1 . There are many weird sports that are present around the world. From each region of the world, along with the very popular common sports, there are also those really popular but very weird kinds of sports.

The Ultimate Test Between Man and Horses

This is indeed a very strange kind of sport that tests your stamina (耐力). You will learn how to be agile (灵活的) while competing against a horse. This game originated in the Welsh town of Llanwrtyd Wells. This sport really has to do with strength. You will require great agility and strength in order to take part in this. Marathon human contestants are put to compete against those mounted people. This is how the marathon testing takes place.

Love Locked Races

This is a sports event that was first introduced in Finland. This is all about a male competitor racing with a female in a certain way. There would be many obstructions and blocks on the way which would definitely bring you challenges. The person to win would have to finish the race without losing his female partner in the course of overcoming the obstacles even for once. This race takes place really fast and the obstacles are set that way.

The Toe Sport

This is yet another weird sport that welcomes you to use your toes. This is quite the same kind of sport that you used to play as a child which involved toe wrestling. This has now been turned into a major sport that even has a World Toe Wrestling Competition. It first originated in a pub of Derbyshire.

The locals took this sport with great enjoyment and then made this so popular that it soon had its own championship. The individuals who participate have only got to use their feet and then this is tougher than it may sound.

The Mud Pit Belly Flop

This is a kind of game where even the spectators (观众) get splashed with mud but in fact that is quite the fun. The very annual Summer Redneck Games in East Dublin bring about this game and bring about some of the greatest hubcap-discus throws with it. This is also a great sport to show the strength and dexterity of your feet.

1. Which sport requires couples to participate?

A．The Ultimate Test Between Man and Horses.	B．Love Locked Races.
C．The Toe Sport.	D．The Mud Pit Belly Flop.

2. Which statement shows the popularity of the Toe Sport?

A．It first originated in a pub of Derbyshire.

B．The locals took this sport with great enjoyment.

C．It has a World Toe Wrestling Competition.

D．Even kids are fond of the sport.

3. What kinds of people are likely to take part in the Ultimate Test Between Man and Horses?

A．People with agility and strength.	B．People with companions.
C．Marathon runners.	D．Horse riders.

2 . 根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项，选项中有两项为多余项。

The wife-carrying World Championship has been celebrated in a small town in central Finland since 1992. In 1992, the people of the town decided to restart some long-forgotten traditions.     1     He was said to only accept men as members of his gang who proved their worth in challenges. At that time, it was also a common practice to steal women from neighboring villages.

    2     A large number of competitors, people, and journalists from Finland to Canada attend the Wife-carrying World Championship every year.

    3     The Wife-carrying World Championship is held on a 253.3 meters long official track. The track has two dry obstacles and a water obstacle, about a meter deep. The wife to be carried may be your own, or your neighbor’s. The minimum weight of the wife to be carried is 49 kg. If she is less than 49kg, the wife will be given a heavy bag to carry. Each time a competitor drops his wife, that couple will be fined 15 seconds.    4    

Alongside with the Wife-carrying World Championship, there is also a team competition. The distance is the same but three men in the team carry the wife in turns. At the exchange point the carrier has to drink official “wife-carrying drink.” Then he may continue the race.

    5    

While the Wife-carrying World Championship is being held, there are bands playing music, a wife carrying dance and other forms of entertainment.”

A．There are a few basic rules.

B．People everywhere hold the event.

C．A special prize is awarded to the team.

D．Do you know how these traditions restarted?

E．This event is becoming increasingly popular.

F．The winner is the couple who complete the course in the shortest time.

G．Back in the late 1800s, there was a robber called Rosvo-Ronkainen in that area.

3 . You Ask: Is Yoga Good Exercise? By almost any measure, the answer is yes, but don't let it be all you do. Research shows regular yoga practice lowers your risk for heart disease and tension. Yoga may also lessen symptoms of depression, headaches, diabetes, some forms of cancer and pain-related diseases.

Yoga also seems to prevent weight gain. One 4-year study from Seattle’s Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center found middle-aged adults who practiced yoga at least once a week gained 3 fewer pounds than those who stuck with other forms of exercise. The same study found overweight adults who practice yoga lost 5 pounds, while a non-yoga group gained 13 pounds.

How can a little bending and stretching do all that? Unlike exercises like running or lifting weights, “yoga puts you in a parasympathetic(副交感神经系统的) state, so your heart rate goes down and blood pressure goes down,” says Dr. Tiffany Field, director of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine.

Yoga is tied to a healthier heart, as well as its ability to reduce your stress, improve your mood, and help you sleep more soundly. When you consider the extra health benefits linked to each of those brain and body benefits-lower pain, lower body weight, lower disease risk-you could make an argument that few activities are as good for you as yoga.

One thing yoga doesn’t do, though, is burn loads of calories. Even hot forms of yoga like Bikram result in the spending of modest energy—roughly the number of calories you’d burn during a brisk walk. While more and more research suggests calories shouldn’t be your only focus when it comes to diet and exercise, there’s no question that running, swimming, lifting weights and other more vigorous forms of exercise are great for your brain and body.

"Yoga is unquestionably good for you," Field says, "but it should be done along with traditional forms of physical activity-not in place of them."

1. For those who practise it, what can yoga not do?

A．Consume a lot of calories	B．Reduce stress
C．Lessen symptoms of depression	D．Help sleep better

2. What can we infer from paragraph 5?

A．People tend to pay too much attention to calories when exercising or on a diet.

B．People shouldn’t go on a diet if they do regular yoga practice.

C．Vigorous exercises are good for people’s brain and body.

D．Yoga is a better form of exercise than those vigorous ones.

3. What will Field probably advise people to do?

A．Practise yoga daily to stay healthy.

B．Give up other forms of exercise and practise yoga alone.

C．Do other forms of exercise in addition to practising yoga.

D．Consult an expert before practising yoga.

4. What is Field’s attitude towards yoga?

A．Recommending

B．Doubtful

C．Indifferent

D．Objective

4 . If you desire to meet new friends, have fun and get into shape, basketball is the best sport for you regardless of whether you are a professional or an amateur.    1    

Here are some of the benefits you can acquire from playing basketball.

• Improve your fitness levels.

Playing basketball will definitely improve your fitness levels. Basketball is an amazing cardiovascular(心血管的) exercise.     2     Moreover, it aids in oxygen circulation and blood distribution throughout the body.

• Encourage teamwork.

Basketball requires team work to achieve a common objective.     3     This sport is great for kids, as it shows them how to work together in harmony to reach the goal.

•     4    

It brings individuals together and helps create friendship and bonds. This provides a great   opportunity for children who are shy, as it helps them interact with new friends, which will help your child function better in life.

    5     Although there are no drawbacks associated to playing basketball, it is necessary that you perform other exercises to improve your speed and power.

A．Stay with friends.

B．Develop social skills.

C．It is beneficial to people with heart problems.

D．In all, you can play basketball as much as possible.

E．It can cure people’s illnesses about heart and blood.

F．The players have to work as a team to guarantee a win.

G．Basketball is popular worldwide due to a variety of reasons.

5 . This activity will melt away the pounds, build your body and leave you on an emotional high. Yet the form of exercise, the fitness trend of the year, does not require gym membership or a personal trainer. All you need to do is walk.

"Walking is a refreshing alternative to complicated aerobic （氧）routines and overpriced gym membership," says personal trainer Lucy Knight, author of a new book on the exercise. “It is free, enjoyable and already a part of everyday life. All you need to do is correct your technique, walk faster and for longer and you will lose weight?"

There is much evidence of the benefits of walking. Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh recently discovered that overweight people who walked briskly （快）for 30 to 60 minutes a day lost weight even if they didn't change any other lifestyle habits. Another American study found that people who walked for at least four hours a week gained less weight than couch potatoes as they got older. Researchers at the University of Massachusetts medical school found that people who walked every day had 25 percent fewer colds than those who sat a lot. Best of all, walking makes you feel good about yourself "For people suffering from depression, walking three to four times a week for 30 minutes has been shown to lift their mood,” says Knight.

But how to walk your way to weight loss and wellness? Health experts recommend that we should walk 10,000 steps a day to stay healthy. Actually, you would probably need to walk at least 16,000 steps a day to lose weight. "Your workout plans depend on your level of fitness. You should aim to progress by increasing your walking time by five minutes every two weeks, and walk a bit faster. In just three months, the results should speak for themselves," says Knight.

1. What is the latest fitness trend according to the passage?

A．Brisk walking.	B．Losing weight.
C．Working out in a gym.	D．Exercising with a personal trainer.

2. The underlined word "overpriced" in paragraph 2 means           .

A．expensive	B．worthy
C．prepaid	D．discountable

3. Studies and researches are mentioned in the passage to show walking           .

A．is gaining increasing popularity	B．benefits people in different aspects
C．is an enjoyable way to lose weight	D．involves different groups of people

4. It can be learned from the last paragraph that           .

A．1600 steps a day is needed for weight losses

B．the effect of walking is noticeable over time

C．your fitness level depends on your health experts

D．changing the walking time every day is necessary

6 . Q1: When does the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon take place?

A： The 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon takes place on Sunday 26 April.

Q2 : I have moved. How do I let you know my change of address?

A； Please email changeofaddress@londonmarathonevents. co. uk with your name, date of birth, telephone number, old address and your new address.

Q3: I need a hotel in London for the weekend of the race — any advice?

A： Virgin Money London Marathon hotel packages are available at Holiday Inn® and other IHG® hotels in and around London, and include a champion's breakfast and coach transfer to the Start Line so you arrive rested and ready to run your victory lap. Visit www. restandrun. holidayinn. com to find out more.

Q4： I am a visually disabled runner. Where can I find out more about running with a guide?

A： If you are a runner with a visual disability and would like to find out more about running with a guide, please contact disability@londonmarathonevents, co. uk.

Q5: What time does the race start?

A： Start times for the 2020 Virgin Money London Marathon are as follows；

09: 05 Elite Wheelchair Races

09: 10 World Para Athletics Marathon Championships Ambulant Athletes

09: 25 The Elite Women's Race

10 :10 The Elite Men's Race, British Athletics & England Athletics Marathon

Championships and Mass Race

Q6: What time do I need to get to the Start?

A： We suggest you get to your Start at least one hour before the race begins. This will allow time for you to use the facilities, warm up and take your position.

Q7: Can I track a runner during the race?

A： Yes. On Race Day, there will be a link to our tracking service on the home page of www. virginmoneylondonmarathon. com. The best way to track a runner is by using the runner's running number. If you do not have the running number, it is also possible to search for a runner by surname.

1. Which address should you contact if you need to run with a guide?

A．www. restandrun. holidayinn. com.

B．disability@londonrnarathonevents. co. uk.

C．www. virginmoneylondonmarathon. com.

D．changeofaddress@londonmarathoncvents. co. uk.

2. If Ann attends the Elite Women's Race, what's the best time to get to the Start?

A．08: 20.	B．09: 05.
C．09: 10.	D．09：25.

3. How can we track a runner during the race?

A．With the address.	B．With the running number.
C．With the first name.	D．With the telephone number.

7 . For all the athletes, ages play an important role in their lives. Athletes all have their “golden years”. For Argentine superstar soccer player Lionel Messi, who turned 32 earlier this year, “his best days are already recorded in the history books,” an article by news network RT said.

However, Messi is still a surprising person. This year on September 24, he won his sixth FIFA Men’s Player of the Year award. No one has won this award as many times as he has.

His win has come with some debate. Many expected the award to go to Liverpool defender (防守球员) Virgil van Dijk, who was named as the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year in August.

In addition, Messi’s Argentine national team has not done so well. They lost the semi-finals of the Copa America tournament (锦标赛) in July and what’s worse, they played poorly in the World Cup last year.

However, Messi himself is still playing at a very high level. He scored 51 goals in 50 games last season. He continues to set records, such as earning the most La Liga and Spanish Super Cup titles in the history of club Barcelona.

“I believe he should have won it. He carries Barcelona on his back, which he has done for years and years,” British soccer player Darren Bent told Sky Sports. Even his critics admit that he is still a powerful player. “Messi is clearly still as strong and powerful a goal-scoring threat as he has been throughout his career,” the RT article said.

Messi himself is confident about his future. “My idea is to continue here for as long as I can perform well and my body allows me to do that,” he said in an interview for The18.

1. What do we know about Messi?

A．He is still in his “golden years” as a soccer player.

B．He has been playing soccer for over 30 years.

C．He wrote an article about a story by news network RT.

D．He’s received the FIFA Men’s Player of the Year award six times.

2. What do Paragraphs 3 and 4 tell us?

A．Messi was named the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year.

B．Virgil van Dijk is a better soccer player than Messi.

C．Some people have debated Messi’s win.

D．Messi isn’t good at playing soccer any more.

3. According to Darren Bent, Messi is         .

A．skillful	B．attractive
C．responsible	D．strange

4. What do we know from the story?

A．Messi and Virgil van Dijk are on the same team.

B．Messi played 51 games last season.

C．Messi has broken many of his own records.

D．Messi has no plans to stop playing at present.

8 . Dear young poets, TIME For Kids has a challenge for you: Write a rhyming poem and enter it in the TFK Poetry Contest. It must be a poem that does not copy another poet’s works.

How to enter: This contest will begin 12 pm on April 14, 2019 and will end 12 pm on June 14, 2019. To enter online, visit timeforkids.com/2019poetrycontest and follow instructions to submit the following: (a) an original and previously unpublished poem; (b) the entrant’s first name only and e-mail address; (c) a parent’s e-mail address. Limit one entry per person or e-mail account.

Judging: All entries will be judged by poet Kenn Nesbitt, based on the following criteria: creativity and originality (50%), use of language and rhyme (25%) and appropriateness to contest theme (25%). Winners will be notified by e-mail during the month of July and must respond within five days.

Eligibility (参赛资格)：Open to legal citizens of the United States who are primary school students and are 8 to 13 years old at time of entry.

Prizes: Our judge will select four semifinalists, from whom one grand-prize winner and three finalists will be chosen. The one grand-prize winner will receive an online class visit from Kenn Nesbitt. All the semifinalists will receive a signed copy of Bigfoot Is Missing, which is worth about $ 275. The semifinalists’ poems will be published at timeforkids.com.

1. How long will the Poetry Contest last?

A．One month.	B．Two months.
C．Three months.	D．Four months.

2. What does the Poetry Contest value most?

A．Whether the poem is novel.

B．Whether the poem is humorous.

C．Whether the poem is written in rhyme

D．Whether the poem is suitable for the contest theme.

3. What can the finalists get?

A．A $ 275 bonus.	B．An online class visit.
C．The position of assistant editor.	D．A signed copy of Bigfoot Is Missing.

9 . History Fair Competition

Understanding history is vital to understanding ourselves as a people and as a nation. History is much more than the study of dusty old objects and events long past. Thornton Middle School History Fair Competition makes understanding history exciting, engaging, and fun!

This Year’s Theme

All participants must address how communication or transportation technology has promoted the quality of life for Americans throughout history. To many people, technology means computers, hand-held devices, or vehicles that travel to distant planets. However, technology is also the application of scientific knowledge to solve a problem, touching lives in countless ways.

Individuals or groups may enter one of the follow ing categories:

• Performance

• Documentary (纪实作品)

• Essay Writing

Category Requirements

Performance: A dramatic presentation of the topic no more than 10 minutes long. If special clothes are used, they should truly represent a given period.

Doc umentary: A visual presentation (such as a video, slide show, or computer project) no more than 10 minutes long. A desktop computer, screen, projector, and loudspeakers will be available. Students must provide their presentations on CDs before Friday, March 23.

Essay Writing : An academic paper of 2,000 to 2,500 w ords. No illustrations ( 图解)are allowed. Please do not include covers. A list of references must be included.

Important Dates

February 5 Submit a first draft of your essay, performance script ( 剧本), or documentary highlights.

February 19 A committee of teachers will evaluate materials and give opinions. Students then have an opportunity to improve their products.

March 9 Submit a final draft of your essay.

March 15 Performance and documentary committee preview

March 24 Thornton Middle School History Fair Competition

7:00 A.M. — 9:00 A.M. Participants signing in at the gym

10:00 A.M. — 6:00 P.M. Competition and judges’ review

7:00 P.M. Awards ceremony and picnic

1. What is the theme of this year ’s competition?

A．Technology advances science.

B．Science interacts w ith technology.

C．Science has made the study of history easy.

D．Technology has improved the life of Americans.

2. What w ould a participant have to do with an essay of 1,500 words to meet the category requirement?

A．Include more information in the essay.	B．Remove the references.
C．Provide a cover for the essay.	D．Explain the details w ith illustrations.

3. What will the committee of teachers do on February 19?

A．Preview performances and documentaries.

B．Make comments on the materials.

C．Improve the participant’s first draft.

D．Collect a second proposal from the participant.

10 . With busy schedules and limited hours of daylight, some runners find their only me to run is in the darkness of early morning or evening.    1    . But if you have to run at night or in the early morning, make sure to follow these guidelines.                   

• Choose a Well-lit Route

It might not be your favourite route to run, but the most well-lit route is your first choice.     2     and you'll always be able to see the road and avoid potential hazards.

• Always Run Against Traffic

It's easier to avoid cars if you can see them coming. Avoid busy roads and those with no shoulders or sidewalks.

• Run With a Friend

    3    . If possible, try to never run alone. If you're running alone, let someone know the route you're running and approximately how long you will be out.

• Watch Out for Bikes and Runners

Even if you're running on a path or in a park with no cars, always be aware of other runners and cyclists.     4     This advice applies to running in both daylight and darkness.

• Put Away Your Music

Make sure you leave your radio, MP3 player, or iPad at home.     5    . You can't hear oncoming cars, cyclists yelling to move, dogs, or any other potential threat.

A．Oncoming cars see you better

B．There's strength and safety in numbers

C．Running in daylight is always a safer choice

D．A headlamp is also an essential item for runners

E．Before you stop or turn around, make sure your path is clear

F．Cutting off your sense of hearing leaves you at a disadvantage

G．Put your driver's license in your pocket or wear an ID tag on your shoe