When I was four, my seven-year-old brother received a baseball mitt (手套) for his birthday. Every night, as we went to sleep, I’d listen to him throwing a ball into the mitt over and over to soften the leather. I wanted a mitt so much that I almost cried. But, back then, girls didn’t play sports.
Twenty-six years had passed. Now a thirty-year-old mother of three, I happened to see a notice in my local paper: “Women’s Slow-Pitch Softball League opens soon. Anyone who is interested can sign up at the recreation center.” I cut it out and set it on the kitchen counter. Could I? Was it even possible to think about playing baseball, a game I’d never actually played but had dreamed of playing my entire life? But I’d certainly watched enough games to know how it was played.
I looked at that notice on my counter every day. I thought of a thousand reasons I couldn’t play. I was too old. I had three little ones to watch. I could never be good enough. But the idea of playing baseball stuck in my head and wouldn’t go away. Finally, I gathered up my courage and signed up at the recreation center.
Since I wasn’t on a team, they told me I’d be assigned to one. And I was made to practice running bases. I never got a chance to bat or play on the field. I just ran the bases all night. Every week, I showed up for practice. But every game, I spent the night sitting on the bench. My husband asked why I didn’t just forget about it, and I told him that if I gave up, I’d never get a chance.
During the last game of the season, I finally had a chance to go to center field. I had to borrow a mitt and I used it to catch an impossibly high ball, winning the game for us. The coach looked surprised. It never occurred to him that I might be able to play.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
After the game, a young man approached me and asked if I’d like to play for his team.
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But it turned out that the coach was right: I could pitch (投).
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Dealing with One Missed Workout
It’s a common dilemma (图局)for anyone on a training plan: You miss one workout and become awashed with guilt. To make up for it, you add those extra miles to your next workout. But according to the professionals, this isn’t the right way to go about it. “A single workout is not going to make or break a training plan. The key to training is consistency over time,” says John Raglin, PhD, professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Indiana University Bloomington.When you miss a workout, the temptation is to think, “Oh, I’ve got to do more tomorrow”. But when you try to catch up on your workouts, you run a couple of risks: “Certainly an injury, but also becoming over-tired, which could ruin your training after that, ” says Raglin. This is a phenomenon called ‘non-functional overreaching’, “he says. Eventually, this could lead to overtraining syndrome (综合症), which is characterized by a decrease in performance later due to a long-term increase in training load without adequate recovery.
So how do you move forward if you skipped a run or five?Well first, people download generalized training plans without understanding that they are meant to be adapted to life. There is a whole host of life stressors—job, kids, friendships, travel—and exercise is just another type of stress. Actually, when things get chaotic in your life, it may be necessary to just let go. Next, if you missed a workout, you have to ask yourself why: “Was it just because your schedule got out of hand or because you were feeling overly exhausted? ” Understanding why you missed the workout can offer some insights into how to tailor your program to suit your lifestyle.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Competitive Cheerleading
Over the years, cheerleading has taken two primary forms: game-time cheerleading and competitive cheerleading. Game-time cheerleaders’ main goal is to entertain the crowd and lead them with team cheers, which should not be considered a sport. However, competitive cheerleading is more than a form of entertainment. It is really a competitive sport.
Competitive cheerleading includes lots of physical activity. The majority of the teams require a certain level of tumbling (翻腾运动) ability. It’s a very common thing for gymnasts, so it’s easy for them to go into competitive cheerleading. Usually these cheerleaders integrate lots of their gymnastics experience including their jumps, tumbling, and overall energy. They also perform lifts and throws.
Competitive cheerleading is also an activity that is governed by rules under which a winner can be declared. It is awarded points for technique, creativity and sharpness. Usually the more difficult the action is, the better the score is. That’s why cheerleaders are trying to experience great difficulty in their performance. Besides, there is also a strict rule of time. The whole performance has to be completed in less than three minutes and fifteen seconds, during which the cheerleaders are required to stay within a certain area. Any performance beyond the limit of time is invalid.
Another reason for the fact that competitive cheerleading is one of the hardest sports is that it has more reported injuries. According to some research, competitive cheerleading is the number one cause of serious sports injuries to women. Generally, these injuries affect all areas of the body, including wrists, shoulders, ankles, head, and neck.
There can be no doubt that competitive cheerleading is a sport with professional skills. It should be noted that it is a team sport and even the smallest mistake made by one teammate can bring the score of the entire team down. So without working together to achieve the goal, first place is out of reach.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________1.比赛目的；
2.比赛过程；
3.活动反响。
注意：
1.写作词数应为80左右；
2.请按如下格式作答。
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Chasing a Dream
I will never forget that November day. It was hotter than normal — too hot. My throat felt like a field of cotton, cracked with the summer heat, as I waited for the gun to fire. This was the day we had waited so long for. I looked out at the crowd; dozens of familiar faces flashed across my view. They had come for me. They were counting on me. I saw my dad set his watch, with worry and excitement on his face. Adrenaline (肾上腺素) pumped through my body, and the race began.
For the first two and a half miles, I felt great. I had never before been so ready for something. The weeks leading up to the race were filled with strictly controlled practices and a strict diet. My friends hadn’t seen me in weeks, but they understood the sacrifice required to make my dream a reality.
My dad and I had been working towards this race for three years. It was everything to me, and it was everything to my dad. He was a runner and was excited by my success in running. He made it to every race, even flying home early from business trips to see me run. I always listened for his voice — telling me to relax my arms, calling out my time. He pushed me. He cheered for me. He believed in me. We spent countless hours on the sandy canals. Breathing in the dust of the desert, the blossoms (花簇) of the orange trees, we made our way across the city. We pounded miles and miles into our running shoes, marking with every step the path to greatness.
But without warning, when I was 200 yards away from the finish line, my legs stopped working. My lungs fought to take in enough air, and my feet transformed into cement (水泥) bricks. I still don’t know what happened in those last few moments. Nothing I could do would make them hold my weight. They were as weak as jelly.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Even though I knew my dreams of victory were destroyed, I had to finish the race.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________“I’m so sorry I disappointed you,” I whispered to Dad.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________When I entered my first rodeo (牛仔竞技比赛), I was 12 years old. It was more like a play day than a rodeo, but to a 12-year-old girl like me, I felt like I was at the National Finals Rodeo!
As to barrel racing (绕桶赛), I didn’t know much about it, only what my dad had told me. But I had been determined to enter the play and win the play ever since I was told that my not so much older competitive cousin Courtney would be there. This was my night to finally show her that I could ride a horse just as good or better, and do anything else she could do. She was in for a surprise!
Courtney always thought she was better than me. She always said her horse was better than mine, too. Courtney had a Palomino horse named Buck. He was fast, and beautiful. My horse was a big Appaloosa named Zipper. He wasn’t beautiful or flashy like Buck but he was kind and willing to please the skinny little girl that fed him sugars every day after a day of riding. That was the reason I knew we could beat Courtney, because we had something she didn’t — a partnership, one we both respected.
Courtney and I were in the 12-14 age group. As I watched the men in the arena (竞技场) set the three barrels up in their places, I felt nervous and a little scared for the first time that night. Though I had previously practiced a lot with Zipper, and Zipper raced fast and made turns stably, I still got upset when thinking about racing against Courtney!
I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. Suddenly, I felt a warm familiar hand on my shoulder. It was Dad. He smiled at me, saying, “Are you scared or nervous? Or both?” “Both, but I’m more scared that I’m going to mess up,” I replied, truthfully.
注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式作答。
“You won’t. Just have faith in yourself, and Zipper,” Dad said.
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Game over, I took Zipper to rest, giving him sugars for a job well done.
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Maggie had always been keen on singing, but she never believed in herself enough to enter a competition. That all changed when her friend, who had heard her sing and believed she had a talent, advised her to try out for the campus singing competition. Maggie was hesitant at first, but she decided to give it a shot.
The competition was only a few weeks away, and Maggie spent every spare moment practicing. She sang in the shower, in her car, and even in the library when she thought no one was listening. Her roommate, who was also her biggest cheerleader, helped her pick out the perfect outfit for the competition.
As the competition day approached, Maggie’s nerves started to get the best of her. She had never performed in front of such a large audience before, and the thought of being judged made her nervous. However, Maggie knew that she had to push herself out of her comfort zone if she wanted to pursue her passion. She reminded herself that she was doing this to prove to herself that she could do it and that she was good enough.
On the day of the competition, Maggie woke up with a sense of determination. She spent the morning rehearsing (排练) and getting into the right mindset. She arrived at the venue (会场) early and was surprised to see so many people had shown up to watch the competition.
As she waited for her turn to perform, Maggie observed the other contestants (参赛选手). She was amazed at the level of talent on display and wondered if she had what it took to win. However, she didn’t let her doubts get the better of her. She focused on her own performance and was determined to give it her all.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
When it was Maggie’s turn to perform, she took a deep breath before walking onto the stage.
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Finally, the judges announced the winner — Maggie won the first prize.
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Jasmine lived on a small farm with her parents and her sister Grace. They were poor and made a living selling animals, but they treated the creatures very kindly. Jasmine was quite a help to her parents. She loved riding horses and caring for them. Of all the horses, Madeline was her favorite. She was a white horse with beautiful locks of golden hair. She was the swiftest horse in the stable. Jasmine always dreamt of riding Madeline in a race and winning it.
Life was harder for the poor family recently because losses had occurred in the business. All they could do to support their daily life was to sell a horse. Jasmine was not at all happy with this idea. She thought about what to do for a long time, to see if she could come up with an alternative solution.
One day, she saw an advertisement in the local newspaper for a horse race. The winner of the race would get $1,000! She thought that she and Madeline could enter the race. She told Grace about her idea and Grace was also happy with it. They went to the race organizer and added Madeline’s name to the list of horses running in the race. He told them that the race was in eleven days’ time.
The next day, during a routine check, the two girls found Madeline seemed to have lost the color from her face. “She looks pale and unwell,” Grace said, with a worried look. She began stroking her mane (鬃毛). “You’re right, Grace. Go and call mother while I get Madeline some water,” said Jasmine. Grace ran off to inform their mother. Meanwhile, Madeline was getting paler. Grace returned shortly with their mother, who phoned a vet immediately. The vet came quickly and after checking Madeline over, said that she was ill. The whole family was very worried as Madeline’s health continued to get worse. She would hardly eat anything. Madeline’s situation broke Jasmine’s heart. Her only wish was that Madeline would soon get better.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡上的相应位置作答。
Whenever Jasmine had time, she went to check on Madeline and take care of her.
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On the day of the race, Jasmine headed to the race course with Madeline.
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During my time in primary school, I was an active participant in sports and games. I was good at athletics and particularly excelled in long jump and sprinting (短跑). My abilities led me to win the B Division long jump competition, and I was chosen to represent my school in the District Sports Meet for both the long jump and relay events.
The Sports Meet spanned across two days. On the first day, I didn’t have any scheduled events, so I eagerly watched other athletes competing. Tents were set up for the participants. My school team was assigned the last tent, which happened to be the furthest one from the track. Despite the less than-ideal location, we made the most out of it.
The second day arrived, and it was finally time for my events. The long jump took place in the early afternoon, followed by the highly anticipated 8×50 m relay later in the day. As the long jump competition began, I realized the competition was fierce. Though I managed a respectable jump of 3. 65 meters, I was amazed by another participant, a ten-year-old, who effortlessly cleared over 4 meters. Adding to the challenge, this remarkable young athlete also wore spikes (钉子鞋), which gave him an advantage over the rest of us. Despite finishing in fourth place, narrowly missing out on a medal, I stayed positive.
However, I still had hope for the 8×50 m relay, where I was assigned to run the fifth leg and pass the baton (接力棒). Finally, the race day arrived. With anticipation building, we took our positions on the track. As the starter’s gun rang, a wave of excitement swept over me. I closely. followed the progress of my teammates in the earlier legs, and to my thrill, we were among the top competitors, firmly securing at least second place.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150个左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
As my turn arrived, I grasped the baton and began to run.
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Although my accident had indeed cost us precious time, our team’s spirit remained unshaken.
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My dad and I had been looking forward to the Stale cross-country race of my senior year of high school, which would be the climax (顶点) of my existence.
I was the fastest runner on my team, and I was supposed to make it into the top fifteen. We had been working towards this race for three years. It was everything to me, and it was everything to my dad. He was a runner and was wild with joy by my success in running. He made it to every race, even flying home early from business trips to see me run. I always listened for his voice, which rang above the crowd-telling me to relax my arms, calling out my time. He pushed me. He cheered for me. He believed in me. We spent countless hours on the sandy canals of Arizona. Breathing in the dust of the desert, the blossoms of the orange trees, and the terrible smell of the dairy farm, we made our way across the city. We pounded miles and miles into our running shoes, marking with every step the path to greatness. It was a journey that was just ours. A dream passed on from one generation to the next.
Then the big day came. It was hotter than normal - too hot. My throat felt like a field of cotton, cracked with the summer heat, as I waited for the gun to fire. I gazed out at the crowd; dozens of familiar faces from church and school flickered across my view. They had come for me. They were counting on me. I saw my dad set his watch, worry and excitement etched across his face. With the sound of a gunshot, the race began.
For the first two and half miles, I felt great. I had never before been so ready for something. The weeks leading up to the race were filled with hard practices and a strict diet. The scorching sun beat upon my back, blinding me with its brilliance. Nothing was going to stop me, though.
注意：1. 所续写短文的词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
However, without warning, my strength was running out.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________I whispered, “I’m so sorry I disappointed you, Dad.”
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