1 . Benefits of Sports

Doing sports is a physical, mental and social adventure. It’s a great way for children to take a break from studies and release extra energy. It also helps them lead fuller and happier lives as regular sports have proven beneficial to overall well-being.

The physical benefits of doing sports are probably the most obvious. Regardless of your fitness level when you start playing sports, you’ll notice an increase in your overall fitness once you’re involved.     1     Basketball players focus on strength training; football players work on speed while track athletes train through longer runs. The training process helps promote physical fitness and performances in competitions.

    2     Playing sports also contributes to mental health, helping to increase confidence and self-worth. A pat on the back, a high five from a teammate, or a handshake after a match really boosts a child’s confidence. Words of praise and encouragement from the coach, parents and other players raise self-worth.     3     So after a game, it’s a better idea to ask “Did you enjoy the game?” rather than “Did you win?”

Children who participate in sports might also benefit from the social aspect, feeling part of a group, building up responsibility and leadership.     4     Teamwork involves both being dependable as a teammate and learning to rely on your teammates to achieve a positive outcome. Teamwork breeds responsibility and challenges you to be responsible for your actions. Being part of a team gives you an opportunity to be a leader.

Discipline is another social advantage. Most organized sports require a strict training and practice schedule. As a student-athlete, you need to balance studies and athletics.     5    

There is no shortage of reasons to find a sport to get involved in. Are you ready to go? Pick one and get moving!

A．It’s not just your body that benefits from sports.

B．Therefore, playing sports is going to make you more fit.

C．But remember, a child’s self-worth should not be distinguished by victory or loss.

D．If you play group sports, you’ll be part of a team that takes direction from a coach.

E．Nearly every sport requires physical activities and the competitive skills.

F．Among these, learning how to function as part of a team is the most important advantage.

G．Only with strict discipline can you be successful both in the classroom and in the sports field.

2 . Physical education, or PE, isn’t required for all high school students. In some schools, it isn’t offered for some different reasons. But should high school students have physical education? The answer is certainly “yes”.

Today many people don’t do sports. But as is known to all. doing sports is very important for an adult. Teaching teens the importance of a healthy lifestyle and making fitness plans now can help teens put exercise in the first place as an adult.

High school isn’t that easy. Many students are under a lot of stress. Stress can be harmful to a student’s studies and life. Doing sports can help them deal with stress better, helping them live a happier life at school.

The American Heart Association says that 10 million kids and teens suffer from obesity (肥胖). Teens should get 60 minutes of physical activity per day to control their weight and to help their bones get stronger. The increase in activities that don’t get teens to move around, such as computer games, means many teens don’t get their required exercise. PE classes act as a public health measure (措施) to encourage physical activities and help teens have healthy weights.

Not doing sports increases teens’ hazard of developing many diseases. An active lifestyle offers a good way of protection from these health problems. As much as 75 percent of health-care spending goes toward treating medical conditions that can be prevented by lifestyle changes, according to the American College of Sports Medicine.

According to the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN), students who performed five hours of physical activities each week improved their academic (学业的) performance. Students from programs with no physical activity, who used the extra time for classroom study, did not perform better on tests than those who gave up some study time in support of physical education.

1. According to Paragraph 2, what does physical education in high school mean?

A．Making teens attach importance to ęxercise later.

B．Removing the stress faced by teens at school.

C．Getting teens to encourage adults to exercise.

D．Helping teens learn to make good plans

2. What does the underlined word “hazard” in Paragraph 5 mean?

A．Happiness.

B．Risk.

C．Safety.

D．Sadness.

3. According to the PCFSN, doing sport          .

A．means making students choose between sports and studies

B．helps students make good use of all their time

C．means students adjust to their studies better

D．helps students do better in their studies

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Why high school students should receive physical education.

B．Why some schools consider physical education important.

C．How schools can help students love doing sports.

D．How high school students can live a better life.

3 . First it was jogging. Then aerobics (有氧运动). Not too long ago, Americans discovered race walking.

Now Americans are into a new fitness craze. They’re taking up bicycling. Over hills and down mountainsides and across quiet country roads, Americans are busily rolling along.

The number of adults who ride for fitness is around 17 million, an increase of 70 percent over four years ago. Twice as many women as men are coming to the sport. Americans are falling in love with biking because it has speed, the benefits of jogging and beautiful scenery.

Bicycling is a very appropriate sport, which is important to people who injured their knees while jogging or whose joints are aching from aerobics. And biking is a real awakening for people who have been into race walking in the past. Race walking is as dull as watching paint dry.

The most popular kind of bicycle for people who are new to the sport is the mountain bike, which has a fixed frame with wide tires and upright handles.

Mountain bikes also have many gears (齿轮) to make it easier to climb hills. About 5 million Americans ride mountain bikes, compared with 200, 000 who rode them only five years ago.

Costs range from about $130 for a bottom-of-the-line bicycle to more than $2,700 for an expensive bicycle.

Mountain biking has attracted some people who race down the sides of mountains like a bat out of hell. But most riders ride slowly and they rarely venture far from home.

The biking craze has brought an unexpected profit (盈利) to clothing and bicycle accessory (附属品) makers. Last year, bikers paid $630 million for biking clothes and accessories.

Bicycling seems likely to continue its fantastic growth.

1. Why is race walking as dull as watching paint dry?

A．Race walking is a slow-moving sport.

B．The number of adults who ride for fitness has grown 70 percent in four years.

C．It has speed, the benefits of jogging and beautiful scenery.

D．Americans are taking up bicycling.

2. Whom has the bicycling craze been a profit for?

A．People who want to ride like a bat out of hell.

B．Bicycle accessory makers.

C．Race walkers.

D．Twice as many women as men.

3. What does the underlined word “bottom-of-the-line” mean?

A．poor

B．modern

C．old

D．cheapest

4. What is the main idea of the article?

A．Riding a bicycle is one of the most dangerous sports in America.

B．Americans are rolling along.

C．Bicycling is the latest fitness craze to hit America.

D．Most people in America want to own a hand-made bicycle that can cost more than $2,700.

5 . Why play sports? You might say “to get exercise” and you would be right. To have fun? That's true, too. But there's more.     1     According to the Women's Sports Foundation, girls who play sports get a lot more than just fit.

Girls who play sports do better in school. You might think that athletics will take up all your study time.     2     Exercise improves learning, memory, and concentration, which can give active girls an advantage in the classroom.

Girls who play sports learn teamwork and goal-setting skills.     3     When working with coaches, trainers , and teammates to win games and achieve goals, you're learning how to be successful. Those skills will serve you well at work and in family life.

Sports are good for a girl's health. In addition to being fit and keeping a healthy weight, girls who play sports are also less likely to smoke. And later in life, girls who exercise are less likely to get breast cancer or osteoporosis(骨质疏松症).

Playing sports improves self-confidence.     4     Why? It builds confidence when you know you can practice, improve, and achieve your goals. Sports are also a feel-good activity because they help girls get in shape, keep a healthy weight, and make new friends.

    5     Playing sports can reduce stress and help you feel a little happier. How? The brain chemicals leased during exercise improve a person's mood. Friends are another mood-lifter. And being in a team creates tight bonds between friends. It's good to know your teammates will support you-both on and off the field!

A．Exercise cuts the pressure.

B．Sports teach valuable life skills.

C．Regular exercise increases quality of life.

D．In fact, there are at least five more reasons.

E．Girls who play sports feel better about themselves.

F．Playing sports offers children more than just physical benefits.

G．But research shows that girls who play sports do better in school than those who don't.

7 . I was speaking to the faculty (全体教师) at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Canton, Massachusetts, a couple weeks ago. I arrived early and decided to take a walk.

There was a Little League field nearby. I spotted a sign on the fence .

The sign, posted by the Canton Little League, read:

PLEASE REMEMBER

·These are kids.

·This is a game.

·The coaches volunteer.

·You don’t play for the Red Sox (an American professional baseball team).

I had to laugh, especially at the joke about the Red Sox. But I think the sign is a good reminder to everyone connected with youth sports－kids, parents, coaches and the folks who run the leagues－what is important about the games.

First, kids who play are just kids. They are not mini professional athletes. So youth sports leagues and coaches should take it easy on them. Kids don’t need long schedules and lots of faraway games or high-pressure tournaments.

Adults should try to set up youth leagues so more kids play with and against kids from nearby schools and neighborhoods. They should make it easier for kids to play a sport for just a few months so that they can try other sports. Kids shouldn’t play one sport year-round.

And everyone should stop worrying about which team wins or loses. A friend of mine who coached a lot of youth teams once told me, “When you coach kids, it’s not how many you win or lose, but how many sign up for next season.” According to the Aspen Institute’s latest “State of Play” report, fewer kids are signing up. Research indicates a smaller percentage of kids ages 6 to 12 (37 percent) are playing team sports on a regular basis than in 2011 (42 percent).

The aim of youth sports should be to have fun, learn some skills and enjoy being part of a team. When we lose sight of those simple goals, the games suffer, and the kids stay away.

Maybe in 2021 every field or gym where kids play should have a sign like the one in Canton. All you would have to do is change the name of the team.

1. How might the author feel seeing the sign on the fence?

A．Relieved.

B．Worried.

C．Confident.

D．Disappointed.

2. What’s the author’s advice for adults?

A．Go easy on kids.	B．Choose youth leagues carefully.
C．Encourage kids to stick to one sport.	D．Make a year-round schedule for kids.

3. What can be inferred from the Aspen Institute’s report?

A．Kids today are less athletic.

B．Fewer youth leagues are being set up.

C．Youth group sports are losing popularity.

D．Kids are focusing more on succeeding than trying.

4. What is the author trying to do in the last paragraph?

A．Give praise.	B．Express a wish.
C．Offer sympathy.	D．Show determination.

8 . One of the best parts of the school day is the time spent in the playground. It’s a chance to be with friends, run around and have fun. However, at the Rudyard Kipling Primary School in Brighton, things were getting too hard, so the teachers decided something had to be done. The school’s new rules, which restrict（限制）physical activities and encourage pupils only to touch if they are playing friendlier games, have attracted a lot of attention.

Most people say that they are a bad restriction. Parents of children at the school, in Brighton, East Sussex, talked about the bizarre rule —   saying their kids were now bored at playtime. A teacher for the school defended（辩护）the rules, saying, “We want to make sure the playground is a happy, safe and calm place where everyone can enjoy their lunchtime running around and getting the exercise that we know is important to them.”

Some people say that Rudyard Kipling Primary School’s decision is a good one because it makes the playground more fun for everyone. Not all children enjoy playing rough（剧烈的）games or sports at playtime. Friendlier games ensure everyone can join in. The teachers only have the pupils’ best interests at heart, so they should be trusted to make the right decision. Besides, if someone gets hurt in the playground, that                    could distract（分心）the teachers from other accidents.

However, some people think it’s an overreaction. Sometimes physical games can lead to injuries, but banning（禁止）such activities is unreasonable. In fact, it is only during physical games that you can build up your ability to recover quickly from falling over. Even if these physical activities aren’t your favorite way to spend break time, it’s difficult to see why they will be completely banned. Each pupil should be able to decide what they want to do. Besides, schools should be happy that their students want to exercise between classes as this will keep them fit and healthy, and teachers should encourage this, not prevent it.

1. What was the result of the tule made by the Rudyard Kipling Primary School?

A．It was made into law.	B．It was supported by parents.
C．It encouraged students to do sports.	D．It made the school widely discussed.

2. What does the underlined word “bizarre” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．Simple.	B．Strange.
C．Important.	D．Reasonable.

3. What is one reason why some people think the school made a wise decision?

A．It saves more lunchtime.

B．It helps students pay more attention to their study.

C．It brings more fun to every kid.

D．It makes students more independent.

4. What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．Physical games can injure kids.

B．Physical games are good for students health.

C．Teachers should do sports with students.

D．Restricting physical activities is unreasonable.

9 . All over the world people are hooked on sports, which help them to strengthen their body and build their character.    1     They improve the participants’ physical skills, and provide entertainment for the audience as well.

Many people like to watch others play games.    2     Often they get very excited when “their” player or team wins. If they are crazy about the game or the player, then they’ll become their diehard fans. Some sports are so interesting that people everywhere go in for them. Football, for example, has spread around the world. Swimming is popular in countries near the sea or in those with many rivers.    3     And think of people in cold countries. Masses of people love to skate or ski in Japan, Norway or Canada.

    4     Chinese boxing, also has a very long history. But basketball and volleyball are rather new, which started in the late of the nineteenth century. People are inventing new sports or games all the time. Water skiing, as a modern game, is one of the newest in the family of sports.

People from different countries or races may not be able to understand each other, but after a game, they get to know each other better and they often become good friends.    5     One learns to fight hard but fight fair, to win without pride and to lose with grace.

A．They buy tickets or turn on the TV to watch the games.

B．What fun it is to jump into a pool or lake, whether in China, Egypt or Italy!

C．Some sports or games date back thousands of years, like running or jumping.

D．Sports help to train a person’s character.

E．Chinese people liked doing sports even in ancient times.

F．Sports are competitive physical activities or games through casual or organized participation.

G．They can make friends with each other.

10 . There are a number of sports writers who are now widely regarded as some of the best sports journalists of our time. Here are five of the most well-known sports writers.

Rick Reilly of Sports Illustrated

Rick Reilly became famous as the back page columnist (专栏作家) for Sports Illustrated magazine. Then he moved to ESPN in 2008 and began working as a columnist for their website — ESPN.com. Now he has his own show with ESPN, and he also contributes articles to ABC sports.

Bob Ryan of The Boston Globe

Bob Ryan rose through the ranks thanks to his skill and knowledge about basketball. He very soon became known as a guru of the sport, writing an impressively large number of articles about The Boston Celtics — a National Basketball Association (NBA) team based in Boston, Massachusetts.

John Feinstein of The Washington Post

John Feinstein is primarily a columnist with The Washington Post but during his long career he has published two best-selling sports books A Good Walk Spoiled and A Season on the Brink. He is a regular with the Golf Channel and has a very popular blog called Feinstein on the Brink.

Joaquin Henson of The Philippine Star

Joaquin Henson started out his sports journalism career in 1973 and became popular through his column Sporting Chance, which has been published in The Philippine Star since the 80’s. He has given a number of catchy nicknames to some of the most famous sporting stars of our time.

William Rhoden of The New York Times

Apart from being a columnist with The New York Times since the 80’s, William Rhoden is a respected sports journalist known for his two books Forty Million Dollar Slaves and Third and a Mile. Both books deal with the problems that face black athletes in the field of sport.

1. Before working for ESPN, Rick Reilly _____.

A．was a regular with the Golf Channel	B．started his column Sporting Chance
C．wrote articles for Sports Illustrated	D．worked as a sports talk show host

2. Both John Feinstein and William Rhoden _____.

A．have worked as writers for ten years	B．work as columnists and write books
C．like to give nicknames to sporting stars	D．are known as columnists for ABC sports

3. What would be the best title for the text?

A．Useful tips for a sports journalist	B．How to be a newspaper columnist
C．Newspapers that influence us a lot	D．Famous and popular sports writers