A Chinese swimmer has made history again. Last week, Qin Haiyang,
Chinese swimming in men’s breaststroke events was hardly talked about
2 . On Sunday, Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia shocked the running world by breaking the women’s world record for the marathon by over two minutes. Assefa finished the Berlin Marathon in just 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 53 seconds.
But Assefa’s record was far beyond what most people expected. After all, it was only her third time running a marathon.
“I wanted to break the marathon world record,” she said, “But I couldn’t imagine that it would result in a time under 2:12.”
When Assefa was younger, she started by running short races, called sprints. Then she became a middle-distance runner, running the 800 meters (half mile) race. Her best time in the 800 meters was 1 minute and 59 seconds.
Last March, she ran her first marathon. Then last September, she entered the Berlin Marathon. She won, and set a new women’s record for the course, finishing in 2:15:37.
This year, she ran almost four minutes faster than she did last year. In both races, Assefa ran faster in the second half of the race than she did in the first half.
Her time of 2:11:53 was over two minutes faster than the old women’s record (2:14:04), which was set in Chicago in 2019 by Brigid Kosgei of Kenya.
When she finished the race, Assefa kneeled down and kissed the pavement before raising her arms in victory.
Though Assefa made it look easy, she said winning the race “…was the result of hard work.” Assefa was coached by Gemedu Dedefo, who has helped train many Ethiopian star runners.
1. What is Assefa’s latest record for the marathon?| A．2:11:53. | B．2:14:04. | C．2:15:37. | D．1:59:00. |
| A．It is what she expected. | B．It is a piece of cake for her. |
| C．It is due to great effort. | D．It is because of her coach. |
| A．Talented. | B．Friendly. | C．Humorous. | D．Warm-hearted. |
| A．Dedefo Helps to Train Many Star Runners |
| B．Kosgei Holds the Women’s Marathon Record |
| C．Assefa Sets a Good Example to Other Runners |
| D．Assefa Breaks the Women’s Marathon Record |
On February 13, 2023, Wu Yibing made history,
Brought to a tennis court for the first time at just five,
“Looking back, I feel like I wouldn’t have been here if not for the ups and downs over the past few years. I take all the setbacks and struggles
4 . Lionel Messi, one of the greatest football players of all time, was born on June 24th, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina. From a young age, Messi showed a remarkable talent for football, and his passion for the game led him to join a local club at the age of just six.
Growing up in a working-class family, Messi faced many challenges. He suffered from a disease related to growth at a young age, and his parents could not afford the expensive treatment required. However, Messi’s talent on the field did not go unnoticed, and he was eventually offered a tryout with FC Barcelona. Messi impressed the Barcelona coaches with his exceptional skills, and they offered him a place at the club’s youth academy at the age of 13. He quickly rose through the ranks and made his first-team debut (首次亮相) in 2004 at the age of 17, becoming the youngest player to ever play for Barcelona.
Over the years, Messi has established himself as one of the best players in the world. He is known for his incredible dribbling (带球) skills, his ability to create space and his incredible speed. Messi has won a large number of awards over the course of his career, including the Ballon d’Or (an award given to the best football player in the world) seven times. In addition to his individual achievements, Messi has also enjoyed great success with FC Barcelona. He has won many domestic and international titles with the club. Messi has also been an important part of the Argentina national team, helping them reach the final of the 2014 World Cup and winning the Copa America in 2021.
Off the field, Messi is known for his charitable work. He has donated millions of dollars to charitable causes. In 2020, Messi and his foundation donated €1 million to hospitals in Catalonia to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lionel Messi’s story is an inspiration to young football players around the world, and his charitable work off the field is a testament to his character and generosity.
1. What challenge was Messi faced with on the way to success?| A．No family support. | B．Poor physical condition. |
| C．No exceptional talents. | D．The lack of good coaches. |
| A．Modest. | B．Cooperative. | C．Caring. | D．Ambitious. |
| A．Lifestyle. | B．News. | C．People. | D．Entertainment. |
| A．Lionel Messi: A Superstar off the Court |
| B．Lionel Messi: A Hero Changing the World |
| C．Lionel Messi: The Return of a Football Star |
| D．Lionel Messi: The Rise of a Football Legend |
At nine years of age, she took
Years
6 . Wang Shuang was just five when her parents divorced, dropped her at her uncle’s and left. Football, as it often is, became an escape.
At seven, she was spotted by coach Xu Yilong, who found Wang quick in her playful behaviour. As the only girl in the boys’ team, Wang’s performances were impressive, earning her the nickname “Iron Girl.” And soon, she sensed the sport’s power. Football allowed her to “release herself” and realize “whatever happens, football never leaves you alone.”
However, life was never smooth sailing. The constant jibes (嘲讽) from some people, who always tried to push her down and destroy her hopes, affected her so deeply that she lost confidence.” They were saying I had no talent at all. Gradually, I felt really so. “Wang once wrote. But never did she stop playing. When she was called up to the national team, aged 17,Wang thought, “Me? Are you sure?” When a world-famous club wanted to sign her, she was “excited that an excellent coach thought I was good.” It was only then that she felt confident in her abilities. “I felt recognized. Perhaps I had a bit of talent after all.”
Not any “bit of talent”; the genius is praised as China’s once-in-a-generation player.
China is a pioneer of women’s football in Asia and has won the continental championship eight times, including seven straight titles between 1986 and 1999.That was their golden age. Gradually, though, the dynasty declined. It is hoped that Wang will inspire the women’s football of the country to its former height.
Coaches are almost always hesitant to speak about individual players. But when coach Shui was asked about Wang before the match against Vietnam, she couldn’t stop mentioning her influence on the team. Unfailingly performing on the big stage, Wang did not let her team down. When they lacked a quality ball, she delivered two high assists that finally led her team into the last-four clash (交锋).
“Nobody knows how hard it was,“ declared Wang after the match. “We overcame difficulties. We also showed our strong spiritual power. I am proud of my team.”
1. What can we infer about Wang from the second paragraph?| A．She earned a living on her own. | B．She felt the power of sports. |
| C．She was laughed at by the boys. | D．She found a sense of belonging |
| A．By winning recognition. | B．By getting encouragement. |
| C．By playing in the national team. | D．By ignoring other people’s jibes. |
| A．Caring. | B．Unwilling. | C．Favorable. | D．Demanding |
| A．Wang Shuang: A Steel Rose | B．Wang Shuang: A Child Genius |
| C．Wang Shuang: A Football Pioneer | D．Wang Shuang: A Golden Age Successor· |
7 . P. T. Usha is an Indian athlete. Her success story is an inspiration to women all across the world.
She was born in a poor family in Kerala in 1964. She was unable to enjoy her childhood because of her family’s poverty. Usha was always interested in sports and took part in a variety of contests from a young age. She easily defeated the school champion, who was three years older than her, in a school race.
She received Rs. 250 scholarships from the Government of Kerala in 1976. Later coach OM Nambiar gave her an award in a match event. In an interview, he stated that he felt she had the ability to be a great short-distance runner so he began coaching Usha. She won a variety of medals in the sports contests she competed in under his guidance. Usha won six medals at the interstate meet for juniors in 1978. She won 14 medals at the Kerala State College Meet. Usha had both the best and a little tough time during the 1984 Olympics.
At the games, she established new Commonwealth marks by running 56.81 seconds in the heats and 55.54 seconds in the semi-finals, and she advanced to the final. She finished fourth in the final with a time of 55.42 seconds. She was just 0.01 second slower than the bronze model.
Usha won six medals in the 1985 Jakarta Asian Championships, five gold and one bronze. She established a record for the most gold medals won at a single event in the championships’ history. She won four gold medals in the Asian Games in 1986. She became the first woman president of Indian Olympic Association.
P. T. Usha’s sporting career and moments of glory are imprinted in the minds of many people. P. T. Usha is still an inspiration to female athletes all over the world.
1. What does the paragraph 2 mainly talk about?| A．P. T. Usha’s early life. | B．P. T. Usha’s success. |
| C．P. T. Usha’s family. | D．P. T. Usha’s education. |
| A．He was requested by her. | B．He believed her athletic talent. |
| C．He wanted to achieve his dream. | D．He wanted to help her earn money. |
| A．A person who is very interested in swimming. | B．A person who sets an example to males. |
| C．A person bringing hopes to the world. | D．A person with amazing achievements. |
| A．By space. | B．By time order. | C．By comparison. | D．By listing reasons. |
8 . Egyptian table tennis player Ibrahim Hamadtou didn’t win a medal, or even score a victory. But he has become one of the most
Hamadtou lost his
After several
He first competed at the Rio Paralympics, and was finally able to fulfill his lifelong
In Tokyo, he lost to a Chinese player and a player from South Korea,
“I want to tell everybody that nothing is
| A．interesting | B．inspiring | C．depressing | D．surprising |
| A．parents | B．legs | C．arms | D．friends |
| A．reduce | B．beat | C．lose | D．fall |
| A．in shape | B．held up | C．shut up | D．in comfort |
| A．intense | B．tiring | C．noisy | D．dangerous |
| A．thoughts | B．matches | C．injuries | D．attempts |
| A．practice | B．failure | C．waiting | D．challenge |
| A．start | B．hit | C．serve | D．ball |
| A．chance | B．journey | C．road | D．dream |
| A．earn | B．pay | C．deserve | D．give |
| A．developed | B．adopted | C．demonstrated | D．extended |
| A．abandoning | B．ending | C．winning | D．joining |
| A．example | B．message | C．quote | D．lesson |
| A．unfortunate | B．comfortable | C．meaningful | D．impossible |
| A．disability | B．pity | C．suffering | D．belief |
9 . Zheng Qinwen announced herself as a major new force in women’s tennis with an important 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, Zheng’s 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 against 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(不可避免地) led to comparisons with China’s solitary Grand Slam singles champion Li 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．Competitor | B．Announcer. | C．Campaigner. | 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 show how excellent Zheng Qinwen is. |
| B．To prove failure is the mother of success. |
| C．To explain why Li Na has achieved a lot. |
| D．To compare the difference between Zheng Qinwen and Li Na. |
| A．Optimistic and generous | B．Adventurous and realistic. |
| C．Independent and helpful | D．Struggling and determined. |
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. |
