1 . 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短文。

I grew up in southeastern Michigan. I was a fan of Detroit Tigers, a famous baseball team, as a young boy.

My childhood dream was to be like my hero, Al Kaline, and someday play for the Tigers. My Dad would take me to Tiger Stadium several times a year and my hero Al Kaline would never let me down. We never attended a game that he didn’t get at least one hit.

I was crazy about baseball. If there was a game in my high school, I was never absent. I kept practising so that I could achieve my dream of playing for the Tigers, and I was doing well at each level of play. Later, I got a chance to sign up for a strong American Legion baseball program. There I met our coach, Bob Ohm, who knew a lot of baseball and taught each of us the basics as well as more advanced baseball skills. With Bob Ohm’s help and my hard work, I had set new records in many baseball championships.

My dream to be like my hero seemed to draw near. One summer, I went up to play the final season in Marinette. There were scouts who came to find the best players. This was it! My big chance!

Well, as the game progressed I hit the ball very well getting five hits in the game. Unfortunately, I also made four mistakes. The final mistake actually drew laughter from the crowd.

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。

After the game, I knew my dream of playing professional baseball was lost.

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Today, I teach baseball in a high school.

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2 . The Best Writing Contests of 2024

Kentucky Visions Short Story Contest

The Kentucky Visions Short Story Contest, an annual contest, is designed to highlight Kentucky’s rich literary talent and celebrate the best in short fiction written by Kentuckians or about our beloved Bluegrass State.

Top prize                         Best entry: $500
Entry requirements            Fee: FREE
Deadline                           March 31, 2024
Fiction Factory Flash Fiction

This is an international competition—we welcome entries from around the world. Maximum word count: 1,000, Stories may be on any theme. Entries must be previously unpublished. Results will be announced by April 2024. Minimum age: 16 years. Children’s compositions cannot be accepted sadly.

Top prize                       Best entry: £500
Entry requirements          Fee: FREE
Deadline                       March 31, 2024
Journalism Competition 2024

What are the most important issues taking place close to home? Perhaps a rare bird sighting near your town? Or a band of young people in your province fighting for access to higher education? This month, involve yourself in a newsworthy event inside the borders of your own country, and invite us there through your written reporting.

Top prize                       Best entry: $100
Entry requirements          Fee: FREE
Deadline                         July 22, 2024
Poetry & Spoken Word Competition 2024

“Poetry lays the foundations for a future of change,” wrote Audre Lorde. This month, sow your own seeds of change into poetry, or else write and perform an original piece of spoken word(poetry performed aloud). We’ll award two top prizes-one for a written poem, and one for a recorded performance.

Top prize                           Best entry: $100
Entry requirements             Fee: FREE
Deadline                            May 27, 2024
1. Which contest accepts entries both at home and abroad?

A．Kentucky Visions Short Story Contest.	B．Fiction Factory Flash Fiction.
C．Journalism Competition 2024.	D．Poetry&-Spoken Word Competition 2024.

2. What do we know about Poetry&-Spoken Word Competition 2024?

A．It offers two first prizes.	B．It only requests written compositions.
C．It provides the highest awards.	D．It inspires students to perform actively.

3. What is the author’s purpose of writing the text?

A．To compare some writing contests.	B．To recommend good writing contests.
C．To share tips on winning writing contests.	D．To remind students to enter writing contests.

3 . 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短文。

One day, Alex, a 12-year-old school boy in a small town, got the news that the World Chess Championship was taking place in the neighboring city of Grandington. Fueled by his deep passion for chess, Alex decided to enter the competition, even though he was not officially invited. He had a feeling that he could stand a chance against some of the world’s most skilled chess players.

The following morning, Alex packed his chessboard and chess pieces. With a mix of nervousness and determination, he boarded the train to Grandington. Once he arrived, the big city overwhelmed him with its tall buildings, bright lights, and the energy of chess enthusiasts from around the world.

With the help of a friendly stranger, Alex managed to find the tournament venue (比赛场地). The hall was enormous, filled with rows of chess tables and players engaged in intense matches.

As Alex glanced around, he noticed how small he felt compared to the chess celebrities surrounding him. Taking a deep breath, Alex approached the registration desk. The tournament organizers were surprised to see such a young boy standing before them, but they couldn’t turn him away. Sensing his determination, they allowed him to participate, considering it a good opportunity for the other players to show their skills against a young talent.

As the championship progressed, Alex’s opponents thought nothing of him due to his age. They saw him as an easy win, but little did they know that Alex possessed a strategic mind and a skill of unconventional moves. With each round, Alex astonished the players with his brilliant plays. Word quickly spread about the young talent who had accidentally entered the championship. The media became excited by Alex’s story, and soon cameras and reporters flocked to capture his journey. Despite facing experienced opponents, Alex’s passion for the game and his unwavering focus helped him advance through the ranks. His victories grew more remarkable with each passing day. People from all corners of the world began cheering for him, sending messages of support and admiration.

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。

In the final round, Alex found himself facing the world chess champion.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Alex’s unexpected victory made him a household name.

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4 . Courtney Rich of Utah, was running in the Salt Lake City marathon. But as she headed into Mile 24, she began to feel the one thing that she didn’t want to do: collapse. It began creeping up on her and then suddenly overtook her.

“I wanted them to see Mom finish strongly. Those are things I tell my kids as often as I can when things are hard or they’re playing in their own sports. ‘Just do your best and that best is going to be a little different every day,’” she said. But at that moment, she knew she wasn’t going to be able to finish the race. “When I can feel my legs slowing down and I know I’m going to disappoint my kids,” Rich said. “By Mile 24… I looked at my watch and that’s when I called my husband and was in tears,” she said. “I was just having a little pity party for myself for a minute.”

“Next thing I knew, my daughter ran out,” Rich recounted. “I kind of saw her out of the corner of my left eye and I realized it was Avery. I just put a huge smile on my face. I stuck out my hand, she grabbed it and all of a sudden, my legs that were hurting and the heaviness of my body just felt lighter and we just ran to the finish line hand in hand.”

The proud mom said Avery told her that she did what she knew her mom needed at that moment. “That is absolutely Avery’s character. She sees people. She has sympathy. She notices people and is aware of just feelings and needs,” Rich said.

“Don’t ever brush aside the inspiration to do a small act of kindness for someone because you just never know what impact that will have on people,” Rich added.

1. What happened to Rich on Mile 24?

A．She was disturbed by a party.	B．She was overcome by tiredness.
C．She was struggling to cross the finish line.	D．She received an unexpected call from her husband.

2. How did Rich feel when Avery ran out?

A．Confused.

B．Refreshed.

C．Astonished.

D．Worried.

3. What does Rich think of Avery?

A．She is reliable and creative.	B．She is energetic and friendly.
C．She is sympathetic and considerate.	D．She is ambitious and intelligent.

4. What can we learn from the story?

A．Failure is often the case in our life.

B．Inspiration is more important to a successful mother.

C．We should hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.

D．The smallest moment of kindness can have a huge impact.

5 . After winning the 100-meter dash at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in August, 26-year-old sprinter (短跑运动员) Noah Lyles was named “World’s Fastest Man”. Now he has his ____ set on winning more medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Lyles, the son of two former runners, grew up in Alexandria, Virginia. He began ______ as a sprinter when he was a teenager and dreamed of going to the Olympics. He ______ for a spot (排名位置) on the US Olympic team in 2016 but did not ______. Fortunately, in 2021, he ______ the US team for the Tokyo Games and won a bronze medal in the 200-meter race.

Lyles has been ______ with legendary Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, who has held the same ____   “World’s Fastest Man”. Bolt won the 100 meter and 200 meter races at the World Championships and still holds the ___in the 200 meter with a time of 19. 19 seconds, set in 2009. Lyles’ best time for that race is 19.31, and he said his _____ is to run it in 19.10 seconds, which would break Bolt’s record. Lyles said that he did not ______ top runners like Bolt as idols (偶像) while growing up. “I believed in myself and in learning something from _____people, because everyone has their own advantage,” he said.

After his win, Lyles said he felt that his years of training and patience have finally ______. In Paris next year, Lyles hopes to win more golds.   “If I got three gold medals at the World Championships, maybe I have the ______ to get three gold medals at the Olympics,” he said. His another expectation is to make track and field more _____ and accessible to a large number of people. “I’m trying to make sure that everybody comes and ______ the sport,” he said.

1.

A．sights

B．opinions

C．predictions

D．demands

2.

A．advertising

B．competing

C．defending

D．debating

3.

A．looked

B．answered

C．accounted

D．tried

4.

A．quit

B．respond

C．qualify

D．regret

5.

A．made

B．created

C．refused

D．recommended

6.

A．combined

B．replaced

C．blessed

D．compared

7.

A．dream

B．standard

C．title

D．talent

8.

A．passion

B．record

C．feature

D．belief

9.

A．responsibility

B．suggestion

C．solution

D．goal

10.

A．copy

B．view

C．recall

D．serve

11.

A．different

B．famous

C．gifted

D．determined.

12.

A．ran out

B．paid off

C．came back

D．sped up

13.

A．potential

B．honor

C．pressure

D．option

14.

A．flexible

B．stable

C．formal

D．popular

15.

A．reports

B．evaluates

C．enjoys

D．improves

6 . The concept of “Smart Asian Games” is deeply rooted in all aspects of preparations for Hangzhou Asian Games. Zhejiang promotes the intelligent level of Hangzhou Asian Cames with advanced technologies, and strives to present a spectacular event.

The intelligent operation & maintenance platform makes venue(场馆)management more elaborate. In Asian Games Intelligent Management Centre, various data of Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium and Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Tennis Centre such as venue energy consumption, visitor flow and traffic flow are recorded in the intelligent management platform, which is convenient for working personnel to conduct management. In addition, the smart venue management system of Tonglu Equestrian(马术)Centre also integrates meteorological(气象学的)monitoring data, to carry out real-time monitoring for weather conditions around venues, and provides guarantee for event operation.

Smart robots offer more efficient services. At Gongshu Canal Sports Park Gymnasium, smart robots can provide venue guides, event explanation, question answering and other services for audiences, and can also start the automatic patrol(巡逻)function. Moreover, the intelligent monitoring system of each venue can detect faults and inform relevant personnel on time for handling.

Advanced technology achieves a better watching experience. On the external road of Shaoxing Baseball & Softball Sports Centre, the self-driving bus decorated with Hangzhou Asian Games element patterns shuttles among Asian Games venues to facilitate the travel of audiences. Passengers can also enhance the watching experience by adjusting the interior lighting and temperature on the intelligent screen of the vehicle. Hangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee launches Smart Hangzhou 2022 as the first one-stop digital watching service platform in the history of the international large-scale comprehensive sports events. It provides the one-stop service from ticket purchase, travel and watching to accommodation, catering and tourism.

1. What does the underlined word “elaborate” mean?

A．Carefully organized.	B．Quickly designed.
C．Slowly fixed.	D．Easily built.

2. What can smart robots do?

A．Inform questions.	B．Guide audiences.
C．Collect data.	D．Handle errors.

3. Which of the following belongs to efforts for improving the watching experience?

A．Smart Hangzhou 2023.	B．Smart lighting system in accommodation.
C．Adjustable temperature among venues.	D．The self-driving buses on the street.

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

A．Hangzhou Asian Games: the best ever Asian Games.

B．Hangzhou Asian Games: a spectacular visual feast.

C．Advanced technology: high intelligent Asian Games.

D．Advanced technology: a better watching experience.

7 . KLUANE CHILKAT

INTERNATIONAL BIKE RELAY

February newsletter:

Greetings riders! By now you have been chatting with friends to organize a team. Consider cross-training to get into shape-skiing snowshoeing, indoor riding, swimming…whatever you fancy, they are all great ways to stay in shape and prepare for some long-distance riding in May.

A reminder:

Online Registration opens on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at 6: 00 AM Yukon Time. Be sure to read the entire registration page before registering.

What’s changed:

4-person teams have been removed.

Solo (单人的) riders — Icycle Sport, our Partner Level Sponsor will continue to provide snacks and drinks at Checkpoints 3 and 5 but there is no longer a food/drink bag drop at the Start Line.

Team name — The registration platform will not allow duplication (重复) of team names. Yours needs to be original.

E-bikes are allowed on 8-person teams. The team does not need to consist entirely of e-bikes.

2023 Registration fees:

NEW! Early bird registration fee: (March 15 — 22, 2023) $85 per rider for a team.

Regular registration fee: (March 23 — April 12, 2023) $95 per rider for a team.

Other updates:

The itinerary (行程), Relay Information, Race Rules, and Registration are now updated and posted. Visit www.kcibr.org. Questions? Please email info@kcibr.org.

1. When will the international bike relay be held?

A．In February.

B．In March.

C．In April.

D．In May.

2. What is required of team racers?

A．They should have an original team name.	B．They should bring food themselves.
C．They should register in person.	D．They should ride e-bikes.

3. How much should a 2-person team pay if they register on March 24?

A．$85.

B．$95.

C．$170.

D．$190.

8 . Want to know how you can win a camera of your choosing - either a Sony A7 Ⅲ , a Canon EOS R, or a Nikon Z6? Well, come and join in our contest! It’s easy! All you have to do is to share your favorite memory from Photoshop World with us on Instagram. Whether you attended last year, 7 years ago, or even 20 years ago, we want to know what made the event special to you.

How do you enter?

※ Go to Instagram.

※ Upload your Photoshop World photo and tell us about your favorite Photoshop World experience.

※ Include the hashtag #MyPhotoshopWorld in your post.

※ Publish the post.

※ The post must be made after 12:00 p. m. on July 8 and before 11:59 p. m. on July 28, otherwise it will be counted as an invalid entry.

That’s it! No detailed form to fill out. No email sign-up needed. Simply post and cross your fingers for a chance to win a camera in our My Photoshop World Experience Contest.

Register for Photoshop World.

There’s still time to sign up for Photoshop World, so don’t miss your chance to experience this fantastic event! We’ve got 20 world-class instructors coming to each show to tell their best tips and tricks to anyone looking to apply themselves to the photography world. With over 100 classes and live shoots, there’s a little something for everyone!

1. What should you share to join in the contest?

A．Your experiences of using cameras.	B．Your memories of Photoshop World.
C．Your unforgettable travel experiences.	D．Your images processed with Photoshop.

2. Which of the following will be considered as an invalid entry?

A．Posts made on Instagram.	B．Posts uploaded at 10 a. m. on July 8.
C．Posts with the hashtag #MyPhotoshopWorld.	D．Posts of years-old memories of Photoshop World.

3. What is Photoshop World most likely to be?

A．A photography event.	B．A photography program.
C．A piece of photography advice.	D．A piece of photography software.

9 . Antoine Craig, a blind athlete, has been blind since 2010. He gradually lost his sight due to a genetic disease. Working through difficulties, Craig says, he has found his value. “Once I lost my eyesight, I began the process of rediscovering myself.” he says.

Craig, now 40, heard from a friend about people running at the school’s gym with their hands linked by shoestrings (鞋带). Craig decided to give it a try. “In the beginning, it was pure coping (应对).” he says. “It allowed me to do something I could be proud of. More importantly, here people became my friends, who were always ready to help me. These people became my family.”

In 2017, he won a silver medal in the 200-meter race at the 2017 US Paralympic Nationals. In 2019 he competed at the Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru. In 2021, running for a chance to compete in the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo — delayed for a year, he finished second in the 100.

Learning a US national team was forming for blind soccer, he went for it. Last fall. Craig was named to the team, which will play in the Los Angeles Paralympics in 2028. On March 19 and 20, 2023, the team hosted its first two “international friendly” games against Canada in Chula Vista, California. Craig couldn’t play as planned due to a concussion (脑震荡) in practice before the games. He spoke with his teammates before both games and, on his Facebook page, asked friends and supporters to lend support. When asked how the team performed, Craig answered cheerfully, “You know, we won!”

Craig finished a psychology degree from VCU in 2016 and completed his master’s degree in mental health counseling (咨询) in December 2022. Now he has his own business, LegendaryU Counseling. focusing on athletes with disabilities. He also regularly posts videos to his Instagram, hoping to inspire others.

1. Why did Craig want to try running at first?

A．To meet friends.	B．To help others in need.
C．To find himself.	D．To escape from his family.

2. What is the main idea of paragraph 3?

A．It is important to run.	B．Craig was running well.
C．Running is easy for Craig.	D．Craig succeeded in Tokyo.

3. What can we learn about Craig from paragraph 4?

A．He had a positive attitude.	B．He performed well in the game.
C．His team played in Canada.	D．His supporters were disappointed.

4. Why does Craig start his company?

A．To make improvements to himself academically.

B．To help people see beyond their challenges.

C．To win more medals in the competitions.

D．To post videos to the disabled people.

10 . On Nov 20, the world’s biggest international soccer tournament(大赛) kicked off in Qatar, in which 32 national teams compete with each other for about a month. Different from previous World Cups, is the first held in the northern hemisphere(北半球) during winter. Does the change influence players and fans?

European Leagues face challenges

FIFA’s decision to move this year’s World Cup may upset European Leagues. Teams in European Leagues usually play their seasons from August to the following May. During the last two months, they would be busy with domestic(国内的) competitions and group matches in the Champions and Europa League. But to prepare for the World Cup in the winter, many soccer clubs in Europe could face a six-week shutdown to provide players with enough time to recover. During this time, fans will be upset about the delay of domestic soccer matches.

Is a “black horse” likely to appear?

The answer is “yes”. Though the weather gets cooler in the winter, the conditions in Qatar are challenging for some teams. Take some players from European teams for example. They must transition(过渡) from much colder playing conditions, which will increase their sweat loss and influence their performance.

But this influence will likely not change the final result.

“This yeas World Cup falls on the world stop leagues’ mid-season. That means players are coming into this World Cup after playing 25 games. So they will be arriving fresh and excited. Their energy is going to beat the top level,” former England captain David Beckham told the AI Jazeera website. He added that the players from the elite(精英的) soccer clubs will perform better.

Watching matches with coldness

Traditionally, many Chinese soccer fans gather together in restaurants in the summer, with beer and peanut. But now the matches are in the deep night during winter, with the cold weather making it hard for friends to gather to watch matches together. To solve the problem, some Chinese soccer fans joked on the internet that hotpot restaurants maybe the best places to watch the World Cup.

1. Why is this year World Cup different from others?

A．It’s the first held in Qatar.

B．Up to 32 national teams compete in it.

C．It takes place in the winter of the northern hemisphere.

D．It lasts longer than before.

2. What challenge does European Leagues face about FIFA’s decision?

A．They have to call off domestic matches to build up the players’ strength.

B．More fans will lose interest in their matches.

C．They will provide more money to train their players.

D．Many players won’t perform well as usual.

3. What did David Beckham’s word simply?

A．The final result will be greatly changed.

B．Some players will perform beyond their level.

C．Weather won’t have any effect on players’ performance.

D．The time for this year World Cup is most suitable for players.