Sports Day was getting close in the school. All the children were very excited and were practicing for the big race. John, one of the fast runners of the school, was confident that he would win for he was not doing anything at all. “You have to work hard to come first in the race John. You are not practicing at all,” said John’s mother.

“Mom, you know how fast I am! Why should I waste my time running? Only I will win; no one else will win!”said John. “John, you may be right but talent (天赋) without hard work is not good at all. This laziness of yours will cost you greatly,” his mother warned him. John just laughed. He was so confident that he would win the trophy (奖杯) as no one else in his class was as fast as he was!.

Tim, a classmate of John, was also participating (参加) in the running race. He was not a fast runner. However, he practiced till late at night and had developed great endurance (持久力) to run the race.

There were a few days left for the Sports Day but John did not practice at all. On the other hand, Tim practiced day and night.

The Sports Day was almost around the corner but John was confident that no one could beat him and had not practiced at all. But Tim with his hard work had become a very great runner.

At last, the Sports Day arrived. All the students showed up on the ground to cheer their favorites. The coach blew the whistle (口哨) and everyone began to run toward the finishing line. It was so exciting. John and Tim left all the racers far behind. Both of them were neck to neck.

Suddenly, John went ahead of Tim.

John’s mother came up to Tim and praised him for his hard work.

About six months ago, I joined a gym. Every morning, there was one personal trainer who worked out. He did his routine with such a quiet determination that he made it all look very easy. When I wanted to quit, I watched him push himself to his own limits, and I found myself motivated to work hard.

Several weeks ago, I was watching him do chin-ups (引体向上) effortlessly. I asked him if I could try a chin-up. I had never tried before. He eagerly stepped aside and encouraged me to step up to the bar. I pulled myself up without thinking... Once...then twice. I had no strength left. I told him that was all I had, so he stepped up behind me and pushed me up for a third and a fourth pull. It felt so good and I smiled from ear to ear.

The next day when I was done with my workout, I asked him to spot me again. Again, I did two. Again on day three and so on. I thought it was pitiful that I could only do two, but he said he was impressed with my chin-ups, explaining that most people couldn’t do them at all. He further told me that if I practiced every day, I would be doing five or six in no time.

I just jumped in and gave it a try. A few months had passed since that memorable day at the gym. I continued to work on my chin-ups, slowly but steadily. With each passing week, I could feel my strength increasing and my determination growing.

One day, as I approached the chin-up bar, my trainer noticed the determination in my eyes. He smiled and said, “You know, you’ve come a long way in such a short time. I believe it’s time to set a new goal for yourself.” I asked, “What do you have in mind?” He replied, “How about aiming for ten consecutive (连续不断的) chin-ups? I have no doubt that you can achieve it with your insistence.”

I was both excited and nervous about this new challenge.

Finally, one morning, it happened.

Paul and I were on our school basketball team, The Lions. We loved basketball and were both huge fans of the NBA. When we weren’t playing on the court which was next to our building, we were watching a game on TV. My favourite player was LeBron James. Paul’s favourite player was Tyrone Bogues, a guy who played for the Charlotte Hornets, although we actually agree that they are both champions.

Bogues was only 1.6 metres tall, which made him the shortest player ever in the NBA. Guess what? Paul was only 1.6 metres tall, too! Paul knew that being shorter than other players meant that he had to practise more. During all those hours of doing jump shots on his own, he used Bogues as his inspiration. Paul once said, “lf Bogues could make it, why not me?”

Our coach was not so sure. Paul had to try out many times just for making the team. He was still usually on the bench, being just a replacement, which was really tough on him. Everyone knew Paul had real skills, and was someone who worked really hard and had a strong desire to play for the team. However, Paul didn’t get a chance.

This week, The Lions were playing our main competitors, The Bears, a team whose record this season had been perfect. They hadn’t lost a single game. It would be a tough one. Paul didn’t know he’d soon get the chance that he’d been waiting for.

Suddenly, a player and I crashed into each other. Pain raced through my body. My knee hurt badly. The team gathered around looking worried. The last quarter was about to begin, and my team was behind by 10 points. We had no more players. Just then the coach cast a look at the bench players.

At the very moment I advised the coach to give Paul a chance, but he hesitated.

When the game ended, our team won by two points.

Be sporty, be healthy

Hello, everyone!

That’s all. Thank you.

If you had to choose one word to describe Kevin, it might have been “slow”. He didn’t learn his ABCs as fast as other kids. He never came in first in the running races. However, Kevin’s smile was brighter than the sun in June; his heart bigger than the sky. Kevin’s enthusiasm for life spread quickly to others? So when he discovered that the teacher, Randy, was putting together a boys’ basketball team, his mother could only answer, “Yes, you may join.”

Basketball became the center of Kevin’s life. At practice, he worked so hard that you’d have thought he was preparing for the NBA. He liked to stand in a certain spot near the free- throw (罚球) line and shoot baskets. Patiently, he stood there throwing ball after ball after ball, until finally it would get into the basket. “Look at me, Coach!” he’d shout to Randy, jumping up and down, his face just glowing with the excitement of it all. His teammates were also moved by Kevin’s perseverance, and they insisted on practicing with him.

Kevin and his whole team truly loved basketball. But just loving the game doesn’t help you win. More balls fell out of the basket than into it, and the boys lost every game that season by very large scores, except one: the night it snowed and the other team couldn’t make it to the game. At the end of the season, the boys had their last competition. As the last-place team, they drew the unfortunate spot of playing against the first-place team—the tall, undefeated first-place team.

The game went pretty much as expected, and near the middle of the fourth quarter Kevin’s team stood nearly 30 points behind. At that point, one of Kevin’s teammates called time-out. As he came to the side, Randy couldn’t imagine why the time-out had been called. “Coach,” said the boy. “I know that Kevin has never made a basket. But this is our last game and I think we should let Kevin make a basket to achieve his dream.” With the game completely out of reach, the idea seemed reasonable, so plans were made.

Every time Kevin’s team had the ball, Kevin was to stand in his special spot near the free- throw line and they would give him the ball.

Kevin missed every chance with this pattern continuing a few more times, and the spectators (观众) finally figured out what was happening.