While watching the games the other night, I came across an unbelievable sight. It was not a gold medal, or a world record broken, but a show of courage.
The event was swimming and started with only three men on the blocks. For one reason or another, two of them false started, so they were disqualified. That left only one to complete. It would have been difficult enough, not having anyone to race against, even though the time on the clock is important.
I watched the man dive off the bock and knew right away that something was wrong. I’m not an expert swimmer, but I can tell a good dive from a poor one, and this was not exactly medal quality. When he resurfaced, it was evident that the man was not out for gold — his arms were waving in an attempt at freestyle. The crowd started to laugh. Clearly this man was not a medal competitor.
I listened to the crowd begin to laugh at this poor man who was clearly having a hard time. Finally he made his turn to start back. It was pitiful. He made a few desperate strokes and you could tell he was worn out.
But in those few awful strokes, the crowd had changed.
No longer were they laughing, but beginning to cheer. Some even began to stand and shout “Come on, you can do it!” and he did.
A clear minute past the average swimmer, this young man finally finished his race. The crowd went wild. You would have thought that he had won the gold, and should have. Even though he recorded one of the slowest times in Olympic history, this man gave more heart than any of the other competitors.
Just a short year ago, he had never even swum, let alone race. His country had been invited to Sydney.
In a competition where athletes remove their silver medals feeling they have somehow been cheated out of gold, or when they act so proudly in front of their competitors, it is nice to watch an underdog.
68.From the passage we can learn that the young man _______.
A. made his turn to start back pitifully
B. was skillful in freestyle in the game
C. swam faster than the average swimmer
D. was not capable enough to win the medal
69. The crowd changed their attitudes because _______.
A. they felt sorry for the young man
B. they wanted to show their sympathy
C. they were moved by the young man
D. they meant to please the young man
70. According to the passage, “it is nice to watch an underdog” probably means _______.
A. it’s amusing to watch a man with awful swimming skills
B. it’s amazing to watch an ordinary man challenging himself
C. it’s cheerful for athletes to act proudly before their competitors
D. it’s brave enough for some athletes to remove the silver medals
71. What’s the best title for the passage?
A. Go for it! B. Try again！
C. Compete for Gold! D. Break a Record!
Edinburgh takes on Leinster in their Rugby Union match on Friday evening where it should be a dry night with some clear spells. It will feel chilly in the wind, with temperatures at the start of the match around only 6℃ (430F).
There will be some light rain on Friday afternoon for the races in Newbury. It will stay rather cloudy and will feel cold in the wind with a high of 8 ℃. But the weather will not be too much of a problem for the event.
A slow moving storm system spreads cloud, rain and colder weather across New York. This will be the case, not only tonight, but right through until Friday. Saturday the weather will start to change to a more spring pattern with mild and fine weather again on Sunday, when the biggest American football match kicks off.
Keep an umbrella handy.
A cold front will push eastward from Texas to the southern half of the Mississippi Valley by Friday evening. Strong two severe thunderstorms have already developed, from eastern Kansas and western Missouri southward to central and eastern Texas. All outdoor sports events will be impossible in these areas.
60. If you want to watch the Rugby match on Friday, you'd better .
A. wear warm clothes and a raincoat B. wear warm clothes
C. take an umbrella with you D. wear a sport suit
61. Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage?
A. There will not be any sports matches or races in central and eastern Texas because of the coming thunderstorm.
B. The weather will be fine when the football match starts in New York.
C. The races will continue in Newbury in spite of the rainy weather.
D. Mississippi Valley runs from north to south.
62. What can we learn from the passage?
A. Bad weather happens abruptly in New York.
B. The races in Newbury will be cancelled because of the weather.
C. 6 ℃ is a high temperature for the season when the match takes place.
D. Edinburgh and Leinster refer to two Rugby teams in the passage.
第二节：完形填空（共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分）
阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36～55各题所给的四个选项A、B、C、D中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
This morning, I received a phone call from one of my close friends, Nikko, which immediately changed this bright sunny day into a dark terrible pit of endless sorrow. He told me that Diane’s dad had just 36 , at 12:00 on January 3,2008.
Nikko told me that Diane had 37 everything about her dad on her blog, so I 38 right up from bed and got to her blog instantly. Her blog, always so 39 and nice, is suddenly filled with sorrow and grief.
She must have been writing with 40 streaming down her cheeks, with eyes so 41 from the sleepless night, and with a heart so 42 and regretful and yet, she wrote the post, full of determination and will, 43 strength and love. She showed no 44 of weakness and retreat. She 45 that she didn’t notice how her father was feeling before the sudden stroke (中风) 46 him on his sleep. I feel so sorry for her , as her close friend, that I am not able to give her my support and a shoulder to 47 because I live so far away. But I know she will be 48 . She had determined to become the pillar(支柱) of 49 for her mom and her brother.
Although Diane’s father is no longer 50 , his memories would always be with his family. I gave Diane my deepest condolence（吊唁）for her 51 of her most beloved one.
I have known Diane and her family ever since we were in primary school. 52 can be really cruel sometimes, 53 someone or something you have learned to love and rely on. A(n) 54 death like Diane’s father is the most sorrowful. Destiny didn’t even give his family the 55 to say their last goodbyes.
Diane wanted everyone to cherish their loved ones and do not wait until it’s already too late. Tell them you love them and let them know how you feel before it’s too late.
36．A. passed away B. left over C. sent off D. filled up
37．A. spoke B. found C. written D. uncovered
38．A. jumped B. run C. shouted D. cleaned
39．A. interesting B. colorful C. good D. mind
40．A. water B. tears C. blood D. sweat
41．A. sleepy B. big C. infected D. red
42．A. bleeding B. heavy C. painful D. sympathetic
43．A. from B. of C. on D. without
44．A. sign B. explanation C. expression D. impression
45．A. argued B. noticed C. blamed D. regretted
46．A. broke B. attacked C. affected D. made
47．A. depend on B. keep up C. cry on D. carry out
48．A. strong B. weak C. sorrowful D. lonely
49．A. mind B. center C. power D. support
50．A. lively B. present C. painful D. alive
51．A. loss B. love C. regret D. thanks
52．A. Future B. Lives C. Destiny D. experience
53．A. giving up B. taking away C. suffering from D. mourning for
54．A. regretful B. heart-broken C. unforgettable D. instant
55．A. chance B. reward C. treat D. attention
---I really don’t know how to thank you enough.
---___________ .
|
A．No problem. |
B．Think nothing of it. |
|
C．With pleasure. |
D．Glad to hear that. |
Mr. Johnson always carries a notebook, in which he_________everything that happens.
|
A．sets down |
B．settles down |
C．comes down |
D．breaks down |
Large quantities of fish _______ in the river in the past few days.
|
A．were caught |
B．was caught |
C．has been caught |
D．have been caught |
