1 . Lionel Messi, one of the greatest football players of all time, was born on June 24^th, 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.

2. Which word can best describe Messi according to paragraph 4?

A．Modest.

B．Cooperative.

C．Caring.

D．Ambitious.

3. Which column can this text be read?

A．Lifestyle.

B．News.

C．People.

D．Entertainment.

4. Which might be a suitable title for the text?

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

2 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式，并将答案写在答题卡上。

The ancient Chinese martial art(武术) tai chi has     1     (increasing) become popular among New Yorkers, thanks to the efforts         2     (make) by former world martial art champion Chen Sitan. From five-year-old kids to the elderly in their 70s, people from different cultural backgrounds in New York have been attracted to the martial art.

Chen started learning martial art at the age of six. By the age of 30 when he ended his athletic career, he     3     (win) 32 gold medals in Chinese and international competitions. After     4     (train) athletes in sports teams for several years, Chen decided to come to the United States in 2003     5     (bring) Chinese culture to more people around the world through tai chi. “Tai chi is not only about     6     (compete); it means much more,” said Chen. This gentle form of exercise helps keep     7     (strong) and balance, and can be     8     activity suitable for almost everyone.

Although tai chi is already getting popular in fast-paced New York City and neighboring areas, Chen is not satisfied     9     the achievements he has made. He is developing a training program through     10     his school could train more excellent teachers.