1 . Directions: Read the passage carefully. Fill in each blank with a proper sentence given in the box. Each sentence can be used only once. Note that there are two more sentences than you need.

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 .     1    

However , there is a negative side to boxing .     2     Although boxers wear gloves during the fights , and amateur boxers even have to wear helmets , there have frequently been accident in both professional and amateur boxing , sometimes with dramatic consequences . Boxers have suffered from head injuries , and occasionally , fighters have even been killed as a result of being knocked out in the ring.     3     Sometimes even if a boxer has never been knocked out, he might have suffered severe brain damage without knowing it.

    4     I think it would be better if less time was given to aggressive sports on TV, and we welcomed more men and women from non-aggressive sports as our heroes and heroines in our society . I believe that the world is aggressive enough already ! Of course , people like competitive sports , and so do I , but I think that hitting other people in an aggressive way is not something that should be regarded as a sport.

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.

2 . 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.