1 . Running is often tiring and a lot of hard work, but nothing beats the feeling you get after finishing a long workout around the track.

But while it’s long been believed that endorphins (内啡肽) —chemicals in the body that cause happiness—are behind the so-called “runner’s high”, a study suggested that there may be more to this phenomenon than we previously knew.

According to a recent study published by a group of scientists from several German universities, a group of chemicals called endocannabinoids (内源性大麻素) may actually be responsible for this familiar great feeling.

To test this theory, the scientists turned to mice. Both mice and humans release high levels of endorphins and endocannabinoids after exercise. After exercising on running wheels, the mice seemed happy and relaxed and displayed no signs of anxiety. But after being given a drug to block their endorphins, the mice’s behavior didn’t seem to change. However, when their endocannabinoids were blocked with a different drug, their runners’ high symptoms seemed to fade.

“The long-held notion of endorphins being responsible for the runner’s high is false. Endorphins are effective pain relievers, but only when it comes to the pain in your body and muscles you feel after working out,” Patrick Lucas Austin wrote on science blog Lifchacker.

Similar studies are yet to be carried out on humans, but it’s already known that exercise is a highly effective way to get rid of stress or anxiety. The UK’s National Health Service even prescribes (开药 方) exercise to patients who are suffering from depression. “Being depressed can leave you feeling low in energy, which might put you off being more active. Regular exercise can improve your mood if you have depression, and its especially useful for people with mild to moderate (中等的) depression,” it wrote on its website.

It seems like nothing can beat that feeling we get after a good workout, even if we don’t fully understand where it comes from. At least if we’re feeling down, we know that all we have to do is to put on our running shoes.

1. What did scientists from German universities recently discover?

A．Working out is a highly effective way to treat depression.

B．The runner’s high could be caused by endocannabinoids.

C．Endorphins may contribute to one’s high spirits after running.

D．The level of endorphins and endocannabinoids could affect one’s mood.

2. Why did the scientists give mice drugs in their experiment?

A．To find what reduces the runner’s high symptoms.

B．To see the specific symptoms of the runner’s high.

C．To identify what is responsible for the runner’s high.

D．To test what influences the level of endocannabinoids released.

3. What does the underlined word “notion” mean?

A．Effect.

B．Goal.

C．Opinion.

D．Question

4. What can we know about regular workouts according to the UK’s National Health Service?

A．They can help ease depression symptoms.

B．They are the best way to treat depression.

C．They only work for those with serious depression.

D．They can help people completely recover from depression.

3 . When Tony took up running as a hobby he was 42 years old. Now 42 years later he’s a national champion and a world record holder.

He never imagined at the age of 84 this is where he’d be, but then he doesn’t meet many people in their 80s who are out training four times a week.

“I can see it’s a bit unusual, yes. But it’s been my life,” he told the reporter. The retired officer runs at a track near his home in Leeds.

At an event in Italy last month he set a world record in the 80 metres hurdles（跨栏）with a time of under 17 seconds. But he sees no reason to slow down and his ambition（雄心）is still to be competing when he passes a hundred.

“I probably won’t be doing a crouch start（蹲式起跑）, but it’s only 16 years away,” he joked. Like anyone his age, he’s had health problems. He’s had a string of severe heart attacks, but doctors have told him as long as it makes him feel good, he should carry on running.

“I can’t let my heart get in the way of my training. When I am sprinting I have to give it my absolute all. My heart is the last thing on my mind. ” he said.

He trains every other day, dances and plays hockey and he recently cuts down on alcohol （酒精）and chocolate. He said “ I’ve heard alcohol can lead to dementia and I don’t want that. I’ve cut down to one glass of wine every other day. I now have to stay as fit as I can be to keep up my lifestyle.”

Tony’s next birthday is next September. And the first thing he wants to do is become the world’s fastest 85-year-old.

1. What will Tony do after the competition in Italy?

A．He decides to slow down.

B．He decides to retire as an officer.

C．He plans on running until he’s 100.

D．He plans to compete in the 100 metres hurdles.

2. What do the doctors suggest to Tony?

A．Continuing to run if he feels good.

B．Stopping running to treat his heart disease.

C．Trying to run as fast as he can.

D．Cutting down on alcohol and chocolate.

3. Which of the following best describes Tony?

A．Imaginative.

B．Positive.

C．Caring.

D．Helpful.

4. What’s the best title of the text?

A．The Fastest Man in the World.

B．The World’s Fastest 100-year-old.

C．A National Champion and a World Record Holder.

D．Granddad Crowned Fastest 84-year-old in the World.

4 . I was speaking to the faculty (全体教师) at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Canton, Massachusetts, a couple weeks ago. I arrived early and decided to take a walk.

There was a Little League field nearby. I spotted a sign on the fence .

The sign, posted by the Canton Little League, read:

PLEASE REMEMBER

·These are kids.

·This is a game.

·The coaches volunteer.

·You don’t play for the Red Sox (an American professional baseball team).

I had to laugh, especially at the joke about the Red Sox. But I think the sign is a good reminder to everyone connected with youth sports－kids, parents, coaches and the folks who run the leagues－what is important about the games.

First, kids who play are just kids. They are not mini professional athletes. So youth sports leagues and coaches should take it easy on them. Kids don’t need long schedules and lots of faraway games or high-pressure tournaments.

Adults should try to set up youth leagues so more kids play with and against kids from nearby schools and neighborhoods. They should make it easier for kids to play a sport for just a few months so that they can try other sports. Kids shouldn’t play one sport year-round.

And everyone should stop worrying about which team wins or loses. A friend of mine who coached a lot of youth teams once told me, “When you coach kids, it’s not how many you win or lose, but how many sign up for next season.” According to the Aspen Institute’s latest “State of Play” report, fewer kids are signing up. Research indicates a smaller percentage of kids ages 6 to 12 (37 percent) are playing team sports on a regular basis than in 2011 (42 percent).

The aim of youth sports should be to have fun, learn some skills and enjoy being part of a team. When we lose sight of those simple goals, the games suffer, and the kids stay away.

Maybe in 2021 every field or gym where kids play should have a sign like the one in Canton. All you would have to do is change the name of the team.

1. How might the author feel seeing the sign on the fence?

A．Relieved.

B．Worried.

C．Confident.

D．Disappointed.

2. What’s the author’s advice for adults?

A．Go easy on kids.	B．Choose youth leagues carefully.
C．Encourage kids to stick to one sport.	D．Make a year-round schedule for kids.

3. What can be inferred from the Aspen Institute’s report?

A．Kids today are less athletic.

B．Fewer youth leagues are being set up.

C．Youth group sports are losing popularity.

D．Kids are focusing more on succeeding than trying.

4. What is the author trying to do in the last paragraph?

A．Give praise.	B．Express a wish.
C．Offer sympathy.	D．Show determination.

5 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填写1个适当的单词或用括号内单词的正确形式。

All sports people are under a lot of pressure to win. In the past, athletes only trained to get physically fit. Today, sports psychologists use scientific techniques     1    (help) athletes get spiritually fit too.

British player Johnny Wilkinson described some of the pressure he     2    (feel). He played very well at the 2003 World Cup but after that he couldn’t play well. He found that he had a terrible fear of failure. With the help of sports psychologists, he realized that reality changes     3    (depend) on how we look at it and then everything went better.

In team sports, psychologists help players in different ways, one of     4    is to create a team spirit. “A team     5    (make) up of a certain number of players, just like a monster with many heads. It’s very difficult to get all of players, who have different     6    (personal), to think in the same way,     7    when you see a team that works as a unit, everything happens     8    (easy),” said Professor Dave Collins, a sports psychologist. “When there is a team spirit, the players all take responsibility and also they don’t blame individual players     9    mistakes. In this way, they all feel more confident and can concentrate better, and so the achievement is     10    (great) too. ”

6 . The M3 Challenge is a contest that gives high schoolers the chance to experience working as a team to deal with a practical problem within limited time. The challenge is meant to give high schoolers a sense of the kinds of problems faced by professional mathematicians working in the real world. Students who are gifted at coding (编程) might consider this competition since extra credit awards are available for teams who include outstanding code as part of their solution.

High school juniors and seniors from anywhere in the U. S. are welcome to participate in the M3 Challenge. Teams of students must consist of three to five people and at least one teacher-coach. Another cool thing? The M3 Challenge is. entirely online until the final round, and there are no participation fees !.

At the end of the M3 Challenge, six teams are identified and invited to present their work in New York City. The finalist teams are also eligible to receive cash awards, which are as follows:

◆ M3 Challenge Champions (Summa Cum Laude Team Prize) $ 20,000

◆ M3 Challenge Runner Up (Magna Cum Laude Team Prize) $ 15,000

◆ M3 Challenge Third Place (Cum Laude Team Prize) $ 10,000

◆ M3 Challenge Finalist (Meritorious Team Prize) $ 5,000 (3 teams)

In addition to these top prizes, there are also awards in the amount of $ 1,500 and $ 1,000 for semi-finalist and honorable mention teams respectively. Finally, Challenge finalists, semi-finalists, and honorable mention teams may be invited to submit applications for summer internships in STEM.

1. What's the purpose of the M3 Challenge?

A．To promote coding.

B．To select math professionals.

C．To solve difficult math problems.

D．To enrich high schoolers' knowledge.

2. Which of the following will lead to disqualification?

A．Having only one coach in a team.

B．Coming from a remote U. S. state.

C．Including eight students in a team.

D．Failing to pay the participation fees.

3. How much is the cash prize for honorable mention teams?

A．$ 1,000.

B．$ 1,500.

C．$ 5,000.

D．$ 10,000.

7 . Top Four Marathons

Portland Marathon

The marathon welcomes 8, 000 people every fall. It’s a great event for first-timers because everyone is cheered on with enthusiasm no matter how long it takes to cross the finish line. The time limit for the full marathon is now at a pace of minutes per mile, or 6 hours and 33 minutes, but in the past it had an open time limit. They promise you’ll still receive your medal if you fall behind the pace, but you have to finish using the sidewalks.

TCS New York City Marathon

As the world’s biggest marathon, the TCS New York City Marathon attracts over 50,000 people to the Big Apple each November. The time limit is generous eight and a half hours, but participants must move to the sidewalk if they drop below 15-minute mile. The famous course snakes through five boroughs (行政区) of the city and crosses five bridges to end in Central Park.

Honolulo Marathon

The marathon attracts over 30,000 participants each December. The race starts on Ala Moana Boulevard in downtown Honolulu and snakes its way along the breathtaking Hawaiian coastline to the finish line in Kapiolani Park. The start time is at 5: 00 am with finish line services officially open until 2: 00 pm. However, the organizers allow everyone to finish and have waiters on hand until 4: 00 pm.

Boston Marathon

The marathon is held in May every year. For this event running isn’t allowed as the city streets aren’t closed off. Participants must instead make their way along sidewalks under the guidance of event organizers and city police. The event attracts over 8,000 people who can choose anything from three-mile walk to the full 26.2-mile Boston Marathon route.

1. Where is a new marathon runner most likely to receive enthusiastic cheers?

A．In Portland.	B．In New York.
C．In Honolulu.	D．In Boston.

2. What can we know about TCS New York City Marathon?

A．It is extremely popular.	B．It has an open time limit.
C．It starts and ends in a park.	D．It forbids using the sidewalk.

3. Which marathon is held the earliest in a year?

A．Portland Marathon.	B．TCS New York City Marathon.
C．Boston Marathon.	D．Honolulu Marathon.

8 . 阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。

Hannah tightened her helmet, a man's voice boomed from the louder-speakers: "Participants in the Five-Mile Junior Fat-tire Race. Please gather behind the orange flags."

Her heart was filled with excitement. First prize was a mountain bike. On a bike like that, she'd fly through the woods.

"Three, two, one, go!"

The lead--dut(引路人) made turn onto section of single track(小道) and gathered speed. girl with red hair rolled in behind him. The lead-out sped up again. Hannah slowed down for the hill, following close behind the red-haired girl, but the girl was gaining speed.

Hannah sped up and pedaled(骑行) the downhill section. Still, the red-haired- girl biked faster. They crossed wooden bridge. The lead-out and the girl disappeared behind a thick stand of trees. When Hannah glanced over her shoulder, she saw nobody behind her.

Hannah watched for the orange arrows(箭头) marking the course and biked through the muddy fields. "The girl might still get tired, "she thought. Then Hannah saw her. At the edge of the forest, the girl was bending her knees by her bike, the lead-out next to her. The girl must have gotten a flat. Hannah biked faster. She didn't slow down the hill but pedaled harder. She wiped the sweat from her eyes, breathless. The lead-out noticed her and jumped on his bike. Hannah was close enough now to see the girl putting the chain on the chain ring

Hannah felt energy flowing through her as she followed the lead-out past the girl into the woods. Maybe she could win.

In the middle of a small grassland, Hannah looked back. The girl was coming up behind her at crazy speed.

Hannah reached fork(岔路) in the trail. The lead-out- was nowhere in sight, but on her left was the sign with the orange arrow. When she turned, her foot slipped off the pedal, and she accidentally kicked the sign over
注意:
1.所续写的短文词数应为150左右;
2.应使用至少5个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词语;
3.续写部分分为二段,每段的开头语已经为你写好:
4.续写完成后,请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。
Paragraph1:

“I need to stop and fix the sign, or the other racer might get lost.” She thought .

Paragraph 2:

Looking at the shining mountain bike, Hannah felt like crying

9 . Winter is often a low point for outdoor lovers, as cold weather pushes them indoors. However, winter can be a beautiful time of year for a winter trail（小路）walk.     1    

Generally, winter walking presents dangers.     2     You will need to wear   appropriate clothing and always you have proper footwear for your winter walking.

Above all, you should dress warmly. The best way to dress for cold weather exercise is to wear more layers（层）. When you warm up from the exercise, you can take off layers so you will never become over-heated.       3    Wear clothes that are waterproof and breathable. In addition always have a good hat and a pair of gloves, one of the most effective ways to pre-serve body heat.

Shoes are a very important aspect of winter walking.   Instead of using regular shoes on a winter walk, consider trying a pair of snowshoes, a fun way to enjoy your trail.     4    With snowshoes, you will still need to wear good waterproof shoes. With a good pair of snowshoes, you will be able to explore much more of your trail and the surrounding area during the winter.

    5    Spend some time finding a trail that is open and safe to walk on during the winter. If you can’t find a trail that fits your requirements, you can come up with an alternative plan. Walk around your local neighborhoods to view the holiday lights or go to your local park where you will probably find some sort of walking trail that is accessible during the winter.

A．Nor will you suffer from being too cold.

B．It may even rain while you are out walking.

C．You may find your favorite trails closed during the winter.

D．You will be more steady on the snow and get a better workout.

E．Why not continue to spend time outside, taking winter trail walks?

F．A trail that normally gets lots of traffic may be empty during the winter.

G．The severer the weather is, the more careful you need to be when walking.

10 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填人1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

At a gymnasium in downtown Beijing, a group of young enthusiasts are training and practicing the     1    (tradition) martial art of shuai jiao, which is native       2    China. The style of close combat fighting, also     3    (know) as Chinese wrestling, dates back thousands of years. It     4    (consider) by some experts as the origin of modern throwing sports such as judo. In recent years it has started to regain popularity with martial arts practitioners in the capital.

Hu Wannian started practicing shuai jiao at the age of 6. In 2016, he founded a wrestling club,     5    helped him promote the martial art at     6     open area in his residential complex in Beijing. At first, the tough conditions stopped many parents from     7    (allow) their children to join Hu's club. So far, the 62-year-old     8    （train) 50 students.

Yang Fan,28,is one of Hu's female     9    （student).“Very few girls practice Chinese-style wrestling," she said."But it has     10    （great) improved my athletic ability."