1 . I love outings to the ballpark. My ears perk (竖起) up at the whack of a precisely hit ball, my nose enjoys the scent of hot dogs, and my heart jumps at the possibility of winning it all. But a few years ago I discovered the best way to watch a baseball game might be not to watch at all.
This discovery arose the year I got married. The first apartment my husband and I rented could charitably be called “charming”, although “diminutive” better describes it. But to young newlyweds, the 41-square-metre apartment felt sublime. The best thing about the apartment, in my opinion, was its location a quarter-mile from baseball’s oldest stadium, Boston’s Fenway Park.
The only problem? My husband was not a Red Sox fan. I hadn’t anticipated this stumbling block. He was an avid sports fan, and he’d only just moved to Boston. Surely a love of the hometown team would seep into his heart as naturally as fish take to water.
My hopes faded as the season began. A Seattle Mariners hat remained firmly planted on his head. Matching Red Sox T-shirts earned a veto.
As newlywed disagreements go, this one wasn’t horrible. Plenty of couples flourish with dueling team loyalties. But a worry nagged: If he couldn’t root for the Red Sox, would he ever truly make Boston home?
As a student, when the magic in the air that season permeated (传播) the girls’ boarding school I attended outside Boston, we begged our house directors to let us stay up past curfew to watch the games on TV, and when they at first refused, we listened on radios in our rooms and gleefully burst into the halls to cheer.
So when my husband said he’d never be a Red Sox fan, my heart clenched. But one delightful spring day our teeny apartment came to my rescue. As we sat at our dining room table, we heard a roar swell to a crescendo. This was the first indication that we could hear the stadium crowds from our home.
1. What do we learn about the author from Paragraph 1?| A．She has a good appetite. |
| B．She used to be a very energetic player. |
| C．She is very alert to smell. |
| D．She is a baseball fan. |
| A．Very smart. |
| B．Very small. |
| C．Extremely broken. |
| D．Extremely old. |
| A．She tolerated them. |
| B．She ignored them. |
| C．She argued with her husband frequently. |
| D．She attended school for baseball games. |
| A．Watching games with her husband at home. |
| B．Listening to the games from the neighboring stadium. |
| C．Communicating with her husband while dining. |
| D．Listening to the games on radios at home. |
2 . Naismith was born on November 6, 1861, in Ontario, Canada. After earning a bachelor's (学士) degree in physical education at McGill University, he moved to the US to pursue a career. He took up a job at the YMCA International Training College in Springfield, Massachusetts. It was there that he made a plan for an entertaining game that could be played indoors, especially during the cruelly cold winters.
When creating the rules of basketball, Naismith took inspiration from several of the then-popular sports such as rugby (橄榄球), soccer, baseball, and football. The idea of passing the ball was drawn from American rugby, and the shape of the ball was influenced by soccer balls. And in 1891, the well-loved sport of basketball came to life, and Naismith named it "Basket Ball".
In December 1891, the first-ever basketball game was played. The game followed a set of thirteen instructions written by Naismith himself, and players played for two fifteen-minute rounds with a five-minute break in between.
Interestingly, the hoop was a simple fruit basket nailed to the wall, and it was several years later, that an opening was cut at the bottom of the basket! Initially, the game involved tackling until Naismith realized that the players were knocking each other and getting violent. So, he introduced the idea of dribbling (运球) and passing. However, familiar basketball positions, such as forwards, centers, and guards were present since the first game.
Throughout the years, the original list of thirteen rules written by Naismith was printed all across the country. High schools and colleges introduced basketball into their athletics program, and by 1905, basketball was officially recognized as a winter sport. Basketball was adopted in other countries. In 1936, basketball was added to the Olympics Games in Berlin, Germany. According to the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), there are 44 million people around the world who play basketball, making this sport the second most popular in the world!
1. What was the aim of Naismith of inventing the basketball?| A．To create a new career for graduates. | B．To win his bachelor's degree in PE. |
| C．To entertain himself at home. | D．To play indoors in rough weather. |
| A．Naismith made an opening at the basket's bottom. | B．Players could rest after playing for half an hour. |
| C．Naismith worked as the judge himself at the game. | D．Players obeyed the rules made by Naismith. |
| A．The possibility of violence in games. | B．The need to make the game attractive. |
| C．The desire to involve more players. | D．The requirement for players to play freely. |
| A．Its Olympic history. | B．Its original rules. |
| C．Its widespread popularity. | D．Its official recognition. |
3 . Table tennis may not seem a reasonable option for someone with no arms — but Ibrahim Hamadtou doesn't believe in limits. The 48-year-old Egyptian Paralympian breaks the barrier by holding the paddle (球拍) in his mouth and using his right foot to serve the ball.
Hamadtou, who lost his arms in a train accident at the age of ten, was drawn to table tennis after being challenged by a friend. "I was once watching a match between two of my friends," Hamadtou explains. "They disagreed on a point, When I counted the point in favor of one of them, the other player told me, 'Mind your own business as you will never be able to play.' It was that statement that fired me up to decide to play table tennis."
It took Hamadtou three years to master the sport. He says the biggest challenge was figuring out the best way to control his body. "I was trying first to use the bat under the arm, and I also tried using other things, which weren't working so well. Finally, I tried using my mouth. It took me nearly a year of practice to get used to holding the paddle with my mouth and making the serve. With practice and playing regularly, this skill was improved."
The Egyptian's incredible talent came to light in 2014 when he was awarded the best Arab Athlete of the year. He won a silver medal at the 2016 African Championships, qualified for his first Paralympics in 2016 at 43, and then again for the 2020 Tokyo Games at 48.
The inspiring athlete says, "The disability is not in arms or legs but to give up in whatever you would like to do."
1. What made Hamadtou take up table tennis?| A．His passion for table-tennis. | B．His ambition to prove himself. |
| C．His willingness to inspire others. | D．His suffering in a train accident. |
| A．Serving the ball with his mouth. | B．Holding the paddle under his arm. |
| C．Practicing strengthening his muscles. | D．Playing the game with the right body parts. |
| A．He was recognized as a gifted player at 41. |
| B．He was awarded the best athlete in Africa. |
| C．He won a medal in the 2020 Tokyo Games. |
| D．He realized his dream of winning a gold medal. |
| A．Well begun is half done. | B．Love breaks down barriers. |
| C．Success gives people delight. | D．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. |
4 . Kite surfing is a sport that takes place on the surface of the water, on top of boards that are similar in design to wakeboards (尾波滑水板), with the surfer pulled by a kite. The popularity of kite surfing has grown, although it is rather difficult to master. Kite surfing uses the same equipment as kite boarding, but is generally given more to riding on top of waves, rather than on smaller lakes or other calm bodies of water.
Early experiments in kite transportation took place through the 19th century, and at the dawn of the 20th century Samuel Cody crossed the English Channel using kites and a small boat. Kite surfing itself, however, wasn’t really born until the late 1970s. Beginning in that decade, more people became involved in using kites for personal transport and sport. Kite technology itself advanced enormously during the 1970s, with kites becoming much more controllable.
The early kite surfing was rather accidental, but innovators continued to develop the technology to make it easier to control and safer. By the late 1990s, kite surfing was becoming popular off the coast of Maui, France and throughout the world. In 1997, a special kite system was built specifically for kite surfing, which helped kite surfing into the mainstream.
Because of the high speeds and the dangers, it is generally recommended that would-be kite surfers take at least a few basic classes to learn the fundamentals. The main attraction of kite surfing is the potential for amazing tricks. The kite allows the surfer to experience enormous jumps, flying through the air for large distances before hitting the water in a controlled fashion. Like skateboarding, kite surfing makes use of a number of board grabs, with complex tricks possible due to the long period of time the surfer can remain in the air.
1. What does the author mainly intend to tell us in Paragraph 1?| A．What is kite surfing. | B．Where to go kite surfing. |
| C．How to enjoy kite surfing. | D．Why people like kite surfing. |
| A．sport | B．experiment |
| C．entertainment | D．transportation |
| A．Kite surfing often leads to accidents. |
| B．Maui is home to kite surfing. |
| C．Kite control is the key to kite surfing. |
| D．Kite surfing came into being in the 1990s. |
| A．Its potential for tricks. | B．Its long time in the air. |
| C．Its speed across the water. | D．Its big distance over the water. |
5 . Every racehorse has different abilities．Like humans，some are short- distance runners，while others are marathoners． Figuring out which is which and how to pace them can be the difference between failure in the finish and taking the award home．Jockeys （赛马骑师） and trainers have traditionally relied on centuries of experience and data from previous races to plan their races．
Amandine Aftalion，a mathematician in Paris，thought she could add to that．Since 2013，she has been analyzing the performances of world champion runners like Usain Bolt．She has found that short-distance runners tend to win when they start strong and gradually slow down toward the finish line．But in medium-distance races，runners perform better when they start strong，settle down，and finish with a burst of speed．
Her model shows how those winning strategies maximize the energy output of muscles reliant on two different pathways：powerful aerobic（有氧的）ones that require oxygen，which can be in limited supply during a race，and anaerobic ones，which don't need oxygen but build up waste products that lead to tiredness．
Aftalion wondered which strategy would be best for horses．So she and Quentin Mercier，another mathematician， took advantage of a new GPS tracking tool inserted in French racing saddles（马鞍）．
The two studied patterns in many races at the Chantilly racetracks north of Paris and developed a model that accounted for winning strategies for three different races：a short one(1，300 meters)， a medium one (1,900 meters)， and a slightly longer one (2,100 meters)，all with different starting points on the same track．The model takes into account not just different race distances，but also the size or friction from the track surface．
The results might surprise jockeys who hold horses back early for bursts of energy in the last finish．Instead，a strong start leads to a better finish，the team found．“That doesn't mean those jockeys are wrong，though．If the start is too strong，it can be devastating as well，leaving the horse tired by the end，” Aftalion says．
1. What should a runner do to get an award according to the text?| A．Make a good start． | B．Plan for the race early． |
| C．Run slowly on the starting line． | D．Try running quickly all the time． |
| A．The experience and data from previous horse races． |
| B．The benefit of knowing horses' different abilities． |
| C．The success in studying runners' winning strategies． |
| D．The performance of horses on different race distances． |
| A．Boring． | B．Damaging． | C．Astonishing． | D．Puzling． |
| A．Runners have the same energy output of muscles． |
| B．Aftalion's findings may help horses to win the race． |
| C．What Jockeys and trainers do makes no sense to horses． |
| D．World champion runners made a contribution to the study． |
6 . Lloyd Black decided to join the Anytime Fitness gym in Semmes, Alabama last year after he found himself struggling to accomplish simple household tasks. The 91-year-old man hoped that joining a gym might help him build strength and reduce his aches and pains. Over the past year, Black has been faithfully coming to the gym three times a week. His overalls (工装裤) really catch plenty of attention. He says that he prefers to wear overalls during his workouts because they are comfortable, and he has “trouble keeping his trousers up” other-wise.
When Black first joined Anytime Fitness, gym manager Ashley Seaman said he could barely last 10 minutes on the treadmill (跑步机) without becoming winded. Now, however, the senior can effortlessly do power walking for thirty minutes before moving on to his workout routine. As a means of praising Black for his advance, Seaman recently named Black “Mem-ber of the Month”.
He also takes time to help other seniors new to the gym learn how to use the weightlifting machines. “He's just a friendly soul. He will go to the other elderly members and show them how to use the machines,” Seaman shared in a post on the gym's Facebook page. “Someone like him always encourages others to keep it up and include fitness in their life,” the post reads. “Seeing him work out three times a week in his overalls brightens our day!”
As a result of his work at the gym, Black finds it easier to mow (割) the seven acres of grass at his house and tool around in his woodworking shop. He experiences less daily dis-comfort and moves more easily. He always says, “Age is just a number and it doesn't mean you can't get into the gym.”
1. What makes Black draw the attention of the gym members?| A．His too slow pace. | B．His unique clothes. |
| C．His difference in age. | D．His clinical symptoms. |
| A．His physical quality. |
| B．His operational skills. |
| C．His willingness to help others. |
| D．His great progress in workouts. |
| A．He's inspiring. | B．He's ambitious. |
| C．He's respectful. | D．He’s demanding. |
| A．It's never too late to take exercise. |
| B．The stronger the body, the more intelligent the brain. |
| C．Walk a hundred steps after dinner and live to ninety -nine. |
| D．Practise long-distance running daily, getting older and younger. |
7 . Welcome to the International Science Drama Competition 2022
This competition is an annual event aimed to promote science through drama. It involves teams from Singapore and overseas, and will be a great opportunity for you to showcase your talents on an international level.
What is the theme for the International Science Drama Competition 2022?
The theme for 2022 is “Sustainable Agriculture for a Better Future”.
Your performance should combine scientific content and drama. Examples of some possible topics include but are not limited to the following:
Farming using renewable energy sources
Hydroponics(水栽培)and Aquaponics(养种共生)
Food security
Protecting the environment as we meet society's food and textile needs
How do I participate in the International Science Drama Competition 2022?
Junior Category
All participants must be age 12 or below, excluding teachers or adults who can help as backstage crew.
Open Category
Teams will compete in this category when at least one member is above age 12.
Short Films Category
There is no age limit for participants. You may participate with your friends, families or community groups. You may represent your school or an organization or just form a team and compete on your own.
Mark your calendars!
| Date | Programme |
| March 8,2022 | Submission of Entry Forms |
| May 5,2022 | Video Submission Deadline |
| May 19,2022 | Announcement of Shortlisted Finalists' Videos |
| June 7,2022 | Video Submission Deadline for Finalists |
| June 14~23,2022 | LIVE Online Polling of Finalists' Videos |
| June 28,2022 | Results Announcement |
| July ~ September,2022 (Date to be confirmed) | GRAND FINALS! (Online) |
1. What do we know about the competition?
| A．Its theme is limited to four topics. |
| B．It's held in many different countries. |
| C．It's intended to promote science through drama. |
| D．Its participants will go from one category to another. |
| A．You must have an adult coach. |
| B．You must represent your school. |
| C．At least one member is above age 12. |
| D．All participants must be age 12 or below. |
| A．By March 8, 2022. | B．By June 7, 2022. |
| C．By June 28, 2022. | D．By September 14, 2022. |
8 . Accompanied by her father, using a combination of aid and free climbing and taking advantage of some special equipment and ropes for protection, 10-year-old Selah made it to the top of El Capitan on June 12 after five days of big wall climbing.
Climbing the challenging and adventurous Nose route of El Capitan was a labor of love for Selah in more than one way. Her parents , Mike and Joy Schneiter, fell in love on this 3,000- plus-foot huge rock and she has always wanted to feel the way that her parents felt when they were up there together. Selah showed great interest in rock climbing at an early age. She wore her first rock-climbing equipment shortly after she learned to walk. She first dreamed of climbing El Capitan when she was 6 or 7.
El Capitan is a famous mountain-sized rock in Yosemite National Park. Getting to its top is no easy task. It's taller, as reported, than the tallest building in the world-Dubai’s Buri Khalifa. El Capitan and its difficult Nose route, which runs more than 3,000 feet high up the center of the rock's face, is considered one of the world's hardest big wall climbs and has attracted the best climbers over time. But never before had a youngster accomplished it.
Selah's achievement caught national attention. Outside Magazine called her the youngest documented person to climb the Nose. Ken Yager, president of the Yosemite Climbing Association, said he also couldn't think of anyone younger who has done it.
Selah is humble about her El Capitan accomplishment. "I'm not necessarily a special kid or anything like that, she said. "There were a few times when I would be so worn that it would kind of discourage me from holding on. But overall, it was just great to keep plugging away.”
Selah shared this advice for other young climbers dreaming of big walls, "It doesn't take necessarily a super special person to do something like that. You just have to put your mind to it.”
1. What do we learn about Selah climbing El Capitan?| A．She began her climbing on June 5. |
| B．She got inspired by her family history. |
| C．She managed without any external help. |
| D．She was the first female to reach the top. |
| A．To state El Capitan's height. |
| B．To prove El Capitan's popularity. |
| C．To introduce El Capitan's location. |
| D．To stress the challenge of climbing El Capitan. |
| A．Determined. | B．Generous. |
| C．Warm-hearted. | D．Fortunate. |
| A．Dream big and aim high. |
| B．Be committed to your ambition. |
| C．Chance favors the prepared mind. |
| D．Nothing is impossible for a genius. |
9 . It's not often to see a woman who’s seven months pregnant running a marathon. But Beatie Deutsch is anything but typical.
The 30-year-old mother of five is ranked as one of the top women marathon runners in the world and, as of today, has qualified for the 32nd Summer Olympics. What impresses people more deeply is that, unlike many Olympic hopefuls who have been training their whole lives, Deutsch only took up running four years ago.
Why did she train for a marathon? "I was really out of shape after having five kids," she said. "So I set the goal for myself of running a marathon and that helped me. I needed something to be motivated to get out there and train every day. I didn't ever expect it to take me to this."
The Israeli press has been tracking her with pride, calling her "Speedy Beatie". Hoping to add more purpose to her newfound fame, Deutsch uses her running as a way to raise money for a charity Beit Daniella. This nonprofit organization provides a recovery center for youths who are struggling with mental health issues.
That mission（使命）is helping fuel her Olympic dreams. At the Tiberias Marathon last month, Deutsch was the fastest woman in the race. This past September, she finished the Cape Town Marathon in two hours and thirty-six minutes. That's a few minutes shy of her personal best of two hours and twenty-nine minutes, a time that qualifies her for the Olympics. She will try to shave even more time off when she competes in the Rotterdam Marathon this April.
It's remarkable for someone who started her athletic career in her late 20s. "I always tell people to have big dreams, and set huge goals. Don't get caught up in the place where we are right now and have tunnel vision and are limited in what we see of ourselves," said Deutsch, who now travels the world as a motivational speaker.
1. What is the main reason for Deutsch's being impressive?| A．Her typical birth place. | B．Her five lovely children. |
| C．Her identity as a marathon runner | D．Her short time involved in running |
| A．Creative. | B．Caring. |
| C．Modest. | D．Adaptable. |
| A．Deutsch’s dream | B．Deutsch’s mission |
| C．Deutsch's achievement. | D．Deutsch's shy personality. |
| A．Life lies in movement. | B．Dream big and aim high |
| C．Interest is the best teacher. | D．Wealth is nothing without health. |
10 . The Tokyo Olympics have been postponed until 2021. That delay offers a chance for reflection. The International Olympic Committee wants to make the games more popular with young people. To that end, it is introducing new events, such as skateboarding, surfing and climbing. Why not go further and let national teams compete at video games? Electronic sports such as "Fortnite", are vastly more popular than strange Olympic sports like curling（冰壶）. In fact, they are more appealing than most mainstream sports. Only 28% of British boys aged 16-19 watch any traditional live sports; 57% play video games.
Some may complain that e-sports are not proper sports. Many parents, observing their teenagers sitting on the sofa all day shouting "Quick, pass me the shotgun!" at a screen, would agree. Yet video games are highly competitive, with professional teams that play to packed stadiums. There are perhaps only 200 tennis stars in the world who can make a living from playing in major competitions. By contrast, "League of Legends", a fantasy game played by teams of five, supports over 1,000 on good wages. Its World Championship final last year was watched by 44 million people.
Those against e-sports offer moral objections, too. They are addictive. Prince Harry has called for "Fortnite" to be banned for this reason. They are violent. At a time of global disharmony, it is bad idea to make virtual（虚拟的）killing an Olympic sport. The Olympics aim to promote peace.
Neither of these arguments is convincing. The idea that an activity, rather than material, can be addictive is controversial among doctors, as is the existence of a causal（因果的）link between gaming and violence. And the belief that warlike sports have no place in the Olympics is hard to agree with history. Wrestling was introduced in 708 BC. It is still there.
1. Why is the International Olympic Committee bringing in new events?| A．To replace mainstream sports. | B．To attract more young people. |
| C．To make up for the delay. | D．To show innovations. |
| A．E-sports are proper games. | B．Tennis has declined greatly. |
| C．Tennis players' salary is lower. | D．E-sport players have achieved a lot. |
| A．Positive. | B．Skeptical. |
| C．Unconcerned. | D．Discouraged. |
| A．To introduce how e-sports develop. |
| B．To show what benefits e-sports can bring. |
| C．To explain why young people like playing e-sports. |
| D．To argue e-sports can be included in the Olympics. |
