Asia’s first Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) world champion Weili Zhang knocked out Poland’s Joann a Jedrzejczyk to win the chance
The fight
Zhang’s fighting dream began young. Her childhood hero, Bruce Lee,
However, she still dreamed of being
2 . Defeating Daniil Medvedev in New York on Sunday, Djokovic, one of the greatest tennis player, bagging 24 Grand Slam (大满贯) singles titles, equalized the record held by Australian Margaret Court, the same number of singles titles in the all-time count.
With the victory, Djokovic became the oldest US Open men’s singles champion in the Open Era. In total, he has 10 Australian Opens, seven Wimbledons, four US Opens and three Roland Garros titles, making him the only man to win all four majors at least three times. “When I realized that, I started to dream new dreams and set new goals. I never imagined that I would be here talking about 24 Slams,” he said afterwards.
Djokovic reached all finals in the Grand Slams in 2023, and the only loss was at Wimbledon, when Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, 20, brought home the champion after an intense battle lasting four hours and 43 minutes.
Djokovic, at 36, shows few signs of losing physical edge. He stays healthy, keeps exceptional skills and always desires to win more. Capturing his first Grand Slam in 2008, Djokovic bagged half of his 24 major titles after he turned 30.“One of the biggest lessons I have learned probably mentally throughout my career is that even if you find a formula (方案) that works, it’s not a guarantee, and actually most likely it’s not going to work the next year, so I keep reinventing myself and always trying to find better ways to win,” said Djokovic.
For Djokovic, who always gets tough when the going gets tough, 24 is just a number that he can go beyond. “I’ll continue to prioritize Grand Slams as my most important tournaments and where I want to play the best tennis. That will stay the same in the next season, or I don’t know how many more seasons I have in my legs,” he added, “So, let’s see.”
1. What does the underlined word “equalized” in the first paragraph probably mean?| A．Set. | B．Broke. | C．Levelled. | D．Approached. |
| A．He won 12 Grand Slams in his thirties. |
| B．He won all the finals in the Grand Slams in 2023. |
| C．He attached the same importance to all the matches. |
| D．He is the oldest men’s singles champion in the open era. |
| A．Losing physical edge. | B．Attending more Grand Slams. |
| C．Following a good formula. | D．Finding flexible and proper strategies. |
| A．Confident and emotional. | B．Ambitious and devoted. |
| C．Aggressive and stubborn. | D．Enthusiastic and generous. |
3 . No matter how successful—or lately, unsuccessful—Manchester United has been on the court, which has always prided itself on an incredible ability to generate the game’s brightest young stars. The latest breakthrough talent, it seems, is 18-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo.
The teenager’s emergence from the youth academy (学院) has been one of the few satisfying points in an otherwise difficult season for the team, and the highlight of his fledgling (刚刚起步的) career came during United’s 4—3 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Thursday.
After the host had seemingly got a draw in the 95th minute of the match, Mainoo showed his considerable potential by scoring a winner in the dying moment. The English youngster received the ball under pressure outside of the opposition’s box before rushing his way towards the goal, hitting against a Wolves defender on the way. Then, when other players might have panicked, Mainoo was composed and guided a perfect shot into the far corner of the net.
While his teammates celebrated wildly, Mainoo knelt down and slid towards the crowd after scoring his first Premier League goal. It was a sensational moment and a goal which might change the teenager’s life forever.
“I’ve still not come down from it. I still feel like I’m dreaming, to be honest,” Mainoo told TNT Sports after the match. “To start playing in the Premier League for my boyhood club has been amazing. Now I am just trying to play more games and win more games.”
There have been moments this season, though, where his inexperience has shown, but the future looks bright for the young midfielder who seems to have his feet firmly on the ground. “He is making incredible progress. He has great abilities as a modern midfield player,” Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag told reporters after the game. “He can defend and attack but also he has the physicality to do both ways.”
Manchester United is currently ranked seventh in the Premier League and they are working hard to secure the top four, which will ensure qualification for next season’s Champions League.
1. What does paragraph 3 mainly tell us about Kobbie Mainoo?| A．His goals. | B．His education. |
| C．His teammates. | D．His performance. |
| A．Boring. | B．Dramatic. | C．Suitable. | D．Possible. |
| A．Ambitious. | B．Humorous. | C．Experienced. | D．Shy. |
| A．To bring out more young stars. |
| B．To qualify for the next Premier League. |
| C．To play in the Champions League next season. |
| D．To finish in the top seven of the Premier League. |
4 . Twenty-five years ago, Florence Griffith Joyner, known as “Flo-Jo” died in her sleep, leaving behind a legacy that combined style and speed in the world of track and field. She was celebrated for her remarkable achievements, particularly during the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.
During the Olympic qualifiers in 1988, Flo-Jo broke the 100-meter world record with an amazing time of 10.49 seconds. She continued to amaze the world by breaking the 200-meter world record in the same Olympics, crossing the finish line in 21.34 seconds with her iconic style, including long painted nails and colorful one-legged running suits.
Griffith Joyner’s success extended beyond the track. She won two more gold medals at the Seoul Olympics, in the 100 meters and the 4×100-meter relay events, making her an international star. She landed endorsement (代言) deals in Japan, and appeared in American television shows like “Santa Barbara” and “227”. And there was even had a doll modeled after her by LJN Toys.
However, Flo-Jo’s Olympic achievements were not without controversy. In 1989, former American track athlete Darrell Robinson alleged (指称) that Griffith Joyner provided him with money to purchase growth hormones. She strongly denied these accusations, and despite persistent rumors, she never tested positive for any banned substances during her career.
The International Olympic Committee’s medical commission conducted strict drug testing on Flo-Jo during the 1988 Olympics, and she consistently tested negative. She faced questions about the allegations throughout her career but maintained her innocence.
In 1989, just five months after her great success in Seoul, Griffith Joyner announced her retirement from track, explaining that she couldn’t give her all to training as she used to. She transitioned into motherhood, pursued a career in fashion design, and designed NBA uniforms for the Indiana Pacers in 1990.
Flo-Jo’s legacy endures, as she revolutionized women’s sprinting with her exceptional speed and unique fashion sense. Florence Griffith Joyner remains an iconic figure in the world of sports, remembered for her incredible talent, groundbreaking achievements, and unapologetic style.
1. What do we know about Griffith Joyner according to the passage?| A．She passed away in America in 1989. |
| B．She benefited a lot from her running suits. |
| C．She pursued a career in fashion before her success. |
| D．She was very impressive at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. |
| A．Unexpected. | B．Splendid. | C．Struggling. | D．Rewarding. |
| A．Public false accusations. | B．Her health problems. |
| C．Her shift in life priorities. | D．Persuasion from her family. |
| A．History. | B．Culture. | C．Science. | D．Entertainment. |
5 . A few days ago, the Brooklyn Nets basketball player Ben Simmons donated a basketball court to Machang township in Southwest China’s Guizhou Province during a ceremony. Simmons has visited China several times since he was young. He has been deeply touched by the Chinese people’s warmth and friendly feelings toward him and their enthusiasm for the basketball.
Impressed by the news that basketball competitions had been held in Guizhou at a village with their own “Village Basketball Association(VBA)”, Simmons decided to donate a basketball court to the village during the Chinese New Year Basketball Competition in January. After conducting a survey, he set up the basketball court in Machang township in Gui’an New Area in the hope that it would create more opportunities for young fans to play basketball.
In the mountainous village of Machang, there are no huge electronic screens or advertisements at basketball games, but they can still be thrilling thanks to local players’ love for the sport. These players later became a hit in China and even went global. A recent final competition attracted 30,000 viewers on site and more than 1 billion viewers online.
Comparatively, the NBA boasts the best players in the world, top-class basketball gyms and professionally made commercials, so its exciting games draw fans around the world. NBA and the “VBA”are thousands of miles apart, but their games are equally striking, fueling thousands of fans’ enthusiasm. Both focus on a common interest of basketball fans in the U. S. and China and their shared pursuit of sports and a better life.
Although Machang township lacks modern sports facilities, the local people’s love for basketball remains strong. So Simmons’ donation will surely help improve the village’s situation to a certain extent, but more importantly, it will bring people separated by the Pacfe Ocean closer through this sport.
1. Why did Simmons donate a basketball court to Machang township?| A．To attract global attention to the village. |
| B．To participate in more local competitions. |
| C．To show his passion for local people’s lifestyle. |
| D．To encourage more young people to play basketball. |
| A．Players’ professional skill. | B．The large number of viewers. |
| C．Players’ passion for basketball. | D．Powerful promotion of the games. |
| A．By giving examples. | B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By providing comments. | D．By drawing conclusions. |
| A．China’s “VBA” Becomes a Hit |
| B．NBA Player Does Charity in Chinese Village |
| C．Village Players Compete in International Competitions |
| D．Shared Love of Basketball Links NBA and China’s“VBA” |
Benjamin Alexander is Jamaica’s first Olympic alpine skier (高山滑雪运动员), but he was a late
For more than two years, Benjamin Alexander pursued a dream of becoming the first person
Gray added: “If you’re afraid you’re never going to get any work
7 . Called the “Iron Hammer” in her playing days, Lang Ping is considered as one of the biggest heroes of Chinese sports.
At the 1981 World Cup in Japan, the Chinese women’s team showed the world their speed and power for the first time. Playing outside hitter, Lang helped the team take home its first major title. Thanks to teamwork and their strong spirit, they achieved a record of five world titles in a row, which include two World Cups, two World Championships and a gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
Despite a lot of victories, after eight years of hard training and fighting, Lang retired as a player in 1986. But she never said goodbye to her favorite sport. In 1995, Lang became the head coach of the Chinese national team and led China to silver medals at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic and the 1998 World Championships in Japan.
Though she left the job in 1999 to coach an Italian club, in 2013 she returned to coach the young national team. In 2016, her team took home the gold medal at the Rio Olympics, making her the first person to win an Olympic gold for volleyball both as a player and a coach. The team was listed fourth after the preliminary competition. But Lang said in a public interview, “Sometimes you know you may not win, but you still have to pull out all the stops.”
Lang plays an important role in the creation and passing on of an honorable tradition of fighting and teamwork. “The spirit of Chinese women’s volleyball team is never to give up. My duty as the coach is to guide this young team to carry on this spirit,” said Lang. The spirit is about more than sport; it is an important source of spiritual strength for the country to draw on in its effort to press ahead.
1. When did Lang win her first world champion?| A．In 1981. | B．In 1984. | C．In 1986. | D．In 1995. |
| A．They won the first prize. |
| B．They had a good start. |
| C．They won all the games. |
| D．They didn’t enter the final. |
| A．Put you on the spot. | B．End up with the game. |
| C．Go all out. | D．Catch your eye. |
| A．We have to do sports every day. |
| B．We should keep fighting to the end. |
| C．We should try our best to be a coach. |
| D．We must spend time learning volleyball. |
| A．Lang Ping, a very strict coach |
| B．Lang Ping, a hero of Chinese sports |
| C．The Chinese people’s love for volleyball |
| D．The spirit of Chinese women’s volleyball team |
8 . Michael Jordan is a former professional American basketball player, Olympic athlete, businessperson, and actor. Considered one of the best basketball players ever, he dominated (主宰) the sport from the mid-1980s to the late 1990s.
Michael began his professional basketball career when he was chosen by the Chicago Bulls in 1984. Then, there was a time when the Bulls kept adding new players and changing coaches, but they didn’t win. Seeing that, Michael felt like he needed to do all the scoring as he couldn’t trust the other players’ skills. Many people thought that Michael Jordan might never win a championship (冠军) if he kept trying to do it all by himself.
To improve their performance on the court, Coach Tex Winter taught the Bulls his triangle offense. It included sharing the ball and moving around the court in a specific way. Michael was unsure. He thought he was the only one that could make the big shots. Tex Winter told him he should learn to trust his teammates to make the triangle offense work best. But that was difficult for Michael.
The Bulls faced the Utah Jazz in the 1997 National Basketball Association Finals. After four games, the series was tied 2-2. Finally, Michael scored thirty-eight points and the Bulls won. Then, they had a chance to win the series in Game Six. Michael had the ball near the end of the game with Jazz players swarming (拥上) around him. Instead of trying a difficult shot, he passed the ball to a teammate, Steve Kerr, who made the winning basket. Michael finally trusted his teammates and he didn’t always have to take the big shot.
From then on, Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA Championships and earned the NBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award five times. With five regular-season MVPs and three All-Star MVPs, Michael Jordan became the greatest basketball player of all time.
1. How did many people feel about Michael Jordan’s “one-man show”?| A．Interested. | B．Uncertain. | C．Negative. | D．Hopeful. |
| A．Fast speed. | B．Great strength. | C．Good teamwork. | D．Strong confidence. |
| A．Steve Kerr’s unexpected long shot. |
| B．Michael Jordan’s passing the ball. |
| C．Jazz players’ serious mistakes. |
| D．Some new players’ efforts. |
| A．One flower doesn’t make a spring. |
| B．A hobby can become a successful job. |
| C．God helps those who help themselves. |
| D．Treat others as you want to be treated. |
9 . Table tennis may not seem a reasonable choice for someone with no arms—but Ibrahim Hamadtou doesn’t believe in limits. The 48-year-old Egyptian Paralympian breaks the barrier (障碍) by holding the paddle (球拍) in his mouth and using his right foot to serve the ball.
Hamadtou, who lost his arms in a train accident at the age of ten, was attracted to table tennis after being challenged by a friend. “I was once watching a match between two of my friends,” Hamadtou explains. “They disagreed on a point, When I counted the point in favor of one of them, the other player told me, ‘Mind your own business as you will never be able to play.’ It was that comment that fired me up to decide to play table tennis.”
It took Hamadtou three years to master the sport. He says the biggest challenge was working out the best way to control his body. “I was trying first to use the bat under the arm, and I also tried using other things, which weren’t working so well. Finally, I tried using my mouth. It took me nearly a year of practice to get used to holding the paddle with my mouth and making the serve. With practice and playing regularly, this skill was improved.”
The Egyptian’s impressive talent came to light in 2014 when he was awarded the best Arab Athlete of the year. He won a silver medal at the 2016 African Championships, qualified for his first Paralympics (残奥会) in 2016 at 43, and then again for the 2020 Tokyo Games at 48.
The inspiring athlete says, “The disability is not in arms or legs but to give up in whatever you would like to do.”
1. Why did Hamadtou take up table tennis?| A．He was interested in table-tennis. | B．He was ready to encourage others. |
| C．He was determined to prove himself. | D．He got injured in a train accident. |
| A．Playing the game with the right body parts. |
| B．Holding the paddle under his arm. |
| C．Practicing strengthening his muscles. |
| D．Serving the ball with his mouth. |
| A．He realized his dream of winning a gold medal. |
| B．He was awarded the best athlete in Africa. |
| C．He won a medal in the 2020 Tokyo Games. |
| D．He was recognized as a talented player at 41. |
| A．Success brings people happiness. |
| B．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. |
| C．Well begun is half done. |
| D．Love breaks down barriers. |
10 . Zheng Qinwen announced herself as a major new force in women’s tennis with an import French Open debut (首秀) last month. Now the Chinese teenager hopes the fighting spirit she showed at the Grand Slam (大满贯) tournament can encourage kids starting out in the sport to chase their dreams on the court with the same determination.
“If tennis is your dream, I think you always have to fight for your dream. Because we only have one life, you shouldn’t have any regrets,” Zheng said last week in an interview.
The 19-year-old showed she possesses the talent to be a contender at the very top level of tennis with a breakout campaign at French Open.
Accounting for two-time Grand Slam winner Simona Halep along the way, Zhengs journey was ended in the fourth round by a three-set defeat to eventual champion Iga Swiatek. Zheng, though gave the Polish world No. 1 a big scare, battling back from 3-0 down in the first set to force, and win, a tiebreak (平分决胜局)。
“That was the first time I had played the world No.1, so I really wanted to grab this chance so I could judge her level and test myself,” said Zheng. “I didn’t want to give her the match so easy like that. It was pretty difficult for me to hold on in that match because of what my body was going through, but I wanted to show her I'm not easily beaten.
Looking back at Zheng Qinwen’s performances in this year’s French Open, there’s no doubt that she’s a true fighter. Zheng says she avoids being discouraged by higher-ranked opponents by simply focusing on the next point, one shot at a time.Supported by her team, she hopes she can one day win a Grand Slam title.
Zheng’s impressive French Open run has inevitably led to comparisons with China’s solitary Grand Slam singles championLi Na, who won the 2011 French Open and 2014 Australian Open titles.
“When I was a kid, Li Na showed that Asian people also can do something really good in tennis. She was the first one. I will just focus on my own game and then let’s see if I can really compete at the highest level,” said Zheng.
1. What does the underlined word “contender” in paragraph 3 mean?| A．Organizer. | B．Announcer. | C．Competitor. | D．Designer. |
| A．Iga Swiatek beat Zheng easily. |
| B．Zheng lost to Iga Swiatek at last. |
| C．Zheng won the match despite her pain. |
| D．Iga Swiatek lost because of her mistakes. |
| A．To explain why Li Na has achieved a lot |
| B．To prove failure is the mother of success. |
| C．To show how excellent Zheng Qinwen is. |
| D．To compare the difference between Zheng Qinwen and LI Na |
| A．Optimistic and generous. |
| B．Struggling and determined |
| C．Independent and helpful. |
| D．Adventurous and realistic. |
