1 . Marathon fever is sweeping this country. In recent years, China's ever-growing passion for marathons has been triggered by its economic development and health-conscious middle class. A large number of marathon runners are white-collar workers, civil servants and business people that are keen on leading a healthy lifestyle. Government support, social participation and strong marketing by the sports industry have gradually led to the rapid development of the marathon industry, which is currently valued at 70 billion yuan ($10.77 billion). Due to its large participation and nationwide media report, marathons are considered by local governments an important part of marketing their cities. Thus, many cities list unique routes across local scenic spots and historical attractions, not only to boost people's fitness, but also to promote local tourism.
For many runners, marathons are a way of life." As we get older, the places and opportunities to meet new people decrease. I find that participating in marathons is a simple way to make friends," said Wu, who made many friends in the Xstop Running Community, a running club with 48,000 members established by Xtep, one of the leading distributors of sports merchandise in China.
"The sense of belonging and the mutual encouragement that exists within the running community are very attractive to many people. We easily befriend one another, since we have the same goal: to keep running and never stop," Wu said. Besides, a marathon can be a great way to explore new places. For a runner who also loves traveling, marathons are a solid choice. "Competing in an international marathon is a chance to experience a city or a country you've never visited before," said Meng, an experienced runner from north China's Tianjin Municipality, who often runs in London, New York and Melbourne.
There's a unique perspective that people get running through the streets of a city, distinct ancient buildings or amazing natural settings, he explained, things that somehow just can't be seen by rushing in a car. In addition, during a race, streets are often closed off so you don't have to battle traffic.
1. Which word has the closest meaning to the underlined word "triggered" in the first paragraph？___| A．motivated | B．solved | C．battled | D．increased |
| A．John，a company manager |
| B．Jack，a middle-aged farmer |
| C．Rose，a high school student |
| D．Maria，a retired teacher |
| A．A marathon can be a great way to explore new places |
| B．There is few traffic in the streets during a marathon race. |
| C．You see common sights by running through the streets of a city |
| D．Many people are attracted to mutual encouragement of the running community. |
| A．Because nationwide media coverage can make them famous. |
| B．Because they realize the benefits for their citizens. |
| C．Because local scenic spots and historical attractions can have unique routes. |
| D．Because they want to make people healthier and boost tourism. |
