All great athletes are not afraid to compete     1     others. They keep track     2     their improvements in various     3     (event). Additionally, even if they are     4     stress, they can manage to deal with stress well. And they neither try to be even     5     (slim) nor go     6     unhealthy diets. Finally, they have the mental strength     7     (focus) on what is most important. They all sweat     8     (they) way to success.

For many students，it is a great honour     1     (participate) in all kinds of     2     (compete). Some regard competitions     3    a good chance to improve themselves while others complain that on such     4     (occasion), they have no freedom and there     5     (exist) stress. In my opinion, when an opportunity comes, you should embrace it and make every effort     6     (make) it. If you fail, it is all right, because you lose nothing. Instead, during the process, you harvest experience and courage.

Last Sunday witnessed a 5 km cross­country running race organized by our school, which both students and teachers of our school were persuaded     1     (get) actively     2     (involve) in it.

Even if all athletes     3     (sweat) a lot and their legs     4     (ache), no athlete gave up halfway.     5     (ultimate), with great determination, all the athletes did everything in their power     6     (reach) the finish line.     7     (compare) with other events, the event was highly thought of. Not only did it provide a chance for us to keep fit, but it also kept all the competitors     8     (inspire).

For many years, the Future City Competition has brought together young people to create visionary(幻想的) designs,     1     (require) skill and imagination. This year’s theme, “The Age-Friendly City,” invited students to design small cities,     2     would enable older people to live     3     (independent).

The competition, which     4     (encourage) students to hone (磨炼) their engineering skills while working to create a better world, is open to kids in    5     (grade) six through eight. After more than 44, 000 students participated in regional competitions, finalists    6     (choose) for the top competition.

The grand prize went to “Halona,” a city of the future    7     (create) by students from Edlin School in Reston, Virginia. The team researched and developed their model city     8     the help of teacher Vasantha Ayala and volunteer mentor ( 导师) Nandhini Kuntipuram. For their grand prize,     9     Edlin students won $7, 500 for their school’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) program.

Tom Chmielenski, a computer software engineer, served as a judge. “It’s very nice as an engineer to see young people have these futuristic ideas,” he said. “We can’t wait     10     (see) what the future holds.”

Many young people wants     1     (become) great athletes. They exercise and lift weights in the gym. But the fact is that they don’t become stronger,     2     makes them unhappy.

Therefore, some of them are considering     3     (take) pills, which they think will help them become     4     (strong) than before. However, the truth is that these pills usually have some unintended side     5     (effect). Some of them may even affect     6     (they) liver or heart.     7     fact, some great athletes such as Griffith Joyner, died very young because they     8     (take) some pills.

For the above reasons, I suggest that young people be     9     (care) not to take pills.     10     best way to become stronger is going to a gym to work out.

I was glad to receive your letter and am happy to tell you     1     I think about winter swimming. I know that you are a huge sports fan and like swimming very much. I’m pretty sure you can swim very well. Scientific studies have also provided evidence for health benefits. Winter swimming contributes to better general well-being both physically and     2     (mental). Winter swimmers tend to have a less chance of infections and appear to be     3     (energetic). However, winter swimming     4     be quite dangerous to people who are not used to swimming in cold water.

You     5     be worried at all. As your best friend, I have some sincere advice for you. Firstly, I suggest you     6     join a swimming club where you can learn from an experienced coach and find other enthusiastic swimming partners. Besides, practise more through summer and winter. When winter comes, you can swim for just a few minutes step by step at noon every day. Don’t forget to do some warming-up exercise as a     7     (prepare) before you swim.     8     , you may hurt yourself. Last but not least,     9     (protect) yourself from any possible dangers, you mustn’t eat or drink too much before swimming. It is also important to find a safe place in advance     10     you can get in and out of the water easily.

Yours,

Ben