Success Stories

Mercy Cherono is one of many very successful young athletes from Kenya. She was born in 1991 in the village of Kipajit. She is the oldest of six children, and some of the other children in her family are also athletes. Her father, John Koech, runs a training camp in the village. During the school holidays, the camp 【小题1】attract over 50 trainees.

Cherono started running in primary school and continued when she went to secondary school in the nearby town of Sotik. At the age of 16, she participated in the 2007 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Cross Country Championships 【小题2】(hold) in Mombasa, Kenya. It was her first international event. 【小题3】the fact that she finished 23rd in the junior race, she had launched herself into international athletics. In the same year, at the World Youth Championships at Ostrava in the Czech Republic, she won a gold medal in the 3,000-meter race, 【小题4】she ran in the championship record time of 8:53:94.

In the coming years, she continued to win gold medals at famous international championships. She is a two-time World Junior Champion in the 3,000-meter race, 【小题5】(win) in Poland in 2008, and again in Canada in 2010. She also came in first in the 3,000-meter race at the 2009 Africa Junior Championships. However, Cherono is not just a middle-distance runner 【小题6】she tried to sprint too early to the finishing line. After the race, Cherono claimed, “I 【小题7】( not repeat) that mistake again.”

The following year, at the same cross country race, Cherono proved 【小题8】when she won a gold medal. Incredibly, all of the three runners-up were from Kenya, too. She and the Kenyan team came home to a hero's welcome. Her coach was excited and owed the success 【小题9】she won the gold medal for the Kenya team to hard training and determination.”And her father said, “our child is a disciplined girl and the best 【小题10】(take) instructions.” Perhaps one day Mercy Cherono will instruct future champions.

The 19th Asian Games, held in Hangzhou, has highlighted not only the great celebration of sporting talent, but also the deep cultural 【小题1】 (root) of the host nation. For instance, the mascot (吉祥物) Congcong, 【小题2】 name comes from the cong jade pendant (玉佩), represents the historical ruins of Liangzhu City. By integrating objects with such historical and cultural importance into the signs 【小题3】 (associate) with the international sporting event, the organizers hope to stimulate people’s curiosity and encourage them 【小题4】 (explore) this rich history.

The cong, 【小题5】 (feature) a tube-shaped core enveloped by a square framework, is the representative of the Liangzhu civilization. The carved man-and-beast pattern decorating the cong 【小题6】 (hold) great significance, which is now considered the ultimate symbol of what the UNESCO World Heritage Convention referred to 【小题7】 “an early state ”.

The Liangzhu people, known for their mastery of planning, engineering, and agriculture, farmed rice fields, developed an advanced economy, 【小题8】 constructed their homes on little earth platforms. Their 【小题9】 (remark) achievements reflect a civilization comparable to ancient Egypt. The Liangzhu site, well-preserved and continuously revealing new insights through archaeological efforts, provides 【小题10】 window into the past of this splendid culture.

For thousands of years, marbles (弹珠) have provided 【小题1】 (enjoy) to people, transcending (超越) their role as mere playthings. With a rich history and wide range of shapes, sizes, and colors, they’ve also found 【小题2】 place in the world of collectors.

Early marbles, crafted by ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Native Americans, were handmade from materials like stone, wood, and clay. In contrast, modern marbles are 【小题3】 (primary) machine-made from glass, available in various colors and styles. “Clearies” are made of clear glass or colored glass that allows light 【小题4】 (pass) through, while “cat’s eyes” feature clear glass with colorful bands inside. Some marbles, made from stone or light-blocking glass, are not see-through.

Marble collectors have a preference 【小题5】 seeking out different types. Some hunt for rare or antique marbles like handmade German 【小题6】 (one) from the 1800s or mid-1900s American marbles. Others gather a collection of visually 【小题7】 (attract) and fascinating marbles.

Marble enthusiasts can grow their collections by engaging in the popular game of “ringer,” but only if they play under the rule of “keepsies”. In this game, thirteen small marbles known as “mibs” are arranged inside a circle. Players take turns using a larger, heavier marble 【小题8】 (call) a “shooter” to displace mibs from the circle. Points 【小题9】 (award) for every mib successfully pushed out, but in keepsies, players keep the marbles they’ve knocked out. Thus, players may either walk away with additional mibs 【小题10】 risk losing their prized possessions.