1 .

Is running a marathon in under two hours possible? Will a human ever be able to run that fast? Currently, the world record for the 42.195 km (26.219 miles) distance is held by Kenyan Dennis Kimetto. His time of 2:02:57 hours was achieved at the Berlin Marathon of 2014.

For many years, long-distance runners have been trying to get nearer and nearer to the magical mark of two hours. Studies published in the past by medical and athletic experts have come to the conclusion that running a marathon in under 2 hours can be done. They even see a time of around 1:57 as the fastest a human can ever run. However, we will have to wait at least a decade or longer for this to happen.

Many things must fit together to deliver an under two-hour marathon. An athlete would have to have the perfect body size and weight, the right running strategy and of course, the right nutrition. Today's most perfect runners come from Kenya and Ethiopia, countries that have dominated (统治) long-distance races for decades. East African athletes have long legs and lungs that can take in lots of oxygen. Training at high altitudes gives them a strong heart and a very large blood volume (容量).

Ideal weather conditions with cool temperatures and almost no wind will also be needed to attempt such a quick time. An ultra-fast marathon would only be possible on flat city courses, like Berlin or London, with few curves (弯道).

Since the beginning of the modern Olympic Games in 1896, athletes have tried to run long-distance races as fast as possible. In 1900, the marathon world record was around 3 hours. In the following 30 years, men were able to reach a mark of 2:30. As time went on achieving faster times became more and more difficult. In the last 15 years, for example, the world record has improved by only 3 minutes.

On the other hand, some experts think that such fast performances will only be possible with the help of illegal drugs or substances (物质). In the past years, several East African runners have been tested positive and many of them banned.

1. What are Paragraphs 3 & 4 mainly about?

A．The benefits of running a marathon.

B．The conditions for an under two-hour marathon.

C．The development of modern long-distance races.

D．Perfect runners who can compete in a marathon.

2. Which of the following does the author agree with?

A．East Africans are born to be long-distance runners.

B．It's impossible to beat the marathon world record again.

C．More and more athletes are losing their interest in marathons.

D．It's easier to achieve a marathon world record in Berlin than in London.

3. What's the author's attitude towards running a marathon in under 2 hours?

A．Hopeful.	B．Doubtful.
C．Uncertain.	D．Uninterested.

4. What's the main purpose of the text?

A．To inform.	B．To discuss.
C．To educate.	D．To persuade.

2 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Tied to skis (滑雪板) and pulled around a     1     (freeze) lake by a thoroughbred racehorse—skijö ring is a sport like no other. The hardy skiers travel at frightening speeds, using just their voice and a set of rules to guide the horses around the icy track. The     2     (usual) sport is considered the showpiece event of the White Turf races—a wintery festival held at the upmarket ski resort of St. Moritz.

The sport requires the ability to mix skiing talent     3     a high-level of horsemanship. “During the race you need a really strong voice,” two-time race winner Valeria Holinger told CNN Sport. “Only by shouting can you make the horse go     4     (fast) than others”.

Competitors must wait until they’re 18 before     5     (allow) to participate in the event. Even then, driver—as they’re known—must pass fitness tests     6     hard theory exams—for good reason, too. Not only     7     (be) they traveling at incredible speeds, there is also the added danger of     8     (full) grown racehorses trampling (踩) on the skis. In addition, the speeding hooves (马蹄) kick up huge amounts of snow and ice     9     crash into the legs of the skiers behind.

Such unique threats call for unique     10     (protect). Drivers are required to use face masks to keep the snow out of their eyes and wear body armor under their ski suits.

3 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Up to 82 percent of children with healthy mothers are not easy to be obese（肥胖的）, according to research. A mother,     1     has a healthy weight, exercises regularly, eats a healthy diet, doesn’t smoke and only     2    (drink) wine in moderation, is significantly less likely     3    (have)a fat child, scientists say.

And research suggests it could be more to do with nurture(养育)    4     nature, as a mother's lifestyle appears     5    (direct) linked to the health of her child. When both mother and child follow a healthy lifestyle, the risk of obesity     6    (reduce)even more, the study of more than 24,000 children found.

The study examined the medical history and lifestyles of more than 24,000 children aged nine     7     fourteen, born to almost 17,000 women in the US. Researchers looked at the link between overall mother health and likelihood of a child     8    (be) obese.

The mother's health was judged on her height-to-weight ratio(比例), her diet, amount of physical     9    (active), smoking status and how much alcohol she drank. A healthy weight and diet, regular exercise, no smoking and moderate drinking all reduce the chance of a woman having     10     obese child.

4 . You may think that sailing is a difficult sport, but it is really not hard to learn it. You do not need to be strong. But you need to be quick. And you need to understand a few basic rules about the wind.
First, you must ask yourself, “Where is the wind coming from? Is it coming from ahead or behind or from the side?” You must think about this all the time on the boat. The wind direction tells you what to do with the sail.
Let’s start with the wind blowing from the behind. This means the wind and the boat are going in the same direction. Then you must always keep the sail outside the boat. It should be at a 90° angle (角度) to the boat. Then it will catch the wind best.
If the wind is blowing from the side, it is blowing across the boat. In this case, you must keep the sail half way outside the boat. It should be at a 45° angle to the boat. It needs to be out far enough to catch the wind, but it shouldn’t flap (摆动). It shouldn’t look like on a flagpole. If it is flapping, it is probably out too far, and the boat will slow down.
Sailing into the wind is not possible. If you try, the sail will flap and the boat will stop. You may want to go in that direction. It is possible, but you can’t go in a straight line. You must go first in one direction and then in another. This is called tacking. When you are tacking, you must always keep the sail inside the boat.
1. What should you consider first while sailing?

A．Sailors’ strength.	B．Wave levels.
C．Wind directions.	D．Size of sails.

2. What does the word “It” underlined in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A．The boat.

B．The wind.

C．The sail.

D．The angle.

3. What do you have to do when sailing against the wind?

A．Move in a straight line.	B．Allow the sail to flap.
C．Lower the sail.	D．Tack the boat.

4. Where can you probably find the text?

A．In a popular magazine.	B．In a tourist guidebook.
C．In a physics textbook.	D．In an official report.