1 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passages coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.

Black Mamba a Legend That Will Never Die

It’s hard to believe Kobe is gone.

The NBA superstar,     1     great talent and win-at-all-costs spirit made him one of the most distinguished athletes in history, was the rare celebrity who didn’t need a last name.

Still youthful at 41, Bryant—who died in a helicopter crash on January 26 in California—looked     2     he could suit up any minute and drop 30 points on a rival(竞争对手)NBA team. It doesn’t seem that long ago that he was scoring 60 points in his final NBA game.

With a higyly decorated career spanning 20 years - all with the Lakers - Bryant is all but     3     (assure) of being a first-ballot inductee(第一候选人)into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, alongside Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett, later this year.

Bryant,     4     18-time All-Star, was famous for his astonishing scoring ability and his championship pedigree(总冠军血统). He teamed up with fellow All-Star Shaquille O’Neal     5     (win) three consecutive NBA titles from 2000 to 2002, and later won two more rings, in 2009 and 2010.

Known as the “Black Mamba”, Bryant finished his career with 33,643 points in the regular season, which put him at No. 3 among NBA’s scoring leaders, behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387) and Karl Malone (36,928)     6     LeBron James surpassed him just one day before Bryant’s untimely death.

“Kobe was so much more than an athlete. He was a family man, which was     7     we had most in common. Whenever we got together, I would hug his kids and he would embrace     8    .” O’Neal wrote on Twitter.

“Kobe was one of the most extraordinary players in the history of our game with accomplishments that are truly legendary(传奇般的),” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “But he     9     (remember) most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete     10     the very best of their ability.”

3 . What’s the meaning of the “dark horse”? It is someone who wins when no one expect it.

Han Xiaopeng took China’s first gold on snow. He became an Olympic “dark horse” by winning the gold medal in men’s freestyle skiing aerials (自由式滑雪空中技巧) at Turin in Italy. He made two almost perfect jumps for the highest score. Han had never won a world gold medal before, let alone in the Olympics!

“I never thought this would happen,” said Han Xiaopeng, “I feel like I’m in a dream.” It’s China’s second gold medal at the Turin Olympic Winter Games. But more important, Han’s gold was the country’s first ever in a snow sport. In 2002, China’s Yang Yang won the gold for speed skating at the Winter Olympic in Salt Lake City, US.

That Han’s win was unexpected doesn’t mean that he didn’t work hard.

Han grew up in Jiangsu Province. Before he started his training on snow, he used to be an acrobat (杂技演员) at a circus. In 1995, a coach found his talent. The coach, Yang Er’qi, said Han had the agility (灵活性) and courage to be a ski jumper. When Yang first took the 12-year-old boy to northern China, he couldn’t swim, skate or ski. But he wasn’t afraid of the high platform and kept on training.

Han almost left the sport after hurting his knee months before the Salt Lake Games. In that Olympics he only got 24^th. “I was hopeless at that time, but my family and the coach stood behind me, helping me through,” he recalled.

Han Xiaopeng worked so hard that he won the gold medal in the Olympics at last. Because of his success, more and more people in China are becoming interested in skiing. We are proud of him.

1. What does the “dark horse” mean?

A．Someone who is unexpected to win.

B．A horse which dark.

C．A horse which likes the dark.

D．Someone whose win is expected.

2. Where did Han Xiaopeng take China’s first gold on snow?

A．In China.	B．In America.
C．In Australia.	D．In Italy.

3. What made the coach, Yang Er’qi, choose Han Xiaopeng to be a ski jumper?

A．He had enough courage though he was only 13 years old.

B．He was born in the south of China and liked sports on snow.

C．He had the agility and wasn’t afraid of the high platform.

D．He had the talent and he had won a world gold medal before.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．A wonderful Match

B．A Dark Horse at the Winter Olympic

C．A Hopeful Snow Game

D．An Exciting Skiing Race

4 . The next time you find an excuse to abandon your goals, think of Chris Nikic. On November 7, 2020, Chris made ________ as the first person with Down Syndrome(唐氏综合征) to attempt and complete an Ironman. ________ by the WTC, the demanding competition ________ athletes to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and run a full 26.2-mile marathon-in under 17 hours.

Chris’s road to this ________ accomplishment has been anything but easy. However, he is no stranger to ________ challenges. Born with two holes in his heart, he had open-heart surgery at just five months old and was too weak to walk ________ until he was four. Every expert his parents spoke to ________ the limitations rather than the possibilities. For years they listened and gradually ________ these limits. Until in 2017, he set his ________ on completing the triathlons(铁人三项). His training ________ with one push-up! And he made an amazing ________ with his dad to get 1％ better each day. Eventually, for the year leading up to the Ironman, Chris ________ four to eight hours each day along with his training partner.

Now, Chris also has his sights set on the ________ in the 2022 Special Olympics and continuing to ________ money for Down syndrome. His amazing ________ is an example for not only disabled children but to all kids around the world.

1.

A．money

B．history

C．progress

D．fun

2.

A．Organized

B．Reported

C．Judged

D．Affected

3.

A．causes

B．allows

C．requires

D．forces

4.

A．puzzling

B．amusing

C．entertaining

D．inspiring

5.

A．building

B．overcoming

C．understanding

D．conveying

6.

A．powerfully

B．frequently

C．independently

D．confidently

7.

A．relied on

B．tried on

C．acted on

D．focused on

8.

A．noticed

B．accepted

C．expected

D．received

9.

A．sights

B．wisdoms

C．views

D．rules

10.

A．stayed

B．stopped

C．started

D．filled

11.

A．assessment

B．impression

C．adjustment

D．commitment

12.

A．trained

B．promoted

C．performed

D．waited

13.

A．conversations

B．competitions

C．conflicts

D．celebrations

14.

A．borrow

B．change

C．handle

D．raise

15.

A．principle

B．concept

C．attitude

D．standard

5 . 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。

Basketball fans around the world are mourning the death of American superstar Kobe Bryant who     1     (kill) in a helicopter crash Sunday in California, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven    2     people. The helicopter    3     (carry) Bryant and the others crashed into a hilly area in foggy conditions outside Los Angeles. Bryant won five NBA championships and two Olympic gold medals. He was    4     (wide)considered one of the greatest basketball players of his generation. When he retired from the NBA in 2016, Bryant was the third-leading player    5     (score) in NBA history with 33,643 points. He is widely expected to be elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame this year. So far his athletic ability    6     (motivate)millions of fans to play basketball.

The basketball world and the Los Angeles community reacted to Bryant's death with a pouring of sadness, disbelief and support.

In a statement, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Bryant was one of the greatest stars in the game.     7     he added, He will be remembered most for inspiring people around the world to pick up a basketball and compete     8     the very best of their ability.

Michael Jordan said Bryant was “like a little brother”to him. Words can’t describe how     9     (pain)I am feeling, the former Chicago Bulls star said. Thousands of people gathered to remember the star outside the Staples Center in Los Angeles,     10     the Los Angeles Lakers play their home games.

6 . It was May 23,2016. Arnot, the 32-year-old mountain guide, reached the top of Qomolangma without the use of oxygen (O₂) equipment. It was achieved after seven years, three previous attempts, and fourteen straight hours of climbing.

After 15 minutes at the top, Arnot began her descent (下坡). Eight hours later, she reached the camp at 7, 600 meters and became the first American woman—and only the seventh woman ever—to successfully reach Mount Qomolangma without oxygen equipment.

“There are so many reasons for her impressive achievement, especially the physical and emotional efforts that she’s put forth over the years to make this happen,” says the professional climber and photographer Richards. “The mental courage that it requires is something very few people have.”

Arnot didn’t start climbing until she was 19 years old. Money was tight in her family, and climbing mountains never occurred in her mind. After graduating from college, Arnot was invited by her friend to climb a mountain. “It totally changed my life,” says Arnot. “I always know that if you want something, you can achieve it, but knowing what you want is a whole different thing,” she says. “I am athletic but not competitive. After my first climbing, I knew immediately that mountains are what I want — as that is where I felt home for the first time in my life.”

After that first climb, she devoted herself to learning how to climb and move through mountain. It was during her second trip to Qomolangma in 2009 that she first set her sights on a no-oxygen attempt. However, while hiking into Qomolangma Base Camp that year, she hurt her leg and wasn’t able to climb without oxygen. In 2013 she nearly made it to the top, but was forced to take oxygen at 8, 504 meters while helping another climber.

When Arnot finally stood atop Qomolangma, she called her best friend, “I reached the top and I’m not using any oxygen.” Then, tears began to stream down from her eyes. So much of Arnot’s life has been about pushing the limits of her abilities, and in this case, she’s also pushed up against the outer limits of the human spirit.

1. On May 23, 2016, Arnot ________.

A．spent 8 straight hours climbing

B．stayed at the top for 50 minutes

C．made her first attempt to climb Qomolangma

D．reached the top without oxygen equipment

2. Arnot fell in love with climbing because ________.

A．money was no longer a problem to her

B．mountains gave her the feeling of comfort

C．she tried to be more athletic and competitive

D．she wanted to build up her body through climbing

3. What do we know about Arnot’s climbing experience?

A．She took up climbing when she was 19 years old.

B．She has always been a good climber since her childhood.

C．She climbed Qomolangma with her family during her first trip.

D．She hurt her leg badly while helping another climber in 2009.

4. Which of the following can best describe Arnot?

A．Determined and brave.

B．Cautious and honest.

C．Caring and open-minded.

D．Confident and creative.

7 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Where was LeBron James born?

A．In Akron.

B．In Cleveland.

C．In Miami.

2. When did James join the Miami Heat?

A．In 1984.

B．In 2010.

C．In 2014.

3. How did Cleveland fans feel when James left the Cavaliers?

A．Excited.

B．Confused.

C．Disappointed.

4. How many Most Valuable Player awards has James won?

A．Two.

B．Four.

C．Six.

5. Who was Tony?

A．a policeman.

B．a repairman.

C．a businessman.

8 . 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。

Lang Ping and Mchael Jordan are famous masters shaking up the sports world.

Lang Ping led     1     women’s volleyball team of China to medals at world     2     (championship) and the Olympics. When they were preparing for the 2015 World Cup, her determination     3     (test). One of the best players got injured, and the team captain left because of heart problems.     4     (lose) two important players didn’t get Lang Ping to lose heart. She believed that her young players could win if they worked together     5     a team. And she really made it. Two weeks later, they were world champions!

Michael Jordan,     6     (know) as “Air Jordan”, changed basketball with his graceful moves and jumps. It was not his skills     7     his mental strength that made him unique. Jordan says that the secret to his     8     (succeed) is learning form his failures. He learnt much from losing games and practised much     9     (hard). In life, Jordan has learnt to give back to society. The Boys and Girls Club which he started in Chicago     10     (help) young people since 1996.

9 . Roberto Clemente is the greatest baseball player of all time. He had an unbelievable batting average(击球率)in all seasons he played. Having won four batting titles, Gold Glove Awards twelve times, and a Most Valuable Player Award, he is certainly the best player that has ever played.

Besides being the best baseball player, Roberto Clemente was also a great man and a hero. In 1972, there was an earthquake in Nicaragua. On December 31 of that year, Clemente flew to Nicaragua to take supplies to the people. Almost immediately after take-off, the plane crashed into the Caribbean Sea.

The best honors for Clemente came after he died. He was the first Latino voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1999, the city of Pittsburgh, where he played baseball, renamed a bridge after him—a bridge that leads to the city’s beautiful new stadium.

No one summed up the life of Roberto Clemente and the baseball commissioner(总干事)when, at Clemente’s Hall of Fame award ceremony, said, “He was so great a man. as a leader and humanitarian, so great an inspiration to the young and to all in baseball, especially to the proud people of his homeland, Puerto Rico.” The commissioner further honored Clemente by creating a sportsmanship award in his name.

1. What can be concluded from Roberto Clemente’s trip to Nicaragua?

A．He got injured in an air crash.

B．He cared about people and the world.

C．He donated a huge sum of money to Nicaragua.

D．He earned his fame for his bravery and generosity.

2. What do we know about Roberto Clemente from the passage?

A．He died in Puerto Rico.	B．There was a bridge built for him.
C．He played baseball in Pittsburgh.	D．His statue was in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

3. What happened at Clemente’s Hall of Fame award ceremony?

A．A sportsmanship award was set up in Clemente’s name.

B．Clemente was voted into the Soccer Hall of Fame.

C．Clemente gained an honor from the people of his homeland.

D．The commissioner praised Clemente’s unbelievable batting skills.

10 . 你校准备在新建的“名人长廊”中为每一位名人画像配上英语介绍, 以便让同学们有更多的机会学习英语。请你根据以下信息写一篇80词左右介绍郎平的短文。
1. 郎平, 1960年12月10日出生于天津市。1973年, 13岁的郎平开始练习打排球;
2. 1978年, 因在全国排球比赛中表现突出, 进入国家队;
3. 从1980年起, 郎平获得很多荣誉;
4. 退役后, 郎平成为排球教练。2016年, 郎平带领中国女排, 时隔12年, 在里约奥运会(the Rio Olympic Games)上获得金牌;
5. 郎平是中国第一个作为球员和教练员均夺取过奥运会冠军的排球运动员。
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