1 . 4 WRITING COMPETITIONS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Calling all high school student writers! If you’re looking for scholarships or ways to support your future education, look no further than writing competitions.

Below are 4 writing competitions for high school students. Check them now!

Scholastic Writing Awards

The Scholastic Writing Awards celebrate was created by students aged 13 and older in grades 7 through 12 across the country. You can submit(提交) all kinds of writing works, including science fiction, humor, short plays, and more.

Gold medal winners can earn a $10,000 scholarship, and silver medal winners can earn a$1,000 scholarship. The fee to apply is $7 for a single entry.

Young Lions Fiction Award

To apply for this award, any writer aged 35 or younger may submit a novel or collection of short stories. Each year, a group of experts including Young Lions members, writers, and librarians select the winner.

The winner of this award will receive a $11.000 scholarship.

NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship

High school students of all ages can have access to this creative writing scholarship. Students can submit works (that have not been published before)in one or both categories (类别): poetry and fiction.

A prize of $2,000 ill be awarded to one student winner in each category.

We the Students Essay Competitions

This competition asks students to answer the question, “What are the important qualities of a citizen in your community in 21st century America?” in an essay between 500 and 800 words. Students must be US citizens between the ages of 14 and 19 to apply.

One national winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize and six runners-up will receive $1,250 each.

1. If you have created a short play, which competition is suitable for you to enter?

A．Scholastic Writing Awards.	B．Young Lions Fiction Award.
C．NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship.	D．We the Students Essay Competition.

2. Which competition has a given topic?

A．Scholastic Writing Awards.	B．Young Lions Fiction Award.
C．NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship.	D．We the Students Essay Competition.

3. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．A club’s poster.

B．A teaching plan.

C．A school’s website.

D．A principal’s speech.

2 .
1. What prize will the winners receive?

A．5,000 yuan.	B．A teller in Writer’s Digest.
C．Attend pitch slam slot challenge.	D．A paid trip to WD annual meeting.

2. What should you do first if you want to write your success?

A．Hand in your work.	B．Enter the website.
C．Register an account.	D．Pay necessary fees.

3. Where is this text most likely from?

A．A website.

B．A guidebook.

C．A novel.

D．A diary.

3 . Ice hockey, including Para ice hockey (残奥会冰球), has been recognized by some as a “men’s sport” as it is a full-contact sport that involves lots of body checks. But on the International Women’s Day, many fans at the National Indoor Stadium waited for a female to get on the ice. And there she came.

By the end of the second period of the Para ice hockey game between China and Italy at the Beijing Paralympic Winter Games, Yu Jing of China was called onto the ice. Without any goal or assist, Yu completed her debut (首次比赛). “I think I did really well today,” said Yu with a bunch of flowers in her hands after the game. “This is a perfect gift for me on this special day.”

Poliomyelitis (小儿麻痹) caused disability in her left leg when Yu was very little, but it never stopped her passion for sports. In 2019, Yu took up Para ice hockey. However, the blade that supports the sledge is only three centimeters wide, which is very difficult for beginners to maintain their balance. But Yu was able to sit firmly on the sledge and slid slowly with the sticks the first time on the ice. “I got the confidence immediately,” Yu recalled, adding that fighting for her country on home soil was her biggest incentive.

All the injuries and difficulties didn’t stop Yu from chasing her Para ice hockey dream. She quit her job and turned professional at 36 years old. During training, Yu’s teammates encouraged her and taught her the skills. “Para ice hockey is a mixed competition that opens a door to females with disabilities. If males can do it, so can females,” Yu said. As the only female Para ice hockey player at Beijing 2022, the goal of inspiring more females with disabilities has already been accomplished.

1. Which of the following words can best describe ice hockey?

A．Popular.	B．Rough.
C．Entertaining.	D．Relaxing.

2. What do we know about Yu Jing?

A．She scored in her first match against Italy.

B．She beat her male competitors in training.

C．She was disappointed with her holiday gift.

D．She showed a talent for playing ice hockey.

3. Which of the following motivated Yu Jing most?

A．National pride.	B．Professional spirit.
C．Her childhood dream.	D．Encouragement from teammates.

4. What can we learn from the story?

A．Practice makes perfect.	B．Actions speak louder than words.
C．A friend in need is a friend indeed.	D．Where there is a will, there is a way.

4 .

China’s women’s basketball team was beaten by the United States in the final of the FIBA World Cup in Sydney. The silver medals that the Chinese were left with still represented their country’s best finish in the global showpiece in 28 years. Not since 1994 – in a tournament (锦标赛) held, like this one, in Australia – had they won a medal of any colour.

At the World Cup, China played a total of eight matches, winning six of them. They entered the final of a major international competition for the first time in almost three decades, before losing to defending champions the United States to finish runners-up for the second time in history.

China’s performance at the tournament received much attention from Chinese people both at home and abroad, especially as the final fell on the country’s National Day. Chinese flags were waved and the national anthem (国歌) was sung in the stadium, giving people a feeling that the team was playing on their home court.

Although losing the game, the team was met with praise and encouragement from Chinese netizens as people have walked away from a “medal-oriented” mentality, and started to accept more the spirit of sportsmanship and “perform your best” spirit. Many Chinese netizens said they were proud of the players for trying their best and fighting until the last minutes which showed the true sportsmanship. The mental strength and quality of the Chinese women’s basketball team are even more valuable than being the runner-up in the World Cup, they said. The Chinese women’s basketball team is already the champion in our hearts, commented an internet user.

“We should admit the gap in the strength between the two teams. However, the women basketball players have presented an exciting game, playing good defense and never hesitating to attack. I am so proud of them, and it is special our National Day.” said one Weibo user.

1. What makes this final most impressive?

A．Winning the six matches as a whole.

B．Entering the final competition of all time.

C．Meeting with our country’s National Day.

D．Receiving much attention home and abroad.

2. How do Chinese netizens feel about China’s winning silver medals?

A．Surprised and upset.	B．Excited and inspired.
C．Annoyed and grateful.	D．Encouraged and curious.

3. Why do people feel that the team was playing on the home court?

A．The team won the silver medals after 28 years.

B．The match received amounts of attention globally.

C．China’s women’s basketball team entered the final.

D．Chinese flags and anthem sprang up in the stadium.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Our country’s National Day.	B．Our gratitude to the coach.
C．The FIBA World Cup history.	D．A special gift for the National Day.

5 . Over the weekend, social media was excited about a heart-stopping gymnastic routine and we have UCLA athlete Katelyn Ohashi to thank. The routine itself is only ninety seconds long, but the 21-year-old athlete jumped, flipped, turned, and showed off her incredible talent across the floor to a combination of R&B and soul music. Ohashi earned a well-deserved perfect 10 from the judges and her performance eventually led the UCLA to victory at the end of the competition.

But the best part? This isn’t the first time she’s gone viral — it’s the second time in a year she’s achieved eye-catching fame, and it’s for good reason. At the 2018 Pac 12 Championships, Ohashi performed an awesome floor routine set to a combination of Michael Jackson’s hits.

Ohashi exudes (流露) joy in her performances, and she’s not afraid to smile widely when she knows she’s done well. It’s acceptable, because it’s clear she’s having fun, a rare sight in the field of professional sports. Born in Seattle, Ohashi did four years on the USA Gymnastic’s junior national team, and won the 2013 American Cup. But behind the scenes, things weren’t so great.

Ohashi was under intense pressure competing at the elite (精英) level. Fans told her she wasn’t good enough, and she was under pressure to be thin. Ultimately, she decided to walk away from elite gymnastics to become a college athlete. She underwent surgery for a broken back and two torn shoulders in 2014. These injuries kept her away from the sport until 2015 when she joined the UCLA Bruins gymnastics team for the 2015–16 season.

“There was a time when I was on top of the world, an Olympic hopeful. I was unbeatable until I wasn’t,” Ohashi said. “It hurt. But it also took me finding Ms. Val and the UCLA and having a different goal and path to follow, to finally find joy and love within the sport again, which I haven’t been able to feel in a long time.”

1. Which is closest in meaning to the phrase “gone viral” underlined in paragraph 2?

A．Become popular.	B．Appear suddenly.
C．Change surprisingly.	D．Succeed unexpectedly.

2. What do we know about Katelyn Ohashi?

A．She was little-known until recently.

B．Her gymnastic skills improved in the UCLA.

C．She won her first victory in the UCLA.

D．Her gymnastic career wasn’t always full of joy.

3. How does Ohashi sound in the end?

A．Regretful.

B．Appreciative.

C．Humorous.

D．Confused.

4. What is the most suitable title for the text?

A．Regain self-confidence

B．Battle against ill remarks

C．Go beyond physical limits

D．Rediscover joy of gymnastics

6 . Are you ready for a FIFA World Cup^TM like no other?

With Qatar playing host to the first FIFA World Cup^TM ever in the Arab world, a unique and extraordinary stage has been created for the teams, the players and, of course, you the fans. Explore the individual elements of your FIFA World Cup^TM here, which we hope you enjoy during your time in Qatar.

Official Mascot (吉祥物) of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022^TM

It’s me! La’eeb^TM

Welcome to my page! La’eeb^TM is my name―an Arabic word, meaning super-skilled player―and I love the beautiful game. I also love supporting, and not just from the stands. I love supporting all of you who have a vision, work hard and aim to achieve your dreams!

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022^TM Official Soundtrack (原声带)

A symbol of how music―and football―can unite the world

A multi-song collection, featuring international artists across a variety of musical genres delivering a smash hits, sets the tone for a truly global celebration at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022^TM.

Check out the catchy and uplifting songs that make up the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022^TM Official Soundtrack here:

● Hayya Hayya (Better Together)―Trinidad Cardona, Davido, and Aisha

● Arhbo―Ozuna featuring GIMS

● Light the Sky―Rahma, Balgees, Nora and Manal

● Dreamers―Fahad Al Kubaisi and Jung Kook(BTS)

Official Poster

Hayya to Qatar 2022^TM

The Official Poster is on display at Hamad International Airport, where it will remain at Gate DI8 throughout the FIFA World Cup 2022^TM. Everyone will have the chance to see the poster as they travel from and transit through Qatar.

1. Which of the following is not true about the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022^TM?

A．The Arab world has never held FIFA World Cup TM before

B．The official Mascot of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM is La’eeb

C．It shows us that music and football can unite the world.

D．The Official Poster will be on display at Gate DI7 of Hamad International Airport.

2. What can we know about FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022^TM Official Soundtrack?

A．The official soundtrack consists of more than four songs.

B．Rahma, Davido, Nora and Manal jointly composed Light the Sky.

C．The soundtrack is made up of several attractive and inspiring songs.

D．Arabian singers across different musical genres are more popular.

3. Where can we find the text?

A．In a book

B．On a website

C．In a newspaper

D．In a magazine

7 .    

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is now a hot blooded carnival for fans around the world for 28 days. It’s the first World Cup held by a country that has not participated in the World Cup before, and also the first time to be held in a Middle Eastern country.

First let’s talk about its mascot, La’eeb, shaped like a walking headscarf, is an avatar (化身) with no fixed shape. This Arabic word means a highly skilled player. The mascot wears a rope and is soft, whose body can make various and difficult movements at will-it gives fans full imagination. The design of the mascot is very novel and this playful image is loved by many fans. Its facial expression is full of determination with an inspirational, upward and positive attitude, just like a strong-willed athlete who never gets discouraged in the face of difficulties.

Considering the high temperature of about 50 degrees in Qatar in summer will affect the athletes’ competitive status, this World Cup is the first time to be held in the northern hemisphere in winter. To successfully hold this World Cup, Qatar has invested heavily in the construction of venues and supporting transportation, communication, accommodation, even with over 1,000 luxurious Bedouin-style tents in the desert, etc. Service facilities, with a total investment of 220bn US dollars, make it the most expensive World Cup game at present.

This World Cup will even be the very first carbon-neutral tournament, and the organizer has prepared a total of 8 stadiums, all built to be energy efficient. One of our favorites is Stadium 974， the first fully demountable (可拆卸的) stadium, built using 974 shipping containers, whose number also happens to be Qatar’s country code. The opening game and the final match will be held in the same stadium-Lusail Stadium. Moreover, thanks to Qatar’s efficient public transportation, football fans will need just under one hour of traveling time between stadiums. So if you want to, you can watch more than two games in one day and experience the World Cup like never before.

And the World Cup finale will take place on December the 18th, also Qatar’s National Day. So expect fireworks all around. And let’s have a blast together!

1. What makes the host country so special?

A．Diverse religions.	B．Extremely high temperature.
C．Richness in oil.	D．First participation in the World Cup.

2. Which of the following is TRUE about the mascot?

A．It is named after a sport.	B．It looks inspiring and encouraging.
C．It is a traditional Arabic design.	D．It could not be transformed at all.

3. Why is the huge investment mentioned in this passage?

A．To attract visitors all over the world.

B．To criticize the giant waste by the host.

C．To show off the great wealth of the host.

D．To highlight its commitment to the event.

4. What does the underlined word “blast” in paragraph 5 refer to?

A．Criticism.	B．Explosion.
C．Good time.	D．Loud noise.

8 . SYDNEY - Fresh from winning a silver medal at the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, China’s head coach Zheng Wei remained clear-minded about the latest achievement and expected her team to continue to grow. At the 2022 FIBA Women’s World Cup, China reached their first semifinals in major competitions in almost three decades before losing to the United States in the final to pocket a silver medal for the second time in history.

Sydney is not an unfamiliar place to Zheng. In 1994, as a basketball player, she and her teammates finished runners-up (亚军) at the formerly known FIBA World Championship for Women. Zheng said that Sydney is a “blessed land” for the Chinese women’s basketball team.

The 59-year-old was appointed(任命) head coach in May after working as an assistant coach within the team for more than a decade. She believed that the new role means a different working style. “While I was an assistant coach, I took care of the players. But now I have to be strict with them so that they could give full play to their potential,” she said.

Zheng is still aware of the gap between China and those strong sides, especially the United States, who have won the World Cup four times in a row. “The sport of basketball is developing in these years. The pace is faster with more physical contact and more flexibility in player positions, as we can see from the United States,” she said.

“There is a gap (间隙) separating us and those powerhouses on the global stage,” said the coach, adding that they would learn lessons from each match to improve. A positive Zheng stressed that the team is quite young, with an average age of below 26. “That means they still have room to improve,” she said. “They don’t have much experience in major international events. Given enough time, they will go further.”

1. Why is Sydney a “blessed land” for the Chinese women’s basketball team?

A．The team always beats the American team in Sydney.

B．The team is always supported by Zheng Wei in Sydney.

C．The team has won various awards, including the championship.

D．The team has won the second place in the finals twice in Sydney.

2. What makes Zheng Wei strict with her players now?

A．Her new role.	B．Rich experience.
C．Influence of emotions.	D．Dissatisfaction with the team.

3. Which of the following best describes coach Zheng?

A．Responsible.

B．Patient.

C．Honest.

D．Helpful.

4. What does Zheng Wei advise her team to do?

A．To increase team training time.

B．To make the team feel stressed.

C．To select some more experienced players.

D．To gain experience in major international events.

9 . Non-native animals are doing great damage to local economies and ecosystems. Governments try to use all kinds of ways to keep these animals from going into their places. Some local governments try to make removing invasive(侵入的) species by holding contests with prizes for whoever can catch the most of these animals. In 2022, for example, one fishing contest will be open to the public.

City Fishing Tournament(锦标赛) REGISTRATION IS OPEN! 218 West First Street, Bath, Illinois Have fun while trying to rid the Illinois River of Asian carp(鲤鱼)! Date & Contest Times: ● Friday, Nov. 4: Noon-2 p.m. and 3-5p. m. ● Saturday, Nov. 5: 11 a.m.-1p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Fees: ● Participants-$50 per boat, per contest ● Spectators-$5 per day or $8 for a weekend pass Instructions & Rules: ● Catch as many Asian carp as you can with one-handed nets, your hands (careful!), baseball bats or simply by having them jump into your boat! ● Hockey helmets and other protective gear are strongly recommended. Boat motor noise makes these fish jump high into the air-they average 20kg each and can cause injuries! ● Bring large trash bags to transfer your fish from your boat to the counting area. ● Participants using nets must have a valid Illinois fishing license. Awards are given for: ● Most Asian carp caught during each two-hour contest and in total ● Best costumes: Friday is “Camouflage Day” and Saturday is “Superhero Day” Everybody, be quick to join us! TEL: 87387745

1. What is the main purpose of the City Fishing Tournament?

A．To have fun on the Illinois River.

B．To study the fishes in the Illinois River.

C．To get rid of the carp in the Illinois River.

D．To remove the pollution along the Illinois River.

2. What is a must in the contest?

A．A boat.

B．A net.

C．A helmet.

D．A license.

3. Where is the text probably from?

A．A guidebook.	B．A news report.
C．A travel leaflet.	D．An advertisement.

10 . If you’d like to show off your artistic talents and win awards, here are several art contests to enter. The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards Entries usually open in September and close in December or January. The fee for entering is $7 per entry. The art contest is open to students in the US, Canada, or American schools abroad in grades 7-12 who are at least 13 years old.

The winners will receive prizes that include publication, exhibition, and educational scholarships worth up to $10,000.

The Congressional Art Competition

Children in 7th and 8th grade in the US are encouraged to submit paintings, drawings, photographs with any theme. Entries are accepted each spring. There is no fee for entering this art contest.

The winners will have their artwork publicly displayed at the Capitol for a year, and are also honored at an awards show in DC.

Doodle for Google Art Contest

Open to children in grades K-12 in the world, this free annual contest asks kids to send in works that fit a specific theme. It begins at the start of each year and lasts until October 4. Entries will be judged on the basis of creativity and fit to the theme.

The grand prize includes a $30,000 scholarship.

Artists Magazine Annual Art Competition

The contest is open to anyone who is at least 16 years old. Entries must be submitted online, and the deadline each year is in mid-May. The fees are $40 per image. You can save $5 per image by entering early in the competition.

This art contest gives away thousands of dollars in cash prizes, publicity including publication in Artists Magazine, and scholarships to improve your art.

1. How is The Congressional Art Competition special?

A．It is free of charge.	B．It takes place every year.
C．It offers the most cash prizes.	D．It is only open to American kids.

2. Which contest has a certain theme?

A．Doodle for Google Art Contest.	B．The Congressional Art Competition.
C．The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.	D．Artists Magazine Annual Art Competition.

3. How does Artists Magazine encourage participating?

A．By giving free awards.	B．By reducing the entry fee.
C．By providing one-to-one help.	D．By pushing back the deadline.