Venus and Serena Williams’ road
2 . Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, born on December 27, 1986, is a Jamaican track and field sprinter who competes in the 60 metres, 100 metres and 200 metres.
Not so long ago, most people didn’t know who Shelly-Ann was going to become. She was just an average high school athlete. There was every indication that she was just another teenager without much of a future. However, one person wants to change this. Stephen Francis observed then eighteen-year-old Shelly-Ann at a track meet and was convinced that he had seen the beginning of greatness. He decided to train Shelly-Ann strictly. Their cooperation quickly produced results. At Jamaica’s Olympic Games in 2008, Shelly-Ann beat Jamaica’s unchallenged queen of the sprint. Widely regarded as one of the greatest sprinters of all time, her achievements on the track since 2008 helped to elevate Jamaican athletics on the international scene.
Shelly-Ann is a little woman with a big smile. She has a mental toughness that did not come about by chance. Her journey to becoming the fastest woman on earth has been anything but smooth and effortless. She grew up in one of Jamaica’s toughest communities known as Waterhouse, where she lived in a one-room apartment, sleeping four in a bed with her mother and two brothers. Waterhouse, one of the poorest communities in Jamaica, is a really violent and overpopulated place. Sometimes her family didn’t have enough to eat. Her mother Maxime, one of a family of fourteen, had been an athlete herself as a young girl but had to stop after she had her first baby. Maxime’s early entry into the adult world gave her the determination to ensure that her kids would get rid of poverty. Therefore, one of the first things Maxime used to do with Shelly-Ann was taking her to the track and she was ready to sacrifice everything.
When talking about her achievements and legacy, this incredible woman responded that her secret is just staying humble and just knowing who you are as a person and athlete and just continuing to work had. “I don’ pay much attention to where I fall in history. When I decide to leave the sport, I want to leave it better than I saw it. I want to make sure that other young athletes can see that you need to work hard, you need to stay humble, you need to stay focused, and the sky is the limit,” Shelly-Ann said.
1. When Stephen Francis first met Shelly-Ann at the track meet, ________.| A．he had already heard of her | B．he saw great potential in her |
| C．she had beaten the famous sprinter | D．she was admired by her schoolmates |
| A．was interested in sprinting herself |
| B．was a successful athlete previously |
| C．wanted her children out of poverty |
| D．wanted her daughter to be a world champion |
| A．is satisfied with her achievements in sprinting |
| B．hopes to set a good example for younger athletes |
| C．decides to retire after she reaches her full potential |
| D．determines to make sprinting the most popular sport in Jamaica |
| A．Warmhearted and generous. | B．Sympathetic and patient. |
| C．Creative and friendly. | D．Ambitious and determined. |
Kobe Bryant’s
4 . Unless you are fortunate enough to know an NBA player, Ryan Martin is probably the best basketball player you'll ever meet. Unlike those who fly up and down the court (球场),however, Martin is forced to take a different approach; he doesn't have legs.
Martin, a 33-year old man, is a professional wheelchair basketball player. His achievements have taken him halfway around the world to play in Spain for the last seven years. There he made a comfortable living playing basketball and working with some of the greatest athletes in the world.
“A good wheelchair player can make $ 50,000 a year, while a star can make six figures,” said Martin. What's more, he couldn't see his family for months and European cities were unfriendly to the disabled. He also had to learn Spanish. Martin, however, overcame those drawbacks(困难).
He started by playing basketball when he was 12. It didn't take long for him to fall in love with the sport and, after graduating from Somers High, he attended Southwest Minnesota State University on a basketball scholarship. In college, he scored over 1 ,000 points in his career and set several school records.
And he works as hard—if not harder—than any other professional athlete. “He destroys me,” said Gina Navarra, who works out with Martin on occasion. “What he does amazes me.”
Martin also recognizes that, at age 33, he's in the back end of his career. With that in mind, he has been focusing more and more on his foundation.
“I have 12 brothers and sisters. College gave me a true sense of achievement. The foundation is designed to give those with disabilities the opportunity to realize the dreams that I once had,” Martin said.
“I'm not saying that out of a sense of pity,” he said. “I realize how fortunate I am to have achieved what I have. But I want to open doors for people.”
1. What was Ryan Martin's life like in Spain?| A．Free. | B．Boring. | C．Difficult. | D．Bittersweet. |
| A．He stood out in basketball. | B．He failed to make a record. |
| C．He was weak in his studies. | D．He never won a scholarship. |
| A．To help those in need. | B．To finish his basketball career. |
| C．To earn more money for his family. | D．To learn basketball skills from other players. |
| A．Honest and responsible. | B．Ambitious and sensitive. |
| C．Reliable and knowledgeable. | D．Determined and warm-hearted. |
5 . Kobe Bryant was one of nine people killed in a helicopter crash on 26, Jan. 2019. He was 41. His 13-year-old daughter Gianna was also killed in the crash. Bryant was one of the greatest NBA players of all-time and an icon in the sports world. In addition to his success on the basketball court, Bryant was known for a ceaseless work ethic and incredible drive.
In honor of Bryant’s legacy, here are some inspiring quotes from Bryant on hard work, success, and life.
On achieving success:
“When you make a choice and say, ‘Come hell or high water, I am going to be this,’ then you should not be surprised when you are that. It should not be something that is intoxicating or out of character because you have seen this moment for so long that ... when that moment comes, of course it is here because it has been here the whole time, because it has been [in your mind] the whole time.”
On failure:
“I don’t mean to sound cavalier when I say that, but never. It’s basketball. I’ve practiced and practiced and played so many times. There’s nothing truly to be afraid of, when you think about it ... Because I’ve failed before, and I woke up the next morning, and I’m OK. People say bad things about you in the paper on Monday, and then on Wednesday, you're the greatest thing since sliced bread. I’ve seen that cycle, so why would I be nervous about it happening?”
On life:
“There’s a choice that we have to make as people, as individuals. If you want to be great at something there is a choice you have to make. We can all be masters at our craft, but you have to make a choice. What I mean by that is, there are inherent sacrifices that come along with that — family time, hanging out with your friends, being a great friend, being a great son, nephew, whatever the case may be. There are sacrifices that come along with that.”
On retiring and facing the end of his basketball career:
“There is beauty in that. I mean, it's going through the cycle. I mean, it's the cycle that is the natural progression of growth, of maturation. I mean, there's no sadness in that ... I see the beauty in not being able to blow past defenders anymore, you know what I mean? I see the beauty in getting up in the morning and being in pain because I know all the hard work that it took to get to this point. So, I’m not, I'm not sad about it. I'm very appreciative of what I've had.”
1. What is the attitude of Kobe Bryant towards achieving success by saying “Come hell or high water, I am going to be this”?| A．Confident | B．Determined |
| C．Optimistic | D．Frightened |
| A．not serious or caring | B．anxious and eager |
| C．worried and pessimistic | D．not proud or arrogant |
| A．fight against those who said bad things about him. |
| B．worry about others’ comments on his performance. |
| C．cheer for himself by regarding himself as the greatest figure. |
| D．show no fear facing ups and downs. |
| A．People paid tribute to Kobe Bryant for his success on the basketball court. |
| B．Kobe Bryant devoted more of his life to basketball instead of accompanying his family. |
| C．Kobe Bryant regarded his retirement as the beginning of another career. |
| D．Kobe Bryant felt emotionless when facing the end of his basketball career. |
6 . The Joy of Giving
Many athletes can light up the scoreboard with their skill. But it takes a special kind of athlete to light up a child’s face.
Runner Sanya Richards Ross is a four-time Olympic gold medal winner. She was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and though she now lives in Texas, her passion is helping young people in her homeland through her Fun 4 Kidz Foundation, which tackles illiteracy and promotes a healthy lifestyle. “Education is so important. Jamaica has its share of poor people who don’t have the means to get a great education. When you’re educated, your opportunities are endless. I had great support growing up, but not everyone is so blessed. So far, our program has been in seven schools in Jamaica, helping 400 students,” said Sanya.
Houston Texans All-Pro J.J. Watt is all business on the football field. But with children, he is playful and fun loving. He started the Justin J. Watt Foundation to provide after-school sports opportunities for underprivileged children. These activities help the kids learn about teamwork, leadership, and perseverance. He said, “At one of the first schools where we gave out uniforms, a kid told me, ‘It’s the best day of my life. I’m going to be a football player.’ Simple things like that keep me helping kids. Seeing the smile on a kid’s face is everything.”
Mia Hamm is one of the greatest soccer players in U.S. National and Olympic history. Inspired by her brother, Garrett, who died from a rare blood disorder, she started the Mia Hamm Foundation to raise awareness and money for those in need of bone marrow or cord blood transplants. As she said, “We do charity soccer games, bringing together unrelated donors and recipients(受助人). To see that reunion is one of the most powerful things you can see. There are a lot of tears when people meet their donors, who are their selfless, thoughtful heroes; who gave them a second chance at life. If I can help reduce the suffering of others, I will gladly do it.”
Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols is one of baseball’s greats. His daughter, Isabella, has Down Syndrome, a genetic condition that causes delays in physical and intellectual growth. Albert and his wife, Deidre, started the Pujols Family Foundation to help children with Down Syndrome.
For these athletes, there’s no better feeling than to bring joy to people and to those in need, and seeing a smile on a child’s face at a foundation event or wherever they are involved really makes it all worth it.
1. Which foundation provides poor kids with physical exercise?| A．The Mia Hamm Foundation. |
| B．The Justin J. Watt Foundation. |
| C．The Pujols Family Foundation. |
| D．Fun 4 Kidz Foundation. |
| A．Garrett’s death. |
| B．Patients’ suffering. |
| C．Her love for soccer games. |
| D．The selflessness of the donors. |
| A．Wealthy and capable. |
| B．Loyal and reliable. |
| C．Educated and creative. |
| D．Responsible and caring. |
By the time Michael Phelps retired at 31, he
Basketball hero Kobe Bryant's death has drawn an outpouring of shock and sadness across China. Basketball fans in China are now sad after learning that the former Los Angeles Lakers' 18-time NBA All Star had died at the age of 41 in a helicopter crash
