1 . 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 |
3 . Do you want to look slim? Here are four easy walking ways to help you lose weight.
●The I'm-so-mad walk.
First step: You can shout wildly, and gesture to yourself. But invite a friend or a family member who understands the situation to join you so as not to attract too much attention.
●
First step: On days when you're too busy to walk, at least spend a few quiet minutes with your eyes closed. Imagine yourself walking powerfully and purposefully. It will help you develop muscle memory.
●The mini walk. If your day is too packed for your typical 45-minute walk, then take just three separate 15-minute periods.
First step: It's the same way that basketball players use to train shots mentally. That's a key difference. The latter often feels like an interruption to the day, while the former is a natural part of it.
●The parking and walk. Do you live too far from workplace to walk?
First step: Dress in casual clothes and walking shoes, and then change into your business clothes at the office.
A.The virtual walk. |
B.The outdoor walk. |
C.You will walk slower with anger. |
D.You’ll gain just as much health benefit. |
E.When something is making you angry, hit the road instead of the wall. |
F.You’ll be surprised at how good you’ll feel afterwards with him or her. |
G.Then sometimes drive until you're a mile away, park, and walk the rest. |
4 . Welcome to the International Science Drama Competition 2022
This competition is an annual event aimed to promote science through drama. It involves teams from Singapore and overseas, and will be a great opportunity for you to showcase your talents on an international level.
What is the theme for the International Science Drama Competition 2022?
The theme for 2022 is “Sustainable Agriculture for a Better Future”.
Your performance should combine scientific content and drama. Examples of some possible topics include but are not limited to the following:
Farming using renewable energy sources
Hydroponics(水栽培)and Aquaponics(养种共生)
Food security
Protecting the environment as we meet society's food and textile needs
How do I participate in the International Science Drama Competition 2022?
Junior Category
All participants must be age 12 or below, excluding teachers or adults who can help as backstage crew.
Open Category
Teams will compete in this category when at least one member is above age 12.
Short Films Category
There is no age limit for participants. You may participate with your friends, families or community groups. You may represent your school or an organization or just form a team and compete on your own.
Mark your calendars!
Date | Programme |
March 8,2022 | Submission of Entry Forms |
May 5,2022 | Video Submission Deadline |
May 19,2022 | Announcement of Shortlisted Finalists' Videos |
June 7,2022 | Video Submission Deadline for Finalists |
June 14~23,2022 | LIVE Online Polling of Finalists' Videos |
June 28,2022 | Results Announcement |
July ~ September,2022 (Date to be confirmed) | GRAND FINALS! (Online) |
1. What do we know about the competition?
A.Its theme is limited to four topics. |
B.It's held in many different countries. |
C.It's intended to promote science through drama. |
D.Its participants will go from one category to another. |
A.You must have an adult coach. |
B.You must represent your school. |
C.At least one member is above age 12. |
D.All participants must be age 12 or below. |
A.By March 8, 2022. | B.By June 7, 2022. |
C.By June 28, 2022. | D.By September 14, 2022. |
5 . If you're looking for a new sport to have a go at, put skateboarding at the top of your list.
Choosing a board is straightforward — you can easily find inexpensive boards, but your best bet is to visit your local skate shop, where the staff can give you advice on the right board for your height and age. You will also need protection — a helmet, elbow, knee and wrist pads (软垫)are essential when you take fall.
Once you have your board and protective equipment, you are ready to roll. It's a good idea to begin on grass or a patch of carpet, because that will stop the board's wheels from moving while you learn how to balance. Stand on the board with your feet over its bolts (闩).
A.Skateboarding is a very social sport. |
B.Sure, you may end up with the odd injuries. |
C.Get a feel for how the board moves to the left and right. |
D.There are many skateboarding competitions held every year. |
E.Falling is part of the sport but you can learn how to fall properly. |
F.It is a fun and active sport, and is suitable for all fitness levels. |
G.Falls are part of learning to skateboard, so you should always be fully protected. |
6 . A Cappella Competition
Do you love to sing?
Come and show off your talents at the Chilton Youth A Cappella Competition!
>October 20th, 11:00 a. m.-17:00p. m.
>Edward Greatcoat Theater, Sealey Road, Chilton
>Rules
Please remember that this is a cappella (清唱)competition!
No instruments or recorded music will be allowed.
Competitors may sing published or original songs in any style.
Competitors must be between 8 and 15 years old.
There are four categories:
(1)Solo(8-11 years old) (2)Solo(12-15 years old)
(2)Group(8-11 years old) (4)Group(12-15 years old)
★Competitors under 12 years old must stay with a parent or other adult at all times.
★Each competitor must pay an entry fee of $10.
★Winners will receive S500 and a course of 20 lessons with famous voice teacher Vickie Leonard.
★Winners will be decided by three judges from the Chilton School of Music. Their decision is final.
>Additional information
★Please arrive at the Edward Greatcoat Theater between 9: 00 a. m. and 10: 00 a. m. to register, as the competition will start at 11: 00 a. m. The parking lot has limited spaces so you are advised to come as early as possible.
★Shared dressing rooms with showers will be open for all competitors.
★Tickets for the competition are available at the theater from October 1st. There is no charge. for these, but again, spaces are limited.
1. What do we know about the event?A.Competitors shouldn't be more than 15 years old. |
B.Competitors shouldn't go into the dressing room. |
C.Competitors take part in this competition for free. |
D.Competitors can't sing a song written by themselves. |
A.9:00a. m. | B.10:00a. m. | C.11:00a. m. | D.12:00a. m. |
A.To invite people to a concert. | B.To attract more visitors to the theater. |
C.To offer free singing lessons. | D.To inform a singing competition. |
7 . Accompanied by her father, using a combination of aid and free climbing and taking advantage of some special equipment and ropes for protection, 10-year-old Selah made it to the top of El Capitan on June 12 after five days of big wall climbing.
Climbing the challenging and adventurous Nose route of El Capitan was a labor of love for Selah in more than one way. Her parents , Mike and Joy Schneiter, fell in love on this 3,000- plus-foot huge rock and she has always wanted to feel the way that her parents felt when they were up there together. Selah showed great interest in rock climbing at an early age. She wore her first rock-climbing equipment shortly after she learned to walk. She first dreamed of climbing El Capitan when she was 6 or 7.
El Capitan is a famous mountain-sized rock in Yosemite National Park. Getting to its top is no easy task. It's taller, as reported, than the tallest building in the world-Dubai’s Buri Khalifa. El Capitan and its difficult Nose route, which runs more than 3,000 feet high up the center of the rock's face, is considered one of the world's hardest big wall climbs and has attracted the best climbers over time. But never before had a youngster accomplished it.
Selah's achievement caught national attention. Outside Magazine called her the youngest documented person to climb the Nose. Ken Yager, president of the Yosemite Climbing Association, said he also couldn't think of anyone younger who has done it.
Selah is humble about her El Capitan accomplishment. "I'm not necessarily a special kid or anything like that, she said. "There were a few times when I would be so worn that it would kind of discourage me from holding on. But overall, it was just great to keep plugging away.”
Selah shared this advice for other young climbers dreaming of big walls, "It doesn't take necessarily a super special person to do something like that. You just have to put your mind to it.”
1. What do we learn about Selah climbing El Capitan?A.She began her climbing on June 5. |
B.She got inspired by her family history. |
C.She managed without any external help. |
D.She was the first female to reach the top. |
A.To state El Capitan's height. |
B.To prove El Capitan's popularity. |
C.To introduce El Capitan's location. |
D.To stress the challenge of climbing El Capitan. |
A.Determined. | B.Generous. |
C.Warm-hearted. | D.Fortunate. |
A.Dream big and aim high. |
B.Be committed to your ambition. |
C.Chance favors the prepared mind. |
D.Nothing is impossible for a genius. |
8 . Competition in the Olympics should be between athletes who use their own strength or speed. If some athletes don’t follow the rules, it ruins the fun for everyone connected with the game. It also gives an extremely unfair advantage to the athlete using the drug.
———Jim from Atlanta
Drug use among top athletes has long been a problem. Without drug testing, the Olympics would be about who uses the most drugs, not who trains the hardest and has the most athletic skills. Also drugs hurt people and they could even kill people.
———David from Houston
Why should athletes be allowed to compete when it’s not really them who are actually competing? It’s the drugs that do all the work. Athletes who use drugs are like runners with skates. It’s cheating and irresponsible, which must be strictly forbidden. It’s unfair to other competitors who don’t use drugs.
———Bruce from Chicago
Most sports athletes are held to a standard of being drug free. Olympians should not be held any differently. They take part in highly competitive sports for their country and win medals for it. Testing the athletes for drugs must be done in every country and every sport. No drug testing would be unfair to people who don’t use drugs.
———Sam from Los Angeles
Although popular opinion is against athletes’ using drugs, I believe they do help make the Olympic sports more wonderful. I enjoy seeing human beings achieving things that couldn’t be done with normal conditioning. I enjoy seeing stronger, faster and longer performances by make good use of drugs.
———Jack from New York
1. What does David think of drug use in the Olympics?A.It’s more common in top athletes than others. |
B.It’s a difficult problem to deal with. |
C.It’s bad for athletes’ health. |
D.It helps improve athletes’ skills. |
A.Drugs help athletes reach greater speeds. |
B.Using drugs is the same as cheating. |
C.Runners should not be allowed to use drugs. |
D.Using drugs can not test athletes’ real ability. |
A.discuss whether Olympic athletes should be tested for drugs |
B.warn people of the bad influences of drug use |
C.explain why drugs should be avoided in the Olympics |
D.call people’s attention to sports and drugs |
9 . It's not often to see a woman who’s seven months pregnant running a marathon. But Beatie Deutsch is anything but typical.
The 30-year-old mother of five is ranked as one of the top women marathon runners in the world and, as of today, has qualified for the 32nd Summer Olympics. What impresses people more deeply is that, unlike many Olympic hopefuls who have been training their whole lives, Deutsch only took up running four years ago.
Why did she train for a marathon? "I was really out of shape after having five kids," she said. "So I set the goal for myself of running a marathon and that helped me. I needed something to be motivated to get out there and train every day. I didn't ever expect it to take me to this."
The Israeli press has been tracking her with pride, calling her "Speedy Beatie". Hoping to add more purpose to her newfound fame, Deutsch uses her running as a way to raise money for a charity Beit Daniella. This nonprofit organization provides a recovery center for youths who are struggling with mental health issues.
That mission(使命)is helping fuel her Olympic dreams. At the Tiberias Marathon last month, Deutsch was the fastest woman in the race. This past September, she finished the Cape Town Marathon in two hours and thirty-six minutes. That's a few minutes shy of her personal best of two hours and twenty-nine minutes, a time that qualifies her for the Olympics. She will try to shave even more time off when she competes in the Rotterdam Marathon this April.
It's remarkable for someone who started her athletic career in her late 20s. "I always tell people to have big dreams, and set huge goals. Don't get caught up in the place where we are right now and have tunnel vision and are limited in what we see of ourselves," said Deutsch, who now travels the world as a motivational speaker.
1. What is the main reason for Deutsch's being impressive?A.Her typical birth place. | B.Her five lovely children. |
C.Her identity as a marathon runner | D.Her short time involved in running |
A.Creative. | B.Caring. |
C.Modest. | D.Adaptable. |
A.Deutsch’s dream | B.Deutsch’s mission |
C.Deutsch's achievement. | D.Deutsch's shy personality. |
A.Life lies in movement. | B.Dream big and aim high |
C.Interest is the best teacher. | D.Wealth is nothing without health. |
10 . The Tokyo Olympics have been postponed until 2021. That delay offers a chance for reflection. The International Olympic Committee wants to make the games more popular with young people. To that end, it is introducing new events, such as skateboarding, surfing and climbing. Why not go further and let national teams compete at video games? Electronic sports such as "Fortnite", are vastly more popular than strange Olympic sports like curling(冰壶). In fact, they are more appealing than most mainstream sports. Only 28% of British boys aged 16-19 watch any traditional live sports; 57% play video games.
Some may complain that e-sports are not proper sports. Many parents, observing their teenagers sitting on the sofa all day shouting "Quick, pass me the shotgun!" at a screen, would agree. Yet video games are highly competitive, with professional teams that play to packed stadiums. There are perhaps only 200 tennis stars in the world who can make a living from playing in major competitions. By contrast, "League of Legends", a fantasy game played by teams of five, supports over 1,000 on good wages. Its World Championship final last year was watched by 44 million people.
Those against e-sports offer moral objections, too. They are addictive. Prince Harry has called for "Fortnite" to be banned for this reason. They are violent. At a time of global disharmony, it is bad idea to make virtual(虚拟的)killing an Olympic sport. The Olympics aim to promote peace.
Neither of these arguments is convincing. The idea that an activity, rather than material, can be addictive is controversial among doctors, as is the existence of a causal(因果的)link between gaming and violence. And the belief that warlike sports have no place in the Olympics is hard to agree with history. Wrestling was introduced in 708 BC. It is still there.
1. Why is the International Olympic Committee bringing in new events?A.To replace mainstream sports. | B.To attract more young people. |
C.To make up for the delay. | D.To show innovations. |
A.E-sports are proper games. | B.Tennis has declined greatly. |
C.Tennis players' salary is lower. | D.E-sport players have achieved a lot. |
A.Positive. | B.Skeptical. |
C.Unconcerned. | D.Discouraged. |
A.To introduce how e-sports develop. |
B.To show what benefits e-sports can bring. |
C.To explain why young people like playing e-sports. |
D.To argue e-sports can be included in the Olympics. |