5 . Once popular sports in ancient capital Xi’an

As the capital of 13 dynasties throughout Chinese history, Xi’an has never been far from sports.

Cuju: Origin of modern soccer

Cuju first appeared in the anetent Chinese historical work Zhan Guo Ce, which described cuju as a form of entertainment. Later, cuju was played in the army for military training purposes. The earliest record of women cuju players can be traced back to the Han Dynasty. Cuju was listed into China’s intangible cultural heritages in 2006.

Jiaodi: Chinese-style wrestlíng

Sumo,   known as Japan’s “national sport”, actually originated in ancient China. Sumo was called jiaodi in ancient times. Jiaodi was performed by athletes wearing ox horns and wrestling with each other. In the Tang Dynasty, jiaodi was part of military training and a kind of entertainment and athletic sports.

Jiju: Ancient polo

Jiju is a sport which uses a stick to hit balls while riding on a horse, pretty similar to modern polo. It was popular in the Tang Dynasty. And it was also a major military training program in the army. There is a famous painting unearthed in a prince tomb in Shanxi province in 1971, which shows more than 20 men riding on horses playing polo.

Archery

The origin of archery was closely related with hunting and defense. Ancient archery was not only an athletic event and a military training program, but also part of education. In Zhou Dynasty, the archery was listed as one of the Six Arts. During the Tang Dynasty, archery was an important part of the Wuju Imperial Examinations, and five kinds of archery skills would be tested, including on-horse shot and flat shot.

1. Which sport is mentioned to be played by women?

A．Jiju.

B．Jiaodi.

C．Cuju.

D．Archery.

2. What can we learn about ancient archery?

A．It was applied to education.

B．It was similar to modern polo.

C．It originated from horse riding.

D．It was only performed by athletes.

3. What do the four sports have in common?

A．They are ball games.

B．They had a military purpose.

C．They date back to the Tang Dynasty.

D．They were listed into China's cultural heritages.

7 . You can run pretty much anywhere, with pretty much no equipment. So it must be easy to start-just put one foot in front of the other, right?

Not quite.

Starting a new training program, like most things, is stepping into unfamiliar area.     1     . Most people start out too hard, which leads to unnecessary tiredness and possible injury; or they just bum out,   feeling that the last thing they want to do is go out for another heavy,   painful run. Getting past that early period is the key to both running's benefits and pleasures.

    2     You may want to start running to make your heart stronger, to up your endurance for other sports, or even just to fit into your tux（晚礼服,）again. Those are all worthy goals and setting them is a valuable aid to getting where you want to go.

If you like a challenge, your goal might be running the local 5K, or something more ambitious, like finishing a Tough Mudder obstacle run or qualifying for the Boston Marathon. A typical beginner who trains properly—without overdoing it — can safely finish a 5K after about three months.     3    

Whatever you decide to aim for, committing to it will help your progress greatly.     4     . While a short,   easy run a few times a week is better than nothing,   it's not nearly as exciting as looking up at — then reaching — the next level.

Then don't get ahead of yourself.     5     . And gradually you can become a good run beginner.

A．Figure out why you're running.

B．The new training program will pay off.

C．And it is possible for a marathon after a year.

D．Otherwise you tend to make no further progress.

E．That is a remarkable achievement for a run beginner.

F．You should resist the urge to run too hard, too much, or too often.

G．You're eager but unsure, excited but potentially easy to make errors.

8 . Nordic Walking

Started in Finland in the early 20th century, Nordic walking used to be a summer training exercise for cross-country skiers.     1     In that year, a Finnish company invented a new wrist strap (腕带) system to make the present-day Nordic walking technique possible. Outside of Finland, Nordic walking has been well received in Austria, Germany, Norway and Sweden.     2    

Nordic walking is great for people who are looking for a smart physical activity with maximum health benefits, combined with fun and convenience. Nordic walking takes fitness walking to a new level by adding poles to produce an incredible upper body workout.     3     Besides, it also takes stress off your ankles, knees and hip joints (髋关节).

    4     Nordic walking is no different. For best fitness results and physical safety, ensure that you use only Nordic walking poles which have been specifically designed for this sport. Don't try to use skiing or hiking poles which are designed and meant to be for a totally different purpose.

When you walk normally and carry poles with you, it is called the “2-wheel drive”. As soon as you hold the poles properly and start using your upper body, you're now in the "4-wheel drive". Every step should begin with the heel touching the ground.     5     Just hold them tightly every time when they hit the ground, and let them go as they are drawn back behind your body, finishing up with an open hand.

A．Just remember to choose lightweight walking shoes.

B．Your hands should always be in a “hold-n-go” state with the poles.

C．As with any sport, it is always important to have the right equipment.

D．There are also many Nordic walking clubs that offer regular weekly walks.

E．This strengthens your arms, chest, back and makes your body more flexible.

F．The real breakthrough of Nordic walking as a practiced exercise came in 1997.

G．It is now progressing well into other countries such as Japan, Australia, the UK and the USA.

9 . Being part of the team can be one of the most rewarding things a person can do.    1     There's no single person who can carry the rest of the team themselves. And there's   nothing like watching a team come together for a big victory.

A team sport includes any sport where individuals are organized into opposing teams which compete to win. Team members act together towards a shared objective.    2    One of them is to set goals and solve problems in a supportive atmosphere in order to accomplish their objectives.

    3    Some types of sports have different objectives or rules than “traditional” team sports. These types of team sports do not involve teammates facilitating(促使) the movement of a ball or a similar object according to a set of rules, in order to score points. For example, swimming, rolling, sailing, dragon boat racing, and track and field among others can also be considered team sports. In other types of team sports, there may not be an opposing team or points to score, for example, in mountaineering (登山运动).    4    

Through the years, the popularity of team sports has continued to grow.     5    All over the world, the influence of team sports can be seen as professional athletes live out their dreams while serving as role models, youth athletes develop life skills and follow in the steps of their role models, and fans bond over the love of their teams while supporting their economies with their support.

A．Some sports can be hard on the body.

B．This can be done in a number of ways.

C．In team sports, team members have to work together to win the game.

D．One of the benefits of team sports is to help build many useful life skills.

E．The meaning of a “team sport” has been questioned in recent years.

F．The relative difficulty of the climb is the measure of the achievement.

G．It is positively influencing not just athletes, but also fans and local economies.

10 . As Simon Kindleysides, 34, took his first step in the London Marathon in April, he felt as if magic was in the air.

"As we were walking toward the first mile, we actually started joining all the runners," he said. "Everyone was on the streets, cheering, and that was a magical moment." As time went on, the crowds and other racers spread around. Kindleysides and his team of eight supporters continued walking.

Kindleysides, who is paralyzed(瘫痪的)from the waist down and typically uses a wheelchair, was equipped with an exoskeleton(体外骨骼)to help him walk. His supporters walked with him to change the batteries in his exoskeleton so he could keep moving.

In 2013, Kindleysides was diagnosed with a brain tumor (肿瘤) that was growing in a way that pressed on certain nerves, leading to him losing feeling in his legs. He was told he would never walk again. Before his paralysis, the London-based singer and dancer had "always wanted to run a marathon," he said, but he never made the plan to do so--until this year.

During the London Marathon, the last two miles were the hardest. "At that point, I was exhausted. It was freezing cold, and I was hurting emotionally," Kindleysides said. But he kept going. "I didn't want to let people down. I had a team of eight, and I was raising money for The Brain Tumour Charity," he said. "I didn't want to let them down, myself down, and I thought if I would get this far, I would have to continue."So he continued and made history as the first paralyzed man to complete the London Marathon on foot.

Then, recovering at home, he shared his accomplishment with his three children. "They used to say I'm the only dad in their whole school who's in a wheelchair, and now they say I'm their dad, the only one who has walked a marathon," he said.

Kindleysides is training to complete three more marathons next year, including the London Marathon again.

1. Why did Kindleysides' supporters accompany him all the way?

A．To help change the batteries.	B．To inspire him as a team.
C．To guide him along the road.	D．To assist him with the wheelchair.

2. What caused Kindleysides' disability?

A．An operation on his brain for the tumor.

B．An accident in the previous marathon.

C．Some nerves produced out of the tumor.

D．The pressure from the brain tumor on the nerves.

3. What partly supported Kindleysides to finish the hardest two-mile race?

A．The prize money for the winner.	B．The strong desire to recover.
C．The kindness to help the charity.	D．The belief to beat others.

4. What can we learn about Kindleysides?

A．He was once a successful actor.

B．He is ambitious for joining in London marathons once more.

C．His children feel a pity for him in the wheelchair now.

D．He was the first disabled man to complete the London Marathon.