1 . During the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022 in 2023, one of the highlights is a 48-year-old Uzbekistan gymnast, Oksana Chusovitina (“Chuso” as she is affectionately known), who continues to compete despite numerous “retirements” .
Born in Bukhara, Uzbekistan in 1975, Chuso competed and won gold in her first Olympic Games at Barcelona 1992. After competing at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, Chuso got married in 1997 and two years later, Alisher, her son, was born. Chuso’s first “retirement” was due after competing at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, by which time five world championship medals had been won including three golds. But in 2002, Alisher was diagnosed with leukemia (白血病). The family moved to Germany where better treatment was available and Chuso continued to train as a way to take a break from the stresses of her son’s health.
Chuso competed at Athens 2004, gained German citizenship in 2006 and won silver on vault (跳马) at Beijing 2008 for her adopted nation — Germany, aged 33, just months after Alisher received the all-clear. At London 2012, Chuso came fifth in the vault final. And finally, in 2013, after eight years in Germany, Chuso returned to the place she calls home, Uzbekistan. Chuso switched back to competing for her home nation at Rio 2016 and at Tokyo 2020, where she just qualified for vault, but unfortunately did not make the final. In 2022, Chuso won gold on vault at the Doha World Cup on 5 March, the second of four of the 2022 FIG Artistic Gymnastics Apparatus World Cup series.
The 48-year-old gymnast’s motto is, “I’d rather try today than regret tomorrow”. “I’m an ordinary person,” Chuso says. “I have my feelings, hardships and sometimes I’m even in a bad mood. Nothing phenomenal (非凡的) about me, just stuck in sports a little longer. If you want to achieve something, there is always a way.”
1. In which year was Chuso’s son born?| A．1997. | B．1999. | C．2000. | D．2008. |
| A．To hold German citizenship. | B．To get better treatment for Alisher. |
| C．To seek better living conditions. | D．To receive more professional training. |
| A．Six. | B．Seven. | C．Eight. | D．Nine. |
| A．Active and energetic. | B．Outgoing and generous. |
| C．Ordinary and humorous. | D．Determined and positive. |
2 . After 18 years of devotion to rhythmic gymnastics, Fanni Pigniczki claimed the gold medal on the international stage. The 23-year-old Hungarian topped the podium (领奖台) not just once but twice!
In a remarkable display of skill and determination, she secured victories in both the individual all-around and Ball at Chengdu Sport University Gymnasium. “It was an amazing feeling to see the Hungarian flag rising up,” Pigniczki said after the medal ceremony. At the Chengdu games, Hungary has secured three gold medals, with Pigniczki, the country’s only rhythmic gymnast then, responsible for two of those. But it was not without a sense of regret — her errors in the concluding pose denied her a medal in another round. Pigniczki vowed to learn from that setback. “I need to improve my stability in the coming training.” she said.
Actually, this positive attitude should be credited to her psychology background at Karoli Gaspar University in Budapest. This major benefits her athletic pursuits, helping her to better manage her emotions. “I have learned to stay calmer and think less during competition. I have also learned that I need to relax and concentrate on the ‘now’ of competition,” added Pigniczki.
“When I was a kid, I tried all kinds of activities like swimming, basketball, and ballet. Seeing the sparking outfit, I fell in love with rhythmic gymnastics instantly. But what truly attracts me is the feeling of readiness in the sport, as I could always improve more.” she said. It is this feeling that has motivated her to set numerous records for Hungarian rhythmic gymnastics. Her outstanding performances at the 2021 European championships earned her a spot at the delayed Tokyo Olympics. Pigniczki became the first Hungarian rhythmic gymnast to grace the Olympic stage since Viktoria Frater at the Sydney 2000 Games. At the Olympics, she finished 20th in the qualification round for the individual all-around. Last year, she continued to make history by becoming the first Hungarian to claim a World Cup medal in rhythmic gymnastics.
Her role in inspiring the next generation of gymnasts was recognized in May when she was honored with the Smart Scoring Shooting Star award.
1. What was Pigniczki’s notation towards her errors in competition?| A．She looked down upon them directly. |
| B．She had strong sense of regret for them. |
| C．She promised never to make them again. |
| D．She analyzed them with stable emotion. |
| A．The gold medals she won for her country. |
| B．The opportunities to perform at Olympics. |
| C．The feeling of making improvement constantly. |
| D．The attractive outfit she saw for the first time. |
| A．Motivated. |
| B．Responsible. |
| C．Dominated. |
| D．Predictable |
| A．Pride goes before a fall. |
| B．Care and diligence bring luck. |
| C．The power of example is endless. |
| D．All the roads lead to Rome. |
3 . 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 |
4 . The well received Neutral Density Photography Awards (ND Awards) is a melting pot of some of the world’s most outstanding and talented souls in the field of photography where recognition and publicity are gained by the winning entry. This is an open invitation. Join us and take part in the competition!
Our judges are all highly respected industry professionals,including gallery (画廊) owners, publishers,editors and famous photographers. Do not miss this rare opportunity to take part in this annual photo contest. Choose your best work, upload photos and give yourself a chance to compete for fame and more than $7,500 award!
Categories are in two sections: Professional and Non-Professional. Winners of each subcategory (子范畴) will be awarded with: Gold Star, Silver Star and Bronze Star awards.
| ●Early Deadline&Entry fee 23 December 2023 Non-Professional — Single image entry fee: $19 Professional — Single image entry fee: $24 | |
| ●Final Deadline &Entry fee 17 January 2024 Non-Professional — Single image entry fee: $24 Professional — Single image entry fee: $29 | |
| ● Frequently-asked questions: | Answers |
| 1.Can I enter one image into multiple categories? | Yes,you may enter the same image into as many categories as you want. Additional fee for next category is $10. |
| 2.Can I make changes to my entry after I have paid? | No, after payment has been made,entries cannot be edited. |
| 3.What should I do if I’m having problems uploading data? | Try to read the instructions on the entry form again. If you are unable to resolve the problem after reading the instructions, send an e-mail inquiry to info@ ndawards.net. |
1. What do you think the text is?
| A．An announcement. |
| B．An invitation |
| C．An advertisement. |
| D．An agreement. |
| A．$87. | B．$72. | C．$49. | D．$44. |
| A．Fill in the entry form again. |
| B．Interact with some of the judges. |
| C．Send an e-mail to info@ndawards.net. |
| D．Submit the entry to another category. |
5 . Boston Marathon runners in recent years may have seen a smiling furry face around the two-mile mark. It’s Spencer, the therapy (治疗) dog, who became known as an unofficial mascot (吉祥物) for the marathon, He’s shown up on the sidelines every year since 2015—rain or shine.
One particularly rainy marathon catapulted Spencer’s fame, In 2018, his owner, Richard Powers, decided to put a bright yellow rain coat on the dog, making him stand out even more than he usually does. Photos of Spencer, who holds a “Boston Strong” flag in his mouth, went viral, and he became an inspiration to runners and onlookers alike, During the marathon, some runners stop in their tracks to take selfies with the dog-the line sometimes growing to 20 runners long.
But in 2020, Spencer was diagnosed with a tumor (肿瘤). His owner was worried, but Spencer is a fighter. He got the care he needed and survived. In 2021, he was back on the course and it was really kind of a miracle and that really hit home to a lot of people.
Unfortunately, Spencer caught another tumor—this one cancerous—and Spencer began chemotherapy. Powers didn’t think his beloved dog would make it out to the marathon of 2022. “Miraculously, he’s still here with us and an even bigger miracle, he was strong enough to go to the marathon,” he said.
After recovering, Spencer was back to work—not just at the marathon—but as a therapy dog, alongside his companion, Penny, who is also a golden therapy dog. Powers takes his two therapy dogs around to schools, hospitals and senior living centers.
“He’s a gift to us and we’re very lucky to have him. He’s too good so we want to share him with as many people as we possibly can. He does make a difference,” Powers said.
1. Why is Spencer referred to as a mascot for Boston Marathon?| A．He has a smiling furry face. | B．He appears at the event annually. |
| C．He is not recognized officially. | D．He works as a therapy dog for runners. |
| A．Motivation. | B．Satisfaction. | C．Fantasy. | D．Barrier. |
| A．A failure in the marathon. | B．Caring for his owner. | C．Fighting against a disease. | D．Going viral. |
| A．Confident, | B．Supportive. | C．Objective. | D．Negative. |
6 . Fabiano Caruana is a very famous chess player.
Practice makes perfect
Caruana’s parents signed him up for a chess club in Brooklyn, when he was five. After his coach noticed his potential, he began taking private lessons and competing in tournaments in Manhattan. He says, “
Before every match, Caruana studies the way his opponents play. For help, he works with a chess coach, who often offers “a different view on how to approach a problem, which is really valuable.” Caruana also relies on a coach for emotional support during tournaments. “You want a coach that you click with,” he says, explaining that “it’s hard to talk about a tough chess game with friends, because they may not understand the game at such a high level, and they may not understand how tough it is for me emotionally.
Reframe your perspective
According to Caruana, the difference between the very top players in the world and everyone else doesn’t come down to ability or knowledge. “
| A．It’s a concentration thing |
| B．Depend on someone you trust |
| C．Face every competition bravely |
| D．When I need to complain or talk to someone, I talk to my coach |
| E．Sixteen years ago, he became the youngest American grandmaster, at age 14 |
| F．There are some practical skills that you get from years of playing in tournaments |
| G．In particular, he can keep his mental tools sharp enough to compete in every game |
7 . Olympic Games organizers in France presented the 2024 Olympic torch (火炬) that will light the Summer Games in the country a year from now. In the Olympic torch tradition, many people carry the torch in turn from Greece to the current location of the Games. After it has traveled thousands of kilometers. the torch will light the Olympic cauldron (火炬台) at the Opening Ceremony of the next Olympic Games.
French designer Mathieu Lehanneur created the torch. which is 70 centimeters long and made of lightweight steel. Lehanneur said its shape is inspired by the famous Seine River, which flows through Paris. He said the torch is equal from top to bottom and all around the middle, which stands for equality between athletes. The twisting shape of the torch represents peace.
The torch was made with lightweight steel. Its lower half copies the movement of the Seine, along which the opening ceremony will take place for over 500,000 viewers.
Lehanneur said he wants the torch to represent the kind of event that Paris 2024 hopes to be. “I wanted to move away from the torch appearing as an object of conquest (征服),” Lehanneur said. He also told reporters that designing the torch was much more techn1cal than he thought it would be. “The magic is not the torch itself. but the flame” Lehanneur said.
The torch will be lit up in Olympia, Grecce on April 16, 2024, followed by a nine day torch relay before sailing across the Mediterranean Sea from Athens to Marseille on May 8. It will then pass through several important places , which include Strasbourg , the Pantheon in Paris, the Mont Saint-Michel and multiple French territories.
Tony Estanguet, the Paris 2024 chief, said the torch is “very ,very beautiful”. He also said it is “...very pure, It’s perfectly balanced in the hand.”
1. Why is the torch equal from top to bottom?| A．It is easy for torch-bearers to carry. | B．It is the symbol of the Seine River. |
| C．It represents peace among nations. | D．It shows equality between players. |
| A．He wishes Paris 2024 to be the best ever. | B．The torch is more important than the flame. |
| C．Designing the torch is harder than he thinks. | D．He thinks highly of the torch’s appearance. |
| A．Twenty two days. | B．Fifteen days. | C．Nine days. | D．Eight days. |
| A．A travel brochure. | B．A sports magazine. | C．A science report. | D．A research paper. |
8 . Aside from Seahawks coaches shouting during training camp, you may find head coach Pete Carroll throwing passes to receivers or casually running 100-yard sprints (短跑) down the field before the practice begins.
At 71 years old, Carroll says he has no magical secret to staying active and healthy while being the NFL’s oldest head coach. All of the constant physical activity is just who he is and who he’s always been. “I’m trying to have fun, to tell you the truth,” Carroll says. “I have to work and stay in shape to do the things I want to do.”
Carroll is the oldest active head coach, and will turn 72 on September 15. Carroll doesn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to stay engaged with the game he grew up with—even if it’s as simple as completing passes to his wide receivers.
Associate head coach Carl Smith has had fond memories of Carroll since 1982 when the pair coached football together at North Carolina State. So, at Seahawks practices, when Smith sees Carroll run sprints and be increasingly active, it isn’t anything new. “He hasn’t really changed since I met him in 1982,” Smith says. “He’s always had that active mindset... He’s uncommonly consistent and curious about things.”
Carroll’s plentiful energy can be translated into training camp. “Pete’s pretty much about competing,” says Will Dissly. “And he’s really done a good job of making sure that’s the point in this game... It’s a big reason why we’re successful.” Dissly is one of many Seahawks players who sees Carroll’s work as a stimulus. Dissly says if his head coach can participate in all of these activities at his age, nothing will stop him from showing up every day and competing.
1. Which benefits Carroll most in keeping fit according to the text?| A．Enough sleep. | B．Regular exercise. |
| C．A balance d diet. | D．A caring friend. |
| A．He is a determined person. | B．He helps his partner a lot. |
| C．He respects others’ privacy. | D．He is tired of running sprints. |
| A．A difficult process. | B．A temporary success. |
| C．An unexpected change. | D．An inspiring reminder. |
| A．A healthy lifestyle. | B．Lasting friendships. |
| C．A football coach. | D．Tips on intense training. |
9 . Last Sunday, the famous Champs-Elysees street in Paris was turned into a giant outdoor classroom for a special spelling event called “The Big Dictation”. The event was a chance for people who love words to show off their listening and spelling skills in an unusual setting.
The Big Dictation of Champs-Elysees was organized by a writer named Rachid Santaki. He came up with the idea of large groups of people taking part in dictations back in 2013. Over 50,000 people asked to join the special spelling event on the Champs-Elysees, which turned one of Paris’s busiest streets into a classroom, with cars replaced by desks. In the end, around 5,000 people, aged 10 to 90, were chosen to take part.
Just like in school, a large “blackboard” was set up for the event near a famous building, the Arc de Triomphe. Several famous people were there to play the part of the teacher, and read the dictation texts out loud. After the dictation is read, the text on the screen lets people check their work.
Not everyone found it easy. Ten-year-old Samson thought the dictation was too quick and he couldn’t finish. Another young student agreed. “It was impossible!” he said. “The dictation was for adults.”
Even adults found it challenging, reporting that it caused stress and worry. One retired woman was pleased that she had only made two mistakes.
Marc-Antoine Jamet is in charge of the Champs-Elysees Committee, who brought the event to the famous street. He said the event wasn’t just about getting all the words right but also about bringing people together.
Another goal of The Big Dictation was to break the record for the largest dictation event ever. The previous record was set in 2018 at France’s national stadium, Stade de France, with 1,473 people taking part. That event was also run by Mr. Santaki.
1. How many people were chosen to take part in The Big Dictation last Sunday?| A．Around 1, 500. | B．Around 2,000. | C．Around 5,000. | D．Over 50,000. |
| A．Easy. | B．Exciting. | C．Boring. | D．Challenging. |
| A．To break the record for the dictation event. |
| B．To introduce a famous street to the world. |
| C．To reduce the learning pressure of students. |
| D．To remember the founder of the competition. |
| A．The Famous Scenic Spots of France |
| B．A Spelling Event Took Place on a Paris Street |
| C．The French Love for Spelling Competitions |
| D．An Outdoor Classroom Unique to the British |
10 . People who enjoy running often like to take part in running events as well. Signing up for a particular event and then working towards it can be a great way to achieve goals and increase confidence.
The most common types of running events are races.
| A．The distance run is only part of each running event. |
| B．There are many different kinds of races to suit different running ability levels. |
| C．Of course, there are other events in addition to races. |
| D．Running is one of the cheapest and most affordable forms of exercising. |
| E．Running events can also be a great way to have fun and meet other people. |
| F．These meets often last all day, and winners typically receive medals after a competition. |
| G．Most of active runners have lower blood pressure compared to people who don’t run. |
