1 . You throw a flying disc (飞盘). Your friend catches it. Well done!

Flying discs are fun toys. They are becoming popular in China. On the Internet, there are more than thousands of posts about disc games, talking about things like rules and dress codes.

Flying discs are very beginner-friendly. It is easy for anyone to throw a disc almost anywhere they want to, from a field to a beach. No special skills are needed. Boys and girls can also play together, making it a good activity to socialize.     1    

For those who want to compete, there are many choices. They can try the team disc sport called “ultimate”.     2     There are no judges. You must overcome your desire to cheat. Put simply, it makes us better people. In another game called “disc golf”, players try to hit faraway targets with a disc. Like in golf, the lowest number of throws wins.

    3     They started with pie tins (烤盘), which inspired the birth of the toy. After enjoying the pies, some university students soon found that the empty pie tins could be tossed (扔)around. They had great fun with them in the 1930s. In 1948, a man named Walter made a plastic disc with his partner Warren.     4     The discs quickly became popular.

A．It could fly farther and higher than a pie tin.

B．Flying discs have a history of nearly 100 years.

C．Unlike other games, it encourages honesty and fair play.

D．All these make the flying discs popular with young people today.

E．In fact, young people enjoyed this fun activity almost a century ago.

F．Social activities like attending parties will improve your communicative skills.

2 . NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon

Join us on Sunday, April 28, 2024, for the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon! Starting in North Brooklyn, the route offers stunning waterfront views and passes under the historic Williamsburg, Manhattan, and Brooklyn Bridges. Experience the vibrant streets of Brooklyn, from Fulton Street & Flatbush Avenue to the grandeur of Grand Army Plaza, and finish in Prospect Park.

Registration:

Fees for NYCRUNS members are $135 if registered by December 13th. Non-members pay $150. Register early to secure your spot in this unforgettable race! NYCRUNS members can enjoy a $10 discount on the registration fee. Additionally, up to 50% of the race fee can be covered using Race Credit.

Amenities:

NYCRUNS is known for putting on running events of the highest quality. After the race, celebrate your achievement with the official race shirt and an incredible medal with pride! When you finish, enjoy fresh Brooklyn bagels, NYS apples and more!

Awards:

Top finishers in various age groups will be recognized. Prize money will only be awarded to athletes who complete the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon in a gun time faster than the qualifying time. Athletes may be subject to drug testing to ensure a fair and equal field.

Volunteer Opportunities:

Non-profits interested in group volunteering, please contact us.

Transportation:

Public transportation recommended.

Closest stations: L train to Bedford Avenue, G train to Metropolitan Avenue.

Register today and be a part of this unforgettable Brooklyn experience!

1. What is the starting point of the NYCRUNS Brooklyn Half Marathon?

A．Prospect Park.	B．North Brooklyn.
C．Williamsburg Bridge.	D．Manhattan Bridge.

2. How much is the early bird registration fee for non-members?

A．$75.

B．$135.

C．$150.

D．$200.

3. What can participants expect to receive after completing the race?

A．A shirt and a finisher’s medal.	B．Prize money based on the age.
C．Free transportation services.	D．A gift from NYS Apple Stores.

3 . “The Worthington Christian defeated the Westerville North by 2—1 in an Ohio boys’ soccer game on Saturday.” That’s according to a story that appeared last month in The Columbus Dispatch. That lead was written not by a sportswriter, but by an artificial intelligence (AI) tool.

Many news organizations are now examining how AI might be used in their work. But if they begin their “experimenting” with high school sports because they are less momentous than war, peace, climate change and politics, they may miss something crucial. Nothing may be more important to the students who play high school sports, and to their families, neighborhoods, and sometimes, the whole town. That next game is what the students train for, work toward, and dream about. Someday, almost all student athletes will go on to have jobs in front of screens, in office parks, at schools, in hospitals or on construction sites. They may suffer blows and setbacks. But the high school games they played and watched, as well as their hopes and cheers, will stay vivid in their memories.

I have a small idea. If newspapers will no longer send staff reporters to cover high school games, why not hire high school student journalists? News organizations can pay students an hourly wage to cover high school games. The young reporters might learn how to be fair to all sides, write vividly, and attract readers. That’s what some celebrities in sports did, and do.

And think of the great writers who were inspired by sports: Hemingway on fishing, Bernard Malamud and Marianne Moore on baseball, Chen Zhongshi on football, and CLR James on cricket, who said, “There can be raw pain and bleeding where so many thousands see the inevitable (不可避免的) ups and downs of only a game.” A good high school writer, unlike a robot, could tell readers not just the score, but the stories of the game.

1. Why is the lead mentioned in the first paragraph?

A．To introduce an original idea.	B．To show AI’s wide application.
C．To bring in the opinion about AI.	D．To stress AI’s importance to news.

2. What does the author think of high school games?

A．Hopeful.

B．Eye-catching.

C．Competitive.

D．Far-reaching.

3. What is good sports news like according to the author?

A．Rich in contents.	B．Fair in comments.
C．Centered on results.	D．Targeted on readers.

4. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A．News Organizations Are Abusing AI	B．High Schoolers Can Do What AI Can’t
C．Great Writers Are Crazy About Sports	D．AI Ruins High School Students’ Memory

4 . 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。

13-year-old twin brother and sister Zhao Ziqian and Zhao Qinman are from Dongguan, Guangdong Province. They enter the waters off Xinbu Island in Haikou     1     (participate) in a swimming challenge across the Qiongzhou Strait,     2     lies between the island province of Hainan and the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong.

On Aug. 21, 2023, the twins     3     (successful) swam across the country’s Qiongzhou Strait, becoming the first set of twins to achieve the swimming feat (功绩). They were also the first     4     the 84th batch (批) of challengers to reach the shore in the attempt to swim across the Qiongzhou Strait, which is about 20 kilometers at its     5     (narrow) point. A total of six challengers from Dongguan took part in the activity. They entered the waters off Xinbu Island,     6     (begin) their challenge at 4:34 a.m. on Aug. 21 under the     7     (guide) of local teams.

According to Zhao Ziqian, the older brother, challengers could fuel their body with bottled water, bananas, chocolate and other food     8     (throw) down to them from protecting ships every 40-60 minutes.

The twins’ parents     9     (stay) with them and cheered them on throughout the journey. Their father, a former soldier, said he sent his children to swimming classes to help them build toughness     10     that he would continue to strengthen their physical fitness.

5 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的文章。

I was eleven years old. This was my first soccer game. With little knowledge of the rules of the game, I was nervous and uneasy, but still excited. With kids running at me from all directions, I observed the skills that many of my teammates possessed. Their motions appeared so suggest hand effortless, while their faces revealed their attachment to the game. I, however, lacked the spirit of playing aggressively that many of the other kids had.

To my knowledge, this game turned out to be an intense one. My team was falling behind the entire game, but toward the end, we tied it up. I watched as parents yelled and screamed, find to excitement and emotion. Many of the parents, with their waving arms and cheerful eyes, seemed more involved in the game than their children.

Suddenly, it was my turn to kick the ball. This was my chance to reveal that J was as good as everyone else. I brought my leg back and was ready to kick with all my strength. I gave a good, hard kick-one of my better—but unfortunately, I had kicked the ball in the wrong direction. Seeing the disappointed faces of the members of my team, I felt my face go from pale white to bright red; I wanted to run home, faster than I ever ran in a soccer practice.

Over the next few years, I continued to participate in a variety of sports, trying to find the one where I would be the center of attention for the right reasons. That never happened. Very often my father couldn’t wait to practise playing soccer around the backyard with me. Each time I somehow managed to trip on a shoelace (鞋带) or trip over a rock. My father continued to push me, and during my elementary-school years it seemed that I might become quite the athlete. At the same time, my little brother was suddenly not so little and began to control the family athletic field. His ability and passion for sports made me wonder why I was so different.

注意：

1.续写词数应为150个左右；

2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Eventually, I understood something all of a sudden.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

It suddenly occurred to me what I should do with it next.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 . 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，并将答案填写在答题卡上。

Highland barley (青稞) has been a main food of Xizang for thousands of years. Recently, it has helped Chinese bakers win international awards in Europe.

Lin Yeqiang and Feng Yingjie     1     (announce) as victors after a three-day baking     2     (compete) in Munich, Germany, last week known as the “iba. UIBC. CUP of Bakers 2023”. The Chinese team took first prize after     3     (defeat) the other bakers from 12 countries, including Japan, France, Germany and Italy, during the event,     4     ran from Oet. 22 to 24.

The event was held at the Baking Exhibition Center in Munich,     5     leading global meeting place since 1949. Most of the flour     6     (use) worldwide in the baking industry usually comes from developed Western countries. But this time,     7     was highland barley flour from Xizang that helped Lin and Feng beat their peers.

“This shows that highland barley has been recognized by the international baking industry, and that it provides a new alternative to high-end baking flour,” said Wang Zi, coach of the Chinese bakery team. Highland barley has     8     (gradual) gained more popularity overseas in recent years. It is considered a     9     (health) food, enriched with nutrients such as dietary fiber, beta-glucans, vitamins and other trace elements.

“Using highland barley to make fermented seeds integrates traditional Chinese cultural elements with their baking and gives the world a better understanding     10     the unique charm of Chinese baking,” Wang said.

7 . We love the idea of writing contests, but we hate con test fees. That’s why we’ve rounded up these 4 writing contests that all have no entry or reading fees. Some end soon, so be sure to apply for those right away if you’re interested.

The Lindquist & Vennum Prize for Poetry is currently open for submissions. Poets can submit a book-length manuscript, but there is no page requirement. The winner will receive $10,000 and publication by Milkweed Editions. Deadline is March 1. To learn more, click the prize submission guidelines.

The Eugene & Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award is currently accepting nominations (提名，推荐). Indiana-born or Indiana-based Authors may nominate themselves or be nominated. There are several award categories. The cash awards range from $6,000 to $10,000. Deadline for nominations is March 18. To learn more, click the award guidelines.

Winning Writers is currently hosting its Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest. Poets can submit one humorous poem for consideration. The first place winner will receive $1,000; second place will receive $250; and 10 honorable mentions will receive $100 each. All winners will be published online. Deadline is April 1. To learn more, click the contest guidelines.

The Griffin Poetry Prize welcomes poets and translators to submit their work. Two prizes will be awarded. The Canadian Prize will go to a Canadian poet or translator who has published or translated a work. The International Prize will go to a poet or translator from any part of the world. Each prize winner will receive $65,000 CAD. Deadline is June 30, with a second deadline of December 31. To learn more, click the prize guidelines.

1. What do the four contests have in common?

A．All of them are for poetry only.	B．The winners’ works will be published.
C．Everyone is welcome to submit their works.	D．Application for the contests is free of charge.

2. If Alice accomplishes several poems in May, which contest can she apply for?

A．The Griffin Poetry Prize.	B．Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest.
C．The Lindquist & Vennum Prize for Poetry.	D．The Eugene & Marilyn Glick Indiana Authors Award.

3. Where can we probably get more detailed information about the contests?

A．In a magazine.

B．On a website.

C．In an advertisement.

D．On a poster.

8 . A pacer is someone who runs in races or marathons to help set the pace for runners. There are different types of pacers. A race pacer usually carries a sign highlighting a specific competition time for a race. He helps runners reach their goals without relying on technology, such as a smart watch or GPS. Professional pacers are used in long-distance races. They run at different sections of the race to inspire runners. A record pacer helps a professional runner set a new record, who often leads the race for a predetermined distance at a predetermined pace.

A runner being paced runs directly following a pacer. Having a pacer can be helpful for a long-distance runner because researches show that it takes more energy to lead in a race all through the race than to follow another runner. The pacer takes on the responsibility of timing and establishing the pace so the runner only has to focus on his own running. Having a pacer as a guide in a long race can take some of the stress and pressure off by keeping an even pace. The pacer may also provide encouragement along the way to work towards the goal.

There are times, though, when running with a pacer can be more stressful than beneficial for a runner — especially for amateur runners. Not having taken professional training, you set a goal to run a particular pace, but then you realize this may not be the best speed for you. In some cases, the pacer is running too quickly for what you can stand. Other times, you could misjudge your abilities and run a slower pace than what your body can bear.

It is important to note that you don’t have to stay with a pacer just because you started with him. If you feel strong at the end and want to finish faster, you can run ahead. Or if he is too fast, you could slow down and maybe even join the slower pace group behind you.

1. What does a record pacer do?

A．He provides technical support.

B．He helps a runner keep the record.

C．He offers medical help to a runner.

D．He leads a professional runner at a speed set beforehand.

2. What does the underlined word “amateur” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Injured.

B．Legendary.

C．Unprofessional.

D．Graceful.

3. What advice does the author give us in the last paragraph?

A．Changing pacers from time to time.

B．Following the pacer strictly all through the race.

C．Giving up something and preparing for a breakthrough.

D．Listening to your body and doing what feels right for you.

4. In which section of a website can the text be found?

A．Sport and fitness.	B．Science and technology.
C．History and culture.	D．Health and lifestyle.

9 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Who gave the woman her first mountain bike?

A．Her father.

B．Her uncle.

C．Her brother.

2. Why did the woman slow down at one point in the race?

A．The road was full of rocks.

B．She was too tired to go ahead.

C．A reporter appeared suddenly.

3. What does the woman think is the most important before the race?

A．Having enough sleep.

B．Checking the road in advance.

C．Keeping the bike in good condition.

4. What does the woman say about the clothes?

A．They have to be tight.

B．They should be pretty.

C．They need to be comfortable.

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。

For the last two weeks, 32 women’s football teams have been playing in stadiums (体育场) across Australia and New Zealand as part of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Along the way, there have been some     1    (excite) matches, along with several surprises. Now there are only eight teams     2    (leave).

This is the     3    (nine) Women’s World Cup. The competition     4    (begin) in 1991 and is held every four years. For the first time ever, the competition is being hosted     5    more than one country. The first match took place in New Zealand. The final match will    6     (hold) at Stadium Australia in Melbourne on August 20.

In another change, this year, for the first time ever, 32 teams were invited to compete.   In the past, there were only 24 teams. For the eight     7    (country), this was the first time they’d ever made it into the World Cup.

Some people criticized (批评) the move, saying the new teams were too weak. But several teams     8     were included for the first time performed (表现) very well even beating teams that were expected     9     (do) much better. Morocco beat both South Korea     10    Colombia. Morocco is the only one of the new teams to make it into the final 16 teams in the competition.