1 . MiG Prize 2024
The Michel Gelrubin Architecture Prize is designed to bring out new talents by giving students an opportunity for international recognition. Open internationally, the Prize is awarded annually to honor students whose work demonstrates a combination of vision and talent in the art of architecture and planning.
This Year’s Challenge
This year’s competition invites proposals for projects that integrate at least 3 different uses into a building. The projects should include private and public spaces, and consider the urban context.
Timeline
Launch: August 1st, 2024
Registration Deadline: September 15th, 2024 (registration is free)
Submission Deadline: November 19th, 2024
Result Announcement: December 17th, 2024
Prizes
First prize $5,000
Second prize $2,500
Third prize $1,500
The Jury (评委会)
The projects will be scored based on their originality, design, environmental effects, and presentation.
Participation
The competition is open to any student studying architecture during the academic year 2024-2025. Candidates can apply as individuals or as teams.
Materials
Electronic submission of the project files must include:
● Posters that integrate the documents explaining the project [plans, sections, elevations, photos, renderings (透视图), illustrations, images, diagrams, and text]
● A presentation of the project (max 15 slides)
● A video file (max 3 min.) is optional but highly recommended.
● All the documents must be written in English and sent in a PDF format (except the videos).
For more information, see https://migprize.com.
1. What do we know about the competition?| A．It offers $ 1,500 for second prize. |
| B．It is open to all graduates in architecture. |
| C．It charges an all-time low registration fee this year. |
| D．It focuses on designing a mixed-use building this year. |
| A．August 1st, 2024. | B．September 15th, 2024. |
| C．November 19th, 2024. | D．December 17th, 2024. |
| A．Integrated posters in the English version. |
| B．A video file of no more than 3 minutes. |
| C．A presentation of no less than 15 slides. |
| D．Paper documents explaining the project. |
2 . Officials have unveiled the gold, silver and bronze medals that will be awarded at this summer’s Olympic games in Paris, and each one contains a unique souvenir: a fragment (碎片) of waste iron from the Eiffel Tower.
“It’s the opportunity for the athletes to bring back a piece of Paris with them,” Thierry Reboul, creative director of Paris 2024, told reporters last week. “The absolute symbol of Paris and France is the Eiffel Tower.”
The Eiffel Tower opened in 1889 and during the later repair work, some of the original iron was cut off and preserved over time. Now, some of those preserved metal fragments have found new homes.
Each new Olympic me dal features a piece of Eiffel Tower iron — though the signature “Eiffel Tower brown” paint has been removed. These pieces have been shaped into hexagons (六边形), which is the “shape of France”. Besides, there are words “Paris 2024”, the Olympic rings and the Games logo, which looks like a flame or the face of a woman with a bob haircut.
How did they think of such an idea? Joachim Roncin, head of design at the Paris Games organizing committee told the press, “We talked about the design many times and realized that there’s one symbol known across the world, which is the Eiffel Tower. We said to ourselves, ‘Hey, what if we approached the Eiffel Tower Operating Company to see if it’s possible to get a bit of the Eiffel Tower to integrate into the medal?’”
When the Eiffel Tower Operating Company agreed to volunteer pieces of original iron, “the dream became reality,” adds Roncin.
The medals, designed by the luxury Paris jewelry house Chaumet, make people think of the Eiffel Tower in several other ways. The pieces of iron are secured by what looks like special nails that hold the structure together, and the medals’ ribbons are decorated with patterns of the tower’s latticework structure.
The iron fragments are set in recycled silver, gold and bronze disks. Over 5,000 medals are being made.
1. What does Thierry mean by saying “bring back a piece of Paris”?| A．The athletes will buy souvenirs about Paris. |
| B．The athletes will take many photos of Paris. |
| C．Part of the athletes’ medal is from the symbol of Paris. |
| D．The Eiffel Tower will be left in the athletes’ memory. |
| A．The symbolic meaning of the hexagons. |
| B．The shape and material of the Olympic medal. |
| C．The processing technique of the Eiffel Tower iron pieces. |
| D．The design of the Eiffel Tower iron fragment on the medal. |
| A．From a strange dream. | B．By asking for the public. |
| C．Through their discussion. | D．By studying the Eiffel Tower. |
| A．They are innovative. | B．They are light. |
| C．They have six sides. | D．They are golden-colored. |
3 . The last attempt of Ken Campbell to run could date back to high school. When his wife, Susan, injured her foot, she needed support to rejoin her running group, so Campbell went along to keep her company in the recovery. “We were just walking at the beginning,” he says, “I was heavy, and weighed over 90kg.” But as the weeks and months passed, the weight fell away, Susan recovered and Campbell’s abilities grew. At the age of 63, he ran 50 km, and at 70, he completed a 100 km ultramarathon (超长距离马拉松赛跑).
So how does someone with no experience of running become an ultradistance runner in his 60s and 70s? Susan had run marathons (马拉松比赛) before her injury, but for Campbell, the turning point came when Susan’s Fleet Feet running group started training near their home.
Campbell went out to visit Susan’s group, and “the paths were a terrible mess. It had been raining, and I was slipping, sliding and falling. But I thought, well, I like this a lot.” What he liked above all was the feeling of “being wrapped by the path, being hugged by the closeness of the plants and the nearness of the river”.
Running the 100 km ultramarathon took Campbell 16 hours. When Campbell crossed the finish line, Susan handed him a 100 km sticker to display on the back of his truck. “It is a public statement that you are part of this community,” he says. “Wherever we park, I see a line of vehicles with their various stickers and I feel that we are a community.”
Campbell suffered from arthritis before he started running, and was “waiting for knee replacement”, but for now, he no longer needs an operation. It can put an end to the running—but the “sense of wellbeing and achievement will carry me on forever,” he says, “If I can’t run, I will walk.”
1. What is Paragraph 1 mainly about?| A．Why Campbell attempted to run marathon. |
| B．What led to Campbell’s weight loss. |
| C．What made Campbell start running. |
| D．What Campbell did for Susan’s recovery. |
| A．His visit to Susan’s group. | B．Feeling free in nature. |
| C．Falling down when training. | D．Susan’s starting training. |
| A．A sense of achievement. | B．Encouragement from his wife. |
| C．A sense of belonging. | D．Display of his happiness. |
| A．Well begun is half done. | B．Actions speak louder than words. |
| C．Failure is the mother of success. | D．It is never too late to begin. |
4 . You may have read that to stay fit and healthy, you need about 30 minutes of exercise each day, at least five days a week. New research suggests that the time we need to spend on daily workouts could be less than that.
Edvard Sagelv, a researcher at UiT The Arctic University of Norway, was part of a team that found being sedentary (久坐的) more than 12 hours a day was associated with a 38 percent higher death risk. This was only the case for individuals who managed less than 22 minutes of medium to high intensive physical activity a day, however, and it is relatively easy to achieve that minimum by taking a brisk (轻快的) walk.
“In research on physical activity, fast walking is estimated to be four kilometres an hour,” he said. Although it may not seem like a lot, it depends on a person’s fitness level. “It is interesting that 4 km/h — a pace achievable for the vast majority of the population — is what it takes to really invest in your physical health,” he added.
For a walk to positively affect your heart, which will then impact your brain and your circulation, you need to “feel it”. To feel the work your body is doing, you need to walk at 4 to 6 kilometres an hour. If you wear a fitness tracker, aim for more than 100 steps a minute.
A recent study published by researchers at the Cambridge University found that just 11 minutes a day of moderate-intensity physical activities — a brisk walk — was enough to lower the risk of diseases such as heart disease, stroke and a number of cancers.
Lead author Soren Brage was not surprised by the findings. “Doing some physical activities is better than doing none. This is also a good starting position — if you find that 75 minutes a week is manageable, then you could try stepping it up gradually to the full recommended amount,” he said. The point is that a relatively short period of high-intensity exercise isn’t just better than nothing; it has a measurable and positive impact on health.
1. What is the recommended pace for fast walking?| A．7 kilometres per hour. | B．8 kilometres per hour |
| C．9 kilometres per hour. | D．4 kilometres per hour. |
| A．By putting into more effort. | B．By wearing less clothing |
| C．By walking at a quick pace. | D．By joining a group. |
| A．People should exercise 75 minutes a week. |
| B．It pays to increase the intensity of workouts. |
| C．People should stop being sedentary immediately. |
| D．It's important to measure the impact of exercise. |
| A．Reflect the influence of a new study. | B．Share the findings of a new research. |
| C．Assess a research process. | D．Clarify a research method. |
This sightseeing walking tour shows you Washington DC's most iconic sights with a fitness class built in! We explore the nation's park and the National Mall by foot, stop for multiple sports and wellness activities along the way. Are you the kind of person who goes to the hotel gym even while traveling? Do you love to go on a jo g in the morning? Join us for a tour that will get your heart beating!
What To Expect●John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Take photos from the scenic observation deck!
10 minutes·Admission Ticket Free
●Lincoln MemorialRun the steps, take photos and do a guided workout!
15 minutes·Admission Ticket Free
●Washington MonumentAt the base of the monument, we have another guided fitness activity!
20 minutes·Admission Ticket Free
●National MallOn America's lawn, we do our final guided fitness activity in Washington DC's most scenic location!
30 minutes·Admission Ticket Free
Additional Information●Confirmation will be received at time of booking
●Not recommended for travelers with back problems and pregnant（怀孕的） travelers
●No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travelers should have a strong physical fitness level
This tour will have at most 50 travelers
●No age under 18 and over 65Cancellation (取消) Policy
It is non-refundable (不可退还的) and cannot be changed for any reason. If you must, the money you paid will not be returned. This experience requires good weather. If it's canceled due to poor weather, you'll be offered a full refund.
1. Where will travelers spend the most time during the tour?| A．National Mall. | B．Lincoln Memorial. |
| C．Washington Monument. | D．John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. |
| A．there is a heavy rain | B．you give up the tour halfway |
| C．you cancel the tour a day earlier | D．you make changes just before the start |
| A．It is free. | B．It offers hotels with gyms. |
| C．It includes at least 60 visitors. | D．It connects sightseeing with exercise. |
6 . The village super league, or “Cun Chao” in Chinese, is a soccer game among different villages in Rongjiang county, Guizhou Province, and it is so down-to-earth but popular that it has attracted not only the attention of football legend Michael Owen but also millions of Chinese netizens (网民), who are paying attention to this non-professional football league.
The players come from a variety of backgrounds. They are vendors, drivers, students, carpenters, tilers, former butchers, and brick factory workers. Their ages range from 15 to over 40 years old. At the game site, representatives wearing various traditional national costumes play national musical instruments and enter the field with the players, and perform songs and dances.
“This kind of football game is natural and with ‘pureness’ and it is driven by the love of the ordinary people not the economic benefits. The game is providing not only values of sports, but also a way of socializing with low costs,” an expert noted. This kind of atmosphere is very rarely seen and is treasured, especially for people in urban areas who are getting increasingly busy and under great work pressure, and when they look at the fun, relaxing and down-to-earth way of life in the countryside, they will naturally be interested, experts said. There is at least one good effect brought by the “Cun Chao” to Chinese soccer—to make more people see the pureness of joy and encourage them to play soccer.
Today, more and more grassroots sports events are held in the mountains and are using sports as a medium to showcase the unique charm of the local area, reflecting an energetic lifestyle filled with agricultural activities and rural fun.
1. Why does the author mention Michael Owen in Paragraph 1?| A．To show he is a household name in China. |
| B．To voice his view on modern soccer game. |
| C．To show the great popularity (流行) of “Cun Chao”. |
| D．To stress the importance of “Cun Chao”. |
| A．They are from all walks of life. |
| B．Seniors are welcome to join the team. |
| C．They are able to play national musical instruments. |
| D．They wear traditional costumes on the soccer field. |
| A．Slow-paced (慢节奏的). | B．Highly stressed. |
| C．High-cost. | D．Nonprofitable. |
| A．The village super league wins the hearts of Chinese. |
| B．The village super league: From nobody to somebody. |
| C．The village super league bridges the countryside and the city. |
| D．The village super league promises the future of Chinese soccer. |
7 . For the first time in the competition’s history, two athletes are sharing a gold medal at the World Athletics Championships.
The USA’s Katie Moon and Australia’s Nina Kennedy found themselves in a difficult situation during the women’s pole vault (撑竿跳) final. They both cleared 4.90 meters, but neither managed to clear 4. 95 meters on any of their three attempts.
Kennedy says she looked at Moon and said, “Hey, girl, maybe you want to share this?”
“And the relief on her face — and you could see it on my face — and it was mutual (相互的). And yeah, absolutely incredible to share a medal with Katie Moon. You know, we’ve been friends for so long, so it’s super special,” Kennedy told reporters after the final.
Thousands of fans were on their feet at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary, for Date 5of the competition, which hosts almost 2,000 athletes from 192 countries. The dramatic event lasted two hours and ten minutes. Katie Moon told FloTrack that as the final progressed, it became clear that very little separated the two athletes.
As the competition was going. I kept thinking. “I don’t want this to go to a jump-off (加赛),” Moon told sports journalist Anderson Emerole. “This competition was the toughest battle I’d say that I’ve had. It was very emotionally draining (消耗), and I think that’s why both of us were feeling like. ‘We’re not really feeling the jump- off right now.’”
It was Moon’s second consecutive gold medal at the World Championships. She also w on an Olympic gold in Tokyo in 2021. With a personal record of 4. 95meters. Moon appeared to be the favorite.
Kennedy, however, did not back down. Not only did she set a new personal record, but she also broke the Australian record by eight centimeters when she sailed over the 4.90-meter high bar. She held back tears after the career-defining leap.
“It was a miracle to get the gold. I think a miracle happened tonight.” Kennedy told reporters.
1. What did Nina Kennedy suggest Katie Moon do?| A．Continue the competition. | B．Take a break first. |
| C．Share the gold medal. | D．Let go of the fear. |
| A．Joyful. | B．Confused. | C．Mixed. | D．Disappointed. |
| A．They felt tired physically and mentally when competing. |
| B．They didn’t take the competition seriously. |
| C．They were looking forward to a jump-off. |
| D．They hadn’t won a gold medal before. |
| A．4.80 meters. | B．4.82 meters. | C．4.95meters. | D．4.98 meters. |
8 . Knowing how many kilometers or miles per hour you’ll likely cover while hiking is of great importance.
If you’re not sure what your average hiking speed is, don’t worry.
It can be worked out as follows. One hour for every 3 miles plus an additional hour for every 600m of ascent (升高). So let’s say you wanted to know how long it would take to hike 6 miles with an elevation gain of 1,200m. That’s 2 hours for the distance and another 2 hours for the ascent, for a total of 4 hours.
| A．Note that’s only your hiking time. |
| B．There’s an easy way to work it out. |
| C．Your hiking speed isn’t an exact science. |
| D．It can ensure that you safely reach your destination. |
| E．But some hiking places do require you to use your upper body too. |
| F．Consider how to increase your hiking speed on and off the mountain. |
| G．One of the best ways to hike faster is to train when you’re not hiking. |
9 . 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. |
10 . “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 |
