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.

Lang Ping, the head coach, once declared that the goal of the team was to raise our national flag and listen to the national anthem on top of the podium.

Every historic championship doesn’t come easy, and each victory was the hard work of the team, bit by bit. When people watch the China women’s national volleyball team play, they see a commitment     1     excellence.

In 1981, the China women’s national volleyball team     2     (lead) by player Lang Ping created the first miracle of China’s World Cup. The team defeated the Japanese national team with 3 to 2 at the 3rd World Women’s Volleyball Cup in Osaka, Japan. That’s the first world title for China women’s national volleyball team. Everyone     3     (shock) by this news.     4     the news was broadcast, people burst into joyful tears. Their victory was     5     result of all the former volleyball players’ efforts. A famous coach from Japan was invited to China to help train the China women’s national volleyball team.     6     (see) the     7     (player) conscientiousness and spirit and the support from the Chinese people, he exclaimed, “I’m sure that the China women’s national volleyball team will become strong!”

In 1984, Lang Ping endured pain from appendicitis (阑尾炎)     8     (finish) the competition and win remarkable gold with her teammates in the Los Angeles Olympic Games. She shot to fame and earned the nickname “Iron Hammer”. She said. “At that time the pain didn’t matter. Our slogan is no fear of     9     (hard) and no fear of death. We fear no death, let alone other difficulties.” So the proud head coach of Japanese national team said, “Defeating Chinese national team is equal to blocking the Yangtze River. Both are     10     (possible).”

Stephen is a famous basketball player. It was self-belief, hard work and perseverance     1    made him a success. Stephen’s grandfather built a simple basket by    2    (attach) a piece of plastic to a telephone pole along a narrow muddy road different from the bright lights and shiny courts of the National Basketball Association(NBA). The bumps and rocks caused the ball to bounce in all     3    (direct).     4    (know) where the ball would go wasn’t very easy. However, Stephen improved his skills by practicing day in and day out. Many people thought Stephen was too short, too thin and too weak to start his career. But he regarded playing basketball as his dream. He would not give up. He finally ended up    5    (play)college ball at Davidson College,     6     his creativity and perseverance made him a star player. In 2009,     7     (select)for the NBA, Stephen joined the Golden State Warriors. In 2015, Stephen won his first NBA championship and he led the Warriors to their first championship since 1975. In addition, he received the Most Valuable Player award for two years     8     a row. Stephen shared his philosophy: be yourself, value the fact that you can work every single day to get    9     (good), and be able to put in the time and the work. His success     10     (show)that nothing is impossible.

Chinese shooter Yang Qian won the first gold medal of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in the women’s 10m air rifle (气步枪) on Saturday. Yang was born in 2000 in Yangjianong,     1     small village in Ningbo. In 2011, she     2     (select) among the shooting team of Ningbo Sports School,     3     she started her shooting career. In 2019, Yang became a member of the national shooting team.

Yu Lihua, Yang’s first shooting coach at Ningbo Sports School, said in an     4     (excite) voice, “It is the first time that my student has won a gold medal in the Olympic Games. I’m so     5     (pride) of Yang Qian. Athletes in the Olympic Games should not only have great skills     6     also adjust their own mood to deal with anxieties. Yang Qian has such good sportsmanship     7     (control) herself well under pressure.” Yang’s mother, smiled through tears as her daughter won the     8     (compete). Zhu Xiaomei, her instructor back then, said, “Yang’s success will encourage both teachers and students     9     (great). As long as they work hard, they     10     (be) the top talents in their own field, like what Yang has achieved.”

Deng Yaping, one of the best table tennis players, is the first woman player     1     (win) the championships in all the international     2     (event).

In 1984, she     3     (compete) for the Henan table tennis junior championship and won     4    . However, it's a     5     (fail) for her to join Henan team because of her height. She tried to work harder and be     6     (positive) about her skills. In 1988, even     7     she won the national championship, she couldn't join the national team for the same reason. Later in November1988, Deng never gave up her ideal     8     made it finally. In 1989, she and her teammate Qiao Hong won the world championship. In 1991, Deng won the singles world championship. Those three years was the     9     (good) time for her sports life.

Deng got 18 gold medals and was the best woman player in the world for several years. After     10     (leave) the national team in 1997, she went to Tsinghua University.

At the age of 21, Chris Nikic became the first person with Down syndrome to complete the Ironman triathlon, which consisted of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run. The very thought would be enough     1    (put) off those in the greatest physical condition. However, by completing    2    challenge in 14 minutes under the official cut-off time, this sporting hero set a Guinness World Record.

This    3    (impress) accomplishment was made possible thanks to the loving guidance of Nikic’s father, Nik. While     4    (raise) Nikic, Nik was worried about his son’s inactive lifestyle, thus giving him the task of becoming 1%     5    (fit) every day. And the first step    6     (achieve) with a single push-up.

Now, three years later, Nikic has gathered much    7    (strong) and determination to really push his body to the limits. Considering those with Down syndrome have to fight varying physical and learning disabilities, Nikic’s accomplishment is another example of    8    people with this condition overcome barriers and achieve success. The key for him is resilience.

Nikic isn’t stopping there. He has set new goals for 2021, including the plan to participate    9    the special Olympics in Orlando, Florida in 2022. Undoubtedly, with his family, friends and followers by his side, Nikic     10    (continue) to set new records.