1 . According to legend, the first-ever marathon was so exhausting that the Greek messenger, who dashed 40km from the battlefield to Athens, collapsed and died. Over the past 2,500 years, humans have become better at running. Eight of the ten fastest times in female marathon have been recorded since 2022. This can to a large extent be explained by the development of a new generation of hyper-bouncy running shoes— “super-shoes”—that offer athletes greater assistance. Such has been the improvement that some have questioned whether the technology is now too dominant.
No doubt that athletes are breaking records because of their footwear. Both Nike and Adidas have persuaded World Athletics to permit shoes with chunky, foam soles(鞋底), which act as springs. When their feet compress the super-shoes into the ground, the runners receive more energy as they push off again. In 2017 Nike announced the new technology allowed athletes to use 4% less energy than they would if wearing a regular shoe.
Those who would like the shoes banned worry that the balance between the runners’ ability and footwear has become twisted. Plainly, though, this is a long way from shoes that matter more than runners. A club runner may set a personal best in a pair of Nike Alphaflys, but she is not going to outrun Ms. Assefa(world champion) wearing regular shoes. World Athletics insists such super-shoes should be available to all athletes in order to be legal, so there is no risk of results being determined by a lack of access to the best equipment.
Part of the appeal of sports is that they show humans on an upward trajectory (轨迹), becoming stronger, faster and fitter. Technology has always contributed to this. But as the sports industry has more investment, the motivations to find an edge in performance have grown, whether in kit, diet or game strategy. Surely, advances have to be controlled. But banning super-shoes would be opposing progress and difficult to enforce. This is a genie (精灵)that cannot be returned to its shoebox.
1. What has improved female marathon records since 2022?| A．The changes of rules. | B．The advance in sports kit. |
| C．The assistance of coaches. | D．The development of humans. |
| A．The principle. | B．The history. | C．The challenge. | D．The drawback. |
| A．Ms. Assefa runs slowly in regular shoes. | B．Using super-shoes is regarded as dishonest. |
| C．Nike Alphaflys better athletes’ performance. | D．Access to super shoes determines athletes’ success. |
| A．Athletics should not embrace super-shoes. |
| B．There is nothing to fear about technological advances. |
| C．Not all investments have led to advances in technology. |
| D．It is impossible for sports industry to control super-shoes. |
2 . Here are four writing contests available for high school students.
Skipping Stones Youth Honor Awards
Skipping Stones magazine recognizes high school students that are working to promote multicultural and environmental awareness. The written submissions can include short stories, poems, and essays. Winners will receive an honor award certificate, and a year-long subscription to the magazine.
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Noteworthy former winners include John Updike, Truman Capote, and Joyce Carol Oates. Each submission is judged on technical skill, originality, and the presence of a clear vision and voice. Regional and national award winners are qualified for a variety of different monetary awards in addition to publication in the National Catalog.
Bennington Young Writers Awards
Submissions are accepted in the fiction category. Students in 10th through 12th grade can submit a one-act play or a short story, recommended by a high school teacher. The first-place fiction winner receives $500 and the second-place winner receives $ 250.
The Claremont Review Writing Contest
The Claremont Review holds an annual contest in fiction and poetry writing. Submissions are welcome from writers aged 13 to 18 and must be previously unpublished. Winners and those receiving honorable mentions will be published in the autumn issue of The Claremont Review and will receive a year-long subscription to the magazine.
1. Which contest did Truman Capote once win?| A．Skipping Stones Youth Honor Awards. |
| B．Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. |
| C．Bennington Young Writers Awards. |
| D．The Claremont Review Writing Contest. |
| A．Being a local. | B．Paying the entry fee. |
| C．Handing in an unpublished entry. | D．Having a teacher's recommendation. |
| A．Different cash prizes. | B．An honor award certificate. |
| C．Free magazines for 12 months. | D．An opportunity to visit a college. |
3 . “The Worthington Christian defeated the Westerville North by 2—1 in an Ohio boys’ soccer game on Saturday.” That’s according to a story that appeared last month in The Columbus Dispatch. That lead was written not by a sportswriter, but by an artificial intelligence (AI) tool.
Many news organizations are now examining how AI might be used in their work. But if they begin their “experimenting” with high school sports because they are less momentous than war, peace, climate change and politics, they may miss something crucial. Nothing may be more important to the students who play high school sports, and to their families, neighborhoods, and sometimes, the whole town. That next game is what the students train for, work toward, and dream about. Someday, almost all student athletes will go on to have jobs in front of screens, in office parks, at schools, in hospitals or on construction sites. They may suffer blows and setbacks. But the high school games they played and watched, as well as their hopes and cheers, will stay vivid in their memories.
I have a small idea. If newspapers will no longer send staff reporters to cover high school games, why not hire high school student journalists? News organizations can pay students an hourly wage to cover high school games. The young reporters might learn how to be fair to all sides, write vividly, and attract readers. That’s what some celebrities in sports did, and do.
And think of the great writers who were inspired by sports: Hemingway on fishing, Bernard Malamud and Marianne Moore on baseball, Chen Zhongshi on football, and CLR James on cricket, who said, “There can be raw pain and bleeding where so many thousands see the inevitable (不可避免的) ups and downs of only a game.” A good high school writer, unlike a robot, could tell readers not just the score, but the stories of the game.
1. Why is the lead mentioned in the first paragraph?| A．To introduce an original idea. | B．To show AI’s wide application. |
| C．To bring in the opinion about AI. | D．To stress AI’s importance to news. |
| A．Hopeful. | B．Eye-catching. | C．Competitive. | D．Far-reaching. |
| A．Rich in contents. | B．Fair in comments. |
| C．Centered on results. | D．Targeted on readers. |
| A．News Organizations Are Abusing AI | B．High Schoolers Can Do What AI Can’t |
| C．Great Writers Are Crazy About Sports | D．AI Ruins High School Students’ Memory |
4 . Entering competitions can be fun, and it’s a good way to hone（磨炼）your skills. While you can’t expect to win every time, you can increase your chances of winning with the right strategy and preparation. These are general tips that can be applied to your competition of choice.
Research and choose the right competition.
Don’t psych yourself out. Plenty of people get scared off by a competition’s requirements and don’t enter in the first place.
Learn your competition. Remember that you’re not competing with everyone in the competition. There may be many applicants and candidates, but there will only be a few contenders（竞争者）and finalists.
Make a checklist. Everyone has different productivity styles. If it helps, consider making a training checklist.
| A．Stick to your training. |
| B．Others drop out along the way. |
| C．Give yourself encouraging reminders. |
| D．Focus on understanding and beating them. |
| E．This is the time to set reasonable and achievable goals. |
| F．It provides you a sense of accomplishment along the way. |
| G．It might be important if you don’t have a coach to guide you. |
5 . The Best Computer Science Competitions for High Schoolers
Imagine Cup
Microsoft runs the competition, and each year, students around the world compete in it. Students work in teams of up to three members to design a tech solution to a social or health problem.
Qualification: Student must be 16 or older.
Prizes: Each winning team is awarded $100,000.
First Robotics Competition
Students work in teams of at least 10 along with 2 adult mentors to design and build an industrial-sized robot. They then must program the robot to compete in a sophisticated field game at competitions. Annual team registration fees are usually about $5,000.
Qualification: High school students in the U.S.,
Prizes: Various scholarships and cash prizes for top scorers.
Technovation Challenge
It is designed to get more girls worldwide interested in coding and computer science. Girls work in teams of 1-5 and with volunteer mentors to use technology to design an app that helps solve real world problems such as climate change and hunger.
Qualification: Must identify as female and be between 10 and 18 years old.
Prizes: Prizes and scholarships up to $2,000.
American Computer Science League
To compete, your school has to have registered and paid the registration fee. Before the competition, the coach teaches coding with a focus on ACSL exam categories. Then, students work in teams of 3 or 5 students to complete four tests. Students can code in Python 3, Java 8, or C++ as defined on the programming platform. Top-scoring teams advance to regional, statewide, and eventually global competitions.
Qualification: Students whose schools have registered for the competition.
Prizes: Winners of the ACSL All-Star Contest receive prizes.
1. Which competition has the largest number of students in a team?| A．Imagine Cup. | B．First Robotics Competition. |
| C．Technovation Challenge. | D．American Computer Science League. |
| A．It is run by Microsoft. | B．It is only for U.S. students. |
| C．It has a gender limitation. | D．It allows mentors to assist. |
| A．Register for the competition independently. |
| B．Have chances to take higher-level competitions. |
| C．Design an app using programming knowledge. |
| D．Receive various scholarship and cash prizes. |
6 . Kenya’s EliudKipchoge made history by running the 26.2 miles in less than two hours, faster than any other person in history. His time of 1:59:40 required him to maintain an average pace of about 4:35 per mile!
Upon crossing the finish line, Kipchoge, who spent four months training, said, “That was the best moment of my life. The pressure was very big on my shoulders. I got a phone call from the President of Kenya.”
The Prater Park course in Vienna, Austria, was carefully selected, taking into account factors like temperature and wind speed to ensure the perfect racing. His speed was maintained by 41 medium and long-distance runners. An electric car projected a green laser ahead of the runners to guide them along the best route. To save time, Kipchoge was fed pre-prepared drinks and energy on the course at 3.1-mile intervals.
The historic run was Kipchoge’s second attempt at breaking the two-hour marathon barrier. The Kenyan runner first tried to accomplish the feat on May 6, 2017, at Nike’s Breaking2 event, which took place on a Formula One racetrack in Monza, Italy. However, while Kipchoge’s 2:00:25 time was the fastest ever attained by a human, it was not under the desired two hours. However, the lack of acknowledgement does not bother Kipchoge.
Kipchoge was not the only Kenyan runner to make headlines that weekend. On Sunday, October 13, 2019, Brigid Kosgei made history of her own at the Chicago Marathon. Her time of 2:14:04, outpaced British runner Paula Radcliffe ‘s 16-year-old record by an impressive 81 seconds, earning Kosgei the title of the world’s fastest female marathoner!
1. Why did Kipchoge have bigger pressure?| A．He intended to make history. |
| B．The president of Kenya rang him. |
| C．The coming marathon was fierce. |
| D．His training was harder than ever. |
| A．Tell us Kipchoge’s determination. |
| B．Summarize Kipchoge’s contributions. |
| C．Praise Kipchoge for his thoughtfulness. |
| D．Show Kipchoge planned the marathon carefully. |
| A．Concerned. | B．Astonished. | C．Upset. | D．Calm. |
| A．Beat. | B．Equaled. | C．Stuck. | D．Set. |
7 . National Public Radio (NPR) Music’s Tiny Desk Contest is back. Artists can submit an entry from this morning. This isn’t just another regular year of the Contest — it’s the 10th anniversary.
The panel (小组) of judges has doubled in size compared to previous years. The panel has a group of industry experts who are eager to see what this year’s participants can share. And there’s a great team of NPR’s Music station hosts on the panel: Amelia Mason, Novena Carmel and Stas THEE Boss.
Also new this year: Not only will the 2024 winner play a Tiny Desk concert, be interviewed on All Things Considered and go on tour with NPR Music — they’ll also be paired with a tutor in the industry who will help them navigate their music journey. Our judges are determined to give this year’s winner the support they’ll need to take their music to the next level. The winner will also be featured at two festivals this summer: Celebrate Brooklyn and the Millennium Park Summer Music series in Chicago.
And for the first time this year, the Contest is introducing a fan favorite vote. Later this spring, Contest judges will share their favorite entries as part of the annual Tiny Desk-Contest Top Shelf series on YouTube — and then artists and fans will be able to vote for their favorite among those selections.
Here’s how to enter: Record a video of you playing one original song — behind a desk, upload your video to YouTube, and submit the video on our Tiny Desk Contest website by Feb. 21 at 11: 59 p. m.
A final reminder: Entry videos don’t need to be fancy. The Tiny Desk is where artists go to simplify their big productions. Contest judges are looking for artists to submit something that’s true to them and brand new to the Tiny Desk.
1. Who are most likely among the judges?| A．News station hosts. | B．Expert musicians. |
| C．Contest participants. | D．Famous industrialists. |
| A．Sightseeing tours. | B．Festival souvenirs. |
| C．Unlimited support. | D．Professional guidance. |
| A．It has to be a masterpiece. | B．It must convey positive feelings. |
| C．It must be recorded behind a desk. | D．It has to be submitted before Feb. 21. |
8 . Four of the World’s Toughest Ultramarathons
Ultramarathons, as a niche activity (小众活动), involve longer races than the usual 42.2-kilometer marathon. Here are four of the toughest ultramarathons around the globe, attracting runners to challenge themselves.
Badwater 135
Badwater 135 is a 217-kilometer trek (长途跋涉) from California’s Death Valley to the Mt. Whitney trailhead. Some of the hottest temperatures on Earth have been recorded here, and it’s not unusual for runners to face temperatures around 48.9℃ during the July event. Participants typically dress in white and step only on the road’s white painted markings, as the blacktop (柏油路) melts oboes.
Barkley Marathons
There’s no question that the Barkley Marathons is one tough race, for its 99 percent dropout rate. Since its start in 1986, only 17 people have managed to complete its approximate 161 kilometers. It’s difficult only because there are no markers or aid stations on the course, and runners must find the way without phones or GPS devices, running through the thick forest and climbing up and down mountains.
Marathon des Sables
This 250-kilometer trek through the Sahara Desert began in 1986. Participants have to carry their own food and sleeping equipment for seven days across unending sand, and the temperatures there take over 37.8℃. Participants experience sunbum, poisonous snakes and maybe even sandstorms.
Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra
Known as the world’s coldest and hardest ultramarathon, this February event covers 692 kilometers with a 13-day time limit. Runners can face temperatures well below 0℃, plus the strong cold wind. Fresh snow or high winds can make the journey extremely challenging, while river crossing can be deadly if the ice is unstable.
1. What do Badwater 135 and Marathon des Sables have in common?| A．Runners may encounter wild animals. | B．Runners must wear light-colored clothes. |
| C．Runners may suffer extreme heat. | D．Runners will be offered enough food. |
| A．Badwater 135. | B．Barkley Marathons. |
| C．Marathon des Sables. | D．Montane Yukon Arctic Ultra. |
| A．It sets no road signs. | B．It has a high dropout rate. |
| C．It involves lots of fun skiing. | D．It covers the longest distance. |
9 . Ready to show off your art to the world? Check out our guide to some of the best art contests to enter this year.
Watermedia Showcase
Prize: $2,500 first prize, $1,250 second prize.
Entry Fee: $35.
Requirements: Open to international artists 18 years of age and older.
The Watermedia Showcase awards original art created primarily with water-based media. Judged by the editors of Watercolor Artist, all winners will have their work featured in the magazine.
The Lumen Prize for Digital Art
Prize: $4,000 first prize, with a $13,500 total prize fund.
Entry Fee: $40.
Requirements: Open to artists worldwide.
This digital art competition is organized by Lumen Art Projects Ltd, which provides new opportunities for digital artists around the world. Categories include Still, Moving Image, XR, 3D/Interactive and Artificial Intelligence.
World Illustration Awards
Prize: A cash prize of $2,540 and more publicity opportunities.
Entry Fee: $37.
Requirements: Open to artists worldwide.
Illustrators are invited to submit works to 8 different categories. Winners will win not only a cash prize, but also a feature in a major exhibition in central London, and an invitation to the Awards Evening in October.
Strokes of Genius: The Best of Drawing
Prize: $2,000 first prize, $1,000 second prize.
Entry Fee: $45.
Requirements: Open to artists in the United States.
The Strokes of Genius Competition celebrates original work made in drawing mediums, including pencil, charcoal and even some wet paint mediums. Winning entries (参赛作品) will be published in a special edition publication, The Best of Drawing.
1. Which competition is related to technology?| A．Watermedia Showcase. | B．The Lumen Prize for Digital Art. |
| C．World Illustration Awards. | D．Strokes of Genius: The Best of Drawing. |
| A．To host the Awards Evening. | B．To hold art exhibitions globally. |
| C．To sell their entries at high prices. | D．To become known to the public. |
| A．It is free of charge. | B．It awards the largest prize in amount. |
| C．It is a national competition. | D．It has an age limit for participants. |
10 . Coco Gauff used to visit the Grand Slam tournament (大满贯锦标赛) as a kid to see her idols Serena and Venus Williams. Now she is a champion there herself. On Sept 9, the 19-year-old from the US won her first major women’s singles title at the 2023 US Open (美国网球公开赛).
After an average start, Gauff surged to a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over her bigger, stronger opponent, Aryna Sabalenka, from Belarus, who became the new world No.1 the day after the tournament ended.
Unlike the Williams sisters, who have obvious force and power, Gauff is small and slim. But she moves fast on the tennis court. Forbes magazine said, “She is the quickest and perhaps already the best returner of impossible shots in tennis history.”
Even though Sabalenka is a very powerful hitter, it felt like she had to finish each point four or five times, as Gauff’s defense was so perfect, noted The Telegraph. This ended up frustrating Sabalenka and caused her to make 46 unforced errors.
Gauff thus became the first American teenager to win the US Open since Serena Williams, then 17, in 1999. When asked about “taking the torch” from the 23-time Grand Slam winner and the similarity between their tennis careers, Gauff told ESPN, “Serena is Serena. She’s the greatest of all time... I’d hope to do half of what she did. But I’m not going to compare myself to her. She’s some one that I look up to.”
Now, Gauff’s big win has left tennis fans wondering: When’s her next Grand Slam? That’s no easy task. Two of the past four US Open women’s champions were teenagers at the time, Canada’s Bianca Andreescu in 2019 and the UK’s Emma Raducanu in 2021, and neither has come close to repeating their success yet. But one thing about Gauff is certain — that at just 19 years old, the sky’s the limit.
1. What do we know about Gauff’s performance in the game at the 2023 US Open?| A．She made 46 unforced errors. | B．She was leading from the start. |
| C．She defeated a stronger opponent. | D．She became world No.1 afterwards. |
| A．Her force and power. | B．Her speed and defense. |
| C．Her figure and height. | D．Her services and attacks. |
| A．Aryna Sabalenka. | B．Bianca Andreescu. | C．Coco Gauff. | D．Serena Williams. |
| A．It is hard for Gauff to push back her limits. |
| B．Gauff will consider switching to other sports. |
| C．Gauff has potential for greater future success. |
| D．Teenage sportsmen often fail to continue their success. |
