ANCHORAGE, Alaska--The 2004 winner of Alaska’s famous 1,000-mile sled-dog race, the Iditarod, won again at age 53 to become the oldest champion in 2013, a year after his son became the youngest winner.
Mitch Seavey got his dogs to the finishing line first in 9 days, 7 hours, 39 minutes and 56 seconds. His son, Dallas Seavey, now 26, ended up ranking fourth, behind the older competitor, 43-year-old Aliy Zirkle, who followed four-time champion Jeff King, now 57.
Mitch Seavey, who lives in Seward, Alaska, operates a seasonal sled-dog touring business. The race was Mitch Seavey’s 20th Iditarod.
This year’s contest was marked by unusual conditions and unseasonable rain in the northern part of the trail, and conditions that Seavey said helped his team. “It seems like the tougher it is, the better we can do.”
He also thought highly of Zirkle, a New England immigrant（移民）who now lives in Two Rivers, Alaska. “She’s a great musher（赶狗拉雪橇的人）, and she’s going to win the Iditarod sometime, and probably more than once. We just had a little more energy, I think.” Zirkle, one of the most popular mushers, was greeted by shouts of “Aliy, Ally” from the fans as she drove her dog team approaching the finishing line on Nome’s Front Street. “I am pretty happy to be here,” she said. “I was going for it.”
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is one of the few major U. S. sports events in which men and women compete on an equal footing. The name “Iditarod” dates from a local Athabascan term meaning “a far, distant place”. Youthful mushers in the race may have some physical advantages--they can do some things more easily. But more importantly, winning the race needs the experience in dog race.
The year’s event started on Saturday, March 2 with a ceremonial nm in Anchorage. Of the 66 mushers who started the race, 10 had dropped out of competition as of Tuesday night. For his victory, Mitch Seavey will take home $50,400 and a new truck.
1.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Mitch Seavey is the oldest competitor in the sled-dog race in 2013.
B. Mitch Seavey, who operates a touring business, is a New England immigrant.
C. Mitch Seavey won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 2004 and 2013.
D. Mitch Seavey managed to help his son become the youngest winner in 2012.
2.On which day did Mitch Seavey probably win the champion in the 2013 Iditarod?
A. On Saturday, March 2. B. On Monday, March 11.
C. On Saturday, March 9. D. On Tuesday, March 13.
3. Who ranked the 2nd place in the 2013 Iditarod according to the passage?
A. Aliy Zirkle. B. Dallas Seavey.
C. Mitch Seavey. D. Jeff King.
4. According to the passage, we can learn that ________.
A. the sled-dog race is the most important sports event in the US
B. experience also has a major influence on the result of the race besides age
C. men and women can’t compete in the sled-dog race together at the same time
D. all the athletes in the sled-dog race are limited by age to win the sled-dog race
THE CHARM OF CHARITY
A poor young man lost his job and had no one to help him. Helpless, homeless and hopeless, he decided to commit suicide. He 36 all the coins he had with him and bought a ripe banana wrapped in an old newspaper. He opened the packet and started to eat his last food 37 an old beggar approached him. With trembling lips, the beggar told him that he hadn’t had anything to eat for several days and was too weak to walk. The young man felt 38 . So he didn’t eat the banana. 39 , he gave the banana to the beggar. The beggar ate it with great joy and 40__ him. While leaving, the beggar gave him a very old coin, saying, “Thank you very much. You gave me everything you had. Kindly accept this coin as my gift 41 your kindness.”
After the old man left, he 42 glanced at the piece of paper used to wrap the fruit. There he saw a（n） 43 from an agency dealing with old coins. Anyone 44 old coins was invited to visit the agency and receive suitable price for their old coins on the spot. Out of simple 45 , he carried the coin to the agency after 46 it by phone. He showed the coin gifted by the beggar. The person who 47 the agency stared at it and told him in excitement, “What a __48 ! It is very 49 and several centuries old. It is worth a（n） 50 !” Jumping with joy on receiving the 51 amount of money, he searched everywhere to find the old man who gifted him the coin. He wanted to 52 his joy and the money with the beggar. But he could not find him anywhere. Since then, he started a new life with renewed 53 and enthusiasm about the future.
Kindness will be 54 . It always comes back! As William Wordsworth wrote,“ The best part of a good life is the little, nameless, unremembered acts of 55 and love.”
1.A. collect B. spread C. spotted D. donated
2.A. while B. when C. before D. until
3.A. worried B. nervous C. pity D. guilty
4.A. Still B. Thus C. Besides D. Instead
5.A. scolded B. admired C. respected D. thanked
6.A. in search for B. in terms of C. in return for D. in favor of
7.A. carelessly B. purposely C. Immediately D. normally
8.A. suggestion B. advertisement C. appeal D. requirement
9.A.possessing B. seeing C. ordering D. deserving
10.A. distrust B. curiosity C. wonder D. hobby
11.A. replying B. repeating C. contacting D. begging
12.A. charged B. consisted C. attended D. managed
13.A. shame B. prize C. surprise D. pleasure
14.A. private B. fresh C. rare D. casual
15.A. value B. fortune C. wealth D. effort
16.A. unexpected B. unlucky C. unlimited D. unnoticed
17.A. hide B. share C. cover D. spare
18.A. wisdom B. chance C. hope D. luck
19.A.changed B. damaged C. lost D. rewarded
20.A. courage B. promise C. memory D. kindness
Boys and girls, you should know what a great difference good manners in public will ________ to a person.
A. owe B. belong C. contribute D. make
Nowhere else in the world ________ to find this kind of fish except Brazil.
A. went he B. he went C. did he go D. he did go
--It’s a pity that you didn’t come to my birthday party last night.
--I’m terribly sorry. I ________ for an important lecture.
A. prepared B. was preparing
C. had prepared D. has prepared
--What made Kate so excited yesterday?
--________ by her boss, as far as I know.
A. Being praised B. Praised
C. To praise D. She was praised
