Babe Didrikson Zaharias was one of the most extraordinary athletes of all time. She achieved particular success in basketball, track and field, and golf. She also competed in baseball, boxing, diving and many other sports. In 1950, the Associated Press declared Babe Zaharias to be the “Woman Athlete of the Half-Century”.
From a young age, her goal was to be “the greatest athlete to ever live”. As a teenager, she acquired the nickname “Babe” in reference to Babe Ruth, a professional baseball player. She never passed up a chance to play ball. One day, when she was a little girl, her mother sent her to the grocery store to buy some beef for dinner. On the way home, Babe spotted some boys playing baseball. She dropped her purchases and joined the game. An hour later, her angry mother showed up, looking for the groceries. Babe pointed to where she’d left it. A dog was happily enjoying the last piece.
Zaharias gained fame at the 1932 Olympic Games. She won gold medals in the javelin (标枪) throw and the 80-metre hurdles (跨栏), but she was deprived of a third gold medal in the high jump because she had used the unorthodox (不正规的) Western roll to achieve the highest jump. Her Olympic success brought her national attention.
In 1932, Zaharias began playing golf and was soon winning important championships in the sport. In 1950, Zaharias helped found the Ladies Professional Golf Association, and she became the LPGA’s star competitor. Not only did she attract interest in the women’s game, she revolutionized the sport and was known for her powerful drives.
Zaharias died of cancer in 1956, at the age of 45.
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It’s tough for any baseball player to get to the major leagues, but Jim Abbott had an extra obstacle that should
But Abbott was not
How did Abbott handle all this with just one hand? This is what fans often asked. Jim Abbott
3 . When Muhammad Ali was 12 years old, someone stole his bicycle. It was a shiny new bike. Ali was very
During the next 25 years, Ali had a burning
Young Ali quickly made his mark in the
In 1974, Ali
Ali
A.amused | B.cruel | C.angry | D.memorable |
A.flame | B.waist | C.cheek | D.fists |
A.trapped | B.motivated | C.accused | D.demonstrated |
A.ambition | B.relay | C.dignity | D.session |
A.rank | B.medal | C.chart | D.motto |
A.specific | B.regular | C.different | D.previous |
A.Unintentionally | B.Critically | C.Initially | D.Gradually |
A.running | B.jogging | C.boxing | D.bowling |
A.amateur | B.volunteer | C.thief | D.salesman |
A.called on | B.got across | C.met with | D.knocked out |
A.proceed | B.earn | C.complain | D.lose |
A.won | B.lost | C.refused | D.fit |
A.injuring | B.biting | C.removing | D.defeating |
A.game | B.battle | C.membership | D.sportsmanship |
A.tough | B.unstable | C.amazing | D.informal |
A.updated | B.organized | C.occupied | D.defended |
A.walked on air | B.threw a curveball | C.threw in the towel | D.moved the goalposts |
A.master | B.chairman | C.opponent | D.fellow |
A.competed | B.retired | C.applauded | D.remarked |
A.awarded | B.agreed | C.arrested | D.insured |
4 . 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 24th. “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. |
A.In China. | B.In America. |
C.In Australia. | D.In Italy. |
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. |
A.A wonderful Match |
B.A Dark Horse at the Winter Olympic |
C.A Hopeful Snow Game |
D.An Exciting Skiing Race |
5 . 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 |
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 |
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. |
A.Determined and brave. |
B.Cautious and honest. |
C.Caring and open-minded. |
D.Confident and creative. |
6 . 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. |
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. |
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. |
7 . Thomas Panek has completed 20 marathons, however, he made history on Sunday at the New York City Half Marathon.
While visually impaired(视觉障碍)runners usually use human guides, Mr Panek became the first person to complete the race supported by guide dogs. A trio of Labradors - Westley, Waffle and Gus - each accompanied (陪伴) him for a third of the race. The team finished in two hours and 21 minutes.
Mr Panek, who lost his sight in his early 20s, showed that while he appreciated the support of human volunteers, he missed the feeling of independence. In 2015, Mr Panek established the Running Guides programme which trains dogs to support runners.
When selecting his companions for the race, Mr Panek chose siblings Waffle and Westley to join Gus, who is his full-time guide dog. “The relationship is really important. You can’t just pick up the harness (挽带) and go for a run with these dogs,” Mr Panek said. “You’re training with a team no matter what kind of athlete you are, and you want to spend time together in that training camp.”
Each dogs sets its own pace — Westley runs an eight minute mile, while his sister Waffle can cover the same distance in six minutes—and helps Mr Panek avoid obstacles such as kerbs(路缘)and cones (锥体). Each dog wears a special harness and set of running boots, to protect their paws.
Gus was chosen to run the final leg of the race and cross the finish line with Mr Panek. He retired from his duties as a guide dog at the end of the race.
According to Mr Panek, guide dogs give visually impaired people the freedom to “do whatever it is a sighted person does, and sometimes, even run a little faster than them”.
1. In which way did Thomas Panek make history?A.He set a new record of time in running the half marathon. |
B.He is the first blind person who take part in the marathon. |
C.He finished the competition with help of human volunteers. |
D.He is the first blind person finishing half marathon with guide dogs. |
A.He stopped running after he lost sight. |
B.He enjoyed running with human volunteers. |
C.He is the founder of the Running Guides programme. |
D.He got the gold medal at the New York City Half Marathon. |
A.They didn’t get training before the race. |
B.Westley runs faster than Waffle. |
C.Gus is Panek’s full-time guide dog. |
D.Westley retired after the race. |
A.an essay | B.a news report | C.a biography | D.a review |