1 . Exercising regularly not only helps you keep slim, but also improves your overall health and well-being. Different exercises produce different results, as they focus on alternate parts of the body. There are four broad exercise categories: endurance, strength, flexibility, and balance. Many people often only focus on one exercise type, but including all four in your workout will produce better results and reduce your risk of injury.
Endurance
Endurance exercises increase your breathing and heart rate. By doing endurance exercises, you are working to keep your heart, lungs, and blood-flow system healthy while improving your total fitness. Over time these activities will make everyday activities seem easier.
Strength
If you want to build up your muscles, then strength exercises, which are also known as “resistance training”, are right for you. Even the slightest increase in strength can make a huge difference in your ability to carry out daily tasks. Developing strong muscles also reduce your risk of weak bones.
Flexibility
Flexibility exercises help stretch your body’s muscles. This allows for more freedom of movement for other exercises and can also improve your range of motion, posture, ability to breathe deeply, and blood flow. Also, it reduces the muscle tension caused by stress.
Balance
Balance exercises help prevent falls and are especially important to older adults, helping them stay independent. Most good balance exercises are ones that keep you constantly moving with your feet on the ground. Heel-to-toe walking and standing on one foot are simple ways to improve balance.
1. How can a person benefit most from their exercise routine?| A．By combining different exercise types together. |
| B．By having enough rest between their workouts. |
| C．By concentrating on one training aspect at a time. |
| D．By increasing the frequency of their training gradually. |
| A．Strength and Balance. | B．Flexibility and Balance. |
| C．Endurance and Strength. | D．Endurance and Flexibility. |
| A．Arms. | B．Legs. | C．Waist. | D．Neck. |
2 . Two days after eight e-sports (电子竞技) games were officially announced to be included in the 19th Asian Games, China’s Edward Gaming (EDG) team earned its first League of Legends World Championship title with a 3-2 win over South Korea in a tough battle on November 7th, immediately drawing cheers from people around the country. The topic “EDG wins” had been viewed more than 2.63 billion times as of press on Sina Weibo, ranking the top trending topic for a long time.
With the popularity of digital technology, new forms of cultural exchanges have been appearing, of which e-sports are the most popular. Unlike texts and videos, e-sports go beyond the barriers of language and are understandable around the world. E-sports mostly appeal to those in their early 20s, as shown by the carnival (狂欢) of college students. That in turn makes them a good bridge of communication between young Chinese people and their counterparts (对应的人) around the world.
More importantly, the e-sports industry is sustainable in spreading Chinese culture, as the large audiences mean huge commercial potential. In 2020 alone, the sales revenue of the domestic e-sports industry exceeded 278.69 billion yuan, and involved 280,000 enterprises which in turn created over 10 million jobs. According to a media report, nearly 95 percent of graduates from e-sports majors at the Communication University of China in Nanjing, succeeded in finding a job after graduation this year, with 62 percent of them devoted to the e-sports industry, including video game clubs, game design companies and game competition operation companies.
The inclusion of e-sports in major sporting events has been a much-discussed topic in recent years. With more Chinese gaming clubs and teams emerging, the industry is expected to further prosper and continue spreading Chinese culture to the world.
1. What did people on Chinese social media cheer for?| A．Eight e-sports would be included in Asian Games. |
| B．China’s e-sports industry was recognized by the world. |
| C．EDG won the League of Legends World Championship. |
| D．The 19th Asian Games were announced to be held in China. |
| A．They appeal to people of all ages. |
| B．They become a symbol of Chinese culture. |
| C．They result in the development of digital technology. |
| D．They strengthen the bond between young people around the world. |
| A．The high demands on e-sports players. |
| B．The difficulties of developing e-sports. |
| C．The importance of game design companies. |
| D．The contributions of e-sports industry to the economy. |
| A．Hopeful. | B．Ambiguous. |
| C．Doubtful. | D．Conservative. |
3 . A new study out of Canada suggests teenagers should spend less time looking at screens and more time getting involved in activities. The findings published in the journal Preventive Medicine were based on a survey of 28,000 7th graders in British Columbia.
They answered questions about how much time they spent watching TV, streaming videos 9 playing video games and how much time they spent on after-school activities like sports and music programs. Then they ranked how good they felt about each day when they woke up. From their answers, researchers concluded that teens who spent more time on activities were mentally healthier and less anxious and depressed than those who spent more time on screens. And the study suggested that extra screen time was especially harmful to girls. For them, researchers say the negative effects were stronger.
So how much screen time is too much? The Canadian Pediatric Society says all teens should have less than two hours of screen time per day and that guideline was factored into the study. But it’s important to point out that the information about it was gathered between 2014 and 2018, years before the CO VID hit. And this year, with fewer opportunities to see friends and participate in after-school events, teenagers have shown higher levels of depression and anxiety according to other research.
The lead author of the Canadian study says even though it’s harder to do, it’s still important to find ways for teens to safely get involved with programs and hobbies away from screens.
1. How was the study organized?| A．By doing a survey. |
| B．By referring to other research. |
| C．By conducting medical examination. |
| D．By using the results of other studies. |
| A．Teens spending more time on activities are more anxious. |
| B．Teens spending less time on screens are mentally healthier. |
| C．Girls spending more time on screens are less anxious than boys. |
| D．Boys spending more time on activities are more anxious than girls. |
| A．Confessed. | B．Continued. | C．Confused. | D．Considered. |
| A．Sport. | B．Culture. | C．Health. | D．Music. |
4 . Depression（抑郁症）in young adult males, ages 18 or 19, is linked to a 20% greater risk of having a heart attack in middle age, according to a new Swedish study.
The link can be partly explained by poorer stress resilience（抗压能力）and lower physical fitness among teens with mental disorders.
The research included 238,013 men born between 1958 and 1962 who were given examinations in adolescence（青春期）and were then followed into middle age（up to the age of 58 years）. A total of 34,503 men were diagnosed（诊断）with a mental disorder.
The study found that a mental disorder in young adulthond was linked to a higher risk of having heart attack by middle age. Compared to men without a mental illness in young adulthood，the risk of heart attack was 20%higher among men with a diagnosis.
“We already knew that men who were physically fit in adolescence seem less likely to keep fitness in later years if they have low stress resilience,” said study author Dr. Bergh, “Our research has also shown that low stress resilience is also connected with a greater tendency towards bad behavior, such as higher risks of smoking, drinking and other drug use.”
“Better fitness in adolescence is likely to help protect against later heart disease, particularly if people stay fit as they age. Physical activities may also reduce some of the bad effects of stress. Those in poor health could benefit from additional support to encourage exercise and develop plans to deal with stress,” said Bergh.
1. How does the author develop paragraph 3?| A．By giving examples. | B．By listing figures. |
| C．By making a comparison. | D．By drawing a conclusion. |
| A．Smoke more. | B．Eat more. | C．Sleep less. | D．Do less exercise. |
| A．Physical activities add to stress. | B．Stress may cause heart disease. |
| C．Taking exercise is unnecessary. | D．Staying fit is of great importance. |
| A．Entertainment. | B．Health. | C．Education. | D．Fashion. |
5 . Lacrosse is an outdoor team sport of Native American origin. It’s played with rackets (球拍) called lacrosse sticks, crosses for short, and a rubber ball. The crosses are long sticks with triangular (三角形的) nets on one end used to catch, carry and throw the ball. The crosses are different lengths depending on the position of the team member. There’re short crosses that are about a meter long, and there’re long crosses that are 1.3 to 1.8 meters long. Lacrosse is played on a field that is 100 meters long and 55 meters wide. In addition, there’re goals at either end that are 1.8 meters by 1.8 meters with nets. All players wear helmets.
Teams consist of ten players each: a goalie, three defensive players, three midfielders and three attackmen. The object of the game is to get the ball into the opponents’ (对手的) goal with the crosses. The team with the most goals at the end of the game wins. The goalie guards the goal, and the defensive players stay near the goalie to help protect the area. The midfielders can go anywhere on the field. The attackmen are usually the players who score the goals.
The game starts with a face-off between two players at the center of the field to see which team gets the ball first. Players then use their crosses to pass the ball to team members, trying to get the ball into the opponents’ goal. The opposing team can take the ball by using the end of their crosses to try and knock the ball out of the net of another player’s crosse. Only the goalies can touch the ball with their hands. Players can use their bodies to bump (碰撞) other players to try to get the ball. This is called body checking, and it’s only allowed above the waist (腰) and below the shoulders.
Men and women play lacrosse, but the rules are slightly different for men’s and women’s teams. For example, the women wear less protective clothes and body checking is not allowed. Rules also differ depending on if the team is a youth team, a college team or a professional team.
1. What do we know about crosses?| A．They can be different sizes. |
| B．They are used to store the ball. |
| C．They can help protect the players. |
| D．They have round nets on the end. |
| A．Pass the ball. |
| B．Score the points. |
| C．Protect team members. |
| D．Defend the goal net from shots. |
| A．Body checking is against the rules. |
| B．Attacking opponents’ legs is forbidden. |
| C．Players can pass the ball with their hands. |
| D．The game begins with midfielders’ competition. |
| A．They apply to all types of team alike. |
| B．They are different for different teams. |
| C．They limit protective clothes in men’s teams. |
| D．They permit body checking in women’s games. |
6 . Looking for a fun World Earth Day activity? You may want to try plogging, or picking up litter while jogging. The new “sport” is becoming extremely popular with runners worldwide, many of whom are posting photos of themselves and friends holding bags of trash on social media.
Originated from the word jogging and “plocka upp”, a Swedish expression which means “pick up”, plogging is the idea of Erik Alström. In 2016, after moving to Stockholm, Alström became increasingly agitated at the amount of trash on the road during his daily bike ride to work. Since picking up litter while on his bike was hard to do, Alström began making the activity part of his daily runs. “I was shocked by the amount of junk along the way,” he said, “The same trash could remain on the road for several weeks without anyone picking it up, so I started picking it up.”
Other joggers soon joined Alström, and, by the end of 2016, the activity became so popular that official “plogging” events, with groups of runners entering, began appearing suddenly all across Sweden. As plogging began turning up on social media, the new “sport” started to spread beyond Sweden, first to other European countries and then worldwide. The official online “Plogga” group now has members from over 40 countries, all the way from the United States to Thailand and Ecuador. Many school running clubs are also getting in on the action, posting photos of themselves after going plogging together or holding competitions that reward the runner with the heaviest trash bag.
According to Swedish fitness app Lifesun, a person burns about 288 calories while plogging for half an hour. This is about 50 calories more than he/she would burn when just jogging. So, why not put on your running shoes, take a trash bag or two and make every day World Earth Day?
1. What can we learn about plogging from the text?| A．It was created on World Earth Day. | B．It encourages people to run to work. |
| C．It is enjoyed by worldwide travelers. | D．It is an environmentally friendly sport. |
| A．Familiar. | B．Doubtful. | C．Upset. | D．Interested. |
| A．The online group “Plogga”. | B．The Internet. |
| C．The government. | D．School clubs. |
| A．Making plogging a daily habit. | B．Doing more exercise to burn calories. |
| C．Improving the environment every day. | D．Celebrating this year's World Earth Day. |
7 . “Taijiquan is a traditional physical practice in China characterized by relaxed, circular movements that work with breath regulation.” thus reads the introduction of Taijiquan by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) on its website. Also referred to as T'ai Chi or Chinese boxing, Taijiquan has been a well-known physical practice worldwide. For a long time, different stories regarding the birthplace of Taijiquan have made the rounds, focusing mainly on two places-Wudang Mountain in Hubei Province, central China, and Wenxian County.
A tale tells how a man named Zhang Shanfeng created Taijiquan about 1,000 years ago after witnessing a fight between a sparrow and a snake, drawing inspiration from the animals' movements. The Wudang Mountain is known as one of China's major Taoist land-marks. This oldest philosophy of China has had a great impact on Taijiquan.
The story about its Chenjiagou origin has some more hard proof. In the mid-17th century, a retired general and village head named Chen Wangting combined his kungfu training with elements of Chinese philosophy to create Chen style Tai Chi. Popular belief holds that many modern styles of Taijiquan have been derived from the Chen style. Wenxian is listed as Taijiquan's birthplace on the UNESCO website.
Different from Shaolin Kungfu's powerful approach, Taijiquan looks softer and slower. This soft yet powerful spirit runs through the style of Chenjiagou, which has about 300 years of Taijiquan history.
The Chen style Taijiquan was passed down the generations. Chen Ziqiang is a direct offspring of Chen Wangting. His uncle Chen Xiaowang is now a world-renowned T'ai Chi master and his father Chen Xiaoxing, a leading actor in the video that China submitted to the UNESCO when applying for the honor, also has gained international fame.
1. What can we know from paragraph 1?| A．Taijiquan benefits our body. | B．Taijiquan is for competition. |
| C．Taijiquan is in a stressful movement. | D．Taijiquan features quick movements. |
| A．Declined. | B．Developed. | C．Obtained. | D．Differed. |
| A．The Chen style is softer and slower than modern styles of T'ai Chi |
| B．The Chen style has a great impact on philosophy of China. |
| C．It has about 300 years of history. |
| D．It was created by animals' fight. |
| A．Music. | B．Science. | C．Advertisement. | D．Culture. |
8 . Writing contests are a great way for high school students to showcase their creative skills. Here are some of the top free writing contests for high school students.
Young Lions Fiction Contest
Award Amount: $10,000
Deadline: Usually in September
The Young Lions Fiction Contest was established in 2001 by the New York Public Library. Five finalists are recognized, with one taking home the grand prize of $10,000. To qualify, the author must be 25 or younger and submit a novel or a collection of short stories.
53-Word Story Contest
Award: Publication in Prime Number Magazine
Deadline: 21st of each month
Hosted by Prime Number Magazine, writers are put to the test and have to respond to a prompt (提示) with a 53-word story. The prompt changes each month, and the responses must be 53 words exactly. Only stories are permitted and only one submission per writer per month is allowed.
Signet Essay Contest
Award Amount: $1,000 to be used towards your higher education
Deadline: April 22, 2021
I£ you are a Wuthering Heights fan, then the Signet Essay Contest is the one for you. Five high school juniors or seniors can win an award for their two to three — page essays. You must select one of the five prompts1 based on the events and characters in Wuthering Heights.
Ocean Awareness Contest
Award Amount: Scholarships up to $1,500
Deadline: June 15, 2021
The Ocean Awareness Contest aims to recognize writers while raising awareness about the climate crisis. Students can submit visual art, film or music. Each category has specific qualifications, so make sure to check.
1. How many people can get the grand prize in Young Lions Fiction Contest?| A．One. | B．Five. | C．Six. | D．Ten. |
| A．It is held on the last day of each month. |
| B．The participants can choose any topic. |
| C．It awards winners a large sum of money. |
| D．The entry must contain exactly 53 words. |
| A．They are all free of charge. |
| B．They provide scholarships. |
| C．They accept various forms of works. |
| D．They center on environmental issues. |
August 16, 2016 runners Abbey D' Agostino (USA) and Nikki Hamblin (New Zealand) touched the world while they
In an interview later, Nikki recalled how the suddenness of the crash and fall influenced her. "When I went down it was like, 'What's happening? Why am I on the ground?' And suddenly there's this hand on my shoulder, like '
"I'm so thankful for Abbey for doing that for me. That girl is the Olympic spirit right there." Nikki said. The simple act has become a
| A．took | B．fought | C．competed | D．played |
| A．came into | B．crashed into | C．broke into | D．turned into |
| A．slow down | B．break down | C．sit down | D．came down |
| A．all | B．both | C．none | D．neither |
| A．turned | B．remembered | C．planned | D．agreed |
| A．Get up | B．Get away | C．Get on | D．Get off |
| A．interested | B．impressed | C．excited | D．surprised |
| A．Hopefully | B．Hopelessly | C．Luckily | D．Unluckily |
| A．continuing | B．stopping | C．climbing | D．riding |
| A．carry | B．take | C．bring | D．hold |
| A．make | B．remind | C．advise | D．refuse |
| A．achievement | B．improvement | C．development | D．encouragement |
| A．If | B．Yet | C．Though | D．Unless |
| A．wise | B．funny | C．beautiful | D．polite |
| A．medal | B．symbol | C．mark | D．sign |
Tai Chi Chuan,
Tai Chi is a term in the Chinese
Tai Chi is an unusual form of martial arts where we believe
Today, Tai Chi is so popular in the west. Some health professionals have regarded Tai Chi as one of the
