1 . A fresh and gentle wind on your face, soft sand under your feet and blue waters as far as the eye can see. Is there any other Olympic sport that is played in such pleasant conditions as beach volleyball?
“I’ve gone to a lot of beautiful places, and met a lot of beautiful people. That wouldn’t have happened if I had been playing another sport.” said Randy Stoklos, America’s most famous beach volleyball player.
The sport began as a four-a-side game on beaches in Southern California in the 1920s. The first recorded two-man game took place there in 1930, and the first tournament (锦标赛) was held in Los Angeles 18 years later. The winners were awarded a case of Pepsi. In the 1950s, women started playing and the sport soon spread to Europe and South America. Yet at that time, beach volleyball was more an entertainment show than a sport, with beauty contests included. The Association of Volleyball Professionals was founded in 1983 and beach volleyball developed into a fast, athletic sport. Its world-wide popularity won beach volleyball a place at the 1996 Olympics in Atalanta, where 24 male teams and 16 female teams took part. At present, the US and Brazil are the best in the world at beach volleyball.
The game came to China in the early 1990s and there have been national tournaments since 1994. It became an official event at the Eighth National Games in 1997. China’s You Wenhui and Wang Lu finished ninth in the women’s beach volleyball world championships in Brazil.
1. The passage is mainly about ______.A.the history of beach volleyball |
B.how to play beach volleyball |
C.the importance of beach volleyball |
D.women’s beach volleyball in China |
A.Beach volleyball was first played like other Olympic: sports. |
B.Beach volleyball has always been an entertainment show rather than a sport. |
C.Beach volleyball began on beaches in Souther California. |
D.Women started playing beach volleyball in South America in 1945. |
A.In 1948, | B.In 1996. | C.In 1950. | D.In 1997. |
A.in 1996, beach volleyball became an official event in China |
B.China’s beach volleyball team is the best in the world |
C.China’s beach volleyball players won the first place in Brazil |
D.beach volleyball came to China in the early 1990s |
2 . For many Americans, regular exercise is a complicated commitment—one made at the beginning of January that fades out within weeks or months. Busy work schedules, a lack of motivation and unease towards exercising in public all contribute to the discouraging statistics that only around a quarter of adults exercise enough per week.
This month, enterptiser Trent Ward and designer Yves Behar are uncovering their design for a mirror fitness system, Forme. Forme is reflective like a mirror, uses machine learning to heighten workouts, and offers attachments including ankle belts, rope handles and a heart rate monitor. When not in use, the two arms that form the resistance pulley (滑轮) system fold behind it and the display screen disappears, turning Forme into a simple full—length mirror.
Interest in home exercise has particularly increased recently around the world. Home workout apps have seen a significant uptick in downloads, and trendy brands like Peloton have rolled out free virtual workouts for everyone stuck indoors. One French athlete who was kept away from others chose to run an entire marathon on his 23-foot balcony.
But beyond the new restrictions affecting daily workout routines, Ward and Behar are tapping into the same concerns that have made every home workout appealing:the ability to save time and sweat in the privacy of one’s home. In an age of personal metrics (衡量标准)--where one can measure their heart rate and sleep cycles with smart watches and train for marathons with AI smart sneakers----Ward and Behar want to improve exercise through machine learning. Forme evaluates performance and adjusts weights accordingly. Easy access to one’s own performance data also makes it easier to track that progress and stay motivated.
Though it’s too soon to tell if mirror gyms will be the trend of the late 2010s to 2020s, Behar explained that having a screen in the home can become the basis for more than just fitness, such as shopping or telemedicine.
1. What does paragraph 2 mainly focus on?.A.The ways to operate Forme. | B.The features of Forme. |
C.The reasons to develop Forme. | D.The theory behind Forme. |
A.By offering them online workouts for free. |
B.By raising their interest in marathon. |
C.By keeping them far away from others. |
D.By entertaining them with all kinds of downloads. |
A.The better results than outdoor activities. |
B.The fresher air at home. |
C.The privacy of home. |
D.The convenient access to mass data. |
A.Can Forme Have More Powerful Functions? |
B.Does Regular Exercise Keep up with New Technology? |
C.Is the New Trend of Smart Machines at Home available? |
D.Is this AI—Powered "Mirror Gym" the Future of Home Exercise? |
3 . Are you trying to find the best time for exercise?
Dawn, dusk or dead of night — when’s the best time to work out? Well, that depends on when’s the best time for you, because the benefits of physical activity depend upon how consistent you are.
To stay motivated, choose activities you enjoy. If you’re a social person, do something that engages you socially. Take a group exercise class, join a recreational team or walk with a group of friends. If you prefer having time alone, walking, swimming or biking solo might be a better fit for you.
There are so many choices.
A.The truth is, it’s personal! |
B.Don’t limit yourself to just one. |
C.There are other important considerations. |
D.Use your body clock as a guide to when to go for a walk. |
E.You might have heard that the best time to exercise is early in the morning. |
F.If you’d like to spend more time with your family, find an activity you can all do together. |
G.If your schedule isn’t predictable (可预测的), you may need to be flexible and have a plan for various times of day. |
4 . People need to relax and enjoy themselves. One way they can have a good time is to watch a baseball game or another sports event. Even thousands of years ago, groups of people gathered to watch skilled athletes(运动员).
Over 2, 000 years ago in Greece, certain days in the year were festival days. These were holidays when people stopped work and enjoyed themselves. They liked to watch athletes take part in races and other games of skill.
The most important festival was held every four years at the town of Olympia. It was held in honour of the Greek god Zeus. For five days, athletes from all parts of the Greek world took part in the Olympic Games. At the Olympic Games, people could watch them box, run, jump and so on. There was a relay race between two teams of men in which a lighted torch(火炬) was passed from runner to runner. The Olympic Games were thought to be so important that cities which were at war with one another had to stop fighting. People were allowed to travel to the games freely. Thousands of people came to Olympia from cities in Greece and from its colonies(殖民地) in Africa,Asia and Italy. They met as friends to cheer their favourite athletes and to enjoy themselves.
1. What happened in Greece over 2, 000 years ago?A.People stopped work and enjoyed themselves. |
B.The cities there were often against one another. |
C.People watched baseball games. |
D.People didn’t go to any games at all. |
A.They fought. | B.They just talked to friends. |
C.They cheered for good athletes. | D.They tried to find friends. |
A.Greece at War | B.Together for the Games |
C.Stop Fighting | D.Sport |
The term “extreme sports”, which we might have seen on a magazine or a website,
During the 1970s and 1980s, the term was used for sports with high risks
Extreme sports cover a wide range. Some
Nowadays, such sports have become more popular
6 . I believe even the smartest people have to work hard to achieve success. People make themselves into winners by their own
Many years ago, I took the head
I started doing anything I could to help them build a little
Six months after our defeat, we won our first game and our second, and continued to
A.tests | B.luck | C.efforts | D.nature |
A.operating | B.editing | C.consulting | D.coaching |
A.new | B.excellent | C.strong | D.successful |
A.cheer for | B.prepare for | C.help with | D.finish with |
A.realize | B.claim | C.permit | D.demand |
A.decision | B.attitude | C.conclusion | D.intention |
A.pride | B.culture | C.fortune | D.relationship |
A.leaders | B.partners | C.winners | D.learners |
A.risked | B.missed | C.considered | D.practiced |
A.expand | B.improve | C.relax | D.defend |
A.shame | B.burden | C.victory | D.favor |
A.chance | B.joy | C.concern | D.offer |
A.surprise | B.relate | C.interest | D.affect |
A.encouraged | B.observed | C.protected | D.impressed |
A.naturally | B.individually | C.calmly | D.differently |
7 . The WHO says that 80% of the world’s teens don’t get enough exercise to live healthy lives. The report was based on research done with students aged 11 to 17 in 146 different countries.
Doctors say 60 minutes of exercise daily is needed for teens to build up their bone and muscle strength. It’s also hugely important for the health of the heart and lungs.
One big reason for the lack of activity in today’s teens is technology, such as smartphones, computers and TVs. Many teens find it hard to pull themselves away from them.
So the WHO warns that teens need to do less playing in the digital world, and more playing in the real world. Teens should take part in sports, whether on official teams or just playing around on the playground.
A.Exercise benefits you academically. |
B.Activity levels vary from country to country. |
C.The WHO has spared no effort in the research. |
D.Such inactivity can severely affect their growth. |
E.Exercise can also be built into a normal day’s activities. |
F.Regular activity can help them control their weight, too. |
G.The WHO has been studying teen activity levels since 2001. |
8 . BEST BODY FITNESS
About us
You don’t want just gym membership. You want membership that means something. And that means you need support, expert help and a community.
Best Body Fitness isn’t just a gym: it’s full-service fitness membership made for you.
Here’s how it works:
STEP ONE: Your assessment
We begin with an assessment session. This is a chance for you to see what we do at Best Body. Our assessment plans are no-cost and no-risk. We’ll also make a training plan specifically for you.
STEP TWO: Your training
When you decide to become a Best Body member, we show you what to do, how to do it and why you are doing it. After a few sessions with an expert private trainer you will feel comfortable working out on your own. But don’t worry, we’ll always be nearby if you have questions.
STEP THREE: Your membership
Membership works on a month-to-month basis. There are no sign-up fees and no cancellation fees. Start and stop whenever you want. And the best part? Our fees are the most competitive in the whole downtown area.
STEP FOUR: Your community
At Best Body Fitness, we see everyone as part of a big team. And when you work with a team, you can do great things. Join any of our specialized classes, led by expert instructors. Come to our nutrition classes. Participate in our regular social events. Everything is included in your fee.
Finally, share some reasons why our members have chosen us over any other fitness centre in the city.
It’s so EASY
Easy to start, stop, cancel or refund membership
Easy to access — we’re open 24/7, we never close
Easy to do exercise — we have lots of equipment, no long wait
Easy to find — in the centre of town, near public transport and with parking
1. Which statement about Best Body Fitness is correct?A.It provides you with a fitness assessment after training. |
B.It offers you a customized training plan. |
C.It allows you to work out without any fees. |
D.It asks you to work out on your own. |
A.Its price is quite good. | B.Its time is enough. |
C.Its classes are no-risk. | D.Its trainers are experienced. |
A.News report. | B.Speech. |
C.Announcement. | D.Advertisement. |
9 . Do big sporting events make us do more sport?
I recently spent half a weekend sitting on the sofa watching the Davis Cup. I thought about going for a run, but I did not want to miss the rest of the match. Soon it was starting to get dark, so I did not bother. Whenever I watch tennis, I think how nice it would be to play it regularly. But I have been thinking that for almost 20 years without actually setting foot on a court. The evidence would suggest that I’m not the only one.
When a country or city bids to host an international sporting event, it often promises that more people will take up sports as a result. London was no exception. Tessa Jowell, who helped to secure the 2012 Olympics for London, said they would be the first to set challenging but achievable targets as a measure of their ambition: By 2012 two million more people would be physically active. And 60 percent of young people would be doing at least five hours of sports per week.
In the end it did not turn out quite like that. Just over one-third of people in Britain take part in sports once a week. A report on Olympic and Paralympic legacy has said that a big change in participation levels simply has not happened.
Why isn’t there a big increase in people taking part in sports after most sporting events? Perhaps it is a mistake to assume an automatic link between watching sports and playing it. While the games are on, they actually encourage people to do just the opposite — to spend whole sunny days not out playing sports, but inside sitting on the sofa with the curtains shut to stop the sun shining on the TV screen and spoiling the view. We don’t expect half the audience of a hit musical to apply to drama school the next day, yet we seem to expect it of sporting events.
We might have sat on the sofa doing an impression of Usain Bolt’s bow-and-arrow signature pose. But how many of us have been inspired by watching him sprint (短跑) 100 meters? The high-level performances on show only remind people that they could never match the elite athletes in their sporting achievements even if they trained full time.
Maybe participation in sports is not the right legacy to expect after a major sporting event. It’s not so much that the Olympics failed to get people to participate but rather that this was never going to be the result. The Olympics can do many things, but maybe this cannot necessarily be one of them.
1. What can we learn from the first paragraph?A.The author prefers playing tennis to running. |
B.The author watches tennis matches very rarely. |
C.The author hasn’t played tennis in nearly two decades. |
D.The author didn’t go for a run because the match lasted longer than expected. |
A.to fasten | B.to protect | C.to obtain | D.to promise |
①it takes people a longer time to play sports than watch it
②watching sports actually discourages people from going out
③sporting events make people aware that they could never be as good as elite athletes
④people are too busy to get into the habit of taking part in sports
A.①② | B.②③ | C.③④ | D.①④ |
A.important | B.natural | C.harmful | D.unnecessary |
How is it going?
Thank you for your interest in joining the school
Firstly, you need to show us that you can
Secondly, the tallest players are not always the ones that get
I hope these
Yours Sincerely,
Michael Jack
1.A.football | B.basketball | C.volleyball | D.baseball |
A.class | B.school | C.club | D.team |
A.investigating | B.questioning | C.seeking | D.testing |
A.but | B.or | C.for | D.so |
A.possibility | B.lesson | C.award | D.goal |
A.calling | B.aiming | C.answering | D.acting |
A.play | B.buy | C.make | D.borrow |
A.poses | B.bounces | C.moves | D.shots |
A.kick | B.set | C.keep | D.score |
A.take | B.keep | C.pay | D.switch |
A.chosen | B.awarded | C.promoted | D.fired |
A.talent | B.character | C.shape | D.intelligence |
A.hardwork | B.heroism | C.individualism | D.teamwork |
A.rules | B.qualities | C.traditions | D.conditions |
A.tips | B.warnings | C.requirements | D.announcements |