Question

Open water swimming

I had only swum in open water a few times, and always in gentle lakes, so I wasn’t prepared for how rough Lake Windermere appeared on a cold day. A swimmer told me the water felt colder than it had been measured, and that the water was a bit rough. But I, along with 10,000 others, was about to complete the challenge.

Most of the people taking part were doing a one-mile race, and 10 races were planned over the weekend. There seemed to be a mix of open-water enthusiasts alongside complete beginners—which is precisely the aim of the swims, to get as many people as possible completing their own challenge. The oldest woman competing was 77, taking part in the two-mile race, alongside a man who last year had swum in every one-mile race.

I had chosen the third one-mile race of the day. There were over 600 people in my race. We were taken through an acclimatization area, a children’s paddling pool-sized part of the lake where we moved in to feel how cold the water was. “Not too bad” was everyone’s thought! Then we headed out towards the middle of the lake.

We’d been warned that the first 100 metres would be really rough. However, somewhere near the 750m mark I was still waiting for the calm; it felt more like swimming in the sea than a lake. I tried to focus on my breathing and technique, and just keep going. As I approached the 400m-to-go mark my lower right leg became painful. I recalled overhearing people talking about how they kept swimming through the pain, so I tried. But it didn’t work. I began to feel the entire leg tight and painful. I didn’t want to stop, so I bent my right knee and just kicked with the left leg.

Finally I saw the finishing post, and I just concentrated on getting there—still one-legged. My finishing time was 38 minutes 25 seconds but that didn’t matter—the atmosphere was fantastic and everyone felt a sense of achievement, whatever their time. I’m hooked, and want to give it another go. I’ve already signed up for my next open-water swim.

1.How did the author feel before the race?

A.Scared of the most challenging race.

B.Disappointed by the difficult conditions.

C.Concerned about the other swimmers in the race.

D.Determined to be as tough as the people around her.

2.Why does the author mention the two people in Paragraph 2?

A.To stress the importance of the race.

B.To praise the experienced swimmers.

C.To show the wide range of the participants.

D.To introduce the various events of the race.

3.The author suggests in Paragraph 4 that ______.

A.the race would cause breathing problems

B.the race became harder than she had expected

C.it was really necessary to prepare for tough swims

D.it would have been easier if she had taken others’ advice

4.What does the author talk about in the last paragraph?

A.Her confidence in her own ability.

B.Her pride in having swum so quickly.

C.Her eagerness to repeat the experience.

D.Her surprise at having managed to finish.

Answer

1.D

2.C

3.B

4.C

【解析】

本文属于记叙文，描述作者参加一英里的天然水域游泳的经历，最终成功到达终点线。

1.推理判断题。根据第一段But I, along with 10,000 others, was about to complete the challenge.可知，我马上和其他10000名游泳者完成这项挑战，故可知，他们很坚定要完成这项运动，故选D。

2.推理判断题。根据第二段There seemed to be a mix of open-water enthusiasts alongside complete beginners—which is precisely the aim of the swims, to get as many people as possible completing their own challenge. The oldest woman competing was 77, taking part in the two-mile race, alongside a man who last year had swum in every one-mile race.可知，参赛者包括天然水域游泳的爱好者，也包括初学者，也有很多人完成自己的挑战，这里面就有77岁参加2英里游泳的老人，也有去年参加一英里的男子，故可知，该比赛参与者范围很广，故选C。

3.推理判断题。根据第四段I recalled overhearing people talking about how they kept swimming through the pain, so I tried. But it didn’t work. I began to feel the entire leg tight and painful.可知，我想起了那些人提及的克服水中抽筋的技巧，但是没有作用，我感觉整条腿开始紧张疼痛，故可知，这次比赛比她想象的要艰难，故选B。

4.主旨大意题。根据最后一段I’m hooked, and want to give it another go. I’ve already signed up for my next open-water swim.可知，我被吸引住了，想要再尝试一次，准备好为下一次游泳比赛报名，故可知，作者为完成比赛而感到兴奋，也喜欢上了这项运动，故选C。