1 . History Fair Competition

Understanding history is vital to understanding ourselves as a people and as a nation. History is much more than the study of dusty old objects and events long past. It is an essential part of who we are today and who we will become. Thornton Middle School History Fair Competition makes understanding history exciting, engaging, and fun!

This Year’s Theme

All participants must address how communication or transportation technology has promoted the quality of life for Americans throughout history. To many people, technology means computers, hand—held devices, or vehicles that travel to distant planets. However, technology is also the application of scientific knowledge to solve a problem, touching lives in countless ways.

Individuals or groups may enter one of the following categories:

 Performance

 Documentary

 Essay Writing

Category Requirements

Performance: A dramatic presentation of the topic no more than 10 minutes long. If special clothes are used, they should truly represent a given period.

Documentary: A visual presentation ( such as a video,slide show,or computer project) no more than 10minutes long. A desktop computer,screen,projector,and loudspeakers will be available. Students must provide their presentations on CDs before Friday,March 23.

Essay Writing: An academic paper of 2,000 to 2,500 words. No illustrations(图解) are allowed. Please do not include covers. A list of references must be included.

Important Dates

January 5 Submit a topic proposal to your history teacher. The teacher may require a second proposal if the first is off—topic or unclear.

February 19 A committee of teachers will evaluate materials and give opinions. Students then have an opportunity to improve their products.

March 9     Submit a final draft of your essay.

March 15   Performance and documentary committee preview

March 24   Thornton Middle School History Fair Competition

7:00A.M—9:00 A.M Participants signing in at the gym

10: 00A.M. 6:00PM. Competition and judges' review

7: 00P.M. Awards ceremony and picnic

1. What's the main purpose of understanding history?

A．To preserve national traditions.

B．To prepare for a history competition.

C．To better know the present and future.

D．To further explore historical mysteries.

2. What is the theme of this year's competition?

A．Technology advances science.

B．Science interacts with technology.

C．Science has made the study of history easy.

D．Technology has improved the life of Americans.

3. What will the committee of teachers do on February 19?

A．Make comments on the materials.

B．Improve the participant's second proposal.

C．Preview performances and documentaries.

D．Collect a second proposal from the participant.

2 . Where are the speakers?

A．In a stadium.

B．In their home.

C．In a theater.

3 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容(1个单词)或括号内单词的正确形式，并填在答题卡的相应位置。

A soldier from the war of Vilna who ran the New York Marathon     1     memory of three men he served alongside, crawled (爬行) across the finish line as his body almost gave up- but his mind didn't.

In 2010, Mike's three friends, Mark Juarez, Matthew Ballard and Rupert Hamer,     2     (kill)in a bombing attack. He was     3     (fortune) to be alive and active. After returning home, he decided to run the New York Marathon for his late friends and draw     4     (attend) to veterans' (老兵的) situations.

Close to the end, his legs gave way and he fell down in great pain, but he wasn't going to let it stop him. He used his arms     5     (drag) his body towards the finish line.     6     (eventual) he regained enough feeling in his legs and began to crawl. With the crowd     7     (cheer), Mike crossed the finish line on his hands and knees.

During the race, Mike repeated his friends' names, even though it causer curious looks from other competitors.

Mike said their names gave him     8     (strong).He also fixed their names,     9     were on three golden plates, to his shoelaces. As for the pain he experienced,.” he said, “    10     I was going through is nothing compared the pain that my friends went through