1 . Do Yao Ming, Liu Xiang or Guo Jingjing have anything in common with people like us? You will probably answer “NO!” It seems that top athletes live in a world that is totally different from ours. They don’t have to worry about homework or exams. There are fans everywhere they go, constantly cheering them on. However, if we could see into their minds, it would be clear that they are actually just like us.

We may not all be sports stars, but we have to face similar problems. We set goals and seek self- development. We have to manage our fears before important exams. We worry about our relationships with classmates... Like sportspeople, we try to be mentally strong and do our best on a daily basis.

However, how an athlete becomes a success teaches all of us a lesson. To achieve their goals, sportspeople not only have to prepare physically, but also mentally. They have to get to know themselves, highlight their strong points, manage stresses and develop their powers of concentration. Here is some advice on how to achieve success from China’s top athletes.

China’s top woman badminton player Zhang Ning shows us the importance of motivation. It’s the first step to success. It is her love of badminton and sense of responsibility that contribute to her success.

Teng Haibin’s experience shows that “planning” exactly what should be done in your mind is as important as physical preparation. Give yourself a few minutes before a speech contest, for example. Close your eyes and picture things like your posture. It helps a lot!

How important is concentration? Hurdling star Liu Xiang knows. Focus is not only important for Liu Xiang, but for you too. If you can’t focus in class, you won’t get good grades.

A clear objective encourages a person to pursue their dream. Diving star Xiong Ni won a silver and a bronze in two Olympics. But his goal of winning an Olympic gold medal drove him on.

Top athletes show us that success isn’t simply down to chance and that all people can steer their life’s journey.

1. According to the passage, to achieve their goals, sportspeople should do the following EXCEPT________.

A．get to know themselves well	B．manage stresses
C．develop powers of concentration	D．stop being tough with themselves

2. From the passage, we can know that________.

A．success of top athletes largely depends on chance

B．ordinary people don’t need to become strong-minded

C．one needs to be physically and mentally prepared to achieve success

D．sportspeople have similar fears before important exams

3. The underlined word “objective ” in paragraph 7 can be replaced by “________”.

A．medal

B．goal

C．dream

D．decision

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．Top athletes’ stories of success.

B．Problems that ordinary people have in common with top athletes.

C．The importance of physical and mental health.

D．Lessons drawn from top athletes’ success.

2 . Marcus is a handsome and athletic kid. He plays tennis and _________ the state tournament every year. Marcus’s neighbor, Conrad, is also _________ to compete, but he has rheumatoid arthritis (类风湿性关节炎). Although it pains him just to walk, he _________ painful days at school walking to the sports field. He loves watching his school compete so he doesn’t _________ a game.

Marcus has known Conrad since primary school. They’ve always been _________. He sees Conrad in pain and his _________ at not being able to play sports. So, every day alter school, Marcus _________ his classmates to go to Conrad’s for a moment of discussion about the game competition. The discussion is as _________ as a real high school game, which makes Conrad forget the hurt.

Finally, the doctors found a new _________ to reduce the pain. Conrad walks without much pain, and then begins running, but he still has to learn the __________ of running. After a childhood of walking carefully and taking __________ steps, Conrad has to train his walking like a kid again and stay in shape. He pushes himself every day，building his lungs and doing leg lifts repeatedly for his leg __________. He knows what pain feels like, but running for Conrad is no longer __________.

To Conrad’s delight, he gets a chance to join the cross country team. Conrad doesn’t win, not once, but Marcus is there, __________ for him who always finishes in the middle of the competitors, breathing in wind and waving his hands __________.

1.

A．gives up

B．competes in

C．hears of

D．breaks through

2.

A．able

B．lucky

C．eager

D．calm

3.

A．bears

B．counts

C．forgets

D．escapes

4.

A．accept

B．enjoy

C．lose

D．miss

5.

A．strangers

B．enemies

C．friends

D．teachers

6.

A．surprise

B．sadness

C．impatience

D．tiredness

7.

A．promises

B．asks

C．drives

D．forces

8.

A．long

B．noisy

C．boring

D．interesting

9.

A．treatment

B．excuse

C．period

D．topic

10.

A．goal

B．style

C．speed

D．skill

11.

A．suitable

B．serious

C．small

D．comfortable

12.

A．strength

B．show

C．shape

D．advantage

13.

A．relaxing

B．beneficial

C．painful

D．meaningful

14.

A．queuing

B．arguing

C．running

D．cheering

15.

A．excitedly

B．curiously

C．anxiously

D．actively

3 . Writing contests are a great way for high school students to showcase their creative skills. Here are some of the top free writing contests for high school students.

Young Lions Fiction Contest

Award Amount: $10,000

Deadline: Usually in September

The Young Lions Fiction Contest was established in 2001 by the New York Public Library. Five finalists are recognized, with one taking home the grand prize of $10,000. To qualify, the author must be 25 or younger and submit a novel or a collection of short stories.

53-Word Story Contest

Award: Publication in Prime Number Magazine

Deadline: 21st of each month

Hosted by Prime Number Magazine, writers are put to the test and have to respond to a prompt (提示) with a 53-word story. The prompt changes each month, and the responses must be 53 words exactly. Only stories are permitted and only one submission per writer per month is allowed.

Signet Essay Contest

Award Amount: $1,000 to be used towards your higher education

Deadline: April 22, 2021

I£ you are a Wuthering Heights fan, then the Signet Essay Contest is the one for you. Five high school juniors or seniors can win an award for their two to three — page essays. You must select one of the five prompts¹ based on the events and characters in Wuthering Heights.

Ocean Awareness Contest

Award Amount: Scholarships up to $1,500

Deadline: June 15, 2021

The Ocean Awareness Contest aims to recognize writers while raising awareness about the climate crisis. Students can submit visual art, film or music. Each category has specific qualifications, so make sure to check.

1. How many people can get the grand prize in Young Lions Fiction Contest?

A．One.

B．Five.

C．Six.

D．Ten.

2. What is special about the 53-Word Story Contest?

A．It is held on the last day of each month.

B．The participants can choose any topic.

C．It awards winners a large sum of money.

D．The entry must contain exactly 53 words.

3. What do the four contests have in common?

A．They are all free of charge.

B．They provide scholarships.

C．They accept various forms of works.

D．They center on environmental issues.