1 . On Wednesday, nearly 300 kids will take part in the National Spelling Bee. Fewer will make it to the following day’s semifinals, where one mistake means elimination(淘汰). I’d bet that many of them will be silently praying—not on the first word. I knew it because I was there 17 years ago.
I was 14 year old then. My mother and I had flown from Kentucky to Washington, but she was no strange to the capital. My older sister had already competed at nationals.
When my sister was 14 and I was 12, we trained together. We began with the Suggested List given out at school—hundreds of words printed on a poster that folded up like a map. When the words along the creases(折痕) began to disappear, we bought additional spelling bodes.
Sometimes my mother tested us, reading words most English teachers wouldn’t know how to pronounce, let alone my Indian-born mother. When she pointed out the misspelled words, I blamed her accent for my errors!
When it was my turn, I approached the microphone and waited for my first word.
The announcer was somewhere to my left, a man who pronounced clearly. “Barbican,” he said.
It seemed that my competitors were secretly complaining at the relative ease of my word. Would they laugh at me if I couldn’t spell it? Would my mother be disappointed in me? That last syllable could go two ways: C-A-N or C-O-N. Which one was right? Finally I decided on C-O-N.
Of course, I was eliminated and guided to the Comfort Room, where parents couldn’t enter. Inside, recent losers were sitting around a table abundant with junk food.
We casually mentioned the words that defeated us, like a special ceremony to welcome each new arrival. Then we changed the subjects if we’d already moved on from missed words and lost opportunities.
Eventually, I went out and saw my mother.
“Well,” she said, “I guess you won’t be doing this again.” Yes, next year I would be 25 and not allowed to take part in the competition.
1. What does the underlined word in Paragraph 1 refer to?| A．the difficulty of the first word. | B．The fierce competition. |
| C．The nervousness of the kids. | D．The strict rules. |
| A．she was unable to relax | B．the announcer had an accent |
| C．her competitors disturbed her | D．she didn’t practise hard enough |
| A．She met her mother. | B．She comforted new arrivals. |
| C．She talked with other losers. | D．She watched the competition. |
| A．She was disappointed in the author. |
| B．The author would be beyond the age limit. |
| C．She didn’t want the author to suffer again. |
| D．The author had no interest in the competition. |
2 . Benefits of Cross-Country Skiing
Cross-country skiing can be enjoyed by a wide range of students, from the youngest kindergartners to those secondary students. It is really a fun activity, providing students a gentle workout outside in winter. While having fun, students can gain physical and mental benefits .
The physical benefits of cross-country skiing are well known. If we look at Olympic cross- country skiers, we can see the positive effects on the body that result from training for cross-country skiing. The average best female cross-country skier carries 11 percent body fat, and best male skiers carry 5 percent. These percentages are well below the average for people who are considered to be athletic-17 percent for females and 10 percent for males. The high number of calories burned while skiing helps to keep skiers slim in a healthy and attractive way.
Cross-country skiing is also an efficient way to exercise a large number of muscles at once. Because skiers use ski poles as a means of propulsion, the force that drives skiers forward, the upper body gets much more of workout. Of course, the leg muscles also do their fair share. People who use cross-country skiing as a workout over several weeks will discover that the muscles of their entire body increase in strength.
Cross-country skiing on a regular basis has a tremendous effect on a person’s cardiovascular system. In addition to gaining strength in the muscles of the upper and lower body, people who use cross-country skiing as a workout method over several weeks will also discover that their heart is stronger. A strong heart pumps more efficiently, sending out more blood to the muscles with each contraction. Through weeks of skiing, people often discover that their resting heart rate has decreased. Highly trained Olympic cross-country skiers have resting heart rates between 28 and 40 beats per minute. Compare that to the resting heart rate of the average person, which is 60 to 80 beats per minute!
The benefits of cross-country skiing extend beyond overall general health. A lot of evidence exists indicating that regular physical activity increases the release of mood-lifting endorphins in the body. After one of the energetic and fun skiing lessons, students will be smiling and laughing; they will be relaxed and in a better mood than when they started class. Students will leave class with a sense of accomplishment, knowing that they have developed new skills in a fun activity.
Cross-country skiing is a great way to work the total body. Now more and more students are taking part in this exercise outside during the winter months. They are enjoying it and benefiting from it!
1. The underlined word “workout” means ______.| A．manner | B．exercise | C．application | D．opportunity |
| A．requires the use of most muscle groups | B．offers students a unique way to keep fit |
| C．can increase the athletes’ resting heart rates | D．can balance out the skiers’ increased calories |
| A．By making comments. | B．By giving examples. |
| C．By making comparisons. | D．By giving explanations. |
CP: Central point P: Point Sp: Sub-point (次要点) C: Conclusion
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
3 . Sometimes it’s hard to find time to exercise. But in fact, whether you’re on the road, at work, or at home, you can always find a few more ways to work out.
Any time you find yourself with something heavy in your hands, lift it. This works with canned food, grocery bags, backpacks, and anything the least bit heavy.
| A．When you’re seated during long journey, why not stand up? |
| B．The biggest change you have to make is in your attitude． |
| C．If your kids like to play games, don’t just sit and watch． |
| D．When you have a spare moment, why not do leg lifts? |
| E．As you go about your day, look for chances to walk. |
| F．The main problem is that you have no free time． |
| G．If it is easy, then do some more． |
4 . Chinese athletes were highlighted by a series of inspirational wins in the International Ski Federation’s World Cup circuit recently. China’s Gu Ailing, a Chinese freestyle talent, made history by becoming the first ever back-to-back freeski World Cup winner in two different events at the same venue after claiming the slopestyle title in Calgary, Canada, on Feb.15, 2020. The day before, Gu had stormed to her first Cup gold in the halfpipe competition.
Gu again thrilled the crowds on Feb.15 in the slopestyle with another impressive display of technical riding, landing a string of difficult tricks, including a massive right 900° twist with a tail grab in her second run that earned her 89.18 points to dominate the 18-strong field.
“Honestly, my mind is blown,” Gu told the FIS website after the competition. “Coming in I didn’t have any expectations. I try not to take anything for granted. Honestly, I could not have expected two wins from these events.”
“I really just came in trying to do my best and ski the way I knew I could. Skiing my best is really the best part of this, and being rewarded for it just makes it even better.”
Born to a Chinese mother and an American father in San Francisco, US, Gu, better known as Eileen in the States, completed a naturalization process last June to represent China in international competitions.
Now she has her sights set on doing her mother’s home country proud at the 2022 Beijing Games.
A talented skier who has won many national junior titles in the US, Gu became a hit last month after winning two golds and a silver — in halfpipe, Big Air and slopestyle — at her first appearance in Winter Youth Olympics in Lausanne, Switzerland.
With Gu now on board in freeski, China’s snow sports team, which also features world-class aerial skiers and halfpipe snowboarders, is determined to challenge Western dominance on the snow in 2022.
1. How did Gu Ailing created history in her career?| A．She won two gold medals in the World Cup. |
| B．She showed her talent in skiing performance. |
| C．She displayed an impressive technical riding. |
| D．She made a massive right 900° twist twice. |
| A．Her powerful determination. | B．Her parents’ positive support. |
| C．Her deep love for competition. | D．Her relaxing and careful mind. |
| A．In China. | B．In America. |
| C．In Canada. | D．In Switzerland. |
| A．On Feb.15, 2020. | B．On Feb.14, 2020. |
| C．In January 2020. | D．In June 2019. |
5 . As I was growing up, my life revolved （围绕）around soccer. I played on the national youth soccer teams, traveled to Europe, and at age fifteen, spent time training with a professional team in England. I always knew I was going to be a professional soccer player.
I had a full soccer scholarship to a top Midwest university, but when I got to college, things began to change. I started to see everything I had missed along the way. My high school years had been filled with practices and games and I didn't get to do a lot of the other things my friends were doing. I got to college and wanted to be “normal”. I was feeling burned out, so I just walked away from soccer and my scholarship. But I felt bad because soccer was the only thing in my life in which I ever had a deep interest. After graduation I did a few jobs. I worked in the financial industry, and then for several tech companies. I was still distressed.
Looking back, I can see that these jobs weren't based on the values that were important to me ： honesty, stability （稳定）,and family. Then an old soccer coach of mine called and presented an offer — teaching soccer and other sports to little kids. I thought, Could this be it, my calling（职业）？" I've been teaching now for a couple of years and really love it. I'm working with kids, which I enjoy, and I'm playing soccer again only with shorter players.
1. What did the author think of his life before entering college?| A．It was sad. | B．It was tiring. | C．It was relaxing. | D．It was successful. |
| A．He was busy with his studies. |
| B．He didn't like to play soccer any more. |
| C．He wanted to be the same as his friends. |
| D．He knew he couldn't become a professional player. |
| A．Unhappy. | B．Worried. | C．Normal. | D．Pleased. |
| A．I made a wrong choice. | B．My values finally matched. |
| C．Live a comfortable life. | D．Be a professional soccer player. |
6 . The COVID-19 illness causes mild or moderate symptoms for most but severe symptoms are more likely in the elderly or people with existing health problems. Most infected patients have recovered from it so far.
The leader of the IOCS coordination commission for the Tokyo Olympics says there is no May deadline to cancel the games and he remains confident the event will go ahead despite sports coming to a stop globally amid the coronavirus epidemic. John Coates, who will have to go into government-mandated self-isolation when he returns to Australia this week from Olympic business in Europe, told the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper: “It’s all proceeding to start on the 24th of July.” Dick Pound, a former IOC vice president, said that the end of May seemed to be a possible deadline for the IOC to make a call on the Tokyo Olympics. But Coates told that the IOC didn't recognize the deadline and he thought Pound had backed away from it, too.
The latest measures, which include bans on gatherings of more than 500 people, came in the wake of the suspensionz（暂停） of sporting events in parts of the world affected by the virus outbreak. That has caused postponements and uncertainty for qualifying in some Olympic sports, although the IOC and Tokyo organizers have consistently said the games will go ahead as scheduled. As for athletes traveling to Japan from affected countries. Coates said some national Olympic committees were already preparing. “The Chinese are probably the best organized,” he told the SMH. “The Chinese are in various parts of Europe and the last I heard is they're bringing them all together in a university in Paris where they'll be fully contained, 600 of them, and they will go straight from there, straight into Japan. They won’t put anyone on a plane who has got coronavirus.
1. What is the main purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To discover the victims of the virus. |
| B．To show that the virus is not terrible. |
| C．To study the harm of the COVID-19 illness. |
| D．To support the IOC'S idea for the Tokyo Olympics below. |
| A．All sports games will start on July 24. |
| B．Australians should self-isolate at home. |
| C．The IOC will not cancel the Tokyo Olympics. |
| D．The Tokyo Olympics will be cancelled in May. |
| A．Uncertain. | B．Supportive. |
| C．Negative. | D．Dissatisfied. |
| A．IOC's confidence in the Tokyo Olympic Games. |
| B．The uncertain future of the Tokyo Olympic Games. |
| C．Peoples worries about the spreading of coronavirus. |
| D．Chinese athletes' preparation for the Tokyo Olympic Games. |
7 . For many Americans, regular exercise is a complicated commitment—one made at the beginning of January that fades out within weeks or months. Busy work schedules, a lack of motivation and unease towards exercising in public all contribute to the discouraging statistics that only around a quarter of adults exercise enough per week.
This month, enterptiser Trent Ward and designer Yves Behar are uncovering their design for a mirror fitness system, Forme. Forme is reflective like a mirror, uses machine learning to heighten workouts, and offers attachments including ankle belts, rope handles and a heart rate monitor. When not in use, the two arms that form the resistance pulley (滑轮) system fold behind it and the display screen disappears, turning Forme into a simple full—length mirror.
Interest in home exercise has particularly increased recently around the world. Home workout apps have seen a significant uptick in downloads, and trendy brands like Peloton have rolled out free virtual workouts for everyone stuck indoors. One French athlete who was kept away from others chose to run an entire marathon on his 23-foot balcony.
But beyond the new restrictions affecting daily workout routines, Ward and Behar are tapping into the same concerns that have made every home workout appealing：the ability to save time and sweat in the privacy of one’s home. In an age of personal metrics (衡量标准)--where one can measure their heart rate and sleep cycles with smart watches and train for marathons with AI smart sneakers----Ward and Behar want to improve exercise through machine learning. Forme evaluates performance and adjusts weights accordingly. Easy access to one’s own performance data also makes it easier to track that progress and stay motivated.
Though it’s too soon to tell if mirror gyms will be the trend of the late 2010s to 2020s, Behar explained that having a screen in the home can become the basis for more than just fitness, such as shopping or telemedicine.
1. What does paragraph 2 mainly focus on?.| A．The ways to operate Forme. | B．The features of Forme. |
| C．The reasons to develop Forme. | D．The theory behind Forme. |
| A．By offering them online workouts for free. |
| B．By raising their interest in marathon. |
| C．By keeping them far away from others. |
| D．By entertaining them with all kinds of downloads. |
| A．The better results than outdoor activities. |
| B．The fresher air at home. |
| C．The privacy of home. |
| D．The convenient access to mass data. |
| A．Can Forme Have More Powerful Functions? |
| B．Does Regular Exercise Keep up with New Technology? |
| C．Is the New Trend of Smart Machines at Home available? |
| D．Is this AI—Powered "Mirror Gym" the Future of Home Exercise? |
8 . On a hot evening in September, the Highland High School team was pronouncing to win its first game of the season. "I was really excited," said Highlanders' linebacker Ryan Ferrini. "This was the game when it finally came together." With several seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Tompkins High School team up 29—28, all the Highlanders had to do was go one yard for a touchdown to seize a dramatic come-from-behind victory.
On the previous play, after the Highlanders had driven the ball deep into the Tompkins' territory (防守区), quarterback Will Gentry had connected with receiver Austin Brauweiler at the three-yard line. As Brauweiler turned upfield, a Tompkins' defender delivered a hit, knocking them both to the ground at the one-yard line.
“There was a huge force, as if a truck had hit me,” said Brauweiler, who suffered from the collision (撞击). But it was the Tompkins' player who got the worst of it. He lay still on the ground and a doctor had been called. That's when the Tompkins' coach walked across the field and told Highlanders coach Colschen that his players were too upset to finish the game and they would lose the game.
“In life, the well-being of others is what's important, not the scoreboard,” said Colschen. He gathered his Highlanders and told them it was time to support their grieving(悲伤的) competitors. They agreed.
After the injured player was airlifted to a hospital, the two teams took the field again. The Highland team's teammates took a knee and didn't start any action, only waiting to the game clock hit zero. Game over.
“What my players did was amazing,” said Colschen. "I was surprised and encouraged that they were thinking not about themselves but about others."
1. What can we learn from Paragraph l?| A．The match was coming to an end. |
| B．The match would end the football season. |
| C．The Highlanders is a difficult team to beat. |
| D．The Tompkins was confident of victory in the final. |
| A．A Highlanders' player. | B．A Tompkins' defender. |
| C．Austin Brauweiler. | D．Will Gentry. |
| A．Because they had already won it. |
| B．Because one of their players got injured. |
| C．Because they cared and respected their competitors. |
| D．Because they were given an unfair judgment. |
| A．More haste, less speed. | B．All men cannot be first. |
| C．Better to be safe than sorry. | D．Friendship first, competition second. |
9 . I was speaking to the faculty (全体教师) at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Canton, Massachusetts, a couple weeks ago. I arrived early and decided to take a walk.
There was a Little League field nearby. I spotted a sign on the fence .
The sign, posted by the Canton Little League, read:
PLEASE REMEMBER
·These are kids.
·This is a game.
·The coaches volunteer.
·You don’t play for the Red Sox (an American professional baseball team).
I had to laugh, especially at the joke about the Red Sox. But I think the sign is a good reminder to everyone connected with youth sports－kids, parents, coaches and the folks who run the leagues－what is important about the games.
First, kids who play are just kids. They are not mini professional athletes. So youth sports leagues and coaches should take it easy on them. Kids don’t need long schedules and lots of faraway games or high-pressure tournaments.
Adults should try to set up youth leagues so more kids play with and against kids from nearby schools and neighborhoods. They should make it easier for kids to play a sport for just a few months so that they can try other sports. Kids shouldn’t play one sport year-round.
And everyone should stop worrying about which team wins or loses. A friend of mine who coached a lot of youth teams once told me, “When you coach kids, it’s not how many you win or lose, but how many sign up for next season.” According to the Aspen Institute’s latest “State of Play” report, fewer kids are signing up. Research indicates a smaller percentage of kids ages 6 to 12 (37 percent) are playing team sports on a regular basis than in 2011 (42 percent).
The aim of youth sports should be to have fun, learn some skills and enjoy being part of a team. When we lose sight of those simple goals, the games suffer, and the kids stay away.
Maybe in 2021 every field or gym where kids play should have a sign like the one in Canton. All you would have to do is change the name of the team.
1. How might the author feel seeing the sign on the fence?| A．Relieved. | B．Worried. | C．Confident. | D．Disappointed. |
| A．Go easy on kids. | B．Choose youth leagues carefully. |
| C．Encourage kids to stick to one sport. | D．Make a year-round schedule for kids. |
| A．Kids today are less athletic. |
| B．Fewer youth leagues are being set up. |
| C．Youth group sports are losing popularity. |
| D．Kids are focusing more on succeeding than trying. |
| A．Give praise. | B．Express a wish. |
| C．Offer sympathy. | D．Show determination. |
10 . Physical education, or gym class, isnˈt required for all high school students. In some schools, it isnˈt offered for some different reasons. But should high school students have physical education? The answer is certainly "yes".
Today many people donˈt do sports. But as is known to all, doing sports is very important for an adult. Teaching teens the importance of a healthy lifestyle and making fitness plans now can help teens put exercise in the first place as an adult.
High school isnˈt that easy. Many students are under a lot of stress. Stress can be harmful to a studentˈs studies and life. Doing sports can help them deal with stress better, helping them live a happier life at school.
Inactivity increases teensˈ risk of developing many diseases. An active lifestyle offers a good way of protection from these health problems. As much as 75 per cent of health care spending goes towards treating medical conditions that can be hindered by lifestyle changes, according to the American College of Sports Medicine.
According to the Presidentˈs Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN), students who performed five hours of physical activity each week improved their academic (学业的) performance. Students from programmes with no physical activity, who used the extra time for classroom study, did not perform better on tests than those who gave up some study time in support of physical education.
1. According to Paragraph 2, what does physical education in high school mean?| A．Helping teens learn to make good plans. |
| B．Removing the stress faced by teens at school. |
| C．Making teens pay attention to exercise later. |
| D．Getting teens to encourage adults to exercise. |
| A．Measured. | B．Prevented. |
| C．Shown. | D．Caused. |
| A．means making students choose between sports and studies |
| B．helps students make good use of all their time |
| C．means students adjust to their studies better |
| D．helps students do better in their studies |
| A．How high school students can live a better life. |
| B．How schools can help students love doing sports. |
| C．Why some schools consider physical education important. |
| D．Why high school students should receive physical education. |
