1 . During the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 in 2023, one of the highlights is a 48-year-old Uzbekistan gymnast, Oksana Chusovitina (“Chuso” as she is affectionately known), who continues to compete despite numerous “retirements” .

Born in Bukhara, Uzbekistan in 1975, Chuso competed and won gold in her first Olympic Games at Barcelona 1992. After competing at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, Chuso got married in 1997 and two years later, Alisher, her son, was born. Chuso’s first “retirement” was due after competing at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, by which time five world championship medals had been won including three golds. But in 2002, Alisher was diagnosed with leukemia (白血病). The family moved to Germany where better treatment was available and Chuso continued to train as a way to take a break from the stresses of her son’s health.

Chuso competed at Athens 2004, gained German citizenship in 2006 and won silver on vault (跳马) at Beijing 2008 for her adopted nation — Germany, aged 33, just months after Alisher received the all-clear. At London 2012, Chuso came fifth in the vault final. And finally, in 2013, after eight years in Germany, Chuso returned to the place she calls home, Uzbekistan. Chuso switched back to competing for her home nation at Rio 2016 and at Tokyo 2020, where she just qualified for vault, but unfortunately did not make the final. In 2022, Chuso won gold on vault at the Doha World Cup on 5 March, the second of four of the 2022 FIG Artistic Gymnastics Apparatus World Cup series.

The 48-year-old gymnast’s motto is, “I’d rather try today than regret tomorrow”. “I’m an ordinary person,” Chuso says. “I have my feelings, hardships and sometimes I’m even in a bad mood. Nothing phenomenal (非凡的) about me, just stuck in sports a little longer. If you want to achieve something, there is always a way.”

1. In which year was Chuso’s son born?

A．1997.

B．1999.

C．2000.

D．2008.

2. Why did Chuso’s family move to Germany?

A．To hold German citizenship.	B．To get better treatment for Alisher.
C．To seek better living conditions.	D．To receive more professional training.

3. How many Olympic Games did Chuso take part in?

A．Six.

B．Seven.

C．Eight.

D．Nine.

4. Which of the following best describes Chuso?

A．Active and energetic.	B．Outgoing and generous.
C．Ordinary and humorous.	D．Determined and positive.

2 . For many runners, a marathon can often be a challenge — but sometimes what gets a runner through the tough 26.2 miles is looking out into the crowd and seeing his or her loved one holding up a sign and shouting words of encouragement. For one mom, though, her loved one was a bit more hands-on.

While running the REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon in Salt Lake City, Courtney Rich, a self-taught baker and mother of two, was beginning to run out of energy just yards from the end when she was suddenly joined by her 10-year-old daughter, Avery.

The touching moment, caught on video and posted on social media, shows Avery running to her mother’s side to support her as she approached the end of the race. Rich’s face lit up when Avery joined her and helped her cross the finish line.

Rich later said in the video’s caption that being joined by her daughter to finish the race was “a moment I hope neither of us ever forget”. Rich said that her daughter could tell she was struggling after a phone call near the end of the race. “She knew I had struggled the last few miles,” Rich said. “She saw tears in my eyes when I called on mile 24.”

In the video, Rich’s facial expression changes from tiredness to a smile after seeing her daughter emerge from the crowd to join her. Then, Rich and her daughter ran hand-in-hand to the finish line. “Nothing could have prepared me for the moment my 10-year-old daughter would jump out of the crowd and run with me to the finish line,” she said. When the race was done, the two hugged each other at the finish line. The video ends with a final caption, “And then she just held me. She held me.”

In the past, the REVEL Big Cottonwood Marathon has had other memorable moments of mothers caring for their children, but perhaps not as hands-on as this one.

1. What happened to Rich when she was coming to the finish line?

A．She fell down all of a sudden.

B．She was far behind others.

C．She felt herself struggling.

D．She was interrupted by Avery.

2. How did Avery react to the accident?

A．She helped Rich run to the finish line.

B．She tried to call for help at once.

C．She ran the rest in place of Rich.

D．She shouted encouraging words to Rich.

3. How did Rich feel about Avery’s response?

A．Doubtful.

B．Content.

C．Concerned.

D．Expected.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．A Mother Would Never Give Up On Her Marathon Dream

B．A Mother Encouraged Her Daughter To Pursue Her Dream

C．A Daughter Got Involved In Her Mother’s Race By Mistake

D．A Daughter Cheered For Her Mother By Joining In Her Race

3 . Fabiano Caruana is a very famous chess player.    1    . He credits his success to strict training rules and a strong work ethic (职业道德). Now he’s got a few lessons to share.

Practice makes perfect

Caruana’s parents signed him up for a chess club in Brooklyn, when he was five. After his coach noticed his potential, he began taking private lessons and competing in tournaments in Manhattan. He says, “     2    . For example, you can learn how to play in front of people and assess your opponent sitting in front of you, which you can’t do online.”

    3    

Before every match, Caruana studies the way his opponents play. For help, he works with a chess coach, who often offers “a different view on how to approach a problem, which is really valuable.” Caruana also relies on a coach for emotional support during tournaments. “You want a coach that you click with,” he says, explaining that “it’s hard to talk about a tough chess game with friends, because they may not understand the game at such a high level, and they may not understand how tough it is for me emotionally.     4     .”

Reframe your perspective

According to Caruana, the difference between the very top players in the world and everyone else doesn’t come down to ability or knowledge. “     5    ,” he says. “It’s having the ability and the energy to focus for a long period of time.” Although playing in front of an audience doesn’t bother him, Caruana says that developing a winning mindset is key, especially after facing setbacks.

A．It’s a concentration thing

B．Depend on someone you trust

C．Face every competition bravely

D．When I need to complain or talk to someone, I talk to my coach

E．Sixteen years ago, he became the youngest American grandmaster, at age 14

F．There are some practical skills that you get from years of playing in tournaments

G．In particular, he can keep his mental tools sharp enough to compete in every game

4 . Olympic Games organizers in France presented the 2024 Olympic torch (火炬) that will light the Summer Games in the country a year from now. In the Olympic torch tradition, many people carry the torch in turn from Greece to the current location of the Games. After it has traveled thousands of kilometers. the torch will light the Olympic cauldron (火炬台) at the Opening Ceremony of the next Olympic Games.

French designer Mathieu Lehanneur created the torch. which is 70 centimeters long and made of lightweight steel. Lehanneur said its shape is inspired by the famous Seine River, which flows through Paris. He said the torch is equal from top to bottom and all around the middle, which stands for equality between athletes. The twisting shape of the torch represents peace.

The torch was made with lightweight steel. Its lower half copies the movement of the Seine, along which the opening ceremony will take place for over 500,000 viewers.

Lehanneur said he wants the torch to represent the kind of event that Paris 2024 hopes to be. “I wanted to move away from the torch appearing as an object of conquest (征服),” Lehanneur said. He also told reporters that designing the torch was much more techn1cal than he thought it would be. “The magic is not the torch itself. but the flame” Lehanneur said.

The torch will be lit up in Olympia, Grecce on April 16, 2024, followed by a nine day torch relay before sailing across the Mediterranean Sea from Athens to Marseille on May 8. It will then pass through several important places , which include Strasbourg , the Pantheon in Paris, the Mont Saint-Michel and multiple French territories.

Tony Estanguet, the Paris 2024 chief, said the torch is “very ,very beautiful”. He also said it is “...very pure, It’s perfectly balanced in the hand.”

1. Why is the torch equal from top to bottom?

A．It is easy for torch-bearers to carry.	B．It is the symbol of the Seine River.
C．It represents peace among nations.	D．It shows equality between players.

2. What can be inferred from Lehanneur’s words?

A．He wishes Paris 2024 to be the best ever.	B．The torch is more important than the flame.
C．Designing the torch is harder than he thinks.	D．He thinks highly of the torch’s appearance.

3. How long will it take the torch to travel from Greece to France?

A．Twenty two days.

B．Fifteen days.

C．Nine days.

D．Eight days.

4. Where is the text most probably taken from?

A．A travel brochure.

B．A sports magazine.

C．A science report.

D．A research paper.

5 . Last Sunday, the famous Champs-Elysees street in Paris was turned into a giant outdoor classroom for a special spelling event called “The Big Dictation”. The event was a chance for people who love words to show off their listening and spelling skills in an unusual setting.

The Big Dictation of Champs-Elysees was organized by a writer named Rachid Santaki. He came up with the idea of large groups of people taking part in dictations back in 2013. Over 50,000 people asked to join the special spelling event on the Champs-Elysees, which turned one of Paris’s busiest streets into a classroom, with cars replaced by desks. In the end, around 5,000 people, aged 10 to 90, were chosen to take part.

Just like in school, a large “blackboard” was set up for the event near a famous building, the Arc de Triomphe. Several famous people were there to play the part of the teacher, and read the dictation texts out loud. After the dictation is read, the text on the screen lets people check their work.

Not everyone found it easy. Ten-year-old Samson thought the dictation was too quick and he couldn’t finish. Another young student agreed. “It was impossible!” he said. “The dictation was for adults.”

Even adults found it challenging, reporting that it caused stress and worry. One retired woman was pleased that she had only made two mistakes.

Marc-Antoine Jamet is in charge of the Champs-Elysees Committee, who brought the event to the famous street. He said the event wasn’t just about getting all the words right but also about bringing people together.

Another goal of The Big Dictation was to break the record for the largest dictation event ever. The previous record was set in 2018 at France’s national stadium, Stade de France, with 1,473 people taking part. That event was also run by Mr. Santaki.

1. How many people were chosen to take part in The Big Dictation last Sunday?

A．Around 1, 500.

B．Around 2,000.

C．Around 5,000.

D．Over 50,000.

2. What does Samson think of The Big Dictation?

A．Easy.

B．Exciting.

C．Boring.

D．Challenging.

3. What is a goal of The Big Dictation?

A．To break the record for the dictation event.

B．To introduce a famous street to the world.

C．To reduce the learning pressure of students.

D．To remember the founder of the competition.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．The Famous Scenic Spots of France

B．A Spelling Event Took Place on a Paris Street

C．The French Love for Spelling Competitions

D．An Outdoor Classroom Unique to the British

6 . Who would win a race between a human and a horse?

An annual event in a small town in Wales may have the _________. In the Man Versus (对抗) Horse marathon, _________ and their horses race runners over a distance of about 36 kilometers — a little shorter than an official marathon — on hills, paths and _________ across small rivers.

Out of 50 horses that _________ the race in June 2022, 40 finished, along with around 450 individual human runners and over 120 human relay teams. And for just the third time in the event’s_________, a human was the winner — an Englishman named Ricky Lightfoot.

Lightfoot, a 37-year-old firefighter from Cumbria in northwest England, finished more than two minutes _________ than the first horse — Invictus, ridden by Kim Alman. With his time of 2 hours, 20 minutes and 23 seconds, he was the first human to _________ since 2007. Lightfoot, a successful long-distance runner, won around $4, 250 from the victory. But do you know how the event _________?

It is said that the idea for the race came from a (n) _________ 42 years ago in a local pub, according to the event’s website. After __________ two customers disagreeing about whether a human could __________ a horse over a long distance, the landlord decided to put it to the __________, organizing the first race in 1980. __________, it wasn’t until 2004 that a human finally came out on top.

__________ events have been held around the world in recent years, including an 80-kilometer __________ in Arizona in the US.

1.

A．mystery

B．answer

C．evidence

D．solution

2.

A．riders

B．coaches

C．trainers

D．owners

3.

A．still

B．yet

C．even

D．soon

4.

A．started

B．completed

C．quit

D．supported

5.

A．plan

B．guideline

C．future

D．history

6.

A．later

B．earlier

C．longer

D．slower

7.

A．challenge

B．compete

C．win

D．appear

8.

A．broke in

B．went on

C．took off

D．came into being

9.

A．experiment

B．argument

C．theory

D．question

10.

A．hearing

B．imagining

C．minding

D．keeping

11.

A．approach

B．attack

C．beat

D．feed

12.

A．measure

B．wonder

C．debate

D．test

13.

A．Instead

B．Besides

C．Actually

D．However

14.

A．Traditional

B．Similar

C．Unusual

D．Typical

15.

A．record

B．walk

C．race

D．path

7 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给的段落开头续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

I had just a very wonderful day. Although all my days were always wonderful to me, that day was completely different. There was a bulletin(公告)board saying that they would need to find volleyball players for the girls and I was so happy! I have been loving playing volleyball since my mother taught me how to play. I was so excited that I couldn’t wait to play! Then I read more what was on that bulletin board, which said that here would be an audition(试演)after three weeks! “Three weeks?” I thought about it I did know how to play volleyball but I was not much of an expert in doing it but I still wanted to try.

After that I was determined to practice volleyball every day. I practiced hard again and again each day and never got tired of doing the same practice through all the days, and finally, the day came. I was so prepared for this and hurried to the gym to the audition. When I had reached the gym, I was surprised to see that 12 or 14 girls were lining up and I guessed I was the last one to arrive. Then our audition began. Some of the girls failed to pass the audition and some passed.

There was only one position left to complete the 6 girls to join the volleyball team and suddenly I felt nervous because the person in front of me was going to take the serve(发球). Then the girl hit the ball and then the ball didn’t pass over the net! The girl hit her forehead and left, leaving me standing in the middle of the court.

Then the coach spoke, “Okay, you serve.” She handed me the ball and I caught it with my hands. As the ball was in my hands, my hands were suddenly sweating and so was I!

注意：
1．续写词数应为150字左右；
2．请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

I then suddenly became nervous about this.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I come to a stop, taking a deep breath and began.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8 . I could see the penalty shoot-out (点球大战). Five balls in the back of the net and you win a prize! My _______ was standing in line, waiting, looking forward to it. But he _______ . Not a single shot in. Later we walked away from the field slowly, close, which somehow made getting to the heart of the matter _______ . “I’m rubbish at football!” he said, between sobs, a declaration but maybe in some small way a _______ . Could his mother, by the sheer power of her answer, her love, make him _______ at something than he really was?

“It was _______ ,” I admitted.

“Yeah, but Gabe _______ twice.”

I wanted to add, “The goalkeeper was big,” which he was, _______ that wasn’t the point. So instead I _______ him, “Keep practicing!” Yet the kid practices all the time. He’s out in the back garden after school kicking the ball around for hours and some nights I have to ________ him inside. ________ is not the missing ingredient. Talent very well might be. I don’t know how good he is at football, but I can make an educated ________ . I’d say he’s ________ . “You’re not going to be good at everything,” I said.

I hope my son can be ________ with himself about his ________ as well as his gifts. I can’t watch my kid ________ five out of five penalty shots and think he did a “Great job!”. I won’t ________ him he did, either. I don’t want him to expect ________ around every corner just because he turns it. What I want to tell him is to learn how to find enjoyment in the things they love but don’t necessarily ________ , and to grow as people by struggling for what doesn’t come ________ .

And most of all, what I want for him is self-awareness—and the true confidence that comes with it.

1.

A．son

B．husband

C．nephew

D．uncle

2.

A．shouted

B．failed

C．disappeared

D．arrived

3.

A．easier

B．sadder

C．bigger

D．worse

4.

A．belief

B．question

C．method

D．game

5.

A．quicker

B．angrier

C．madder

D．better

6.

A．simple

B．amazing

C．challenging

D．personal

7.

A．celebrated

B．bargained

C．rose

D．scored

8.

A．but

B．if

C．and

D．so

9.

A．respected

B．encouraged

C．blamed

D．accepted

10.

A．rescue

B．forbid

C．drag

D．imitate

11.

A．Effort

B．Courage

C．Ambition

D．Bravery

12.

A．wish

B．decision

C．guess

D．difference

13.

A．serious

B．average

C．talented

D．promising

14.

A．excited

B．disappointed

C．anxious

D．honest

15.

A．manners

B．intentions

C．shortcomings

D．responsibilities

16.

A．miss

B．save

C．deliver

D．examine

17.

A．order

B．admire

C．answer

D．tell

18.

A．wealth

B．happiness

C．confidence

D．success

19.

A．come up with

B．run out of

C．do well in

D．look forward to

20.

A．clearly

B．naturally

C．fortunately

D．surprisingly

9 . Here’s a selection of the strangest races in the world.

Surf Dog Competition

Hundreds of participants (参赛者) from all over the US come to fight for the first prize. This annual event is an official dog surfing competition taking place in Imperial Beach in August and Huntington Beach in September. The attendance to the event is free of charge, however, donations are welcome.

Bring Your Own Big Wheel Race

If you think wheel toys are designed for kids only, you’re wrong. The race was initiated by John Brumit in 2000 when he rode down Lombard Street on his plastic wheel toy. That day, he was the only participant in the race. He continued his tradition every year, but few joined him. In 2006, someone posted a video of his race and as a result, the next year’s race featured hundreds of participants though there was no prize money. Since then, the annual race has been held on Easter Sunday in San Francisco.

World’s Ugliest Dog Contest

It’s an annual event held in June in Petaluma, California. But it’s not about making fun of the ugly dogs, but about encouraging them and showing the world that such dogs can also be happy and adorable. The competition has been held since the 1970s. The winner gets a check for $1,000.

Fur Rondy

Like the famous Spanish Bullfighting Festival, Alaska has its own tradition. It’s a bit transformed. Speedy reindeer (驯鹿) run after the participants in the race. This event is held every February in Anchorage, Alaska. Participants pay a small fee to attend it; some of them wear funny dresses, which children enjoy very much.

1. What made Bring Your Own Big Wheel Race popular quickly?

A．Brumit’s strange race device.	B．A video of Brumit in the race.
C．The prize money of the race.	D．The joy brought by the race.

2. Of the following races, which is held in two places?

A．Surf Dog Competition.	B．Bring Your Own Big Wheel Race.
C．Fur Rondy.	D．World’s Ugliest Dog Contest.

3. What do the listed competitions have in common?

A．They are free of charge.	B．They have ancient traditions.
C．They are held annually.	D．They are favored by children.

10 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Over the past nine days, nearly 600 Paralympic (残奥会的) athletes from 46 countries and regions     1     (compete) for excellence with passion, and moved global audience with their strong     2     (persevere) and devoted efforts for the best performance. Their amazing performances have lived up to the values of the Paralympic Games known as “courage, determination, inspiration     3     equality”. The Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games will go down in the history of sports for people with disabilities as the one that conveyed confidence, friendship and hope to the world.

As the host, China has been     4     (commit) to delivering green, inclusive, open and clean Games to the world. Thanks to close cooperation of all sides, the Games have overcome the risks and challenges     5     (present) by COVID-19. China has fulfilled its commitment of hosting two equally wonderful Games and presenting a safe and splendid Paralympic Games to the world. The world has heard the appeal of the times for reliability and inclusiveness and the chapter of “Together for a shared future”.

At this Paralympic Games, Team China,     6     an average age of 25 years, topped the Paralympic gold medal table and the medal table,     7     has created the best record since China first participated in Paralympic Winter Games. Chinese para-athletes competed in all the sports of the Games and made all-round progress. The Beijing Paralympic Winter Games     8     (effective) promoted the development of ice sports for people with disabilities in China, facilitated the improvement of       9     (access) environment of the host city and made the society more inclusive. The remarkable achievement of the sports for disabled people in China has demonstrated China's powerful strength     10     (promote) the welfare of people with disabilities, and represented the accomplishment of human rights development.