We all know the Olympic Games.
2 . Sports like figure skating, ice hockey, speed skating, and ski jumping have been part of Olympic history since the first Winter Olympics were hosted in France, in 1924. But the origins of many Olympic sports stretch back even further.
The ancient origins of skiing
Skiing has been around since early civilization, evidenced by a 5,000-year-old rock carving showing men on skis in Norway, and the discovery of a ski dating back to 6000 B.C. found in Russia. Modern skiing can be traced back to the Scandinavians, who primarily used skis as a means of travel or for other practical purposes. Some of the first official competitions began around 1850 in Norway, with the first recorded race in Sweden held outside Stockholm in 1879.
The British are the ones who transformed skiing from its Scandinavian roots into the highly competitive sport it is now. Alpine skiing or downhill skiing is the most popular form of skiing, and it first appeared in the Winter Olympics in 1936.
The development of snowboarding
Snowboarding originated as a backyard activity known as snurfing—invented by a father to entertain children.
In 1965, Sherman Poppen of Muskegon, Michigan, was looking for something his children could use as a sled. He tied together two skis—creating a toy he named “Snurfer”. Less than a year, the toy exploded into a national craze.
Although an annual championship in Muskegon was sponsored by the makers of the Snurfer, competitors began to create their own boards. Because Poppen had trademarked the term Snurfer, they began to call the sport snowboarding instead. By 1985, snurfing fell out of fashion, but snowboarding had caught on worldwide. It finally became an official Olympic sport for the 1998 Games.
The earliest evidence of curling
The predecessor (前身) of curling is a Scottish game in the 16th century played on frozen lakes and ponds, using smooth stones from riverbeds.
Centuries later, the first curling club was founded in Scotland and received the approval of Queen Victoria in 1843. In the sport, players slide the stones toward a target—earning more points the closer the stone lands to the center. By the 20th century, curling was so widespread that it was one of the few sports played in the first Olympic Games in 1924.
1. The first recorded skiing race was held in _______.| A．Sweden | B．Russia | C．Britain | D．Norway |
| A．It became well known before 1965. |
| B．It originated from the toy “Snurfer”. |
| C．It was invented as a means of travel. |
| D．It was named by the inventor Poppen. |
| A．Snurfing and ice hockey. | B．Skating and Alpine skiing. |
| C．Figure skating and curling. | D．Snowboarding and ski jumping. |
内容包括：
1. 比赛的时间和地点
2. 比赛的场景及结果
3. 活动的意义
注意：1.词数 100 左右；
2.题目自拟。
友好学校：sister school
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4 . A poetry competition has been launched for pupils. It invites young people to reflect on the “many ways we are connected to the universe”. The competition is aimed at pupils aged 4 to 18 and is part of a national celebration of creativity taking place across the UK throughout 2023.
The winning entries will be featured in a multimedia live projection show, which will visit multiple locations around the UK from March to May 2023. This outdoor show will include submissions from the competition and run for a week in each location. Winners will also receive a range of other prizes, including books and chocolate, plus continued development and coaching opportunities from the Poetry Society.
The rules are as follows:
·The competition is free to enter. Entries will be accepted from anywhere in the UK. Entries from outside the UK are not accepted. If you are aged 4 — 12, your parent will need to give permission for you to enter.
·Your entry must be the original work of the creator. Your work is accepted on the basis that this will be its first appearance anywhere in the world.
·Poems must be written in English or Welsh, but you can include phrases in your mother tongue or another language. Poems must not be longer than 20 lines. You are free to write in any style or form.
·You may enter either online via the website or by post to the Poetry Society, 22 Betterton Street, London. All online entries must be received by 23:59 GMT on 19 December 2022. All poems entered by post must be post-dated on or before 19 December 2022.
If you would like to enter online, please continue through the online system on this website. Email AboutUs@poetrysociety. org if you are having problems with your submission.
1. What is the theme of the competition?| A．National celebration. | B．Reflection on creativity. |
| C．Young people’s talents. | D．Connectivity to the universe. |
| A．A free tour around the UK. | B．Membership of the Poetry Society. |
| C．Books, chocolate and prize money. | D．A chance to present their works in a show. |
| A．can submit entries by email | B．must write within the line limit |
| C．may enter their published poems | D．should ask parents for permission |
As college sports continue to be hugely popular and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) brings in large amounts of money, people have restarted the debate on whether college athletes should get paid.
Supporters of the idea believe that, because college athletes are bringing in audiences, they should receive some sort of compensation (补偿). In fact, the NCAA brings in about $1 billion income a year, but college athletes don’t receive any of that money in the form of a paycheck. Additionally, people who believe college athletes should be paid state that paying college athletes will actually encourage them to remain in college longer and not turn professionals as quickly, either by giving them a way to begin earning money in college or requiring them to sign a contract (合同) saying they’ll stay at the university for a certain number of years while making an agreed-upon salary.
People who argue against the idea of paying college athletes believe the practice could be disastrous for college sports. Paying athletes would turn college sports into a bidding (竞拍) war, where only the richest schools could afford top athletes, and most schools would be shut out from developing a talented team. It could also harm the camaraderie within many college teams if players become unhappy that certain teammates are making more money than they are.
Those against paying college athletes also believe that the athletes are receiving enough benefits already. The top athletes receive scholarships that are worth tens of thousands per year. They receive free food and textbooks, get travel bonuses and free equipment, and can use their time in college as a way to attract the attention of professional coaches. No other college students receive anywhere near as much from their schools.
While both sides have good points, it’s clear that the negatives of paying college athletes far outweigh the positives. College athletes have been compensated enough. Adding a salary would result in a college athletic system where only a few athletes are paid by some schools who enter bidding wars to sign them up, while most student athletics and college athletic programs suffer or even shut down for lack of money. Continuing to offer the present benefits to student athletes makes it possible for as many people to benefit from and enjoy college sports as possible.
1. It can be learned from Paragraph 2 that college athletes ________.| A．have earned what they are promised |
| B．tend to serve college longer when paid |
| C．should sign a contract to make an agreed-upon salary |
| D．prefer to stay at university rather than turn professionals |
| A．friendship | B．competition | C．spirit | D．communication |
| A．schools would be unable to afford it |
| B．it could be harmful to college sports |
| C．no other college students receive benefits |
| D．students would value payments over achievements |
| A．Uncertain. | B．Satisfied. | C．Unsupportive. | D．Expectant. |
6 . The opening ceremony for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games was held at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on July 23, 2021 after a year of waiting due to the pandemic. Let's take a look at the highlights which make this opening ceremony unique.
No spectators
There are no spectators during the opening ceremony in an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus infections. About 950 people, including officials and journalists, will watch in the main stadium, organizers said. Fewer athletes are expected to attend the ceremony because many are not allowed to stay for the entire Games due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Male and female flag-bearers
The International Olympic Committee has actively encouraged all delegations to select two flag-bearers at the opening ceremony, including one woman, as women's participation in the Tokyo Games reaches 48.8 percent, making it the most gender-balanced Olympics in the history of the event.
Oath (宣誓) session updated
One of the most symbolic parts of the opening ceremony—the Olympic oath—has been significantly adapted in order to “highlight the importance of solidarity, inclusion, non-discrimination and equality”. The number of oath-takers is also extended from three to six—two athletes, two coaches and two judges.
Simplified ceremony
In the 30-second video showing the rehearsal of the opening ceremony released to the public, the performances are integrated with dances, scenery and other display elements used in Japanese traditional festival activities.
In order to prevent and control the COVID-19 pandemic and manage the cost, the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee said that the performances of the ceremony will be greatly simplified, with more light and shadow technology used instead of real decorations at the scene.
1. Why isn't there any spectator during the opening ceremony?| A．To limit the number of people present. |
| B．To highlight the spirit of the Olympic Games. |
| C．To control the spread of an infectious disease. |
| D．To make room for the athletes all over the world. |
| A．Women will be in a leading position in sports. |
| B．Women athletes make up a larger percentage than ever. |
| C．Women will play a more important part in society. |
| D．More and more women will take part in the Olympic Games. |
| A．Oath-takers are made up of six athletes. |
| B．Tokyo uses more real decorations to cut the cost. |
| C．About 950 people watch the entire games in the Tokyo Games. |
| D．The opening ceremony presents the traditional culture of Japan. |
Technology in sports is a beautiful thing. With the help of modern technology, including AI, sports coverage
In October, a Scottish soccer club decided to livestream its matches due to the pandemic, using an AI robot camera to track the ball.
Many viewers who paid for the match complained they missed their team scoring a goal because of this error. Some suggested that the referee should be given a hat.
