“When I grow up, I want to be a runner.” These words are spoken by thousands of Kenyan children. 50 percent of the Kenyan top runners are members of Kalenjin, one minority race of the country. They make up less than two percent of Kenya’s population. This fact has puzzled sports scientists. They have spent considerable time and effort trying to answer one question: What enables the Kalenjin people to run so fast?
Although the question seems simple, finding the answer has proven to be difficult and controversial. A team of Danish sports scientists spent 18 months and discovered the Kalenjins had remarkably slow heart rates even when running long distances. The Kalenjins live in high-elevation（高海拔） villages in the Rift Valley in western Kenya. People living at high elevations produce more red blood cells, which aid in the transport of oxygen throughout the body. Because the air is thinner and contains less oxygen at high elevations, the body produces more red blood cells. Scientists believe there is a connection between increased red blood cells and low heart rates and that both may enable high-altitude athletes to outperform those who train at low altitudes. The Danish scientists also studied the bodies of the Kalenjins and compared them to those of the Danes. They found that the Kalenjins have longer “birdlike” legs. The Kalenjins also have lower body mass indexes (a measure of body fat based on weight and height) and shorter bodies than Danish people.
As a result of the Danish study, some scientists made the conclusion that the Kalenjins possess what is called a “speed gene(基因)”. However, Kenyan runners were offended by this conclusion They credited their success to hard work and endless hours of training.
Although the controversy over the “speed gene” remains unsolved, British runner Mo Farah’s experience offers an interesting perspective on the subject. In 2005, he realized he wasn’t meeting his potential as a runner. A group of Kenyan runners were training in England then. After he accidentally observed the Kenyans’ strict training routines and dedication to their sport, Farah said it was like a switch had been turned on in his head. He began eating healthy foods, going to bed early, and training harder than he had ever trained in his life. As a result, Farah’s running career exploded. He has won seven world and Olympic titles in the 5000m and regularly beats Kenya’s top runners!
Farah’s story proves what Kenyans have known all along. Regardless of genetics, their success would not be possible without hard work, dedication, sacrifice, and mental toughness. Their “secret” is simple. Train hard, run fast, and never give up.
1.What interested the sports scientists?
A.Kenyan sports history.
B.Kanlenjins’ running ability.
C.Kanlenjins’ training methods.
D.Kenyans’ enthusiasm for sport.
2.According to Danish scientists, what leads to the Kanlenjins’ success?
A.Physical condition. B.Hard training.
C.Living style. D.Strong will.
3.How did Kenyan runners think about Danish research result?
A.Convincing. B.Astonishing.
C.Unacceptable. D.Important.
4.Why is Mo Farah’s story mentioned in the passage?
A.To show running methods count.
B.To encourage British athletes.
C.To prove effort pays off.
D.To support gene theory.
Inventor, physicist, surveyor, astronomer, biologist, artist… Robert Hooke was all these and more. Some say he was the greatest experimental scientist of the 17th century. In the course of his work, he cooperated with famous men of science like Isaac Newton, and the great architect Christopher Wren.
Hooke's early education began at home, under the guidance of his father. He entered Westminster School at the age of 13, and from there went to Oxford, where he came in contact with some of the best scientists in England. Hooke impressed them with his skills at designing experiments and inventing instruments. In 1662, at the age of 28, he was named Curator of Experiments at the newly formed Royal Society of London — meaning that he was responsible for demonstrating (展示) new experiments at the society’s weekly meeting. Hooke accepted the job, even though he knew that the society had no money to pay him!
Watching living things through a microscope was one of his favourite pastimes. He invented a compound microscope for this purpose. One day while observing a cork (软木塞) under a microscope, he saw honeycomb-like structures. There were cells — the smallest units of life. In fact, it was Hooke who invented the term “cell” as the box-like cells of the cork reminded him of the cells of a monastery (修道院).
Another achievement of Hooke’s was his book Micrographia, which introduced the enormous potential of the microscope. It contains fascinating drawings of the thing he saw under the microscope. The book also includes, among other things, ideas on gravity, light and combustion (燃烧) that may have helped scientists like Newton when they were developing their own theories on these phenomena.
Hooke made a valuable contribution to astronomy too. A crater (火山口) on the moon is named after him in honour of his services to this branch of science.
1.Which is the possible reason why Hooke accepted the job as Curator of Experiments?
A.He liked designing experiments.
B.His family needed his support.
C.He wanted to please the famous scientists in England.
D.His parents couldn’t afford his education.
2.What does the underlined word “pastimes” in paragraph three mean?
A.Jobs B.Experiments
C.Hobbies D.Structures
3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the text?
A.Hooke went to Oxford in 1645.
B.Hooke was well paid in the Royal Society of London.
C.Hooke made a contribution to medicine.
D.Hooke's book Micrographia may have helped Newton.
4.The last paragraph is to prove that ________.
A.Hooke was the greatest experimental scientist of the 17th century
B.Hooke was good at making discoveries
C.Hooke's contributions were not limited to one field
D.Hooke was one of the greatest astronomers
A couple of weeks ago, my grandfather was explaining his favorite expression. "Nothing is ever easy? The following day, as I tried to complete my day's work, I happened to notice a bumblebee（大黄蜂）on the skylight（天窗）.The skylight was particularly high up, but I thought removing the bee would take no more than five minutes. An hour later, the bee still remained. All that had changed was that the living room was a mess and that 1 was dizzy from looking up into the sunlight. I did not expect to waste an hour on an insect so tiny, but by doing so, I understood what my grandfather meant.
It is not only time that we tend to underestimate — we don’t account for unexpected costs. We often imagine what can work in our favor but we seldom think of all the negative things that could a fleet us. However, it is important to remember that your day or week or year might nor go as planned, and that is completely normal. It is perfectly acceptable to feel challenged — even at a task you thought was simple — because that is part of life.
If you can accept that nothing will ever be easy, then life might seem slightly more manageable. In middle school. I thought high school might be easier because I could choose the classes I wanted to take. In high school I thought college might be easier because I could have a schedule（计划）best suited for myself. Yet each time, I was both wrong and disappointed. After accepting that school wouldn't（and shouldn't）be easy. I found myself with a more positive altitude and improved results.
Of course, there should be preparations made to account tor expenses or time. Doing so can only help you accomplish your goals in a better way. However, there is no need to beat ourselves up when something stands in our path. Maybe we cannot see a bee coming our way, but we can always give ourselves the extra time to catch it.
1.Why did the author mention his experience of removing a bee?
A.To share something unforgettable with us.
B.To lead us to what the author learned from it.
C.To show the unexpected costs it caused.
D.To tell us how easy it is to waste our rime.
2.Why do things often tum out to be different from what we expect?
A.We often don't take lime seriously.
B.We tend not to have enough money.
C.Unexpected things can happen.
D.It is easy to feel challenged.
3.According to the text, what does the underlined phrase "beat ourselves up" mean?
A.lo hit or kick ourselves hard, many times
B.to blame ourselves too much
C.to encourage ourselves to work hard
D.to give up ourselves
4.What is the author's purpose of writing this article?
A.To encourage people to make greater efforts.
B.To explain how to make preparations.
C.To tell us what to do when something gets in our way.
D.To persuade us not to expect things to be easy.
Holidays in Spain not only mean visiting the tourist attractions or enjoying the thrills of bullfight, but also are charming because of the various options for entertainment in Spain.
Getting in
Reaching Spain by air from London to Barcelona takes 2 hours; London to Madrid is 2 hours and 20 minutes and to Malaga is 2 hours and 45minutes. The journey from New York to Madrid is 8 hours and 35 minutes.
Things to do
If you want affordable entertainment and leisure in Spain, go to the streets. In Spain, walking across the streets is known as the “paseo”, in which the entire Spanish families move forward clapping out flamenco rhythms. This is the best occasion to know Spanish culture better.
If you want some indoor options for fun, come to the movie houses, which are luxurious and provide the bar service. Here, you can watch films translated into Spanish and be prepared to watch horror films, cowboy films, etc. If you have a taste for drama and play, you can enjoy performances in theaters, where you can watch plays of Spanish authors as well as translations of foreign plays. There are typical nightclubs which are open till 2:00 a.m. or 3:00 a.m., and you need to be formally dressed up.
There are circuses of very high quality and also a lot of options for sports lovers. Soccer has attained even more popularity than bullfight in Spain. Then, there are other sports like boxing, bicycle races, horse races, and in the Basque region, handball.
Tips
Though you may think that this country is warm, it can be very cold in winter, so you need proper clothing when you come here. Further, direct exposure to sunlight for long duration should be avoided to prevent sunburn and heatstroke.
1.How long does it probably take a tourist to fly to Madrid from London?
A.120 minutes. B.140 minutes.
C.165 minutes. D.515 minutes.
2.Where is the most suitable place to learn about Spanish culture?
A.The streets. B.The nightclubs.
C.The movie houses. D.The Basque region
3.What can you do in the movie houses in Spain?
A.Enjoy the thrills of bullfight.
B.Dance clapping out flamenco rhythms.
C.Experience the bar service and watch various films.
D.Watch plays written by Spanish or foreign authors.
假定你是李华，你校英语报社就“高中生是否应该去KTV庆祝生日”进行校园调查。请你用英语写封信给该报社编辑，谈谈你自己的想法。内容包括：
1.简述该现象；
2.你的观点和建议。
注意：1.词数100左右；；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3.开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear editor,
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
I am the only child of my family, my parents give me all the things I want to. I feel so satisfying with the life I own. However, I used to forgetting to share happiness with others. One day, I went to Wang Mei’s birthday party. After I made a wish and blew all the candle out, I couldn’t wait to eat the birthday cake. I took a piece of cake and started to eat it immediate. Meanwhile, I saw Wang Mei were cutting the cake for our friends. See our friends sharing the cake together, I learned an important lesson which sharing promotes communication and happiness.
