1 . Last month, on Oct.15, there was a marathon (马拉松赛) in the city of Luoyang, Henan Province. A lot of people in and around the city participated (参与) in it.
It was Sunday. There were some clouds in the sky in the early morning but the sun was shining when the race began. Eighteen boys and girls in my class, as well as four of my teachers, gathered on the south side of Luohe River to take part in the marathon. It was the first time that we had been in a marathon. We were excited and had fun running with people. We had to run 10 km. It was not a race, but an event to challenge ourselves. We helped each other during the run. When someone fell behind, others would go to encourage him or her not to give up. Tired but happy, all of us made it in about 90 minutes.
The marathon is like life, in which we can choose whether or not to keep going when we feel tired or meet difficulties. The biggest enemy is ourselves, whom we should fight with and defeat (打败). We never know what will happen in the future, but what we can do is try our best. If we can keep running, success will belong to us, because it’s impossible to defeat a person who never gives up.
Challenges make life interesting and meaningful. This very first marathon will always be remembered as an unforgettable event in my life.
1. The marathon was held __________ according to the passage.| A．on a very cold morning | B．on the playground of the writer’s school |
| C．on a Sunny day | D．on Saturday |
| A．Four. | B．Fourteen. | C．Eighteen. | D．Twenty-two. |
| A．encouraged each other | B．stopped to have a rest |
| C．never noticed each other | D．wanted to defeat others |
| A．should fight with and defeat the others during the race |
| B．must try our best to do everything |
| C．can defeat a person who never gives up |
| D．didn’t feel tired or meet difficulties in the marathon |
| A．We should face challenges bravely and defeat ourselves. |
| B．Life is meaningful and we should value it. |
| C．Smile to all the challenges in our lives. |
| D．Remember all the wonderful experience happening in our lives. |
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. |
| 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. |
| A．Doubtful. |
| B．Content. |
| C．Concerned. |
| D．Expected. |
| 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 |
There was a important basketball match yesterday. I had a quickly lunch and went to school. I found difficult to work in class because I kept on thinking about the match in the afternoon. Match ended a little earlier. Our teams was playing against the team from No.6 Middle School. Their team was a very big and strong. And we felt a little afraid for them. Our team was neither very big or very strong. But we were sure we can beat the other team because we had very good teamwork but we could play together very well.
4 . Thanks For Giving 4 Miler
Thurs. November 23, 2023
The EventSign up today for the 2023 Thanks For Giving 4 Miler and Kids Dash that will take place this Thanksgiving in New Albany! Come out and join us for a fun kick off to Thanksgiving Day festivities! As always, 100% of our net proceeds go to help those in need.
All are welcome, including competitive runners, joggers, and walkers wanting to enjoy time with friends and loved ones. Registration ends on November 22, 2023.
The FeeThere is no official race fee. You can give as much or as little as you want. However-a $40 minimum donation is required to get our soft T-shirt. Our goal is to feed as many families in Central Ohio as we can. You can help by running our race, spreading the word, or making a donation. You may bring any donation you want, from a can of soup to cash. Let’s make a difference.
Event Day Timeline6:30 am: Race day check-in begins.
8:00 am: Opening ceremony (仪式) begins!
8:15 am: Kids Dash begins!
8:30 am: The Thanks For Giving 4 Miler kicks off!
AwardsThe top three overall male and female finishers will receive a gift certificate. The top three male and female finishers in each of the following age groups will receive a pumpkin (南瓜) pie: 14 and under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 and above. Every participant of the kids race receives a finisher’s medal!
SafetyFor safety, please no bicycles, skateboards, inline skates, or participation with pets.
1. What is Thanks For Giving 4 Miler and Kids Run?| A．A marathon race. | B．A charity event. |
| C．A kid-targeted activity. | D．A holiday get-together. |
| A．A soft T-shirt. | B．A pumpkin pie. |
| C．A gift certificate. | D．A finisher’s medal. |
| A．Bringing a donation. |
| B．Reaching a certain age. |
| C．Registering in advance. |
| D．Wearing safety equipment. |
5 . Four of the Best Art Competitions to Enter in 2023
If you’re creating amazing art but struggling to gain exposure, art contests are a great opportunity for publicity. Ready to show off your art to the world? Check out our guide to some of the best art contests to enter this year.
The Lumen Prize for Digital Art
Prize: $4,000 first prize
Entry Fee: $40 for two works
This digital art competition is organized by Lumen Art Projects Ltd, a non-profit organization that’s committed to providing new opportunities for digital artists around the world. The only requirement is that the submitted artworks must somehow engage with technology.
World Illustration Awards
Prize: A cash prize of £2,000
Entry Fee: £29 per entry
Anyone who’s into illustration is bound to have heard of the famous World Illustration Awards. Illustrators are invited to submit works published since 2018. Winners will not only win a cash prize, but they’ll be offered invaluable global exposure, such as a marketing package in the Directory of Illustration.
Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize
Prize: Over $50,000 in cash
Entry Fee: $ 40 per entry
The Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize is an annual international art prize that celebrates diversity and excellence in the visual arts. It aims to inspire creatives from around the world to enter the art profession through funding and increased exposure of their works.
The Sunny Art Prize
Prize: A total cash fun d of £6,000
Entry Fee: £25 for one artwork
One of the most inclusive and diverse art competitions in the UK, the Sunny Art Prize offers unique exposure for both emerging and established artists. Winners will have an opportunity to produce their works during a month-long residency in China.
1. How much should you pay to submit two works to the Lumen Prize for Digital Art?| A．$40. | B．$60. | C．$66. | D．$80. |
| A．The Sunny Art Prize. |
| B．World Illustration Awards. |
| C．Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize. |
| D．The Lumen Prize for Digital Art. |
| A．A marketing package for their artworks. |
| B．Creating their works for a month in China. |
| C．Access to technology related to digital art. |
| D．Connecting with artists worldwide and more exposure. |
6 . Jay Hewitt completed the Ironman race in under 14 hours despite having gone through 2 brain surgeries and a year of chemo (化疗). His inspiration? His 7-year-old daughter named Hero. Hewitt, 39, said he first saw an Ironman race on TV in 1989 and recalled thinking to himself “they must be superhuman”. It never crossed his mind that he could do something like that.
After his daughter’s birth in 2015, the memory of seeing that competition popped into his mind. Hewitt decided he would compete in an Ironman when she was around 10 years old to show his daughter she can do anything she sets her mind to. Then in 2018, when Hero was around three years old, Hewitt was diagnosed with terminal (晚期的) brain cancer. So, he had to start training earlier than he had planned.
“My first day of chemo therapy in August 2019 was the first day I started my Ironman training,” Hewitt said. On October 9, Hewitt started in Newport Beach’s Back Bay with a 2-mile swim. During the race, he couldn’t digest (消化) food or water, but pushed through the sickness. The stomach pain was serious. When he came around the corner to the finish line, there were hundreds of people there cheering him on.
Hewitt said seeing his daughter made everything worth it. I didn’t have much energy, but I gave my wife a kiss, handed my wife and daughter flowers and got down on my knees to say to Hero. “If I can do it, you can do it. Dream big and never give up hope.” “I got to tell her that it was really hard for me but I had thought about coming home to her, and that she had given me the strength to finish.”
1. Which of the following was regarded impossible by Hewitt before 1989?| A．He would suffer from cancer. | B．He might one day be a superman. |
| C．He would compete in an Ironman race. | D．He could become the best in an Ironman race. |
| A．Hewitt’s daughter was born. | B．Hewitt decided to train for his competition. |
| C．Hero was diagnosed with deadly brain cancer. | D．Hero learned she could do anything by herself. |
| A．It ended in failure. | B．It worsened Hewitt’s cancer. |
| C．It was hard but Hewitt made it at last. | D．It was easy because of Hewitt’s hard training. |
| A．The desire to see and inspire his daughter. | B．The determination to beat the terrible cancer. |
| C．The support of the people cheering him on. | D．The happiness of reunion with his wife. |
7 . Poetry Contest
The contest is open to anyone aged thirteen and up who writes poetry. Enter your poem for a free chance to win prizes! You can submit a poem on any topic, employing whatever style you prefer.
Information
No entry fee is required for the contest. The main contest is held twice a year. Contest dates are January 1—June 30 and July 1—December 31. All winners will receive a letter and their prize via regular mail. The first place winner will be contacted by phone or email and asked to call our office to confirm their identity before their prize is mailed. As soon as the complete list of winners is drawn up, it will be posted on the home page.
Rules
·Only submit ONE poem, ONE time. Only one poem per household will be accepted.
·Poem must be 26 lines or fewer, including stanza breaks but not including the title, and lines may be no more than 55 characters across, including spaces.
·Do not use “texting” lingo. Properly spell out all words and typing the first word of each line in capital letter.
·All poems must be written in English.
Prizes
Both contests award one first place prize of $ 2, 000. 00 and a first prize wall plaque(匾牌)($ 100. 00 value); twenty second place prizes of $ 100. 00 each and a second place wall plaque($ 75. 00 value); one hundred third place winners of a third place gift certificate($ 25. 00 value). Sixty to seventy percent of all entries become semi-finalists and receive a certificate of participation suitable for framing.
1. What do we know about the poetry contest?| A．It is a free contest. | B．Anyone can enter for it. |
| C．All poems will be published. | D．Each contestant will get a reward. |
| A．Submitting one poem. | B．Composing a poem of 23 lines. |
| C．Writing a poem in English. | D．Typing the poem in capital letters. |
| A．A wall plaque. | B．A gift certificate. | C．$25. 00. | D．$75. 00. |
1. What are the speakers talking about?
| A．The competition. | B．The exam. | C．The weekend plan. |
| A．Have a meal. | B．Call her mother. | C．Go to the cinema. |
9 . We are excited to announce that Brandon Hobson-author of Where the Dead Sit Talking, a National Book Award Finalist-will judge our 2023 American Short(er)Fiction Prize.
General Guidelines
Stories must be 1, 000 words or fewer. You are allowed to include up to three stories per entry. Please submit(提交)all stories in one document. Each story must begin on a new page and be clearly titled. For the title of your submission, list the story titles, separated by a comma.
The first-place winner will receive a ＄1, 000 prize and publication(出版)in a future issue of American Short Fiction (ASF). All entries will be considered for publication. Please submit your $17 entry fee and your work through Submittable. We no longer accept submissions by post.
You may submit multiple entries. We accept only previously unpublished works.
Submit your entry online between November 24, 2022-February 1, 2023.
Conflicts(冲突)of Interest
Staff and volunteers currently working with ASF are not fit for consideration or publication. Additionally, students, former students, and colleagues of the judge’s are not admitted to participate(参加). We ask that previous winners wait three years after their winning entry is published before entering again.
About writing, Hobson has said, “I’m always more interested in language than I am certainly in plot. Most of us who write literary fiction are interested in experimenting in more ways than just looking at it, especially a traditional storyline or plot that we all learned in school. ” With those words of encouragement and wisdom, good luck! We can’t wait for your submissions!
1. How many stories can a participant submit at most?| A．One. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D．Four. |
| A．A $1, 000 prize. |
| B．A return of $17 entry fee. |
| C．Meeting with Brandon Hobson. |
| D．Publication in a past issue of ASF. |
| A．Volunteers of ASF. |
| B．A new fiction writer. |
| C．Prize winners last year. |
| D．Students of the judge’s. |
10 . Young Writers Awards
About the Contest
Bennington College has a unique literary tradition. We’ve had twelve Pulitzer Prize winners, three US poet laureates, four MacArthur Geniuses, and two of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people. In celebration of this, Bennington launched the Young Writers Awards to promote excellence in writing at the high school level. Students are invited to enter with the following work:
•Poetry: A group of three poems
•Fiction: A short story (1,500 words or fewer) or one-act play
•Nonfiction: A personal or academic essay (1,500 words or fewer)
A first-, second-, and third-place winner is selected in each category. We welcome participation of both US and international students.
Awards & Rules
First-place winners in each category are awarded a prize of $1,000; second-place winners receive $500; third-place winners receive $250.
•No charge for entrance. Fees for accidents caused by participants are required.
•All entries must be original work reviewed, approved and guided by a teacher. We will use your teacher as a contact for the competition should we have any questions. For homeschooled students, please contact one to assist in your writing even if you have experience in such competitions.
Young Writers Awards finalists and winners are also qualified for undergraduate scholarships at Bennington. Young Writers Awards finalists who apply and gain admission to Bennington will receive a $10,000 scholarship every year for four years, for a total of $40,000. Young Writers Awards winners reaching the standard will receive $15,000 every year, for a total of $60,000.
1. What can be learned about the Young Writers Awards?| A．It rewards three winners at last. |
| B．It’s a tradition of Bennington College. |
| C．It accepts participants worldwide. |
| D．It offers scholarships to undergraduates. |
| A．Hand in a personal essay. | B．Have related writing experience. |
| C．Pay an entry fee on time. | D．Find a teacher to help with the entry. |
| A．$10,500. | B．$15,500. |
| C．$40,500. | D．$60,500. |
