or running? Arguments can be made for both, and which is right for you depends on your goals and your present fitness level.
“The key difference between running and walking is how many calories you are burning — not per mile, but per minute of exercise,” says Paul D. Thompson, a doctor at Hartford Hospital. “Running is a more efficient movement and it’s more demanding on the body, so it burns more calories per minute,” Thompson says. “But if you’ve got the time to walk long enough to burn the same amount of calories, then walking is fine.” That said, if your final goal is to lose weight, chances are that neither running nor walking alone is going to do the trick. Research has shown that it needs to be done along with calorie control.
In a recent study that analyzed data from nearly 50, 000 people, researchers found that runners’risk of heart disease was 4.5 percent lower than that of those who were inactive. But walkers who burned the same amount of calories daily had a risk level that was 9 percent lower than those who were inactive.
“Running gets the reputation for causing injuries because many people who are just starting to run try to do too much too quickly,” says Carol Ewing Garber, a professor at Columbia University. “And they often get injured as a result. If you want to progress from walking to running, do it slowly, gradually increasing your speed, distance and the frequency of your runs?”
Running may be more highly-intense and calorie-burning than walking, but walking is a great way to ease into exercise and make sure you are staying physically active every day. The bottom line is that getting exercise of any kind is beneficial — if you keep doing it.
“The best exercise is the one you are going to do,” Thompson says. “There are extra benefits to be gained from running, but what’s most important from a public health point of view is that everyone gets out and does some kind of exercise?”
1. What can we infer from Paragraph 2?A.Walking is more demanding on the body. |
B.Walking is better than running for busy people. |
C.Running can reduce people’s fat quickly and safely. |
D.Exercise on its own is not enough to lose weight. |
A.Walking can reduce the risk of having heart disease. |
B.Walkers are more likely to get heart disease than runners. |
C.Running burns fewer calories than walking. |
D.Inactive people are free from heart problems. |
A.We’d better walk slowly. |
B.Any exercise is better than none. |
C.We’d better choose to run. |
D.Just walk before you run. |
5 . Simon James is a super-trail runner (越野跑步者) who encourages people to reconnect with nature in the name of exercise. He has completed Super Trail in the Alps, the Andes and the Himalayas. A late-night bet with a client (客户) got him tied to running.
“In 2006, a business client challenged me one evening in a bar to a 36-hour walk across 54 miles of the West Highland Way, and I foolishly said ‘yes’,” James said. “He then rang me the next day to tell me we would be running it.”
At the time, James was 20 kilograms overweight and the longest he had run before that was just under 8 miles, but he managed to finish that run and has never looked back.
According to a report, two-thirds of adults in the U. K. are overweight, one-fifth suffering from depression (抑郁). The huge influence caused by modern lifestyle has worsened these issues. We are aware of the importance of exercise in everyday life, and no amount of virtual meetings can make up for direct social contact. James said, “Only one thing can fix these problems — trail running.”
What is unique about trail running, he explained, is that “it reconnects us to our beautiful nature and connects our physical, mental and spiritual aspects, as well as providing us with an experience which can connect us to other people”.
Inspired, he quit his city life of working 16-hour-plus-days as a banker, and spent more time in trails and mountains.
James is now in charge of the trail running company Run the Wild. He said every run has been a gift following a physical operation in 2015, even though his doctor told that he could hardly run again. He said, “The outdoors is such a great place for us all to experience.”
1. How did Simon James take part in trail running?A.He was inspired by a friend. | B.He tried to deal with his health issue. |
C.He made a bet with a client. | D.He had a passion for workout. |
A.It focuses largely on overweight British people. |
B.It has little influence on people’s mental health. |
C.It connects people through virtual community. |
D.It helps to build the social connection for people. |
A.Courageous. | B.Sociable. |
C.Kind-hearted. | D.Determined. |
A.A Unique Experience | B.A Trail to Nature |
C.Running Wonder | D.Depression Disorders |
6 . 2024 Illustration Competition
Enter the competition most respected and admired in the industry for creativity in illustration, the Communication Arts Illustration Competition. Selected by distinguished professionals, the winning entries will be distributed worldwide in the Communication Arts Illustration Annual and on commarts.com, ensuring important exposure of the creations. Each winner will receive a professionalized Award of Excellence, made from solid aluminum, and an award certificate. Communication Art’s Award of Excellence is one of the most desired awards. If chosen, winning places you in the highest ranks of your profession.
What To Enter With
Any illustration first published or produced from Jan. 2023 to Jan. 2024 is qualified. Entries may originate from any country. Descriptions in English are necessary for the judges to read.
Entries Can Be Submitted In The Following Formats
Digital Images: RGB images in JPG format with a maximum file size of 2 MB. GIF images may be livelier, but would be turned down, and so would the PNG ones.
Motion Entries: In MOV, MP4 or MPG format, with a maximum file size of 500 MB.
Illustration Competition Categories & Entry Fees
Category | Single illustration | Series of illustrations |
Books (covers, jackets, etc.) | $ 40 | $ 80 (limit of 5) |
Motion (media for films, videos, etc.) | $ 90 | $ 180 (limit of 3) |
Student Work | $ 20 (Image) $ 45 (Video) | $ 40 (Images, limit of 5) $ 90 (Video, limit of 3) |
For more categories, please download the category PDF.
Late Fees
Entries must be registered no later than Jan. 13, 2024. Entries registered after that date will be charged a fee of $10 each. No entries can be registered after Jan. 27, 2024.
1. What will the winner gain?A.A personalized award certificate. | B.Wide recognition in the industry. |
C.Exposure to world-famous works. | D.A bonus from Communication Arts. |
A.A student work from Argentina. |
B.A newly produced motion entry. |
C.A PNG image with a file size of 1 MB. |
D.A series for covers of three illustrations. |
A.$ 80. | B.$ 110. | C.$ 150. | D.$ 240. |
7 . Participating in art competitions is essential for students to gain formal recognition and impress college admission officers. Today, we have a list of art competitions on regional, national, and international scales.
EarthX Eco-Art Competition
It invites young artists aged 5-22 to create 2-D or 3-D art that illustrates the theme: Protectors for the Planet. The theme can be interpreted in various ways, including individuals taking action towards a more sustainable planet, or highlighting the efforts of environmental leaders working to sustain ecosystems.
Deadline: March 8, 2024
The Children’s Drawing Contest
Sponsored by International Certification Organization Network, the contest, whose theme this year is “Passing on Our Precious Earth to The Future”, invites children aged 7-15 worldwide to draw the kind of natural environment they would like to live in. 48 winners will receive special memorabilia. All entrants will receive a participation prize. Medium: Drawings with any type of paint, pastel, etc.
Deadline: May 31, 2024
Science without Borders Challenge
The competition is open to children and young people under the age of 16. We welcome entries from both groups and individuals to create art to promote public awareness of the need to preserve, protect, and restore nature. The theme is “The Sixth Extinction” and you can focus on the protection of endangered species. Acceptable media include paint, pencil, marker, crayon, ink, felt, and oil pastel.
Deadline: March 4, 2024
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, the longest-running literary and art competition in the US, provides opportunities and academic awards for creative young people to express their talent. The theme this year is “Tell Your Climate Story”. Students in the 9th to 12th grades can submit poetry, fiction and nonfiction to show their understanding of environmental issues.
Deadline: June 10, 2024
1. On which date can participants send their entries to EarthX Eco-Art Competition?A.May 6, 2024. | B.March 15, 2024. | C.April 28, 2024. | D.February 9, 2024. |
A.EarthX Eco-Art Competition. | B.The Children’s Drawing Contest. |
C.Science without Borders Challenge. | D.The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. |
A.They target students under the age of 20. | B.They are about environmental protection. |
C.They require participants to write a story. | D.They only accept entries from individuals. |
8 . BBC Young Reporter Competition
If you are 11-18 years old, tell us about a story you think the BBC should be reporting.
What is the BBC Young Reporter Competition?
It is a yearly opportunity for 11-to 18-year-olds across the UK to submit (提交) an original story idea to the BBC. BBC Young Reporter Competition winners will have the chance to tell their story on TV, radio, online or on social media with the help of BBC journalists, producers and program makers. We are not looking for finished reports but entries should just be an outline (概述) of a story idea. This can be submitted as a written description or videos.
Entries will be judged in two age categories: 11 -15 and 16- 18. There is one entry category: Me and My World, Entries should be an original and true story about your life, or the world you live in. It could be about your own identity or experience that influences you or your community. You need to show how your report on this story can reflect the wider situation. Entries will only be considered when submitted via the online mechanism (机制). No other method of entry is permitted (this includes email or post).
Judging process
Stories will be judged on editorial merit (优点)—that means the strength of the story, originality, and the personal story or background related to it. Judges will be looking for 40 winning stories from across the UK. Judges include editors from across the BBC as well as presenters and reporters. Stories will not be broadcast until all the judging is completed and the winners are announced in June.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the BBC Young Reporter Competition, please contact a member of the team by emailing youngreportercompetition@bbc.co.uk.
1. What can be learned about the competition?A.It is hosted once a year. |
B.It is for professional journalists. |
C.Stories can be submitted by email. |
D.Participants should present their complete stories. |
A.The story should be about a history hero. |
B.The story may be adapted from another one. |
C.The story can be an imaginary one in the future. |
D.The story ought to be about their real experience. |
A.Stories can be broadcast in June. |
B.Judges are all editors from across the BBC. |
C.Stories must be recommended by a teacher or a professor. |
D.Judges will be looking for 40 winning stories from across Europe. |
9 . Massive changes in all of the world’s deeply cherished sporting habits are underway. Whether it’s one of London’s parks full of people playing softball, and Russians taking up rugby, or the Superbowl rivaling the British Football Cup Final as a televised spectator event in Britain, the patterns of players and spectators are changing rapidly. We are witnessing a globalization of our sporting culture.
That annual bicycle race, the Tour de France, much loved by the French, is a good case in point. Just a few years back it was a strictly continental affair with France, Belgium and Holland, Spain and Italy taking part in. But in recent years it has been dominated by Colombian mountain climbers, and American and Irish riders.
The people who really matter welcome the shift toward globalization. Peugeot, Michelin and Panasonic are multi-national corporations that want worldwide returns for the millions they invest in teams. So it does them literally a world of good to see this unofficial world championship become just that.
This is undoubtedly an economic-based revolution we are witnessing here, one made possible by communications technology, but made to happen because of marketing considerations. Sell the game and you can sell Coca Cola or Budweiser as well.
The skillful way in which American football has been sold to Europe is a good example of how all sports will develop. The aim of course is not really to spread the sport for its own sake, but to increase the number of people interested in the major money-making events. The economics of the Superbowl are already large. With seats at US $125, gate receipts alone were an astonishing $10,000,000. The most important statistic of the day, however, was the $10,000,000 in TV advertising fees. Imagine how much that becomes when the eyes of the world are watching. Economic help to the development of world sports
So it came as a terrible shock, but not really as a surprise, to learn that some people are now suggesting that soccer change from being a game of two 45-minute halves, to one of four 25-minute quarters. The idea is unashamedly to capture more advertising revenue, without giving any thought for the integrity of a sport which relies for its essence on the flowing nature of the action.
Moreover, as sports expand into world markets, and as our choice of sports as consumers also grows, we will demand to see them played at a higher and higher level. In boxing we have already seen numerous, questionable world title categories because people will not pay to see anything less than a “World Title” fight, and this means that the title fights have to be held in different countries around the world!
1. Globalization of sporting culture means that ______.A.more people are taking up sports |
B.traditional sports are getting popular |
C.foreigners are more interested in local sports |
D.many local sports are becoming international |
①Economic revolution ②Return of traditional games
③Communications technology ④Promotion of sports ⑤Marketing strategies
A.①②③ | B.①③⑤ | C.①②⑤ | D.②④⑤ |
A.Favorable. | B.Unclear. | C.Reserved. | D.Critical. |
A.the economic help to develop sports | B.the worldwide popularization of sports |
C.the commercialization of sporting culture | D.the increasing availability of sports watching |
10 . Tennis is an incredibly mental sport.
It is very easy to self-destruct (自我毁灭) when playing tennis if you let your expectations and ego get the better of you. So, simply playing the ball that is in front of you is the simplest way to approach the game, along with taking each point at a time.
That being said, it is much easier said than done.
Tennis is also about playing the big points well and understanding that not all points hold the same weight across the course of a match. Putting disappointment behind you and trying to play the next point with a positive attitude can be very difficult to do.
A.However, being flexible is also important. |
B.You will always have to have some form of strategy. |
C.However, it is a key part of becoming a better tennis player. |
D.It can bring with it a whole host of physical and mental benefits. |
E.Every backhand shot you hit is what you throw at your opponent. |
F.Perhaps the most obvious benefits tennis offers are the physical ones. |
G.The scoring system in tennis means you can win more points and still lose a match! |