A month before my first marathon, one of my ankles (踝关节) was injured and this meant not running for two weeks, leaving me only two weeks to train. Yet, I decided to go ahead.
I remember back to my 7th year in school. In my first P. E. class, the teacher required us to run and hit a softball. I didn't do either well. He later told me that I was "not athletic".
The idea that I was "not athletic" stuck with me for years. When I started running in my 30s, I realized running was a battle against myself. It was all about the battle against my own body and mind. It was a test of wills.
The night before my marathon, I dreamt that I couldn't even find the finish line. I woke up sweating (出汗) and nervous, but ready to prove something to myself.
The next day, the Marathon started.
At mile 3, I passed a sign: "GO FOR IT, RUNNERS!"
By mile 17, I became out of breath and the once injured ankle hurt badly.
By mile 21, I was quite hungry. As I approached mile 23, I could see my wife waving a sign. She is my biggest fan.
I was one of the final runners to finish. But I finished. And I got a medal. In fact, I got the same medal as the guy who came in first place had.
Determined to be myself, move forward, free of shame and worldly labels (世俗标签). I can now call myself a "marathon winner".
1.A month before the marathon, the author ____________.
A.was well trained B.felt excited C.made up his mind to run D.lost hope
2.Why did the author mention the P. E. class in his 7th year?
A.To show the support of his teacher. B.To tell the readers a funny story.
C.To show he was not talented in sports. D.To share a valuable memory.
3.How was the author's first marathon?
A.He made it. B.He stopped halfway.
C.He got the first prize. D.He walked to the end.
4.What does the story mainly tell us?
A.A man ones his success to his family support.
B.A winner is one with a great effort of will.
C.Failure is the mother of success.
D.Soon learn, soon forgotten.
Photographer Zhang Zhongzeng has taken a series of photos showing people's lives around 40 years ago in Beijing. Born in 1957, Zhang has witnessed (目睹) China's changes since the reform and opening-up period began in 1978.
Playing with birds
Date: 1983
Location: Deshengmen
During the 1980s, there were many elderly men who loved playing with birds. In the early morning, you could always see them holding bird cages, walking in the park or hutongs, on the road or under a tree. The hobby of playing with birds became popular during the Tang Dynasty and reached its heyday during the Qianlong period of Qing Dynasty.
Now there are fewer Beijingers with birds, as elderly citizens' lives get richer and hutongs disappear from the city.
Carriages (马车) in the city
Date: 1989
Location: Hepingli
In the 1980s, the trolley bus (无轨电车) and bus ran across empty roads, while carriages carrying goods or vegetables kept pace. During that time, traffic in Beijing was quite smooth, and three—wheeled motor vehicles, walking tractors and auto trucks could make use of the streets. The most commonly seen transportation was the bicycles, with different brands (品牌), styles and functions.
Sugar—coated haws on a stick
Date: 1988
Location: Qian men Watchtower
Among well-known Beijing snacks, bingtanghulu (sugar - coated haws on a stick) is probably the most famous, a city trademark.
For children living in the 1980s in Beijing, when there were no Me Donald's or KFC's. bingtanghulu was their favorite snack. Now, for them a bite of bingtanghulu brings reminiscence and nostalgia (怀旧).
1.Why do fewer and fewer elderly citizens in Beijing play with birds?
A.Because there are fewer birds
B.Because they have richer lives.
C.Because they hate birds.
D.Because they are very busy.
2.What was the most popular transportation in 1989?
A.Motor vehicles. B.Walking tractors. C.Autotrucks. D.Bicycles.
3.What does the underlined word "reminiscence" mean in English?
A.Luck. B.Memories. C.Interest. D.Treasure.
No one is born a winner. People make themselves into winners by their own _______ .
I learned this lesson from a(n) _______ many years ago. I took the head _______ job at a school in Alaska. It was a small school with a weak football program.
It was a tradition for the school’s old team to play against the _______ team at the end of spring practice. The old team had no coach, and they didn’t even practice to _______ for the game. Being the coach of the new team, I was excited because I knew we were going to win, but to my disappointment we lost the game. I couldn’t _______ I had got into such a situation. I felt there was a heavy weight on my shoulder as I walked home alone. Thinking hard about it, I came to _______ that my team might not be the number one team in the state, but they were depending on me. I had to change my attitude (态度) about their ability and potential (潜力).
I started doing anything I could to help them build a little _______ . Most importantly, I began to treat them like _______ . That summer, when the other teams enjoyed their ________ , we met every day and ________ passing and kicking the football.
Six months after suffering our ________ on the spring practice field, we won our first game and our second, and continued. Finally, we faced the number one team in the state. I felt that it would be normal for us even if we lost the game. But that wasn’t what happened. My boys ________ and beat the best team in our area, giving me a big surprise!
From the experience I learnt a lot about how the attitude of the leader can make a big difference to the members of a team. Instead of seeing my boys as losers, I pushed and ________ them. I helped them to see themselves ________ , and they built themselves into winners.
Winners are made, but born.
1.A.luck B.tests C.efforts D.nature
2.A.experiment B.experience C.visit D.show
3.A.operating B.writing C.reporting D.coaching
4.A.successful B.excellent C.strong D.new
5.A.cheer B.prepare C.hunt D.provide
6.A.believe B.agree C.describe D.regret
7.A.realize B.learn C.wonder D.complete
8.A.culture B.confidence C.fear D.relationship
9.A.leaders B.partners C.winners D.learners
10.A.graduations B.vacations C.health D.honor
11.A.risked B.missed C.considered D.practiced
12.A.failure B.accident C.mistake D.discover
13.A.pushed together B.pulled together C.fell down D.pulled down
14.A.encouraged B.created C.protected D.educated
15.A.honestly B.personally C.calmly D.differently
No one knows when the house was built , but it must be very old.
A.suddenly B.gradually C.exactly D.recently
It's such ________ amazing show that I want to watch it ________ second time.
A.a; a B./; the C.an; a D.the; am
Mr. Hu is my favorite P. E. teacher because he always gives us clear ________ in class.
A.encouragement B.instructions C.introductions D.invitations
