1 . Winning the silver medal at the 2023 FIVB Volleyball Nations League in the United States, on Sunday, the Chinese women’s volleyball team enjoyed their best result in the tournament (联赛), with the key to the breakthrough being their unity and never-say-die spirit.
“I just feel that our team is more united than ever,” said Yuan Xinyue, Team China captain. “We support and help each other on the court. This is the most important reason behind our success. All of us should shoulder the responsibility of winning.”
She continued to say, “ We have firm determination, and we will keep moving forward. We cherish the road that we have walked. We will summarize events, and we will keep tackling the problems. We will also try hard and hold onto our dreams and the belief that the Chinese women’s volleyball team can be the best.”
Team China was one step away from gold, but the Turkish women’s team showed greater momentum (势头) in the final beating China 3-1. As the Chinese team only finished sixth at last year’s VNL, the second-place finish was a surprise to Chinese fans.
Sunday’s final attracted huge media attention and generated a series of trending topics on social media. While many joined in heated discussion about the final, many more expressed congratulations on the fast rise of the young women’s team.
“Although the Chinese women’s team wasn’t able to stand on the highest podium (领奖台) at the Volleyball Nations League, they still produced the best possible result by fighting together. Hand in hand, Team China players march forward together,” reported by China Sports Daily. “Team China was not among the favorites to reach the final of the VNL, but the team still managed to pocket a silver medal, which is huge progress compared to last year’s result. They proved all the doubters wrong, and they showed the world what a united team they are.”
1. How can we best describe Team China’s performance in the tournament?| A．Overconfident. | B．United. | C．Disappointing. | D．Careless. |
| A．Checking out. | B．Bringing about. | C．Giving up. | D．Dealing with. |
| A．People were concerned about Team China because it lost the game. |
| B．Team China played very hard in the tournament and won the first prize. |
| C．Team China has made significant advances though not pocketing the gold medal. |
| D．Team China didn’t try their best. |
| A．Team China shines in silver medal success |
| B．Team China not among favorites to reach final |
| C．Chinese women’s volleyball team plays against Turkish team |
| D．Team China wins the game |
2 . ISA Summer Camps of Figure Skating in Prague 2023!
Thanks to our considerable experience in organizing international figure skating camps for children, we have again prepared special programs for our summer training camps. The summer figure skating program has been developed with the requirements of international standards in mind, taking into account the age and physical abilities of young figure skaters.
Training week schedule
Monday to Saturday
22 hours of training: 11 hours on ice and 11 hours of training off ice.
On Saturday-shortened program, demonstration performances on ice, awarding all participants with memorable diplomas (奖状) and cups (costumes required).
* Group workouts on ice 2 hours a day.
* Group off-ice training 2 hours a day.
* The possibility of individual lessons on ice 2 hours a day (optional).
What you need to have with you at ISA Summer Camps
On ice: Tremo suit on the ice, a few gloves for a change.
For training off-ice: Air sneakers, sportswear for training off-ice.
Price
Package price for a week stay in ISA Summer Camps for a skater: € 550 (Price per day € 92)
Package price for a week stay in ISA Summer Camps for an accompanying (陪同的) person: € 350 (Price per day € 58)
Package price includes: 7 nights at the hotel, 3 meals a day.
Health insurance
Participants signing up for this event agree that the price does not include insurance and that the organizer is not responsible for any injuries. Each participant must have health insurance concluded with one of the insurance companies valid (有效的) in the Czech Republic and a certificate of good health provided by the parent. Participation in this event is at your own risk.
1. Which of the following is included in the schedule of the training week?| A．22 hours of training on ice. |
| B．Group off-ice training 3 hours a day. |
| C．Individual lessons off ice 1 hour a day. |
| D．Demonstration performances on Saturday. |
| A．€ 900. | B．€ 644. | C．€ 550. | D．€ 406. |
| A．Professional diplomas. |
| B．A recommendation letter. |
| C．Health insurance provided by the camp. |
| D．A certificate of good health provided by a parent. |
3 . Trainers and parents saw children play sports at a young age and then saw them become professional. Many correlated the training to success. Competitive sports are good for young children because they teach children life skills, provide health benefits, and offer special opportunities.
To begin with, sports teach children life skills. A formal athlete stated, “I played soccer in high school and college and found team sports weren’t just about winning, but also about developing a solid ethic(行为准则), and learning why that’s important.” In short, playing highly competitive sports teaches kids many life skills like teamwork. People will have to use teamwork for the rest of their life, and sports can help them improve that skill. Taking part in sports can help develop a positive attitude towards life, which will help in the long run.
Sports are also good for kids because they provide health benefits. It is healthier for a kid to play a sport competitively than to waste time playing video games all day. Furthermore, a research group of University of California said, “96 percent of the participants(参与者) said they enjoy their sports. They’re all loving life.” That is to say, kids playing highly competitive sports tend to enjoy life instead of doing something else like watching TV.
On the other hand, some people might argue that competitive sports are bad for young children because they are so time-consuming. However, the time spent is not “robbing” kids of their childhood, but offers unique opportunities. Athletes can get success to live their dream life by playing sports. Even though sports are time-consuming, they offer distinctive opportunities.
In conclusion, competitive sports are good for children because they can provide wholesome benefits, create new experiences, and build skills that will last a lifetime.
1. Why is the formal athlete mentioned in paragraph 2?| A．To show a reason | B．To give an example. |
| C．To list a background. | D．To draw out a new point. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Uncertain. | C．Uncaring. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．Common | B．Unreasonable | C．Unique. | D．Frequent. |
| A．The ways to play sports. |
| B．The reasons for playing sports. |
| C．The problems of kids’ playing sports. |
| D．The benefits of kids’ playing sports. |
4 . Short Story Competitions.
The V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize
The V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize held by the Royal Society of Literature (RSL) annually is currently open for entries. Entries from those over 18 years old who are residents in the UK are welcome.
Closes: 20 August
Word limit: 2,000 -- 4,000 words
Entry fee: Free
Prize: £1,000 and publication in prospect online
The Tasmanian Writers' Prize
Since 2009, Forty Source Publishing has awarded writers the Tasmanian Writers’ Prize for the most outstanding short story submitted into this competition. Entries from Australian and New Zealand residents are welcome.
Closes: 15 February
Word limit: 3,000 -- 4,000 words
Entry fee: $20
Prize: $500 and publication in Forty South
The Nature Writing Prize
Created by the Nature Conservancy Australia, the Nature Writing Prize is open for submissions. Writers, 18 years and older are invited to write an essay to explore their relationship and interaction with the Australian landscape.
Closes: 19 February
Word limit: 3,000 -- 5,000 words
Entry fee: $25
Prize: $7,500 dollars and publication in Griffith Review online
The Stringybark Open Short Story Award
Stringybark Publishing is asking writers to enter a short story into the Stringybark Open Short Story Award. The judges are looking for a story written for an audience of 16 years and older. Closes: 31 January
Word limit: 1,500 -- 1,800 words
Entry fee: $14 for 1 story, $26 for two stories, $36 for six stories (max)
Prize: Over $1,000 in cash and books
1. What do we know about the competition held by the RSL?| A．It is free for participants. | B．Its deadline is 19 February. |
| C．It is open for writers across the world. | D．Its entries are for readers of 18 years or older. |
| A．1,500 --1,800 words. | B．2,000 -- 4,000 words. |
| C．3,000 -- 4,000 words. | D．3,000 -- 5,000words |
| A．The Nature Writing Prize. | B．The Tasmanian Writers’ Prize. |
| C．The V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize. | D．The Stringybark Open Short Story Award. |
5 . After bikes and umbrellas are made sharable across China, some companies started eyeing the fitness market, so shared gym rooms have hit the streets in Beijing.
Unlike common gyms that provide large, open spaces for many members to share at the same time, the newly built shared gym rooms are small, stand-alone rooms for a person to use, often set up near living communities.
Every four-square-meter room is equipped with a treadmill (跑步机), an air cleaner, a mirror, a television and an air conditioner, and users can let down the curtains for privacy. When exercising, users can listen to music, watch movies and check emails by connecting to the Internet by the screen fixed on the treadmill. There’s no shower or washbasin.
Similar to using a shared bike, users can locate a shared gym room by smartphone application, book a room in advance and then need to scan a QR code for use. A refundable deposit (保证金) of 99 yuan is required, and users are charged 1 yuan every 5 minutes.
The shared gym rooms are created by Misspao, a Beijing-based technology company founded in July. Within several months since it was founded, the company has already raised over 100 million yuan, Yicai Global reports. The idea of the shared fitness experience is not entirely nascent. Last December, the Shanghai-based technology company VRUN set up shared treadmills in office and apartment buildings.
The sharing economy is still becoming popular in China. According to Yicai Global, confident investors are pouring millions into sharing start-ups. In March, the State Information Center published a report which predicts that the total value of China’s sharing economy will see a yearly growth of 40% in the coming years, and it is expected to make a great contribution to the country’s GDP.
1. What makes the shared gym room different from the common one?| A．Holding one person at a time. | B．Standing in the living zone. |
| C．Offering open spaces. | D．Having some advanced equipment. |
| A．Let down curtains for privacy. | B．Pay 100 yuan first. |
| C．Use a smartphone. | D．Have a shower before exercise. |
| A．Simple. | B．Popular. | C．Satisfying. | D．New. |
| A．To advertise a technology company. | B．To introduce shared gym rooms. |
| C．To support the shared gym rooms. | D．To predict the future of shared gym rooms. |
6 . Singer Liu Genghong is enjoying great popularity recently after posting online fitness videos on TikTok. In the videos, he often works out to the fast-paced music of his friend JayChou. Now his TikTok account has rocketed to 55 million fans and 53 million likes, inspiring people’s interest in indoor exercise.
According to Pu Zhengning, a professor of Southeast University in Nanjing, the COVID-19 has limited access to gyms and fitness centers, so simple aerobic (有氧的) exercises that do not need equipment are perfect for people to perform at home. And that is exactly the demand that Liu has come up on his social media platforms.
Since the COVID-19 broke out, the increasing downloads of fitness apps indicates the growing popularity of online fitness. The number of fitness videos on the platform in 2021 increased by 134 percent, while followers of fitness trainers were up by 208 percent.
Wei Fang, a student at Shandong Normal University, is one of Liu’s fans. “My major requires me to sit for a long time,” she said. “So how could I refuse a star singer as a personal trainer? Besides, when watching the live stream, I feel like I’m taking exercise with friends, which encourages me to keep going,” added Wei, who claims to have lost 3.5 kilograms in just seven days and also have a more positive mood.
According to the 2022 Sports and Fitness Consumption Trend Report, the sales of yoga and dance products have achieved fast growth since March. Along with social media plat-forms, China’s sports governing body launched online games on April 28. Ding Dong, an official with the General Administration of Sport, said: “The aim of the games is to inspire the mass enthusiasm for fitness.”
Now it seems that “cloud fitness” offers a great choice to gym memberships. In the past, aerobic exercises on TV were popular, and now it’s even easier to follow along and learn from instructors on short-video platforms.
1. Why does Liu Genghong become popular online recently?| A．People love his online fitness videos. |
| B．He dances to the fast-paced music of Jay Chou. |
| C．The gyms and fitness centers are too expensive. |
| D．People are interested in taking exercise in the gym. |
| A．She dislikes a star singer as a personal trainer. |
| B．She often works out with Liu to lose weight. |
| C．She refuses to exercise together with friends. |
| D．She benefits physically and mentally from exercise. |
| A．The mass enthusiasm for fitness needs improving. |
| B．Online sports games have appeared on the market. |
| C．More and more people take part in aerobic exercises. |
| D．Yoga and dance on TikTok are developing together. |
| A．Come to Exercise with Trainer Liu |
| B．The Followers of Fitness Instructors |
| C．Downloads of Various Fitness Apps |
| D．Go to Post Cloud Fitness Short Videos |
7 . Olympic Games organizers in France presented the 2024 Olympic torch (火炬) that will light the Summer Games in the country a year from now. In the Olympic torch tradition, many people carry the torch in turn from Greece to the current location of the Games. After it has traveled thousands of kilometers. the torch will light the Olympic cauldron (火炬台) at the Opening Ceremony of the next Olympic Games.
French designer Mathieu Lehanneur created the torch. which is 70 centimeters long and made of lightweight steel. Lehanneur said its shape is inspired by the famous Seine River, which flows through Paris. He said the torch is equal from top to bottom and all around the middle, which stands for equality between athletes. The twisting shape of the torch represents peace.
The torch was made with lightweight steel. Its lower half copies the movement of the Seine, along which the opening ceremony will take place for over 500,000 viewers.
Lehanneur said he wants the torch to represent the kind of event that Paris 2024 hopes to be. “I wanted to move away from the torch appearing as an object of conquest (征服),” Lehanneur said. He also told reporters that designing the torch was much more techn1cal than he thought it would be. “The magic is not the torch itself. but the flame” Lehanneur said.
The torch will be lit up in Olympia, Grecce on April 16, 2024, followed by a nine day torch relay before sailing across the Mediterranean Sea from Athens to Marseille on May 8. It will then pass through several important places , which include Strasbourg , the Pantheon in Paris, the Mont Saint-Michel and multiple French territories.
Tony Estanguet, the Paris 2024 chief, said the torch is “very ,very beautiful”. He also said it is “...very pure, It’s perfectly balanced in the hand.”
1. Why is the torch equal from top to bottom?| A．It is easy for torch-bearers to carry. | B．It is the symbol of the Seine River. |
| C．It represents peace among nations. | D．It shows equality between players. |
| A．He wishes Paris 2024 to be the best ever. | B．The torch is more important than the flame. |
| C．Designing the torch is harder than he thinks. | D．He thinks highly of the torch’s appearance. |
| A．Twenty two days. | B．Fifteen days. | C．Nine days. | D．Eight days. |
| A．A travel brochure. | B．A sports magazine. | C．A science report. | D．A research paper. |
8 . Every year, FIFA (国际足联) selects a unique character for the World Cup which plays an important role in the event. This started in FIFA World Cup 1966 where Willie, a lion, became the official mascot (吉祥物) of the event. How about this year’s FIFA World Cup in Qatar?
Actually the Official Mascot for this year’s FIFA World Cup 2022TM is called La’eeb. La’eeb is an Arabic (阿拉伯) word meaning “super-skilled player” and is based on an Arabic headdress keffiyeh (方巾), which is a traditional piece of Qatari clothing. Mawlawi, an officer said: “We are delighted to have La’eeb as the Official Mascot for the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world. We encourage everyone to imagine what it looks like.” After seeing it, fans started wondering if La’eeb looks like a ghost, a handkerchief, or a “wonton wrapper?” (馄饨皮) “We are sure fans everywhere will love this fun and playful character.” added Mawlawi.
La’eeb will be everywhere-welcoming the world, inspiring young fans and cheering the action during the game, which will take place from 21 November to 18 December. In addition, fans will soon be able to download GIFs of La’eeb through some social media channels (渠道), including Facebook and Whats App.
1. What was La’eeb based on?
| A．A movie star. |
| B．A famous soccer player. |
| C．An Arabic keffiyeh. |
| D．A well-known cartoon character. |
| A．La’eeb is an English word. |
| B．Choosing a mascot only started in 2022. |
| C．Willie the tiger is this year’s mascot. |
| D．Qatar World Cup 2022 is first held in the Middle East and Arab world. |
| A．La’eeb is fun and playful. |
| B．Fans will soon like Arabic headdress. |
| C．He is not sure whether La’eeb can be loved by the fans. |
| D．He said that La’eeb is like a ghost and a handkerchief. |
| A．Buy the mascot La’eeb. |
| B．Get gifts from La’eeb. |
| C．Download pictures of La’eeb. |
| D．Chat with La’eeb. |
9 . Show Your Money Smarts Contest 2023
Show Your Money Smarts Contest aims to give the youth a jump start by equipping them with the power of knowledge to make sound financial choices.
Why Participate:
Learn how to use credit wisely in this year’s fifth annual contest. Compete with other youths across the state of Michigan in this 30-question online challenge during the month of May and win prizes. Start developing a good credit score and history at a young age and learn how to make your credit work for you!
Teachers, librarians and other youth development professionals also can win a $25 gift card if a non-related youth you referred to the contest wins. One gift card per referring adult.
Who Should Participate:
Any youth 13-19 across the state of Michigan.
When:
Register by May 13, 2023, by 11:59 pm. ET. Complete the contest by May 31, 2023, 11:59 pm. ET.
How to Participate:
● You must sign up to be qualified for prizes. If a non-related teacher, librarian or other youth development professional referred you to this contest, you will want to include their names and emails for their chances to win a prize too!
● Learn about credit by attending an in-person class, a Zoom class, reading articles, or completing the Nearpod class here and/or exploring other credit education resources found on the Michigan 4-H website.
● On May 14, you will receive an e-mail with the game code (代码) for Quizizz. The game will be available for two weeks.
● Go to quizizz. com/join on a phone or tablet and enter the code using the same name when you register.
● High scoring youth will be entered for a prize drawing to win a $25 gift card. A maximum of 10 youth winners will be selected. Winners will be notified by June 8, 2023.
1. What knowledge is involved in the contest?| A．Game knowledge. | B．Library knowledge. | C．Computer knowledge. | D．Financial knowledge. |
| A．Being a member. | B．Having a referrer. | C．Registering in advance. | D．Taking training courses. |
| A．It is an online contest. | B．It charges low entry fees. |
| C．It is held every five months. | D．Any teenager can take part. |
10 . The Most Popular Sport In The World
The most popular sport in the world is a hotly debated topic. There are many different opinions on what the most popular sport might be and why it is so popular.
Soccer is likely to be the most popular sports in the world, with over 3.5 billion fans around the globe. Known as football in many parts of the world,
Over time, it evolved into its current form and became popular all over Europe before spreading to other parts of the world.
| A．Soccer originated over 3000 years ago when it was first played by the Aztecs. |
| B．This leads to exciting and tense games that keep fans on the edge of their seats. |
| C．Today, millions of people enjoy watching soccer games and playing them on a regular basis. |
| D．However, which is the most favored? |
| E．The origins of it date back to the 18th century in England. |
| F．it is a strategic game, with players making quick decisions to succeed |
| G．this exciting sport has gained a huge following due to its thrilling gameplay and fast-paced action. |
