1 . Chinese athlete Zhang Weili gave the world something to remember at Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 292 in Boston. She kept her strawweight (草量级) champion title with an outstanding performance over Brazil’s Amanda Lemos, setting many striking records in the process.
Zhang, the women’s pound-for-pound number one fighter in the world, arrived on the east coast of America as the favorite against the dangerous Brazilian striker, Lemos.
The superior advantage for Zhang began in the opening round. She landed an early strong low kick to put Lemos down. But just as Lemos appeared close to being stopped, she surprised Zhang with a D’Arce choke (达斯绞). When everyone thought it could be the end for Zhang, the champion’s strength carried her through, taking her out of the choke and into position to deliver a quick beating on the ground.
At the end of the battle, Lemos even got a second chance in the fourth round. But in the end, it was business as usual for Zhang, who nearly ended the fight with a knockdown in the final round, finishing as the winner with a scorecard of 50-43, 50-44, and 49-45.
During the exciting match, Zhang set many new records in women’s Mixed Martial Arts(MMA). She finished with 296 strikes, breaking the previous record of 249 held by Valentina Shevchenko. And with Lemos only connecting 29 times, Zhang also set the record for the largest striking differential in women’s MMA by 267 strikes.
In a post-fight interview, Zhang spoke through a translator to thank the Boston crowd for their energy. “My name is ZhangWeili,” then she said in English, cupping her hand to her ear to raise cheers from the crowd. “I’m from China. Do you remember me?”
1. What made Zhang Weili spotlighted by the world?| A．She donated all she had to UFC292. |
| B．She won world champion titles in a row. |
| C．She set many extraordinary records in UFC292. |
| D．She represented China to participate in the game. |
| A．She called for a time out. | B．The referee stopped Lemos. |
| C．She used a special technique. | D．She used her strength to get out. |
| A．By listing statistics. | B．By explaining reasons. |
| C．By giving examples. | D．By making comparisons. |
| A．Easy-going. | B．Strong-willed. | C．Hard-working. | D．Warm-hearted. |
2 . Best Poetry Writing Contests in 2024
The Poetry. com ContestPoetry. com offers monthly contests for poets worldwide to build passion and enjoyment for the creative poem writing process! Poems remain anonymous (匿名) before applicants vote on what they believe should be the winning entry.
Top Prize: $500
Additional prizes: personalized Poetry. com gifts for runners-up
Entry fee: $25
Deadline: December 31, 2024
Wine Country Writers’ Festival Writing ContestWelcome to the 4th annual Wine Country Writers’ Festival (WCWF) writing contest. Three categories and over$1,800 total value in cash and prizes are to be awarded. Enter your short fiction or nonfiction (2,000 words max) or up to 48 lines of poetry. Judged blindly by professional writers. No previously published works.
Top Prize: $200
Additional prizes: free registration package to the Wine Country Writers’ Festival
Entry fee: $11
Deadline: June 02, 2024
Tom Howard Poetry ContestWelcome to the 20th annual Tom Howard Poetry Contest. Submit your published or unpublished work, a poem in any style, whether it rhymes or not.
Top Prize: $3,000
Additional prizes: $200 for 10 honorable mentions
Entry fee: $20
Deadline: October 01, 2024
The One Page Poetry ContestOne Page Poetry focuses on the art of expressing a poetic theme on a single page, whether your poem is four lines or forty, whether yours is a love poem, inspirational poem, or just one that is fun. We welcome all poetic forms, as long as they fit on a single page.
Top Prize: $2,000
Additional prizes: 2nd: 1,000; 3rd: 500
Entry fee: $25
Deadline: September 30, 2024
1. Which of the following offers the highest top prize?| A．The Poetry. com Contest. | B．WCWF Writing Contest. |
| C．Tom Howard Poetry Contest. | D．The One Page Poetry Contest. |
| A．It is held once a year. | B．It has honorable mentions. |
| C．It judges entries blindly. | D．It accepts other types besides poetry. |
| A．They charge $25 for entry fee. |
| B．They have professionals as judges. |
| C．They require poems on one page. |
| D．They offer tailored gifts as prizes. |
3 . Reader’s Digest has launched its 2024 Beautiful Britain competition to celebrate the nature, landscapes and urban sides of Britain. The competition is running until the 12th of May and anyone can send in an original photo for consideration.
The aim of the competition is to view Britain from interesting, unique and unusual viewpoints and to focus on its diversity (多样性). Entrants (参赛者) are required to send in a high resolution photo via an entry form or directly by email to photocomps@readersdigest.co.uk for consideration.
Entrants for the competition will also need to include a full name, their location and a contact number, sending in a previously unpublished photo to be considered. Photos sent in will be judged by award winning photographer James Eckersley, who specializes in portraiture.
The winning entry will be featured on the back cover of Reader’s Digest’s July 2024 issue, with the winner also receiving a £400 Amazon voucher and a Royal photographic society membership for a year. The second-place entrant will win a £250 camera world voucher and the third-place will receive either an experience or a workshop course voucher from Jessops. For full details and ways to enter, click here.
About Reader’s Digest:
Launched in 1922, Reader’s Digest has built 100 years of trust with a loyal audience and has become one of the largest circulating magazines in the world. The first UK edition of Reader’s Digest hit the shelves in March 1938 and Reader’s Digest has produced an edition for eager readers every month since then.
1. What is the competition intended to do?| A．Promote British tourism. | B．Attract top photographers. |
| C．Celebrate British diversity. | D．Encourage photo creativity. |
| A．One. | B．Two. | C．Three. | D．Four. |
| A．A news report. | B．An art book. | C．A magazine. | D．A website. |
4 . NPR’s STUDENT PODCAST CHALLENGE IS BACK — WITH A FOURTH — GRADE EDITION!
Microphone? Check. Headphones? Ready. A story you just can’t stop talking about? Got it! Yup, it’s time again for NPR’s Student Podcast (播客) Challenge. And we’re here to announce the opening bell of year six of this annual competition.
In our first half-decade, we’ve listened to podcasts from more than 80,000 young people all over the country. Students have deeply poured into their microphones personal stories about their families or their identities and serious issues, like how changing climate is impacting lives. On our end, we’ve listened to your feedback each year — great suggestions that have brought our ongoing College Podcast Challenge, and a special prize last year for the best podcast about mental health.
This year, we’ve got a big new change: Since the beginning, the contest has been open for students in grades five through twelve. But this year we are introducing our first-ever fourth grade contest! The sixth annual Student Podcast Challenge is now open for entries and will close on May 3, 2024. Our judges will choose winners in three categories: grade four, grades five through eight, and grades nine through twelve.
As in the past, entries must be submitted by a teacher, educator, or tutor who is 18 years or older. And don’t forget all the tips, advice and lesson plans we’ve compiled over the years, especially the rules around the maximum length of eight minutes, and about the use of music. The podcast should be completed independently. After years of listening to student podcasts, we’ve learned that shorter is better.
1. What is the theme of best podcast of the 5th Podcast Challenge?| A．Climate issues. | B．Identity crisis. | C．Mental health. | D．Family matters. |
| A．The fourth grade contest is set. |
| B．Grade five have their own category. |
| C．Elementary teachers’ entries are welcome. |
| D．The feedback for the programme is required. |
| A．The length of 7 minutes. | B．Submission by your tutor. |
| C．Being accompanied by music. | D．Being created with your friends. |
5 . Our much-loved 100-Word-Story Competition is back! Enter for the chance to win prizes of up to £1,000. It is a chance to show the world your storytelling talents! Entries (参赛作品) are now open.
Rules and conditions
Please ensure that entries are created by yourself, not previously published and exactly 100 words long (not including title)—not a single word shorter or longer! Don’t forget to include your full name, address, email and phone number. We may use entries in all print and electronic media. Multiple entries are allowed per person. We are unfortunately only able to consider UK-based entries. Please submit your stories by 5pm on January 5, 2024 either online or by post.
Terms and prizes
There are three categories—one for adults and two categories for schools: one for children aged 12-18 and one for children under 12. The editorial team will pick a shortlist of entries, and the three best stories in each category will be posted online at our website on February 1,2024. You can vote for your favourite and the one with the most votes will win the top prize. Voting will close on February 29, 2024 and the winning entries will be published in our May 2024 issue, and posted online on April 16, 2024.
★In the adults category, the winner will receive £1,000 and one runner-up will receive £300.
★In the 12-18s category, the winner will receive£200 or a Kind le Paperwhite, and the runner-up will receive a £100 books voucher.
★In the under-12 category, the winner will receive £100 or a Kindle Paperwhite and £100 of book vouchers for their school, and the runner- up will receive a £50 books voucher.
1. To meet the competition rules, the entry must be ______.| A．created originally | B．published openly |
| C．less than 100 words | D．based on the US |
| A．In January. | B．In February. | C．In April. | D．In May. |
| A．£100. | B．£200. | C．£300. | D．£1,000. |
6 . Beijing police said on Friday that a Chinese soccer fan who ran onto the field to hug soccer legend Lionel Messi during a match on Thursday in Beijing, has been detained (逮捕).
During a friendly match between Australia and Argentina in the Workers’ Stadium in the city’s Chaoyang district on Thursday, the fan, whose surname is Di, ran onto the field, giving a hug to his favorite footballer Messi. He was run after by security guards but he managed to flee and high-five Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez before being caught.
The match was only interrupted by Di’s act for a short period. On the field, Argentina triumphed over Australia with a 2-0 win eventually, although the game was likely to be remembered for other reasons.
In a series of videos posted online after the game the fan apologized to his hero for his “bad behavior”. “Messi, I’m sorry... I’m really sorry to meet you this way. I really wanted your signature , but they were running after me, so I didn’t ask for it,” he said.
The police said on Friday that Di, 18, has been given an administrative custody , with a ban of watching similar matches in stadiums within the next 12 months. The police did not tell clearly how many days Di will be detained, but under the Chinese law, punishment for such an offence is no more than 10 days. If the situation is serious, it could be expanded to 15days at most.
The police said, “There are rules of games. Players who break the rules will be punished by judges, or even get yellow or red card. Soccer fans watching games also have rules to follow. Acts that cross the lines will also be punished according to the law.”
A Chinese state media said while the fan’s passion was understandable, it did not support his behavior, adding that it would interrupt the game and end anger public safety.
Most people expressed their admiration for the fan’s courage because he did what they had wanted to do but dared not to. At the same time, they also criticized Di for not obeying the game rules and bringing many security risks to the event.
1. What is the main purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To give a brief introduction of the event. |
| B．To provide background information about the match. |
| C．To explain what fans should do when attending a game. |
| D．To warn the fans not to break the public rules. |
| A．Because he gave a hug to the judge. |
| B．Because he interrupted the game for a long time. |
| C．Because he managed to escape punishment. |
| D．Because his behavior was against the rule of football match. |
| A．Competed against. | B．Defeated. | C．Conflicted with. | D．Misunderstood. |
| A．They totally admired his courage. |
| B．They criticized him for attacking the guard. |
| C．They disapproved of his breaking the rules. |
| D．They wanted to follow suit and hugged their favorite stars. |
7 . Formula One Lenovo Chinese Grand Prix 2024
From April 19 to 21, the much-anticipated 2024 Formula One Lenovo Chinese Grand Prix will come alive with the roar of engines at the Shanghai International Circuit. Details about tickets for the event are as follows.
Ticket Price:
[Grandstand] [Session] [Price (RMB)]
A Platinum 3 Day Ticket 3880
• A High 3 Day/Fri./Sat./Sun. Ticket 2880/490/890/2490
• A Low 3 Day/Fri./Sat./Sun. Ticket 2280/390/690/1990
• H/K 3 Day/Fri./Sat./Sun. Ticket 1480/290/590/1290
• C/F/J/L 3 Day Ticket 480
Ticketing Instructions:
• This event adopts electronic tickets with one ticket per person. Children require a full-priced ticket, and children under the age of three are not allowed entry.
• For each session of this event, a maximum of 4 tickets per mobile phone number and 1 ticket per ID card number can be purchased. When purchasing tickets, buyers must provide the audience’s real name, a valid personal ID, and a valid mobile phone number. After a successful purchase, ticket purchasers should retain e-ticket seat information appropriately.
• Ticket refunds can be requested without fees from the date of purchase until 24: 00 on February 29, 2024. From 00:00 on March 1, 2024, to 24: 00 on April 15, 2024, refunds will invite a 10% handling fee. No refunds will be accepted from 00: 00 on April 16, 2024. Returned within 7 working days.
• This event implements real-name verification with ID card and facial recognition for entry.
• The schedule and arrangement of the competition may be subject to changes, and please stay tuned to Formula One Lenovo Chinese Grand Prix official WeChat and Weibo for the latest information.
1. What should be offered to buy a ticket?| A．The audience’s nickname. | B．The audience’s e-ticket seat information. |
| C．The audience’s WeChat number. | D．The audience’s available phone number. |
| A．59 yuan. | B．531 yuan. | C．1, 062 yuan. | D．1, 180 yuan. |
| A．It will last 7 days. | B．It will be exciting and noisy. |
| C．It doesn’t limit the audience’s age. | D．It will never be postponed or cancelled. |
8 . Scholarship Competition
(140 Scholarships available)
Contribute to improving the world with IED！
If you’re passionate about Design, Fashion, Visual Arts, or Communication, seize the opportunity to be part of our contest. You could win one of 140 scholarships offered by Fondazione Francesco Morelli, IED. These scholarships cover 100% or 50% of the tuition fees for Bachelor’s Degree programs, Five-Year Diplomas, Four-Year Diplomas, and Foundation Courses available at our campuses in Milan.
Humanity, the environment, and sustainability are key in design. We deeply include this philosophy, evident in every course and project we undertake. While there are many angles to approach this theme, what matters is our collective goal.
Find inspiration in the world around you, release your creativity, and push your boundaries.
To enter the scholarship competition, submit your concept by June 22nd. Your concept should solve a major planetary issue, identify its causes, and propose design-driven solutions.
Your concept is required to be developed in 2 steps: a mood board and a text.
·The digital mood board is your chance to express yourself using any technique or style you like. It’s a collection of images, objects, colors, and words, whether in physical or digital form. By mixing images and objects, the mood board helps you see different angles of your project and boosts your creative process.
·In the text (which should be between 150 and 300 words), explain your idea, why you chose the design of your mood board, and what inspired you to use that language and technique.
Combine both your text and mood board into one file, keeping it under 8 MB and saving it in any commonly used format. If you decide to make a video, share the link to it on Vimeo.com or Youtube.com.
Make sure to read the regulations carefully and enter the competition. The deadline is June 22, 2024.
1. Who is the competition mainly intended for?| A．Any fashion design lover. | B．Any environmentalist. |
| C．University teachers in Milan. | D．Students for further education. |
| A．A description with as many words as you like to use. |
| B．A video well linked on Vimeo.com or Youtube.com. |
| C．A combination of a mood board and a text into one file. |
| D．A design to show your great gratitude for scholarship. |
| A．Creativity for human beings. | B．Creativity for the earth. |
| C．Creativity for scholarship. | D．Creativity for the degree. |
9 . Defeating Daniil Medvedev in New York on Sunday, Djokovic, one of the greatest tennis player, bagging 24 Grand Slam (大满贯) singles titles, equalized the record held by Australian Margaret Court, the same number of singles titles in the all-time count.
With the victory, Djokovic became the oldest US Open men’s singles champion in the Open Era. In total, he has 10 Australian Opens, seven Wimbledons, four US Opens and three Roland Garros titles, making him the only man to win all four majors at least three times. “When I realized that, I started to dream new dreams and set new goals. I never imagined that I would be here talking about 24 Slams,” he said afterwards.
Djokovic reached all finals in the Grand Slams in 2023, and the only loss was at Wimbledon, when Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, 20, brought home the champion after an intense battle lasting four hours and 43 minutes.
Djokovic, at 36, shows few signs of losing physical edge. He stays healthy, keeps exceptional skills and always desires to win more. Capturing his first Grand Slam in 2008, Djokovic bagged half of his 24 major titles after he turned 30.“One of the biggest lessons I have learned probably mentally throughout my career is that even if you find a formula (方案) that works, it’s not a guarantee, and actually most likely it’s not going to work the next year, so I keep reinventing myself and always trying to find better ways to win,” said Djokovic.
For Djokovic, who always gets tough when the going gets tough, 24 is just a number that he can go beyond. “I’ll continue to prioritize Grand Slams as my most important tournaments and where I want to play the best tennis. That will stay the same in the next season, or I don’t know how many more seasons I have in my legs,” he added, “So, let’s see.”
1. What does the underlined word “equalized” in the first paragraph probably mean?| A．Set. | B．Broke. | C．Levelled. | D．Approached. |
| A．He won 12 Grand Slams in his thirties. |
| B．He won all the finals in the Grand Slams in 2023. |
| C．He attached the same importance to all the matches. |
| D．He is the oldest men’s singles champion in the open era. |
| A．Losing physical edge. | B．Attending more Grand Slams. |
| C．Following a good formula. | D．Finding flexible and proper strategies. |
| A．Confident and emotional. | B．Ambitious and devoted. |
| C．Aggressive and stubborn. | D．Enthusiastic and generous. |
10 . NEW STORY CONTEST
Ah, the New Year — a time for visiting friends and family as we ring out the old, ring in the new and imagine all the new adventures that await us in the year ahead.
Who knows what you’ll find when you open the door to your dryer or gaze up at the night sky? Will you write about a visit from a mythical creature, or maybe a lost animal? Will the visitor cause a problem — or solve one?
Whoever your visitor is, every buggy in Cricket (an American children’s magazine) Country will be gathered around the mailbox, awaiting the visit of your best story — just 350 words or less, please — featuring a surprising or unexpected visitor. Happy New Year!
Contest Rules
Your contest entry must be original. Ideas and words should not be copied.
Your entry must be signed by your parent or guardian, saying it is original, that no help was given, and granting Cricket permission to publish prize-winning entries in the May 2024 issue or on our website.
Be sure to include your name, age and full address on your entry.
Only one entry per person, please.
If you want your work returned, enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope for each entry.
Incomplete entries cannot be considered. Your entry will be incomplete if you forget to include your age or the signature of your parent or guardian that confirms that your work is original.
Your entry must be received by April 25, 2024.
Send entries to Cricket League, P. O. Box 300, Peru, IL 61354. (No faxes or email submissions, please!)
1. The theme of the new story contest is “_________”.| A．new adventures | B．New Year’s resolution |
| C．unexpected visitors | D．surprising inventions |
| A．be sent by means of email | B．arrive after January 25,2018 |
| C．be the contestant’s own work | D．contain no less than 350 words |
| A．the prize-winning entry can be publicized on the media |
| B．all the required information has been included |
| C．the content of the story is based on a real event |
| D．editors can make revision to the participant’s entry |
