Once celebrated as “the sport of kings”, polo (马球), a unique sport with ancient roots,     1     (play) on horseback with a ball. Its exact origins remain uncertain,     2     one early version of this sport emerged in ancient Persia (modern Iran) around the 6th century BC.

Different cultures developed similar games and, over time, polo evolved     3     the sport we know today. It also has a deep historical connection with ancient China, as     4     (show) through the discovery of numerous artifacts, including murals (壁画), stone carvings, mirrors and paintings.

During the 1930s, the modern version of the sport enjoyed a period of     5     (popular) , with polo grounds established in cities with foreign populations like Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Qingdao.

Polo’s noble and warrior-like characteristics have won it many     6     (passion) players, and among them is Jackie Wang. She and her family     7     (spend) the past three years researching and writing Polo in China, a book that documents the lengthy history of the sport in China.

Published by the Cultural Relics Press, the book gives a detailed introduction to polo in China, with photos of artifacts and events, and an engaging storyline     8     brings the sport to life.

As     9     combination of historical reference and artistic representation, the book serves both as an academic work and a general interest publication,     10     (contribute) to the study of polo in China while sharing the sport’s charm through its design and presentation.

On September 23, the opening ceremony of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, east China’s   Zhejiang province,     1     (offer) the spectators (观众) from the world a Chinese-style romance integrating the ancient civilization and hi-tech elements.

The Hangzhou Asian Games opening ceremony was a feast     2    the senses, with stunning visuals, innovative performances,     3     a moving tribute (致敬) to the history and culture of Asia. It not only celebrated the gathering of athletes from the continent but also demonstrated China’s    4    (commit) to embracing sustainability with advanced technology.

“It is     5    unique opening ceremony, featuring a breathtaking light show as its centerpiece,” said The Times of India, adding that this     6     (future) show was to integrate artificial intelligence and eco-friendly technology,     7     (set) the stage for an unforgettable Asian Games experience.

With the aim of green Asian Games, traditional fireworks     8     (replace) with digital forms that used the latest imaging technology. This    9     (absent) of “real fireworks” was filled with electronic flash and 3D animations. The atmosphere at the opening ceremony reached the highlight when the digital torchbearer ignited the main cauldron (主火炬台),       10     marked a historic moment in the Asian Games’ history.

Chinese products shine among Hangzhou Asian Games participants

Chinese products won the admiration of many foreign participants at the 19h Asian Games, which     1     (conclude) in Hangzhou, the capital of east China’s Zhejiang Province, on Oct. 8th.

Oksana Chusovitina,     2     48-year-old Uzbek gymnast, expressed her admiration for the training     3     (facility) and comfortable accommodations. She even inquired about where     4     (purchase) the same mattress she used in the Asian Games Village. To her delight, the mattress manufacturer gifted her one after hearing about her interest. In     5     (add) to the athletes, former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal, who came to Hangzhou to watch the Games, bought a pair of stylish sunglasses at the market. Some international athletes also visited the Wulin Night Market,     6     they bought items like handmade silver jewelry, Chinese-style hairpins     7     (feature) plum blossom patterns. Among the items was a distinctive local mask recognized     8     a traditional cultural item.

Moreover, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) continues to draw international visitors. An athlete from the UAE bought wormwood heating compress packs,     9     another packed an entire suitcase with Chinese patent medicines for his family. He explained that his mother is a TCM lover and that such medicines are     10     (fair) hard to come by overseas.

Recently, a poll(民意调查) finds that although almost three in four adults played sports when they     1     (be) younger, only one in four continue to play sports as adults.

But that decline in interest doesn’t stop parents from encouraging their children to make sports a part of their lives.     2     fact, almost nine in ten parents     3     middle school or high school aged children play sports say that their children benefit     4     great deal or quite a bit from playing sports.

And, while most adults no longer play sports     5     (they), the majority of parents say it is very likely or somewhat likely that their children will continue playing sports when they become adults. One in four parents also hope their children will become     6     (profession)athletes.

“Sports are an important part of a healthy community. They help children and adults maintain a fit     7     (weigh), teach acceptance and teamwork, and expand opportunity for children     8     (live) in poverty(贫困),” said a researcher. “This poll     9     (indicate) that we must continue to encourage children to play sports, but just as important, we must find ways     10     (keep)adults engaged in sports in order to maintain health and well-being.”

Simply speaking, a healthy lifestyle is about finding the right balance and making good choices. Some key activities    1    (encourage).

Exercise is the ultimate way    2    (burn) your fat while improving your health and well-being.    3    you choose to go to the gym, run around the block, or climb a tree, the most important thing is to do something. The best part is that even if you aren’t great     4    it, doing something will give you a sense of success and increase your    5    (confident). There’s really no excuse for not    6    (be) active. All you need is a pair of comfortable shoes and about 30 minutes a day.

Eating healthy is also crucial for boosting your metabolism (新陈代谢), building strong bones and teeth, and preventing heart disease and many cancers. It can be difficult to know what to eat, especially when you’re throwing    7    (you) a party. This is why it’s important to have    8    healthy diet that consists of a variety of fresh produce, wholegrains and low-fat dairy products. You should also limit your intake of sugary drinks,    9    (process) foods, fats, salt, and sugary snacks.

Make sure you have a regular time to relax and take care of yourself. You needn’t change your previous habits at once. Make small changes each day and your lifestyle will become    10    (healthy).

Cheer leading is an organized activity in which the participants cheer for their team    1    a form of encouragement. On high levels, cheer leading is itself a sport, with participants performing dances and complex tricks which are extremely physically    2     (demand). Cheerleaders can often be seen on the sidelines at professional sports games, and organized cheer leading also    3    (exist) in schools, from elementary school all the way through college. Many middle school cheer leading are usually designed for fun, so that cheerleaders become interested in pursuing the sport as they grow    4    (old). Some people look down upon cheer leading as a sport, because it may    5    (initial) appear to be very easy, but cheerleaders at the top level of    6    (compete) are actually very serious athletes, comparable to top-level athletes in other sports.

Many people associate cheer leading with the United States, since the sport is most widely practiced in this nation. The roots of cheer leading began in the 1880s, when crowds at university sports games started shouting out cheers    7    (support) their teams. In 1898, the first documented cheer leading event occurred. Initially, cheer teams were all male, women did not join the sport    8    1923.

The energy and enthusiasm cheerleaders bring into the game make the players feel supported and     9    (motivate) during the game, while at the same time keeping the audience entertained. Cheerleaders set     10    great example of motivation, school spirit, and positive energy both in the classroom and on the field.