1 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. wonder   B. regular   C. doubt D. physically E. breathing F. wealth G. functioning   H. flexibility I. flow J. generally K. mood

Sometimes it’s the simplest daily practice that can have the biggest impact on your health, and yoga is proof of that. Although most forms of yoga aren’t considered to be as intense as other workout regimens, practising yoga on a daily basis has been scientifically demonstrated to help you mentally and     1    . Through breath work, meditation and holding poses that increase strength and     2    the body and mind gain benefits from yoga that positively impact your long-term health. It’s no     3    people have been practising yoga for over 5000 years, and that the number of Australians practising yoga doubled between 2008 and 2017 to over two million, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Yoga teacher, Jenni Tarmar, shares, “we have a     4    of research demonstrating that a regular mindfulness practice - the act of paying attention to the sensation in the body, thoughts and emotions without judgment - can reduce stress and help us to feel calmer, more productive, and     5    more even-keeled in our daily lives.”

After evaluating yoga history and research, one 2014 review published in Frontiers in Human Neouroscience concluded that     6    yoga practice can help facilitate self-regulation. Another study of adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 found that practising yoga positively benefited emotional regulation and self-esteem. “Movement releases beneficial neurotransmitters (神经转发器) in the brain, which helps us feel good as well as assist in     7    regulation,” says yoga instructor, Evan Lawrence. “One of the things that I like about yoga specifically is that there is, at the same time, a focus on physical movement and     8    .”

According to associate professor of psychiatry, Dr Gail Saltz, “practising yoga improves overall blood     9    to the body, including the brain, which is helpful for cognition and memory.”

One 2019 review published in Brain Plasticity concluded that behavioural interventions like yoga can help “mitigate age-related and neurodegenerative decline” due to the positive effects a daily practice has on different parts of the     10    brain, like the hippocampus (which plays a major role in learning and memory) and the prefrontal cortex (cognitive control functions).

2 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. competing     B. incredibly     C. issued     D. influential     E. barely F. hosting     G. highlight       H. stage     I. diagnosis     J. related K. commitment

Shanghai Is Full Speed Ahead

After decades of experience in the field, Shanghai is strengthening its reputation as a global leader in     1     top-level, professional sports events.

Last month’s Shanghai Sailing Open, held from March 26—31 on Dishui Lake, was a typical example of the city’s world-famous excellence, attracting over 300 competitors, including a six—time world champion of Poland, a gold medalist at the Hangzhou Asian Games, and China’s former Olympic champion Xu Lijia;     2     in sailboats and yachts, sailors sang praise on the competition environment and overall atmosphere of the event.

Shanghai’s     3     to developing its sports scene has been key to this success. In 2015, the Shanghai government     4     a plan to speed up the development of its sports industry, including a proposal to develop the city into a world-renowned sports hub within 10 years.

According to the “2023 Shanghai sports event influence     5     report”, Shanghai held 118 major sports events last year, with 36 of those international-level events, including the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters, the Shanghai Marathon, and the Shanghai Half Marathon, which were rated as the city’s most     6     sports events last year.

This year, besides the recent Shanghai Sailing Open and various district-organized half marathon events, the city will continue to     7     sports competitions such as the Shanghai Half Marathon, the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, and the Olympic Qualifier Series.

The success of sports development in Shanghai is closely     8     to a policy of top-level construction. In addition to top—level international competitions, top—tier home teams, and professional leagues, brand events are staged year-round to     9     the city’s characteristics. Linking sports with culture, commerce, tourism, and exhibitions is another feature of the city’s sports environment, helping to     10     maximize the economic benefits. Spectators can expect to be treated to the very best in urban sports and that organizers will strive to provide a warm atmosphere of sports, art, music, and culture.

4 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word chosen from the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. unanticipated       B. moments       C. evolved       D. basically E. explored       F. clearly       G. navigate       H. rituals I. integral       J. access       K. inspiring

Boat of Power

Dragon boat racing began in China more than 2,000 years ago as part of a cultural community event to memorize the ancient poet, Qu Yuan. The traditional holiday was a time to perform    1    for good fortune and well-being, and to drive off evil spirits. Over time, dragon boat racing    2    into a global sport.

The Toronto-based Dragons Abreast team stands out at this sport for a few reasons. For one, the79-member team includes people ranging in age from 30 to 93. Prior to joining Dragons Abreast, some members hadn’t been part of a sports team since childhood and wouldn’t have described themselves as particularly athletic ones. And what has brought these women together is something    3     — living with breast cancer.

The breast cancer survivors on this team are in the same boat in every way. For many, being part of a community that knows    4    how life changes after breast cancer is as beneficial as the physical gains. The team offers a supportive space to    5    all the complexities of survivorship.

“I was so surprised at how    6    the racing was for me,” says Liz Johnston Hill, the race coordinator for Dragons Abreast. “It’s almost overwhelming how people encourage, no matter what.”

Being out on the water and connecting to the environment is an important aspect of dragon boating for many of the team members. They talk about how it provides    7    of peace and encourages mindfulness, something we could all use more of in our lives. Outside of dragon boat, the members are a(n)    8    part of each other’s life. “We’ve all been through    9    the same thing in our various ways,” says the race coordinator Liz Johnston Hill. While the number of breast cancer survivor teams grows, barriers to the sport remain such as cost, time,     10    to water and practice facilities and the lack of cultural and language diversity. But there are ongoing efforts to introduce more people living with breast cancer to dragon boat.

5 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. brush        B. draw        C. state        D. cautionary       E. report       F. run G. packed        H. shot        I. introduced        J. phenomenon        K. exceptional

Rongjiang county, tucked away in the rainy hills of south-west China, has little going for it at first glance. The grey tiles covering houses in the county sea give it a rather drab feel. Locals often have to find work elsewhere, travelling to distant factories and construction sites.

Yet this summer it was Chinese from far-off cities who flocked to Rongjiang. They came to watch an amateur football league involving 20 of the county’s villages. It started in May and quickly became a       1    . Weekend matches between teams made up of butchers and farmers drew crowds of nearly 50, 000, straining the local stadium. Millions more watched on Weibo, a Twitter-like platform, and Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok.

There are many reasons behind the popularity of the Rongjiang league, which is men only. Start with the     2     of professional football. Despite decades of investment, the country’s players are not very good. The men’s national team, made up of players from China’s top league, ranks 78th in the world (the women rank 14th). It has only qualified for the World Cup once, in 2002, when it failed to score a single goal.

The Rongjiang league, by contrast, has an authentic, even wholesome feel. Football in the county dates back to the 1940s, when it was     3     by university students who were fleeing China’s cities during the invasion by Japan. Today the games are free to watch and feel enjoyably low pressure. Players     4     off their missed shots with smiles. After a penalty shoot-out in the semi-finals, fans swarmed the pitch waving China’s national flag. The winners of this year’s tournament, from a village in Chejiang township, walked away with a cow. The two runners-up won three pigs and three goats, respectively.

The league’s cultural diversity is another     5    . The players come from several minority ethnic groups, of which the biggest are the Dong and the Miao. During breaks in the matches, villagers in traditional silver headdresses often dance for the crowd.

To the delight of officials at all levels, the league appears to have stimulated the local economy. During the Dragon Boat festival in June tourism spending     6     up, much of it coming from football fans. Vendors at the hundreds of stalls set up by the local government outside the stadium     7     a brisk trade. A man hawking barbecue skewers says he has doubled his income.

But there are concerns that the success of Rongjiang may be fleeting. Attracting crowds to this part of China is not easy. The city of Zibo, in the northern province of Shandong, provides a     8     tale. It became a social-media phenomenon when word of its delicious kebabs began making the rounds earlier this year. Tourists flocked to the city, where officials turned arenas into makeshift dining halls. But after a few months of this barbecue craze, interest in Zibo slumped.

Still, officials think they have found a winning strategy for the countryside. A new football league began this month and will     9     until October. It involves nearly 300 amateur teams from all around China. Each is named after a food. On August 13th a team called the Sour Soups from the nearby city of Kaili beat the Bamboo Shoots from the southern province of Guangdong. The stadium in Rongjiang was still     10    .

6 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. personal        B. insecurities        C. moments       D. admit       E. follow       F. good             G. grow             H. issues       I. right       J. crucial       K. activities

How I Tricked Myself into Enjoying Healthier Foods and Exercise

Most of us would like to think that when we reach a certain age or point in our careers, we automatically evolve past the point of worrying about our appearance. Body image and self-confidence, or our lack of confidence, is something that we never really talk about for fear of drawing attention to our     1    .

But the truth is that our body image issues affect us more than we’d like to     2    . Over the last eight years I’ve worked hard to     3     my business. My main focus has been my work—writing books, creating products, launching products, growing my team—and I’ve dedicated long hours to my company’s success. My diligence has definitely paid off and my business is thriving, but all of that hustling has come at a(n)     4     cost. I’ve spent long hours at the computer and little time exercising or eating     5    . I tried to ignore it and I told myself that no one noticed, but my weight steadily crept up.

As a result, my confidence slowly decreased, and I retreated from the     6     —both personal and professional—that I loved. I stopped going out with friends, stopped sharing photos of myself on social media and avoided media interviews. Even if I didn’t want to admit it, I knew that the underlying problem was that I just didn’t feel     7     about myself. I had to make a change. I started by getting clear about my goals, which included getting into the best shape of my life, changing the way I ate and running a 10K on my 40^th birthday. But more importantly, I got honest with myself about why those goals were so     8     and then I asked the people that I trust the most to hold me accountable. From there, I had to make the daily decision to     9     through.

It wasn’t easy. In fact, there were many     10     that were downright painful. But I’m succeeding, and I’m happy to see that I’ve made changes and am now leading a healthier life.

7 . Directions: Fill in each blank with a proper word given in the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word that you do not need.

A. included                 B. promising                 C. achievements                 D. proved          E. transfer F. outstanding             G. sign                           H. appearances                  I. scoring          J. capture            K. referred

Ronaldo Luiz Nazario de Lima was born on 22 September 1976 in a poor suburb of Rio de Janeiro. Like most of his childhood friends, Ronaldo began his football (soccer) career playing barefoot in the streets of his neighbourhood. At the age of 14, he joined Sao Cristovao football club and only two years later became the star of Cruzeiro Esporte Clube in Belo Horizonte     1     a total of 58 goals in 60 matches and earning himself a reputation for his explosive pace and     2     finishing skills. His goal — scoring record and unusual quickness led him to be     3     in the Brazilian World Cup winning team the following year. After the World Cup, many top European football clubs were trying to     4     him. Many people, including Brazilian football legend Pele, considered him as the most     5     footballer of his generation.

Since his     6     to Dutch team PSV Eindhoven, Ronaldo’s biography has been one success after another. Two Copa America’s, a UEFA Super Cup, a Dutch Cup, a Spanish Super Cup, and two Player of the Year awards from FIFA, all in the space of two years, are some of Ronaldo’s impressive     7    . On arrival to Inter Milan in 1997, Ronaldo became the idol of the local fans who refer to him as “il Fenomeno (奇才)”.

Since the 1998 World Cup he has suffered serious knee injuries that have severely limited his     8    . Just when people began to wonder whether Ronaldo would be able to continue with his football career, he     9     to the world that he still could play. In the World Cup held in Korea and Japan, the magical striker won the Golden Shoe award and tied Pele’s Brazilian record for career World Cup goals with 12. He helped Brazil     10     its fifth World Cup championship on 30 June with a 2-0 win over Germany. It was the third time that Ronaldo had ever played in the World Cup.

8 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. virtually	B. pride	C. drawn	D. consistently
E. course	F. spot	G. spied	H. representing
I. dominate	J. banning	K. host

China is challenging South Korea’s e-sports dominance

Some 4,000 fans gathered at the BEXCO Centre in Busan, a big port city in South Korea, on May 29th. Another 2.2m tuned in online. They were there for the finals of the Mid-Season Invitational, a prestigious(有声望的) e-sports tournament. A dozen teams had been competing over the     1     of three weeks to show off their skills at League of Legends (LOL), an online strategy-fantasy game. Now just two remained: Royal Never Give Up from China and T1,     2     the home side. As the battle raged, T1 soon sputtered(被打花了). The mood in the hall grew sad. Some fans left early. By the time the Chinese team, joining     3     at home, emerged victorious, few were left.

The enthusiasm, and bitter disappointment, reflect the place e-sports have in South Korean youth culture. The games are not just fun, but a source of national     4    . Since the 1990s players have honed(磨练) their skills in PC bangs (internet cafés), where children would go straight after school. Games such as StarCraft and LOL filled time and fired up competitive spirit like after-class basketball in America or football in Brazil. The pool of talent expanded, and South Korean players came to     5     online-gaming championships.

No longer. China is now on the rise. Chinese companies are at the heart of gaming globally. The country’s biggest tech firm, Tencent, owns Riot Games, which developed LOL, as well as 40% of Epic Games, which makes Fortnite. Interest in the pastime has grown, too. There are some 685m gamers in China, including those who play on their phones, compared with 33m in South Korea. Over the past few years China has     6     beaten South Korea in big championships.

South Korea contributed to its own downfall. “Skilled Korean players and coaches played a role in cultivating the e-sport scene in China,” says Choi Eun-Kyoung of Hanshin University, near Seoul. South Korean masters,     7     in by big money, taught Chinese players the lessons of their success and established real-world gaming academies and systems to     8     and hire talent.

South Korea has now     9     a chance to catch up. Last year, China limited under-18s to three hours of online gaming a week. Given that serious players start as young as 14 and practise some 70 hours a week, Chinese e-sports are likely to suffer. South Korea, meanwhile, last year canceled a decade-old law     10     under-16s from playing online games in the dead of night.

9 . 选词填空

A. devoted   B. negatively     C. window     D. trading     E. conclusion     F. release G. reserves     H. topping       I. perfectly       J. stress        K. attempted

A key part of starting to exercise is choosing when to work out. Morning, afternoon, or evening: Which time is best? Scientists have studied this dilemma extensively.

Rise and shine at 5 a.m.?

For new exercisers, morning workouts are often the most dreaded. After all,     1     a cozy, nurturing bed for a sterile, unforgiving fitness center can be a rude awakening to say the least. But morning workouts have their advantages. The     2     of endorphin, along with a few others, boosts energy levels, alertness, and focus, which can make you more productive and attentive at work.

Your are stronger in the afternoon

However, early exercisers may not be able to achieve peak performance. Stiffer(僵硬的)muscles, fewer energy     3     from overnight fasting, and cooler body temperature add up to hamper exercise output. Therefore, more     4     exercisers might prefer working out in the afternoon.

“The best     5     for explosive athleticism seems to be between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.” Shawn Arent, chair of the Department of Exercise Science at the University of South Carolina told CNN. A review of studies found that muscle strength, muscle power, and sprinting abilities all peaked in the afternoon,     6     morning performance by anywhere from 3% to 20%.

Exercise for night owls

Finally, some folks may decide to work out later in the evening. Intense exercise performed within an hour of one’s bedtime will impact the following sleep     7    . For this reason, most exercise experts recommend at least 90 minutes of downtime between the     8     of an exercise session and going to bed.

Be consistent

Whether morning, afternoon, or evening, it is optimal if exercise timing remains somewhat consistent, research has found. Still, it is     9     fine to mix up your workout times to fit with our schedule. The average person need not worry over when to work out. Regular exercise is perhaps that single best thing that humans can do for their health, and it shouldn’t serve as something to     10     over.

10 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. actually B. considered C. copied D. inspiration E. mixture F. observer G. scientifically H. started I. steep J. trendy K. version

Exercise Around the World

Kevin

Not many people outside Japan have come across Radio Taiso. Each morning at 6:30 you hear this piano sound coming out of the radio and everywhere people start doing calisthenics (gentle warm-up exercises) to get ready for the day ahead. They’re group exercises that everyone can join in with, at home or in the park. People say the idea was     1     from US factories in the 1920s. It’s fun and they’re simple movements that anyone can do, old or young. They get the brain working, too.

Jo

I do something called “swogging”, a(n)     2     of jogging and swimming. The     3     came from a book about people in the Caucasus mountains who can live to well over a hundred and remain mentally and physically fit. For generations they’ve been walking down     4     slopes each day to swim in cold mountain streams. The idea of freezing cold water might put a lot of people off, but it’s     5     proven to help your circulation and boost your immune system (免疫系统), because it gets your body’s self-defense mechanisms working. Then they dry off and climb back up the mountain. I do the same thing in North Wales where I live, but I jog two miles to a lake. It’s interesting, but I’ve got a little way to go before I reach a hundred!

Rashmi

To an outside     6    , yoga doesn’t look hard; it’s just slow stretching and holding certain positions. Yoga practitioners came up with their own     7     of the saying “Don’t just sit there, do something,” which is “Don’t just do something, sit there.” But     8    , it’s a very good workout. Like a lot of Eastern exercise regimes, it offers a more holistic (整体的) approach to health by combining physical fitness with mental well-being. The idea is to concentrate on your breathing to make movement easier and reduce tension. Although it     9     out in India, only a small proportion of the population there practice yoga seriously. Recently more Indians have taken it up partly because they’ve seen it become     10     in the West.