1 . Running is often tiring and a lot of hard work, but nothing beats the feeling you get after finishing a long workout around the track.

But while it’s long been believed that endorphins (内啡肽) —chemicals in the body that cause happiness—are behind the so-called “runner’s high”, a study suggested that there may be more to this phenomenon than we previously knew.

According to a recent study published by a group of scientists from several German universities, a group of chemicals called endocannabinoids (内源性大麻素) may actually be responsible for this familiar great feeling.

To test this theory, the scientists turned to mice. Both mice and humans release high levels of endorphins and endocannabinoids after exercise. After exercising on running wheels, the mice seemed happy and relaxed and displayed no signs of anxiety. But after being given a drug to block their endorphins, the mice’s behavior didn’t seem to change. However, when their endocannabinoids were blocked with a different drug, their runners’ high symptoms seemed to fade.

“The long-held notion of endorphins being responsible for the runner’s high is false. Endorphins are effective pain relievers, but only when it comes to the pain in your body and muscles you feel after working out,” Patrick Lucas Austin wrote on science blog Lifchacker.

Similar studies are yet to be carried out on humans, but it’s already known that exercise is a highly effective way to get rid of stress or anxiety. The UK’s National Health Service even prescribes (开药 方) exercise to patients who are suffering from depression. “Being depressed can leave you feeling low in energy, which might put you off being more active. Regular exercise can improve your mood if you have depression, and its especially useful for people with mild to moderate (中等的) depression,” it wrote on its website.

It seems like nothing can beat that feeling we get after a good workout, even if we don’t fully understand where it comes from. At least if we’re feeling down, we know that all we have to do is to put on our running shoes.

1. What did scientists from German universities recently discover?

A．Working out is a highly effective way to treat depression.

B．The runner’s high could be caused by endocannabinoids.

C．Endorphins may contribute to one’s high spirits after running.

D．The level of endorphins and endocannabinoids could affect one’s mood.

2. Why did the scientists give mice drugs in their experiment?

A．To find what reduces the runner’s high symptoms.

B．To see the specific symptoms of the runner’s high.

C．To identify what is responsible for the runner’s high.

D．To test what influences the level of endocannabinoids released.

3. What does the underlined word “notion” mean?

A．Effect.

B．Goal.

C．Opinion.

D．Question

4. What can we know about regular workouts according to the UK’s National Health Service?

A．They can help ease depression symptoms.

B．They are the best way to treat depression.

C．They only work for those with serious depression.

D．They can help people completely recover from depression.

2 . All over the world people enjoy sports. Sports help to keep people healthy and happy, and to live longer.     1    They buy tickets or turn on their TVs to watch the games. Often they get very excited when their player or team wins.

    2    Football, for example, has spread around the world. Swimming is popular in all countries near the sea or in those with many rivers. What fun it is to jump into a pool or lake, whether in China, Egypt or Italy!     3    Think how many lovers to skate or ski in Japan, Norway or Canada.

Some sports or game go back thousands of years, like running or jumping. Chinese Kungfu, for example, has a very long history. But basketball and volleyball are rather new. Neither one is a hundred years old yet.     4    Water-skiing is one of the newest in the family of sports.

People from different countries may not be able to understand each other, but after a game together they often become good friends.     5    One learns to fight hard but fight fair, to win without pride and to lose with grace.

A．And think of people in cold countries.

B．Sports help to train a person’s character.

C．People aren’t inventing new sports or games.

D．Many people like to watch others play games.

E．People are inventing new sports or games all the time.

F．Some sports are so interesting that people everywhere take part in them.

G．Not a few people participate in different sports competitions themselves.

3 . Playing sports offers you more than just physical benefits (好处).     1     The benefits are the same whether or not you’re good at sports. If you are not good enough to play competitively on a school team, you can play sports with your friends.

Making new friends.

Playing sports enables you to create friendships you otherwise might not have formed.     2     You play together happily and gradually know each other. Many times, the friendships you create on the field remain strong when you are not playing sports.

Understanding the value of health.

Taking part in sports improves your health in many ways.     3     This gets you thinking about what to eat and how to treat your body so as to achieve the highest performance levels. Thus, playing sports can lead to better eating habits and prevent you from becoming too fat.

Building team spirit.

Sports provide children with the important lesson of learning how to work in a team.     4     By working together they will learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses and will be better able to decide and work out the best plan for the team. This will without doubt help them in their future lives and jobs as well.

    5    

Playing sports requires a lot of time and energy. Some may think this would take students’ attention away from schoolwork. However, the opposite is true. Sports require memorization, repetition and learning — skills that are directly relevant (有关的) to schoolwork.

A．Doing better in your studies.

B．Everyone has to work together to achieve the goal.

C．To be a good athlete, you must take care of yourself.

D．Sports can help you in your study and fit in with society as well.

E．Sports bring teens together from different schools and backgrounds.

4 . I am a part of the Windward Robotics team known as the Omnicats, one of the many clubs offered at my school. My eight teammates and I started out by watching the robotics qualifiers and finals of Chinese teams. We used these robotics videos for inspiration and drew up mind maps of what our team wanted to do.

We meet everyday for two hours after school in order to build our robots. Typically, adults oversee what students are building, but my school lets teens take control. It leaves room for more errors, but we’re prouder of our final product.

Before our first real match, a practice one was offered at the actual site. My sub-team had been further along than other teams but quickly fell behind. When we arrived on that big day, I immediately felt my teammates’ tension. Our first match was in three minutes. All of us glanced around at each other since we were not prepared at all. Our robot was still sitting in a box. Two of our teammates rushed to take the robot for an official examination as the rest of us discussed our strategy.

Our team captain explained that we all should try driving the robot now, while it was early in the season. She gave me the remote. I had only driven for a limited amount of time in practice so I was extremely nervous. Our autonomous code began to run almost immediately after our short discussion. Despite all the drama, we ended up winning the match. Not too bad for the first match! I was so proud. I did not enjoy the pressure of driving but liked building the robot behind the scenes instead.

We have transferred to a different type of robotics at the end of the semester, which involves the whole team designing one giant robot with large tools. I am a part of the electrical team now, so I make sure the motherboard(母板) can supply the robot’s energy needs. We have all enjoyed the rest of the season and learned that robotics is never dull!

1. What does the underlined word in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Inspect

B．Revise

C．Overlook

D．request

2. Why did her teammates feel so nervous before first match?

A．Because it was really too difficult for them.

B．Because they didn’t prepare for it at all.

C．Because they didn’t know what the match would be like.

D．Because they didn’t make full preparations before the match.

3. How did the author think about their first robotics match?

A．It was tiring but exciting.	B．It was stressful but wonderful.
C．It was terrible but delightful.	D．It was boring but rewarding.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．A Girl Who Loves Robots	B．My First Robotics Match
C．Teamwork for Robots	D．Robotics Is Never Dull

5 . If you're out for a run, what difference does it make if you're able to tough it out for another 50 seconds? If you're less than a minute from the top of the hill, that extra time can make the difference between having reached your goal and snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

How do you get those extra seconds of energy? A research team at the Texes Tech University developed a study to measure what effect listening to music would have on exercise tolerance. The researchers based the study on a stress testing. As part of the testing, they noted any changes in heart rate and blood pressure as participants underwent physically stressful exercise.

The tests were done on treadmills (跑步机), which increased in both speed and incline (坡度) through three stages. In the final stage, the treadmills moved at 10 miles per hour at a 14-percent grade. Most of these tests were designed to last up to 40 minutes. The average gym-goers lasted 30 minutes. For this study, they divided 127 participants into two groups. One listened to upbeat(快节奏) music, while the other group had earbuds in but did not listen to music.

The group that listened to music was able to outlast the non-music group by an average of 50.6 seconds. Again, being able to go an extra minute may seem like a no-brainer ,but “after 30 minutes, you feel like you are running up a mountain, so even being able to go 50 seconds longer means a lot," said the study's lead author, Waseem Shami, MD.

The study has confirmed something runners and gym-goers have suspected for years: Listening to music during workout can be beneficial to your endurance. "Our findings reinforce the idea that upbeat music can help you exercise longer and stick with a daily exercise routine," said Shami. When doctors are recommending exercise, they might suggest listening to music, too."

1. Why did Shami’s team conduct the research?

A．To test the effect of music on health.	B．To know the cause of failure in sports.
C．To improve runners' exercise tolerance.	D．To record the body change of participants

2. What did the researchers than about the Participants in the stress testing?

A．They ran much faster than average runners.	B．They created a new record of indoor sports.
C．They could run a little longer with music on.	D．They all enjoyed extreme physical challenge

3. What do the underlined words “a no-brainer” mean in paragraph 4?

A．A dull activity.	B．A foolish action.
C．A demanding task.	D．An easy practice

4. What did Shami suggest us doing in the last paragraph ?

A．Developing a daily exercise routine.	B．Listening to music while working out
C．Participating in physical stress testing.	D．Taking exercise as doctors recommend.

6 . To get in shape soon, some people use “quick” methods without realizing that these methods can put their overall health in danger. For example, they lose weight by eating fat-free food. It’s true that consuming（消耗）fewer fats can help you get in shape sooner, but low fat foods like dried fruits, nuts, beans, etc, actually contain high amounts of calories. For example, fruit juice contains no fat, but has high calories, so drinking more than one glass of fruit juice won’t help in losing weight.

To rely only on fruit and vegetable juice to lose weight is also a wrong method. By replacing your meal with only juice, you decrease the calorie intake（卡路里摄取量）greatly. It’ll help lose weight, but it can make you lack energy, leading to headaches, stomach disorders, etc.

It’s true that exercise helps to keep healthy weight, but it’ll probably not help you much if you don’t take care of your diet by reducing your calorie intake. If you believe you can exercise every day and eat as much as you want, you’re incorrect. For healthy weight loss, you need to burn more calories than you consume. So, you need to limit the intake of food.

Wrong weight loss methods are dangerous. So if in doubt, you’d better ask a doctor before starting weight loss. Luckily, it’s possible to lose weight with healthy methods. For example, follow healthy food habits, exercise regularly for 20-30 minutes every day, and go on with a healthy lifestyle even after you lose weight. Anyway, as you don’t gain weight overnight, it can’t be lost in a short time either. Give yourself some time. Although healthy methods may take a bit longer to work, they’re surely good for your body.

1. We can know from the first paragraph that             .

A．fruit juice is low in fat and calories	B．most people don’t lose weight safely
C．eating high fat foods helps lose weight	D．some quick shaping methods may be harmful

2. Relying on a liquid diet to lose weight is wrong because it            .

A．makes you skip meals	B．reduces the calorie intake greatly
C．can cause a few health problems	D．doesn’t help you to lose weight fast

3. How can we get more calories burnt than we consume according to Paragraph 3?

A．By reducing mental pressure.	B．By only drinking fruit juice.
C．By having more rest.	D．By exercising with food control.

4. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．We should be patient with losing weight.

B．We can actually lose weight very easily.

C．Regular exercise is enough for us to lose weight.

D．We don’t have to consider our doctor’s advice.

7 . As is known, exercise helps to keep us in good health. Doctors at the American Heart Association suggest getting at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity every week. Many people have an exercise routine.     1    . So, getting those 150 minutes is easier. But what about those times when you are sick? If you do not feel well, should you keep following your exercise routine? Will physical activity help you to feel better more quickly or will it delay the healing process?

Health experts answer these and other questions on the Mayo Clinic website. Mild to moderate physical activity is usually OK if you have a common cold. According to the experts, it is usually fine to exercise if your symptoms are all “above the neck”.     2    . In fact, exercise may make you feel better by “opening your blocked nose”. This may temporarily reduce congestion and help you to breathe more easily.

    3    , though. So be on guard for symptoms such as chest congestion, extreme cough or pain in the stomach. Besides, there are other symptoms that can tell you to avoid exercise. They include: a higher than normal body temperature, a sense of feeling extremely tired, also known as fatigue, and widespread muscle pain.     4    .

Finally, experts suggest learning to listen to your body. If you feel really bad, take a break and let your body rest. If you don’t feel too bad, these experts both suggest cutting back on the intensity (强度) of your exercise routine.    5    . Experts all indicate that a few days off from exercise when you are sick shouldn’t affect your performance. You can return to your usual intensity when you feel better.

A．These signs may include a runny nose, nasal congestion (鼻塞), sneezing or a minor sore throat

B．Experts especially point that if you feel tightness in the chest, it is not advisable to work out

C．They exercise for a few minutes every day or every other day

D．Exercising will result in more severe illness

E．For example, if you usually run, take a quick walk instead

F．Experts suggest taking a break from exercising if signs of your illness appear “below the neck”

G．Exercising regularly keeps us feeling exhausted

8 . Thomas Panek has completed 20 marathons, however, he made history on Sunday at the New York City Half Marathon.

While visually impaired（视觉障碍）runners usually use human guides, Mr Panek became the first person to complete the race supported by guide dogs. A trio of Labradors - Westley, Waffle and Gus - each accompanied (陪伴) him for a third of the race. The team finished in two hours and 21 minutes.

Mr Panek, who lost his sight in his early 20s, showed that while he appreciated the support of human volunteers, he missed the feeling of independence. In 2015, Mr Panek established the Running Guides programme which trains dogs to support runners.

When selecting his companions for the race, Mr Panek chose siblings Waffle and Westley to join Gus, who is his full-time guide dog. “The relationship is really important. You can’t just pick up the harness (挽带) and go for a run with these dogs,” Mr Panek said. “You’re training with a team no matter what kind of athlete you are, and you want to spend time together in that training camp.”

Each dogs sets its own pace — Westley runs an eight minute mile, while his sister Waffle can cover the same distance in six minutes—and helps Mr Panek avoid obstacles such as kerbs（路缘）and cones (锥体). Each dog wears a special harness and set of running boots, to protect their paws.

Gus was chosen to run the final leg of the race and cross the finish line with Mr Panek. He retired from his duties as a guide dog at the end of the race.

According to Mr Panek, guide dogs give visually impaired people the freedom to “do whatever it is a sighted person does, and sometimes, even run a little faster than them”.

1. In which way did Thomas Panek make history?

A．He set a new record of time in running the half marathon.

B．He is the first blind person who take part in the marathon.

C．He finished the competition with help of human volunteers.

D．He is the first blind person finishing half marathon with guide dogs.

2. What can we learn about Thomas Panek?

A．He stopped running after he lost sight.

B．He enjoyed running with human volunteers.

C．He is the founder of the Running Guides programme.

D．He got the gold medal at the New York City Half Marathon.

3. What do you know about the three dogs?

A．They didn’t get training before the race.

B．Westley runs faster than Waffle.

C．Gus is Panek’s full-time guide dog.

D．Westley retired after the race.

4. The passage is ______.

A．an essay

B．a news report

C．a biography

D．a review

9 . 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选项。

Curling(冰壶)is a winter sport played on ice. Therefore, it’s most popular in northern countries like Canada. Curling is played in the USA by about 15,000 people.    1    Scottish winters were long and there were forms of entertainment. So people began making a sport out of sliding heavy stones on the frozen lakes. The game spread, and in the 1700s curling clubs formed. Then Scottish soldiers brought it to North America.

    2    Men, women, and children often compete on the same team, if they can slide a forty-pound stone down the ice! Both teams slide their stones toward the same goal. After all 16 stones have been cast, the team whose stone has slid closest to the goal gets one point.

    3    The ice is so smooth and the stone is so heavy that even the smallest misjudgment in a throw can make the stone slide much too far or stop too suddenly.    4    Water helps the stone slide, but it can also change the stone’s path.

In curling, a broom is part of each player’s equipment. A good curler must know how much force to use. The player must know the exact conditions of the ice on the court.    5    That may explain why the international Olympic Committee decided to make curling an Olympic sport in 1998.

A．Players compete on the court.

B．Then the play begins in the other direction.

C．Curling is played by teams of four people.

D．In other words, a good curler must be a fine athlete.

E．The rules are easy to learn, but playing the game is hard.

F．The melting of the ice makes things tough for the curlers.

G．Curling probably began in Scotland in the 1500s or earlier.

10 . Last summer over 12,000 fans were at Wembley Arena in London, shouting and cheering. Thousands more were watching online.     1     It was e-sports, or competitive computer gaming.

Millions of people in the UK play computer games for fun. Some of them have become professional gamers, playing games as their full-time job.     2     They practice for ten or more hours a day, five or six days a week. They do exercises like typing something and trying to type it faster and faster. They also study videos of other players and plan ways to beat them.

    3     Are players athletes? Some say no. E-sports players don’t need to run, jump, throw or do big physical actions. At the moment, the UK government classifies e-sports as kinds of games, not as sports.

But others say yes: e-sports are sports. Players do need some physical skills, especially hand-eye coordination, reflexes, accuracy and timing. If darts, snooker and shooting are classified as sports, then perhaps e-sports should be too.

    4     And they will be an official medal sport in the Asian Games starting from 2022. Next step: the Olympics?

For many e-sports fans and players, though, the most important thing is that e-sports are growing in popularity and importance.     5    

A．But are e-sports really sports?

B．All like playing computer games.

C．It’s not easy being a professional gamer, though.

D．But this wasn’t a football, basketball or tennis match.

E．It is certain that e-sports will come into the 2024 Olympics.

F．In fact, China and South Korea do classify e-sports as sports.

G．If e-sports are not as important as sports now, they definitely will be in the near future.