1 . Writing contests are a great way for high school students to showcase their creative skills. Here are some of the top free writing contests for high school students.

Young Lions Fiction Contest

Award Amount: $10,000

Deadline: Usually in September

The Young Lions Fiction Contest was established in 2001 by the New York Public Library. Five finalists are recognized, with one taking home the grand prize of $10,000. To qualify, the author must be 25 or younger and submit a novel or a collection of short stories.

53-Word Story Contest

Award: Publication in Prime Number Magazine

Deadline: 21st of each month

Hosted by Prime Number Magazine, writers are put to the test and have to respond to a prompt (提示) with a 53-word story. The prompt changes each month, and the responses must be 53 words exactly. Only stories are permitted and only one submission per writer per month is allowed.

Signet Essay Contest

Award Amount: $1,000 to be used towards your higher education

Deadline: April 22, 2021

I£ you are a Wuthering Heights fan, then the Signet Essay Contest is the one for you. Five high school juniors or seniors can win an award for their two to three — page essays. You must select one of the five prompts¹ based on the events and characters in Wuthering Heights.

Ocean Awareness Contest

Award Amount: Scholarships up to $1,500

Deadline: June 15, 2021

The Ocean Awareness Contest aims to recognize writers while raising awareness about the climate crisis. Students can submit visual art, film or music. Each category has specific qualifications, so make sure to check.

1. How many people can get the grand prize in Young Lions Fiction Contest?

A．One.

B．Five.

C．Six.

D．Ten.

2. What is special about the 53-Word Story Contest?

A．It is held on the last day of each month.

B．The participants can choose any topic.

C．It awards winners a large sum of money.

D．The entry must contain exactly 53 words.

3. What do the four contests have in common?

A．They are all free of charge.

B．They provide scholarships.

C．They accept various forms of works.

D．They center on environmental issues.

2 . Esports (electronic sports) are organized competitions where players — often referred to as “athletes” — face off against each other in video games. They are not just games in a sense. Actually, they are a sport that can improve the players’ thinking ability, hand-eye coordination, willpower and team spirit.

The esports industry has experienced significant growth in recent years around the world, though it’s still in the nascent stage, which means it has huge growth potential going forward.

While the assumption is that esports are only a recent phenomenon, in reality the first esports-like event was held back in 1972, when some Stanford University students competed against one another in the game Spacewar. The prize? A year-long subscription to Rolling Stone magazine.

The ’80s saw the first true videogame tournament, with over 10,000 players gathering for the Space Invaders Championship. However, most of the period saw that players focused on beating each other’s highest scores rather than competing in organized tournaments.

As gaming became more popular, the ’90s became the first decade when esports (a term which wasn’t yet coined) began to really take off, with companies such as Nintendo and Sega holding professional gaming tournaments. This is also when we began to see money becoming a factor in professional gaming. But it is the 1997 Red Annihilation Quake tournament that is considered the world’s first real esports event. Only a few weeks later, the Cyberathlete Professional League was formed — an organization which is considered a pioneer of esports.

Due to the normalization of gaming and the Internet (along with technological advances), the real surge ( 激增 ) of esports came in the recent decade. It was then that we began seeing what we now know to be modern-day esports. As streaming platforms such as YouTube took off, people began to show interest in not only playing videogames but watching them too. Popular tournaments now sell out stadiums and professional players can earn millions from prize money, advertising and salaries.

1. What does the underlined word “nascent” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Beginning.	B．Peak.
C．Mature.	D．Final.

2. How does the text mainly develop?

A．By providing examples.	B．By making comparisons.
C．By following the order of time.	D．By following the order of importance.

3. What can be learned about esports?

A．They spread worldwide overnight.

B．Prize money appeared in the 1990s.

C．The first real esports event was held in 1972.

D．The athletes in esports are programmers.

4. What seems to be the author’s viewpoint on modern-day esports?

A．They are getting popular.

B．They become too commercialized.

C．They boost the normalization of the Internet.

D．Their development relies on advertising.

3 . 假如你是李华，你在网上获悉“汉语桥”世界大学生中文比赛初试（the “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students）将在下个月当地电视台举办。你的外国朋友Frank正在大学学习中文，你建议他去试一试，并表示可以提供帮助。
报名时间：5月20日截止；报名地点：所在大学的学生会。
注意：1.词数80左右
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Frank,
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua

4 . 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。

Skiing

Skiing is an extremely popular sport that is enjoyed worldwide. The oldest and most accurately documented evidence of skiing origin is found in modern day Norway and Sweden.     1     word “ski” comes from the Old Norse word “skie”,     2     (mean) split (劈开的) pieces of wood or firewood.

Skiing has evolved into two major different types: Alpine skiing and Nordic skiing. Alpine skiing, also     3     (refer) to as downhill skiing, perhaps is the most popular form of skiing. It originated in the European Alps, and is characterized by fixed-heel bindings (捆绑物) that attach at both the front and the heel (脚后跟) of the     4    (skier) boot. The boots are reinforced plastic that     5     (steady) hold the foot to the ski, and ski poles are used. Downhill skis vary     6     length and shape depending on the height of the player and the type of snow they will be skiing.

Nordic skiing, also known as “cross country” skiing,     7     (involve) skiing over flat ground. Most Nordic country skis are long and thin, allowing the weight of the skier     8     (distribute) quickly. Cross country skiers use poles to drive     9     (they) forward. Cross country boots are attached to the ski at the toe with a binding,     10     the heel remains free.

5 . 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。续写词数应为150左右。

Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses! Turning our weaknesses into strengths makes us unbeatable. This is an inspiring story of a 12-year-old boy Kim who defeated his weakness, by unknowingly making it his strength.

Poor Kim lost his left hand in a terrible accident. His parents could not comfort him. To cheer him up, his father made him join a Judo(柔道) school. As the boy always wanted to learn Judo, his father thought that this would make him happy.

Everyone wondered how a single armed boy could learn Judo. However, the master happily accepted him. He trained in Judo for about 8 months. He practiced nothing but a single stroke(击) . He trained for all 8 months in mastering a single stroke. The boy was surprised and sometimes annoyed as his master taught him only one stroke.

Yet, he said nothing. The boy mastered the stroke and grew as nobody could excel(胜过) in doing that particular stroke. The boy was picked by the master to compete in the national level Judo championship tournament(比赛).

Everyone made fun of Kim and the master. How a one-handed boy could win a national championship? Even the boy was not sure about why his master chose him.

Surprisingly, Kim easily defeated his six contenders(竞争者) with his single stroke. He gradually moved to semi-finals. He struggled a bit in the semi-finals and won again.

Needless to say, it surprised everyone and the final match began.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Kim asked his master how he won the championship with just a single stroke.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6 . Thomas Panek made history this week when he became the first blind person to complete the New York City Half Marathon with guide dogs and no human assistance.

With about two thousand people around _______ the game, a group of blind people _________their New York City Marathon at 9:00 this Wednesday. _______ it was still a little cold as it was raining _______, the people without their sight ran fast with the help of their _________. Falling down sometimes, they _________ up and went on running, which was attractive, _______ and encouraging.

Of course, some few dogs didn't _________their hosts in the right way. As a result, those _______ didn’t finish their task, but they were really________ . In the end, only about twenty blind people ________ their destination. Among them, Panek did the __________, who got the first place in the game.

With the ________ of his three dogs named Waffle, Westley and Gus, which __________ leading him throughout the 13.1-mile race, Panek ________ the finishing line in just over 2 hours 20 minutes.

The game __________ at about 12:00, and many people were so __________ by the sport spirit of the blind people that they were not __________ to leave the spot. When asked about his feeling of the game, “no matter what __________ is, " said Panek, 48, who is CEO of Guiding Eyes for the Blind, "don't let __________ tell you that you can't."

1.

A．supporting

B．watching

C．joining

D．playing

2.

A．started

B．held

C．caught

D．registered

3.

A．If

B．Since

C．Because

D．Though

4.

A．rarely

B．sometimes

C．slightly

D．usually

5.

A．assistants

B．sticks

C．dogs

D．drivers

6.

A．added

B．looked

C．climbed

D．rose

7.

A．striking

B．tiring

C．satisfying

D．disappointed

8.

A．carry

B．lead

C．require

D．bear

9.

A．persons

B．viewers

C．animals

D．workers

10.

A．sad

B．worried

C．great

D．proud

11.

A．sought

B．reached

C．found

D．recognized

12.

A．most

B．least

C．worst

D．best

13.

A．instruction

B．exception

C．help

D．control

14.

A．took turns

B．went on

C．gave up

D．had trouble

15.

A．left

B．broke

C．set

D．crossed

16.

A．lost

B．ended

C．continued

D．began

17.

A．confused

B．bored

C．pushed

D．moved

18.

A．sad

B．willing

C．happy

D．satisfied

19.

A．job

B．position

C．challenge

D．aim

20.

A．anyone

B．someone

C．everyone

D．none

7 . Directions: Complete the following passage by using the words in the box. Each word can only be used once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

A. peak            B. bound       C. considerate          D. announced     E. defeated          F. related             G. determination       H. measure     I. fever               J. serve               K.   considerable

It was very hot outside. The Chengdu Little Warriors were facing off against the Legendary Mighty Dragons of Beijing at a local indoor skating-rink (溜冰场). When I arrived, the Little Warriors, whose oldest player was eight years old, had just     1     their northern competitors. Near the lockers, a poster advertised hockey classes. Olympic     2     has begun to spread so far south that Chengdu now has nine skating-rinks and local hockey leagues for both kids and adults. It clearly shows China’s     3     to take the opportunity of holding the Olympics to promote winter sports across the country.

The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games were praised as a success by almost every     4    : the wonderful opening ceremony, the tight security, the large crowds of     5     volunteers, and Team China’s place atop the gold-medal rankings. Each aspect of the event signaled the country’s arrival as a world power, capable of competing with the best and winning.

If 2008 was about China getting a seat at the table, the 2022 Winter Olympic Games     6     a different purpose. China's status as a global power is no longer in question. Beijing 2022 will not be just a two-week sporting event but the     7     of a multi-year campaign to promote winter sports. “ We no longer need to put on shows of ten thousand people performing Tai Chi,” said Zheng Kan. “ Now we just want to show that we are relatable.”

While the audience for winter sports may still be a small, relatively rich group, it is growing. To prove his commitments (承诺) to winter sports, President Xi Jinping     8     a “ three hundred-million-person winter-sports plan.” The plan is aimed at raising China’s participation rate in winter sports from less than two percent to twenty-two percent. Some schools in Beijing have already introduced courses     9     to winter sports. A high-speed rail line that was opened at the end of 2019 cuts travel time between Beijing and Zhangjiakou, where many of the events will be held in 2022, to under an hour.

With all these efforts, the 2022 Winter Olympic Games are     10     to be wonderful and unforgettable.

8 . Chinese volleyball superstar Zhu Ting has inspired a new English word. "Stay awesome and ZHUperb!" wrote a blogger at a US-based volleyball website. The word combines "Zhu" and "superb (卓越的)", to describe the 27-year-old player.

Zhu's excellent scoring performances put her among the Top 10 Global Outstanding Athletes for this year's Heracles Prize of the Big Ben Award. As the captain, Zhu "created the new golden age of women's volleyball in China", the award said. Zhu is considered a national hero by many in China, with good reason. Before this year's World Cup victory, she helped the national volleyball team win the 2015 FIVB World Cup, the 2015 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship, and the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

Although she's a superstar now, it hasn't been easy for Zhu to get to where she is. Born to a farming family in Henan province, Zhu earned a chance to attend a local sports school at age 13. She became well known to the public by helping China's U20 team win the 2013 FIVB U20 World Championship. Shortly after, Zhu joined the national team and began playing under legendary coach Lang Ping.

At first, the 1. 98-meter-tall Zhu found it difficult to move quickly and stay balanced. But Lang Ping took advantage of her height and trained her to jump high and smash balls. Her work paid off. Zhu is now an outstanding player. "Hard work and talent are equally important. I'll move forward step by step," she told People's Daily.

1. Why was "ZHUperb" created?

A．To create a new game.	B．To introduce a volleyball website.
C．To describe the volleyball superstar.	D．To celebrate her winning of World Cup.

2. What does paragraph 2 mainly tell us?

A．Zhu Ting's training.	B．Zhu Ting's personal qualities.
C．Zhu Ting's achievements.	D．Zhu Ting's future plan.

3. When did Zhu Ting become famous to the publics

A．In 2000.

B．In 2013.

C．In 2015.

D．In 2016.

4. What was the purpose of Lang Ping's plan for training Zhu Ting?

A．To build up her confidence.

B．To make use of her advantages.

C．To train her to be the captain of the team.

D．To instruct her to move forward step by step.