1 . It's fight night in Berlin club. The lights go down, the door opens and out walks a salesman from San Francisco, David “Dowble D” Depto has travelled 8,000 kilometres in search of glory. As he first walks, then jogs, towards the boxing ring, the muscular, bare-chested American looks cool and confident. But so does his opponent. Waiting for him in the blue corner is Frank Stoldt, a tall, strong German policeman, who calls himself “anti-terror Frank”. For obvious reasons, the crowd is on his side.
The bell rings. Round one! The fighters come out. But then, something rather strange happens. The two players sit down at a table which has a chessboard on it and start playing chess-in the middle of the boxing ring.
“Why?” you may ask yourself. Well, this is chessboxing, and tonight is the final of the first chessboxing World Championship.
The rules of a chessboxing match are simple. There is one round of chess and then one round of boxing. Punching power alternates with brain power. All in all, you have 11 rounds in which to checkmate your opponent-or knock him out.
Two sports in one means double the pain, and double the pressure. Before this big fight, Frank spent hours doing exercises that prepared his mind as well as his muscles. Winners in chessboxing are people whose mental strength equals their physical strength.
But why do it in the first place? Why put yourself through this physical and mental torture? For David Depto, it is all about proving that you can be a boxer and still have a brain. The sport has taken off in Germany, where they are preparing the next generation of chessboxing champions. It is even being taught in a Berlin school.
Back in the ring, it is round seven and the players are locked in battle around the chessboard, sweat pouring from their foreheads. Suddenly, Frank Stoldt sees an opening and moves in to finish the match. Queen to G7… checkmate!
The referee stops the match, the crowd erupts-the local hero has won and is given the world title belt, which proves that, when it comes to mixing brains and muscle, Germany really is the Grand Master.
1. Why is it "obvious" that the crowd wants Frank Stoldt to win?| A．He is a policeman. | B．He has powerful muscle. |
| C．He is a host player. | D．He fights against terrorism. |
| A．Either checkmate the opponent or knock him out. |
| B．One of the players gives up or is sent to hospital. |
| C．The referee counts down eight to zero in the round of chess. |
| D．The player finds the opening into the court which is locked. |
| A．Compared with boxing, it means half danger and half stress. |
| B．It requires more mental strength than physical strength. |
| C．The sport is popular in Germany, where it is a school subject. |
| D．The players play chess in the middle of the boxing ring. |
| A．leave the stadium | B．burst into cheers |
| C．interrupt the ceremony | D．fight with the opposing fans |
2 . Getting active in midlife could be as good for you as starting young when it comes to reducing the risk of an early death, researchers have suggested. But experts say the study also shows that the benefits fade once exercise declines.
“If you maintain an active lifestyle or participate in some sort of exercise from youth to middle age, you can reduce your risk for dying,” said Dr. Pedro Saint-Maurice, the lead author of the research. “If you are not active and you get to your 40s - 50s and you decide to become active, you can still enjoy a lot of those benefits.”
The study was based on data from more than 300,000 Americans aged 50 - 71 who undertook a questionnaire(问卷) in the late-1990s. They were asked to recall the extent of their moderate to vigorous leisure exercise at different stages of their life. Researchers then used national records to track who died in the years up to the end of 2016. After taking into account factors including age, sex, smoking and diet, the team found that those who were exercising into middle age had a lower risk of death than those who had never carried out any leisure exercise. However, when the team looked at different patterns in the way people were active over their life, it found a surprise.
Men and women who started exercising at the age of 40 - 50 reduced their risk of death from any cause by about 35%. The benefit was similar to that seen for people who reached and maintained similar activity from their teens or 20s onwards.
However, the study found that the protective effect of exercise did not last forever. People whose levels of leisure exercise decreased by middle age had no difference in the risk of an early death to those who had always been couch potatoes. “If you have been active and you slowly decrease your exercise participation as you age, you lose a lot of the benefits that we know are associated with exercise,” Saint - Maurice said.
But the study has limitations, including that it is based on individuals recalling how active they were many years before. What’s more, the research looked only at death records, not other aspects of health such as levels of sickness and disease. Nonetheless, he said, the message was positive. “This adds to the growing body of evidence about the importance of physical activity and exercise across he life course, and indicates that it is never too late to start.”
1. Which of the following is TRUE about the study?| A．The study took about two decades to complete. |
| B．The study involved around 30,000 elderly Americans. |
| C．Questionnaires and interviews were the sources of data. |
| D．The participants in the study took regular physical exercise. |
| A．The earlier you exercise, the greater your health benefits will be. |
| B．Participating in exercise from youth to middle age benefits one’s health greatly. |
| C．The benefit of getting active in midlife is similar to that of starting young. |
| D．The benefits of exercising in midlife will decline once you stop exercising. |
| A．an active lifestyle will not necessarily bring positive health benefits. |
| B．participants’ memories may affect the reliability of the study result |
| C．people exercising from their teens can maintain health forever |
| D．women benefit more from vigorous exercise than men do |
| A．Exercise has its limitations, studies show |
| B．Getting active when young, experts suggest |
| C．Health benefits fade with age, doctors warn |
| D．Never too old to start, researchers say |
3 . Changing the Game
On a warm September evening in London, The Arch climbing wall, just south of the River Thames, is packed. Scores of people wander around on the thick crash pads, chatting, waiting their turn and offering the odd shout of encouragement to those clinging on to the colourful climbing walls.
Rock climbing was once classified as an “extreme sport”. But indoor centres like The Arch, which offer climbing without the need for rocks, are bringing it into the mainstream. The British Mountaineering Council estimates there are at least 248 public climbing walls in Britain, a number that has risen by 30% since 2010. In 2020 the sport’s governing bodies are hoping to see an even bigger increase in interest. Along with skateboarding, surfing and karate(空手道), rock climbing will be making its first appearance as an Olympic sport at the summer games in Tokyo.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is frank about the ambition to appeal to a younger crowd who may be less familiar with longer-standing sports such as athletics and weightlifting. The crowd at the Arch is exactly what the IOC has in mind: mostly young professional letting off steam after work, who see climbing as a more engaging ans sociable alternative to jogging on running machines or pumping iron in a gym. Between them, the new sports will mean another 18 events and 474 athletes at the Tokyo games.
Officially, all four sports are delighted with their new status. But with the exception of karate, all of them have counter-cultural, anti-establishment roots. Some stars have wondered whether accepting the Olympic torch means going against their beliefs. Owen Wright, a famous surfer, has said that surfing is more art form than sport, and therefore not suitable for the games - though he has since gone back on his word, and hopes to represent Australia in Tokyo.
Adam Ondra, a Czech who is one of the world’s climbers, said he might steer clear of the games because of the format. The eventual Olympic champion will have to master all the three disciplines including bouldering (climbing without a rope, low to the ground, with a focus on hard, gymnastic moves), lead climbing (roped climbing up a tall wall of increasing difficulty) and speed climbing. Bouldering and lead climbing feature new routes in each stage of a competition, in an effort to imitate the variety of real rock. But speed climbing takes place on a standard, unvarying course. Because of this, said Mr. Ondra, “speed is a kind of artificial discipline ... and this is against the soul of climbing.”
Skateboarders, also notably rebellious, can be strikingly young. Sky Brown is set to become Britain’s youngest Olympian and has settled down to training. By the time of the Tokyo games, she will have turned 12.
1. Which of the following statements is true about rock climbing？| A．It originated in The Arch, a sports centre on the River Thames. |
| B．It has evolved from a mainstream sport into an extreme sport. |
| C．Spectator’s encouragement contributes to its rapid expansion. |
| D．The increase in climbing walls reflects a growing interest in it. |
| A．familiarize the global population with the new sport |
| B．attract young people who lack interest in traditional sports |
| C．enable the young to let off their energy after work |
| D．challenge the dominant status of traditional sports |
| A．Surfers are expected to strike a balance between art and sport in the Olympics. |
| B．Rock climbers must be self-disciplined if they are to win the championship. |
| C．Adam believes that the soul of climbing consists in its harmony with nature. |
| D．Strikingly young skateboarders have an advantage over other opponents. |
| A．With the addition of new Olympics sports, stars are divided on whether to participate. |
| B．Rock climbing, skateboard, surfing and karate are accepted as Olympics sports. |
| C．Extreme sports athletes rebel against traditions while training for the Olympics. |
| D．The appeal of a new sport event consists is changing for format of this game. |
Boxing is a popular sport that many people seem to be fascinated by . Newspapers , magazines and sports programmes on TV frequently cover boxing matches . Professional boxers earn a lot of money , and successful boxers are treated as big heroes.
It seems to me that people , especially men ,find it appealing because it is an aggressive sport . When they watch a boxing match , they can identify with the winning boxer , and this gives them the feeling of being a winner themselves . It is a fact that many people have feeling of aggression from time to time , but they cannot show their aggression in their everyday lives .
However , there is a negative side to boxing .
| A．Watching a boxing match gives them an outlet for this aggression . |
| B．I am personally not at all in favor of aggressive sports like boxing . |
| C．In my personal opinion, boxing can be so thrilling that many people dare not to have a try. |
| D．Professional boxers are much more at risk than their amateur counterparts. |
| E．Furthermore , studies have shown that there are often long-term effects of boxing |
| F．It is likely to threaten personal safety of people. |
5 . 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
