1 . A month before my first marathon, one of my ankles was injured and this meant not running for two weeks, leaving me only two weeks to train. Yet, I was determined to go ahead.
I remember back to my 7th year in school. In my first P. E. class, the teacher required us to run laps and hit a softball. I didn't do either well. He later informed me that I was "not athletic".
The idea that I was "not athletic" stuck with me for years. When I started running in my 30s, I realized running was a battle against myself, not about competition or whether or not I was athletic. It was all about the battle against my own body and mind. A test of wills!
The night before my marathon, I dreamt that I couldn't even find the finish line. I woke up sweating and nervous, but ready to prove something to myself.
Shortly after crossing the start line, my shoe laces became untied. So I stopped to readjust. Not the start I wanted!
At mile 3, I passed a sign: "GO FOR IT, RUNNERS!"
By mile 17, I became out of breath and the once injured ankle hurt severely. Despite the pain, I stayed the course walking a bit and then running again.
By mile 21, I was starving!
As I approached mile 23, I could see my wife waving a sign. She is my biggest fan. She never minded the alarm clock sounding at 4 a.m. or questioned my expenses on running.
I was one of the final runners to finish. But I finished! And I got a medal. Actually, I got the same medal as the one that the guy who came in first place had.
Determined to be myself, move forward, free of shame and worldly labels(世俗标签), I can now call myself a "marathon winner".
1. After the author’s ankle was injured, what was he determined to do?| A．quit | B．go ahead |
| C．have a rest | D．keep calm and walk |
| A．treasure his precious old days | B．prove his inability in sports then |
| C．defend himself from prejudice | D．convey his gratitude to the teacher |
| A．He succeeded for a strong will. | B．He quit running halfway. |
| C．He was awarded the first prize. | D．He walked to the end. |
| A．He passed a sign: "GO FOR IT, RUNNERS!" |
| B．He became out of breath and the once injured ankle hurt severely |
| C．He was starving! |
| D．He was encouraged by his wife. |
| A．One is never too old to learn. |
| B．Failure is the mother of success. |
| C．Family support is the fountain of success. |
| D．Success can be acquired with a great effort of will. |
2 . Winter-swimming has become popular in Beijing. Three years ago, few people would go swimming in the icy waters. But now there is a Winter-swimming Enthusiasts’ Club and it has more than 2,000 members. The oldest is 84 years old and the youngest is only 7. The members are from all walks of life. They may be workers, peasants, soldiers, teachers, students…
Though it is now the coldest part of the season and the water temperature in the city’s lakes is around 0℃, many winter-swimmers still swim in the icy waters, even when it is snowing. They enjoy themselves in the lake, while the people by the side of the lake are wearing heavy clothes.
Why are so many people interested in winter-swimming? Because winter-swimming can be good for one’s health.
Bei Sha is a good example. He is 69, and he once suffered from heart trouble for 26 years. After ten years of winter-swimming he is now in good health. Scientists are now studying the effects of winter-swimming on health.
1. Among the winter-swimmers the oldest man is ______ years older than the youngest one.| A．91 | B．84 | C．77 | D．7 |
| A．The members do different jobs at different places. | B．They come from all parts of Beijing. |
| C．They are persons of different ages. | D．They are men and women, old and young. |
| A．more and more people like to swim in Beijing |
| B．it is more interesting than swimming in summer |
| C．winter-swimmers are brave men |
| D．winter-swimming does a lot of good to one’s health |
| A．To provide background information. | B．To attract the reader’s attention. |
| C．To summarize the whole passage. | D．To give an example of the benefits of winter-swimming. |
| A．People in Beijing Like Swimming in Winter | B．Winter-swimming—A Craze in Beijing |
| C．People Benefit from Winter-swimming | D．Winter-swimmers Are Brave Men |
3 . Depression（抑郁症）in young adult males, ages 18 or 19, is linked to a 20% greater risk of having a heart attack in middle age, according to a new Swedish study.
The link can be partly explained by poorer stress resilience（抗压能力）and lower physical fitness among teens with mental disorders.
The research included 238,013 men born between 1958 and 1962 who were given examinations in adolescence（青春期）and were then followed into middle age（up to the age of 58 years）. A total of 34,503 men were diagnosed（诊断）with a mental disorder.
The study found that a mental disorder in young adulthond was linked to a higher risk of having heart attack by middle age. Compared to men without a mental illness in young adulthood，the risk of heart attack was 20%higher among men with a diagnosis.
“We already knew that men who were physically fit in adolescence seem less likely to keep fitness in later years if they have low stress resilience,” said study author Dr. Bergh, “Our research has also shown that low stress resilience is also connected with a greater tendency towards bad behavior, such as higher risks of smoking, drinking and other drug use.”
“Better fitness in adolescence is likely to help protect against later heart disease, particularly if people stay fit as they age. Physical activities may also reduce some of the bad effects of stress. Those in poor health could benefit from additional support to encourage exercise and develop plans to deal with stress,” said Bergh.
1. How does the author develop paragraph 3?| A．By giving examples. | B．By listing figures. |
| C．By making a comparison. | D．By drawing a conclusion. |
| A．Smoke more. | B．Eat more. | C．Sleep less. | D．Do less exercise. |
| A．Physical activities add to stress. | B．Stress may cause heart disease. |
| C．Taking exercise is unnecessary. | D．Staying fit is of great importance. |
| A．Entertainment. | B．Health. | C．Education. | D．Fashion. |
4 . Not so long ago, most people didn’t know who Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was going to become. She was just an average high school athlete. There was every indication that she was just another Jamaican teenager without much of a future. However, one person wants to change this. Stephen Francis observed then eighteen-year-old Shelly-Ann at a track meet and was convinced that he had seen the beginning of true greatness. Her times were not exactly impressive, but even so, he sensed there was something trying to get out, something the other coaches had overlooked when they had assessed her and found her lacking. He decided to offer Shelly-Ann a place in his very strict training sessions. Their cooperation quickly produced results, and a few years later at Jamaica’s Olympic trails in early 2008, Shelly Ann, who at that time only ranked number 70 in the world, beat Jamaica’s unchallenged queen of the sprint (短跑).
“Where did she come from?” asked an astonished sprinting world, before concluding that she must be one of those one-hit wonders that spring up from time to time, only to disappear again without signs. But Shelly Ann was to prove that she was anything but a one-hit wonder. At the Beijing Olympic she swept away any doubts about her ability to perform consistently by becoming the first Jamaican woman ever to win the 100 meters Olympic gold. She did it again one year on at the World Championship in Berlin, becoming world champion with a time of 10.73 — the fourth fastest ever.
Shelly-Ann is a little woman with a big smile. She has a mental toughness that did not come about by chance. Her journey to becoming the fastest woman on earth has been anything but smooth and effortless. She grew up in one of Jamaica’s toughest inner-city communities known as Waterhouse, where she lived in a one-room apartment, sleeping four in a bed with her mother and two brothers. Waterhouse, one of the poorest communities in Jamaica, is a really violent and overpopulated place. Several of Shelly-Ann's friends and family were caught up in the killings; one of her cousins was shot dead only a few streets away from where she lived. Sometimes her family didn’t have enough to eat. She ran at the school championships barefooted because she couldn’t afford shoes. Her mother Maxime, one of a family of fourteen, had been an athlete herself as a young girl but, like so many other girls in Waterhouse, had to stop after she had her first baby. Maxime’s early entry into the adult world with its responsibilities gave her the determination to ensure that her kids would not end up in Waterhouse's roundabout(循环) of poverty. One of the first things Maxime used to do with Shelly-Ann was taking her to the track, and she was ready to sacrifice everything.
It didn't take long for Shelly-Ann to realize that sports could be her way out of Waterhouse. On a summer evening in Beijing in 2008, all those long, hard hours of work and commitment finally bore fruit. The barefoot kid who just a few years previously had been living in poverty, surrounded by criminals and violence, had written a new chapter in the history of sports.
But Shelly-Ann’s victory was far greater than that. The night she won Olympic gold in Beijing, the routine murders in Waterhouse and the drug wars in the neighbouring streets stopped. The dark cloud above one of the world’s toughest criminal neighbourhoods simply disappeared for a few days. “I have so much fire burning for my country,” Shelly said. She plans to start a foundation for homeless children and wants to build a community centre in Waterhouse. She hopes to inspire the Jamaicans to lay down their weapons. She intends to fight to make it a woman’s as well as a man’s world.
As Muhammad Ali puts it, “Champions aren't made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them. A desire, a dream, a vision.” One of the things Shelly-Ann can be proud of is her understanding of this truth.
1. What did the sprinting world think of Shelly-Ann before the 2008 Olympic Games?| A．She would become a promising star. |
| B．She badly needed to set higher goals. |
| C．Her sprinting career would not last long. |
| D．Her talent for sprinting was known to all. |
| A．Her success and lessons in her career. |
| B．Her interest in Shelly-Ann’s quick profit. |
| C．Her wish to get Shelly-Ann out of poverty. |
| D．Her early entrance into the sprinting world. |
| A．She was highly rewarded for her efforts. |
| B．She was eager to do more for her country. |
| C．She became an athletic star in her country. |
| D．She was the envy of the whole community. |
| A．The Making of a Great Athlete |
| B．The Dream for Championship |
| C．The Key to High Performance |
| D．The Power of Full Responsibility |
5 . New research shows that daily light walking is important for maintaining health as you age. But if you can’t hit 10,000 steps, don't worry. There's nothing magical about the number 10,000.
In fact, the idea of walking at least 10,000 steps a day for health goes back decades to a marketing campaign started in Japan to promote a pedometer(计步器).And then, it was adopted in the US as a goal to promote good health.
"The original basis of the number was not scientific." says researcher I-Min Lee of Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She was curious to know how many steps you need to take a day to maintain good health and live a long life, so she and her colleagues designed a study. It turns out that women who took about 4,000 steps per day got an increase in longevity(寿命), compared with women who took fewer steps. “It was sort of surprising,” Lee says. Another surprise: the benefits of walking maxed out at about 7,500 steps. In other words, women who walked more than 7,500 steps per day saw no additional increase in longevity.
“ I love this study. I think it’s really good news for women who may not be very active. All they have to do is walk,” says Kathleen Janz, who studies how physical activity influences health at the University of Iowa. And Janz says that’s encouraging. Another thing Janz notes is that this study only measured walking. It didn’t measure things that don’t require steps, like gardening, swimming or biking.
So, if 10,000 steps has been feeling out of reach to you, it may be time to reset those factory settings on your fitness tracker. Instead, try to hit at least 4,400 a day, along with daily activities that you enjoy. And stick to it.
1. What’s the original purpose of the idea of walking at least 10,000 steps a day?| A．To make people live longer. |
| B．To help sell a product. |
| C．To change people’s habits. |
| D．To test a pedometer |
| A．Confusing | B．Unexpected |
| C．Encouraging | D．Doubtful |
| A．People need 10,000 steps a day |
| B．Pedometer producers should change their settings. |
| C．The study should not only focus on daily walking. |
| D．Some activities that don’t demand steps also benefit health. |
6 . Being seventeen without money can be depressing. When the opportunity arrives to earn some needed cash, it would be foolish to pass it up. It is for this reason that when the opportunity to referee elementary basketball came my way, I jumped at the chance. I thought it would be a fun way to earn some “easy money”.
During the years I played on the court and watched the games, I often found myself criticizing the referees. I was completely convinced that I could do a much better job because of my love for basketball and my familiarity of the game. How difficult could it be, especially with a bunch of third graders?
I looked forward to my first night as a referee, but all of my fantasies wore off from the beginning of the game. These sweet and innocent third grade boys immediately transformed into horrible creatures right before me. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine the extent of competitiveness in the game. A battle was in progress on the court while the inhumane bystanders cheered and yelled from the stands. My only companion, the whistle, suffered from a severe case of stage fear, filling my head with doubt every time I wished to blow it. My lack of action fueled the heartless crowd. Even on the rare occasions when my whistle gained enough courage to pause the fighting, the pitiless bystanders still couldn't calm. The sense of failure flooded every inch of my soul. With only five minutes remaining, Michael, another referee, came in time, saving me from losing my mind. In a flash, I passed my whistle and quickly ran to the safety of the stands.
I realized just how difficult refereeing was. I could have let this heartbreaking evening ruin my future on the court, but instead it stimulated a sense of determination in me to do it better. I still hope to become a great referee someday. In order for this to become a reality, it will take many hours of practice and hard work. No matter how much I wish the cash would be handed to me without requiring any effort, I learned from this experience that there is no such thing as “easy money”.
1. What made the author accept the offer to serve as a basketball referee?| A．His desire for money. | B．His passion for basketball. |
| C．His poor family background. | D．His academic qualifications. |
| A．Lovely. | B．Mature. | C．Impolite. | D．Competitive. |
| A．He was too nervous to blow the whistle. |
| B．He was at a loss how to announce the results. |
| C．He couldn't avoid the bystanders' physical attack. |
| D．He couldn't handle the tough situation on the court. |
| A．Lazy hands make for poverty. | B．Money does not grow on trees. |
| C．Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. | D．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. |
7 . 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. It is an essential part of who we are today and who we will become. 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 following categories:
Performance
Documentary
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.
Documentary: A visual presentation ( such as a video,slide show,or computer project) no more than 10minutes 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 words. No illustrations(图解) are allowed. Please do not include covers. A list of references must be included.
Important Dates
January 5 Submit a topic proposal to your history teacher. The teacher may require a second proposal if the first is off—topic or unclear.
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
7:00A.M—9:00 A.M Participants signing in at the gym
10: 00A.M. 6:00PM. Competition and judges' review
7: 00P.M. Awards ceremony and picnic
1. What's the main purpose of understanding history?| A．To preserve national traditions. |
| B．To prepare for a history competition. |
| C．To better know the present and future. |
| D．To further explore historical mysteries. |
| A．Technology advances science. |
| B．Science interacts with technology. |
| C．Science has made the study of history easy. |
| D．Technology has improved the life of Americans. |
| A．Make comments on the materials. |
| B．Improve the participant's second proposal. |
| C．Preview performances and documentaries. |
| D．Collect a second proposal from the participant. |
8 . Sport is not only physically challenging, but can also be mentally challenging. Criticism from coaches, parents and other teammates, as well as pressure to win can create too much anxiety or stress for young athletes. Stress can be physical,emotional, or psychological and research has indicated that it can lead to burnout. Burnout has been described as dropping or quitting of an activity that was at one time enjoyable.
The early years of development are critical years for learning about oneself. The sport setting is one where valuable experiences can take place. Young athletes can, for example, learn how to cooperate with others, make friends, and gain other social skills that will be used throughout their lives. Coaches and parents should be aware, at all times, that their feedback to youngsters can greatly affect their children. Youngsters may take their parents' and coaches' criticisms to heart and find flaws in themselves.
Coaches and parents should also pay attention that youth sport participation does not become work for children. The outcome of the game should not be more important than the process of learning the sport and other life lessons. In today's youth sport setting young athletes may be worrying more about who will win instead of enjoying themselves and the sport. Following a game many parents and coaches focus on the outcome and find fault with youngsters' performances. Positive support should be provided regardless of the outcome. Research indicates that positive support motivates and has a greater effect on learning than criticism. Again, criticism can create high levels of stress,which can lead to burnout.
1. An effective way to prevent the bumout of young athletes is________.| A．to make sport less competitive |
| B．to increase their sense of success |
| C．to reduce their mental stress |
| D．to make sport more challenging |
| A．it can help them learn more about society |
| B．it enables them to find flaws in themselves |
| C．it can provide them with valuable experiences |
| D．it teaches them how to set realistic goals for themselves |
| A．pay more attention to letting children enjoy sport |
| B．help children to win every game |
| C．train children to cope with stress |
| D．enable children to understand the positive aspect of sport |
| A．to teach young athletes how to avoid burnout |
| B．to persuade children not to worry about criticism |
| C．to stress the importance of positive support to children |
| D．to discuss the skill of combining criticism with encouragement |
9 . Last night was the last game for my eight-year-old son's soccer team. It was the quarter final. The score was two to one, my son's team in the lead. Parents surrounded the playground, offering encouragement.
With less than ten seconds remaining, the ball suddenly rolled in front of my son's teammate Mickey O"Donnel. With shouts of "Kick it!" echoing across the playground, Mickey turned around and gave it everything he had. All around me the crowd erupted (突然发出). He had scored!
Then there was silence. Mickey had scored all right, but in the wrong goal, ending the game in a tie. For a moment there was a deathly hush. You see, Mickey has Down syndrome (唐氏综合征)and for him there is no such thing as a wrong goal. All goals were celebrated by a joyous hug from Mickey. He had even been known to hug the opposing players when they scored.
The silence was finally broken when Mickey, his face filled with joy, hugged my son tightly and shouted, "I scored! I scored! Everybody won! Everybody won!" For a moment I held my breath, not sure how my son would react. I need not have worried. I watched, through tears, as my son threw up his hand in the classic high-five salute and started chanting, "Way to go Mickey! Way to go Mickey!" Within moments both teams surrounded Mickey, joined in the chant and congratulated him on his goal.
Later that night, when my daughter asked who had won, I smiled as I replied, "It was a tie. Everybody won."
1. What does the underlined word "hush" in Paragraph 3 mean?| A．Cheer. | B．Silence. | C．Laughter. | D．Cry. |
| A．The result would disappoint his son. |
| B．His son would shout at Mickey for his goal. |
| C．Mickey would again hug the opposing players. |
| D．The opposite team would laugh at Mickey's goal. |
| A．Both teams liked and respected Mickey. |
| B．Both teams were thankful for Mickey's goal. |
| C．Mickey didn't mind whether his goal was wrong. |
| D．Mickey was a kind-hearted boy and hoped everybody won. |
| A．To tell a joke to make readers laugh. |
| B．To suggest we should not mind losing. |
| C．To show enjoying a game is more important than winning a game. |
| D．To present his son's fine quality of understanding others. |
10 . Walking with a purpose
Humans were made for walking. With our strong leg muscles, our bodies were literally designed with walking in mind — which is what makes it such perfect exercise.
This month, why not focus on walking with a purpose? Wherever you are, in the city or at the campground, you’ll find plenty of walking going on. Maybe you already love to walk, but you’re getting tired of going your same old route day after day. Or maybe you’re new to walking and aren’t sure how to get started.
If making trends and socializing is your goal, call up your friends and schedule walks with them.
| A．See new places? |
| B．Head for a new city. |
| C．It’s good for our health. |
| D．Everyone loves walking and you’re no exception. |
| E．Ask your friends where they like to walk and go there. |
| F．Either way, it’s time to embrace the idea of walking with a purpose. |
| G．Ask local people to get you out of town and into the wild or countryside. |
