1 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入 1 个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Considered as “one of the best ever”, the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou has been    1     (high) praised.

“Technically, we have had one of the best Asian Games ever,” said Vinod Kumar Tiwari, acting director general of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). “We have about 12,000 athletes participating in the Games. The number of officials and the technical officials    2    (be) 4,975 and 4,700, respectively, and over 12,000 media personnel have attended.” Tiwari said.

A total of 478 gold medals have been produced in various events,    3     saw 15 world records broken, 28 Asian records    4    (renew), and 150 Asian Games records bettered, according to Xu Deqing, chief spokesperson of the Hangzhou Asian Games.

“We    5    (achieve) the most successful Asian Games in history by far,” said Chen Weiqiang, executive secretary general of the organizing committee. “This edition of the Asiad has integrated Hangzhou’s rich     6     (history) heritage, surging     7     (innovate), vitality and distinct value pursuit into various aspects.” Chen said the Asiad has also perfectly combined art    8     technology, and it has showcased the beauty of Hangzhou’s landscapes and technological confidence to the world.

Wei Jizhong, honorary life vice-president of the OCA, said, “More than three million tickets had been sold as of Saturday,    9     (generate) more than 600 million yuan ($82.5 million) in revenue. We don’t rank Games against one another on which was the best.    10    , in terms of the Games in China, I give it a mark of 100.”

2 . Dealing with Stress in Sports

Sports are a great way to have fun while staying fit. Sports also teach important life lessons like working as a team.     1     . Having a healthy attitude about sports and learning to deal with the stress that comes with competing can help you perform your best.

Competing always leads to some stress. And that can be good.     2     . But too much stress can take the fun out of a sport and make it hard to perform. If you think there might be too much stress around competing, talk to your parents and coach. Making some changes can help. If you have too much going on, think about limiting practice time or only doing one sport or activity per season.

    3     . So it’s important to know how to deal with it. Trying different ways during practice helps you know what will work best for you during competition. You can try to take a deep breath and hold it in for about 5 seconds, then release (释放) it slowly. Repeat those five times. You can also think positively and develop positive self-talk, like saying “I learn from my mistakes.” “I’m in control of my feelings.” “I can make this goal!” to help keep the negative (消极的) thoughts away.

Keep stress levels down when you aren’t competing.     4     . Besides, doing something fun and relaxing is great, such as taking a break from competing and going for a walk, riding a bike, seeing a movie or hanging out with friends.

Finally don’t forget that no one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes in sports. It is part of the game.     5     ?

Whether you play on the school team or at a weekend pick-up game, the point is to have fun. By keeping that as the first place, you can learn to deal with the stress that is a natural part of competition.

A．There will always be some stress in sports

B．A little stress helps the body face a challenge

C．Why not be quick to forgive mistakes and move on

D．If you have too much going on, think about doing more exercising

E．It is best to eat well and get enough sleep, especially before games

F．Aren’t sports about staying active, developing as a player and making friends

G．But it’s not always easy to keep it together when it feels like winning is everything

3 . 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.

2. What does Spencer bring to runners?

A．Motivation.

B．Satisfaction.

C．Fantasy.

D．Barrier.

3. What did Spencer go through in 2020?

A．A failure in the marathon.

B．Caring for his owner.

C．Fighting against a disease.

D．Going viral.

4. What was Powers’ initial attitude towards Spence’s appearing at the marathon of 2022?

A．Confident,

B．Supportive.

C．Objective.

D．Negative.

4 . As a captain, you should know exactly what to do when your team lose a game because how your team deals with defeat has an important impact on how they perform in the next match.     1    

Emotions are OK.

You shouldn’t deny your players the opportunity to show their emotions when they lose but make sure they know where the boundaries are.     2     For example, showing dissatisfaction towards a teammate or the referee means they start the next game on the bench. They will soon learn to control their emotions.

Have a post-match routine.

Introduce a post-match routine that players follow — win or lose. For instance, you could encourage them to shake hands with opponents, and the referee, as soon as the final whistle sounds.     3    

Encourage positivity.

Always acknowledge the disappointment of your players, but emphasize the positive   elements of the performance. It is important that players go home with a positive mindset after the game.     4     Make them understand although they cannot win the matches they have already lost, they can now focus on winning the next one.

    5    

If you are going through some bad results, one way of keeping players motivated is to de-emphasize winning and focus on improving skills. After a defeat, if you make your next match a must-win game, you are putting more pressure on your players than is needed. Instead, try setting the team realistic goals within the game.

A．Stay cool as a captain.

B．Take the focus off winning.

C．Such routine can help players deal with losing graciously.

D．No one individual is ever responsible for victory or defeat.

E．They should know they have achieved something despite the result.

F．You should help your team understand why losing can be a step forward.

G．Set standards of behaviour and give punishment if players don’t follow them.

5 . Our much-loved 100-Word-Story Competition is back!

Our 100-word-story competition is your chance to show the world your storytelling talents!

Your stories should be original, unpublished and exactly 100 words — not a single word shorter or longer! Entries are now open and the submission deadline is January 5, 2024. Multiple entries are allowed per person. We are unfortunately only able to consider UK-based entries.

Rules

Please ensure that submissions are original, not previously published and exactly 100 words long (not including title). Don’t forget to include your full name, address, email and phone number when filling in the form. We may use entries in all print and electronic media.

There are three categories — one for adults and two categories for schools: one for children aged 12-18 and one for children under 12.

Submission

Please submit your stories by 5pm on January 5, 2024 either online or by post addressed to:

Reader’s Digest

100 Word Story Competition

Warners Group Publications

West Street

Bourne

PE109PH

Prizes

The editorial team will pick a short list of entries, and the three best stories in each category will be posted online at readersdigest. co. uk on February1, 2024. You can vote for your favourite, and the one with the most votes will win the top prize and receive ￡1,000. Voting will close on February 29, 2024 and the winning entries will be posted online on April 16, and published in our May 2024 issue.

PS: Reader’s Digest is a member of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (which regulates the UK’s magazine and newspaper industry). We abide by the Editors’ Code of Practice and are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism.

1. Who is likely to qualify for the competition?

A．An Indian primary student.	B．A well-known Chinese writer.
C．A British writing lover.	D．An American chief editor.

2. When will the readers appreciate the best winning works in Reader’s Digest magazine?

A．January, 2024.	B．June, 2024.
C．February, 2024.	D．December, 2023.

3. What can we learn about the competition?

A．You have to submit your work before February 1, 2024.

B．Only one story of yours is allowed to be in the competition.

C．Buying one copy of Reader’s Digest is a must to be in the competition.

D．Both preschool children and in-school students can participate in the contest.

6 . 阅读下面材料，根据其内容和所给段落开头语续写两段，使之构成一篇完整的短文。

Chasing a Dream

I will never forget that November day. It was hotter than normal — too hot. My throat felt like a field of cotton, cracked with the summer heat, as I waited for the gun to fire. This was the day we had waited so long for. I looked out at the crowd; dozens of familiar faces flashed across my view. They had come for me. They were counting on me. I saw my dad set his watch, with worry and excitement on his face. Adrenaline (肾上腺素) pumped through my body, and the race began.

For the first two and a half miles, I felt great. I had never before been so ready for something. The weeks leading up to the race were filled with strictly controlled practices and a strict diet. My friends hadn’t seen me in weeks, but they understood the sacrifice required to make my dream a reality.

My dad and I had been working towards this race for three years. It was everything to me, and it was everything to my dad. He was a runner and was excited by my success in running. He made it to every race, even flying home early from business trips to see me run. I always listened for his voice — telling me to relax my arms, calling out my time. He pushed me. He cheered for me. He believed in me. We spent countless hours on the sandy canals. Breathing in the dust of the desert, the blossoms (花簇) of the orange trees, we made our way across the city. We pounded miles and miles into our running shoes, marking with every step the path to greatness.

But without warning, when I was 200 yards away from the finish line, my legs stopped working. My lungs fought to take in enough air, and my feet transformed into cement (水泥) bricks. I still don’t know what happened in those last few moments. Nothing I could do would make them hold my weight. They were as weak as jelly.

注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。

Even though I knew my dreams of victory were destroyed, I had to finish the race.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“I’m so sorry I disappointed you,” I whispered to Dad.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7 . The 2024 Science Fiction Short Story Contest

The 2023 Science Fiction Short Story Contest just came to an end. Welcome to our 2024 Science Fiction Short Story Contest sponsored by Science Fiction Association in our city. The contest is to encourage amateur and semi-professional writers to reach the next level of proficiency. We will look for engaging openings, good character development, well-structured plotting, powerful imagery, humorous language, unique word or phrasing choices, and convincing endings. Come to show the world your fantasy imagination and storytelling talents!

Requirement

A qualifying story must have strong science fiction or fantasy elements and must be shorter than 7,500 words. Your entries must be original works of fiction. If you have received prizes for your fiction writing from any source or your story has been published in any paying publication, you are no longer qualified.

Past winners of our contest are no longer qualified.

No reprints, fan fiction or poetry, please.

Judge and Prize

Judges will provide feedbacks for all qualifying contest entries. First-round judges will consist of Science Fiction Association members and volunteers. The professional writers’ decision is final.

The champions, runners-up and honorable mentions will receive prizes including cash prize, a certificate of achievement, Science Fiction Association Press books, and a free membership to Science Fiction Association, All winners can select their books and either take them immediately or ask for them to be shipped later.

Deadline

The contest will be limited to the first 60 qualifying entries. While the submission deadline is September 30th, 2024, we may close off the entry for the year sooner if the response is larger than expected. The winners will be published on December 31th.

Notice

Please place your contact information for possible awards.

There is no entry fee. Please submit only one entry per author.

1. What is the activity about?

A．Story telling.	B．Story writing.
C．Writer training.	D．Writer recommending.

2. What is a requirement for the science fiction of the contest?

A．It can come as the form of a poem.	B．It should be over 7,500 words long.
C．It must be the author’s original one.	D．It is supposed to be published before.

3. Who will finally determine the winners?

A．Professional writers.	B．Amateur writers.
C．Science Fiction Association members.	D．Science Fiction Association volunteers.

8 . I have always wondered how far I could push myself. What are my ________ limits?

Our bodies, of course, set ________ for each of us. Even with newer running shoes and better ________ , there will always be limits to how fast people can ________ or how much weight they can lift. Also, although we can get ourselves in ________ shape, some of us are just genetically more suited to strength and ________ . But, more importantly, it’s a person’s ________ that determines how far he or she can go.

So, how could I best test myself?

John Collins was living in Hawaii when he ________   this question. One night, he was listening to a few friends argue about whether runners or swimmers were in better shape. He ________ the argument by turning it into an idea for a competition. Each ________ would swim3. 9 kilometers, bike 180 kilometers and then run 42 kilometers. The first one to ________ would be given the title Ironman!

I decided to take the advice. Preparing for the Ironman race started with food. I started ________ five to seven times a day to give myself more energy as I ________ .

Swimming, cycling and running began to ________ a large part of each day for me. In between, there were workouts in the gym.

Finally, the day arrived. Seventeen hours after starting, I arrived at the finish line. I ________ wasn’t the first, but I had challenged myself and felt like a winner!

1.

A．social

B．intellectual

C．readable

D．physical

2.

A．goals

B．examples

C．limits

D．records

3.

A．warning

B．blessing

C．training

D．understanding

4.

A．learn

B．drive

C．speak

D．run

5.

A．better

B．darker

C．smaller

D．sharper

6.

A．wisdom

B．speed

C．labor

D．management

7.

A．mind

B．patience

C．choice

D．background

8.

A．laughed at

B．put forward

C．objected to

D．benefited from

9.

A．weakened

B．remembered

C．started

D．broadened

10.

A．audience

B．instructor

C．discoverer

D．competitor

11.

A．fail

B．finish

C．apply

D．disappear

12.

A．drinking

B．eating

C．dancing

D．swimming

13.

A．exercised

B．calculated

C．played

D．escaped

14.

A．sum up

B．insist on

C．take up

D．depend on

15.

A．certainly

B．generally

C．impossibly

D．gratefully

9 . Hearing the Olympics were coming to Vancouver, I decided to go for its voluntary work. I’d forgotten what it was like to put myself out there to make friends. I was glad I didn’t have anyone I knew with me because I wouldn’t have met Callie ________. Taking the risk of sitting by her started a ________. I still keep in touch with her.

As night fell before the opening ceremonies, I was stationed outside the MMC. Accents from all over ________ my ears. The games seemed to ________ the whole world. Suddenly, I could see people running toward the harbour. I turned to Callie, “Isn’t that the way to the torch (火炬)?” We looked at each other and started to run. My heart pounded as I sprinted. The air seemed to be ________ with everyone’s excitement, like a kind of electric energy pulsing through us. I’d never felt a(n) ________ like it before. Then, fireworks ________ into the air above us. Their bright colors glittered against the dark sky. I had ________ the lighting of the torch many times on TV, but to actually see it ________ was amazing. When the last of the fireworks ________, there stood the Olympic torch unveiled (揭幕) in all its ________ with its flames licking at the night sky.

Even now, I can still remember the heat from the torch. I had been one of the ________ MMC staff to walk underneath it while it burned. A beacon (灯塔) of ________ for the future. I stood for a moment right under it, listening to the ________ voices of my new friends, and I knew I’d made one of the best ________ of my life.

1.

A．otherwise

B．therefore

C．however

D．instead

2.

A．conversation

B．cooperation

C．friendship

D．career

3.

A．struck

B．filled

C．blocked

D．awoke

4.

A．dominate

B．rebuild

C．change

D．unite

5.

A．charged

B．accompanied

C．connected

D．furnished

6.

A．wonder

B．impact

C．atmosphere

D．challenge

7.

A．flooded

B．transferred

C．released

D．exploded

8.

A．watched

B．advocated

C．sought

D．identified

9.

A．in particular

B．in person

C．as well

D．as usual

10.

A．died down

B．set off

C．came out

D．passed by

11.

A．power

B．reputation

C．glory

D．faith

12.

A．permanent

B．professional

C．reliable

D．lucky

13.

A．view

B．hope

C．appeal

D．aim

14.

A．excited

B．determined

C．convincing

D．astonishing

15.

A．contributions

B．conclusions

C．decisions

D．evaluations

10 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

For the last two weeks, 32 women’s football teams have been playing in stadiums (体育场) across Australia and New Zealand as part of the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Along the way, there have been some     1    (excite) matches, along with several surprises. Now there are only eight teams     2    (leave).

This is the     3    (nine) Women’s World Cup. The competition     4    (begin) in 1991 and is held every four years. For the first time ever, the competition is being hosted     5    more than one country. The first match took place in New Zealand. The final match will    6     (hold) at Stadium Australia in Melbourne on August 20.

In another change, this year, for the first time ever, 32 teams were invited to compete.   In the past, there were only 24 teams. For the eight     7    (country), this was the first time they’d ever made it into the World Cup.

Some people criticized (批评) the move, saying the new teams were too weak. But several teams     8     were included for the first time performed (表现) very well even beating teams that were expected     9     (do) much better. Morocco beat both South Korea     10    Colombia. Morocco is the only one of the new teams to make it into the final 16 teams in the competition.