At the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar, you may have noticed this strange scene at the beginning of each game. As the soccer players line up ready to walk onto the field they take the hand of a smiling and excited child next to them and walk out with them hand in hand.
The practice of sending children out with the players first took place from time to time throughout the 1990s. One child, also called a player escort, would accompany a team out at the beginning of an important game. From the year 2000 onwards, this custom started happening much more regularly. The 2000 Euro Championships was one of the first major soccer games where children were seen walking out with the players. But it was the 2002 FIFA World Cup where it really became popular. One of the most prominent ways this happened was by pairing up each player with a child as they walked out onto the soccer field. You can see it at the beginning of most important football games. From then on, it has become commonplace around the world for children to walk out with the players.
Ultimately soccer players walk out with a child because their club requires them to. It is in the interest of the soccer club to do this as it has potential benefits for both the child and the honor of the club. Soccer is a game that is loved by children throughout the world. Many would jump at the chance to have a taste of a real game in person. It’s also a chance for soccer club to make money. Most clubs have some sort of program where it’s possible to buy the experience of being a player escort. In England, it can be extremely expensive. A few years ago it was reported that some clubs were charging almost $800 per child to be a player escort!
【小题1】Why did the writer mention the strange scene in the World Cup?| A．To draw readers’ interest. |
| B．To appreciate the children. |
| C．To show the charm of football players. |
| D．To stress the importance of the World Cup. |
| A．Its popularity. | B．Its successes. |
| C．Its hardships. | D．Its development. |
| A．Effective. | B．Noticeable. | C．Proper. | D．Difficult. |
| A．They can make much money. |
| B．They can gain great potential chance to be famous. |
| C．They are more likely to be chosen by their favorite clubs. |
| D．They are lucky enough to experience a real game by themselves. |
Many of us know about Russia’s Lake Baikal from our textbooks, or by listening to Chinese singer Li Jian’s hit song, Lakeside of Baikal. But over the years, the world’s deepest freshwater lake has been a focus for an extreme sport.
Each March, about 150 people from around the world sign up for the Baikal Ice Marathon. The 26-mile journey starts on the lake’s eastern shore. In March, the ice is a metre thick and iron-hard. Runners cross this frozen surface, finishing on the western side of the lake.
It’s believed that Lake Baikal’s beauty is incomparable. Particularly known as “the Blue Eye of Siberia”, Lake Baikal has extremely clear waters. This means that its ice is almost perfectly transparent (透明的).Seen from above, a runner on the ice looks as if he or she were jogging through space.
The scenery might be beautiful, but strong winds blow across the lake and frostbite (冻伤) can happen within half an hour. Runners say the cold climate is what attracts them and that running in such condition is a test of their limits.
“When you are in such an environment, you don’t have cars around you, and you don’t have the noise around. I think these extreme races push you to be alone,” Alicja Barahona, a 64-year-old runner from the US said.
The place offers some strange and unique features for this marathon. Tourists crowding the ice arc mostly addicted to taking pictures and just ignore the runners.
For runners, without people watching and cheering for them, the race becomes more challenging and lonely. They must fight with themselves. “You are alone on Baikal. It is your race. You are alone with yourself. All you need to do is defeat yourself,” Veronique Messina, a French runner, told The Telegraph.
【小题1】What has kept Lake Baikal being a focus over the years?| A．A famous Chinese singer. | B．A popular song in Russia. |
| C．The coldness of Lake Baikal. | D．The Baikal Ice Marathon. |
| A．Its beautiful scenery. | B．The runners. |
| C．Its clear waters. | D．The strong winds. |
| A．They want to test their own limits. |
| B．They like the competition with others. |
| C．They intend to draw much attention. |
| D．They prefer to get close to nature. |
| A．To prove the power of the runners for the Baikal Ice Marathon. |
| B．To show that runners must fight against themselves in the Marathon. |
| C．To explain that independence is important for marathon runners. |
| D．To present the necessity of paying attention to marathon runners. |
Somewhere in the world, there’s a place where stress isn’t allowed and peace and genuine relaxation are the only demands of the day. If you could go there, you would thoroughly enjoy yourself. There are not too many places in the world like this, but this is one of them. It’s luxurious. It’s ultra-private.
Welcome to Villa Nicoletta
Villa Nicoletta is a 4-bedroom luxury villa and an oasis(绿洲) of rest and rejuvenation（恢复活力）in a land of unspoiled peace. Located on a 70-foot cliff overlooking the north shore of the island of St. Thomas and the pretty waters of Caret Bay, Villa Nicoletta offers the finest accommodations in the Caribbean for those seeking a vacation of elegance, peace and privacy. You’ll see how the sun blankets the landscape and water in shimmering brilliance by day and how the sky twinkles like billions of bright diamonds at night.
Completed in 2000, the 3,300-square-foot Villa Nicoletta is fully equipped with state-of-the-art electronics.
When you book Villa Nicoletta, you shall book the entire villa.
Off Season: April 16 to December 14
★4 bedrooms — ＄5,700/week (8 people max)
Sleep sofa can add additional 2 people ＄200/night
Peak Season: December 15 to April 15
★4 bedrooms — ＄6,300/week (8 people max)
Sleep sofa can add additional 2 people ＄200/night
【小题1】The villa can be rented to a maximum of _______ people at a time.
| A．five | B．eight | C．thirteen | D．ten |
| A．＄12,600. | B．＄15,400. | C．＄11,400. | D．＄13,200. |
| A．like adventure |
| B．want to escape the noisy life of the city |
| C．enjoy the winter sports |
| D．seek excitement in the sea |
| A．you can share the villa with other tourists |
| B．the island of St. Thomas is famous for the ocean theme amusement park |
| C．fewer tourists stay in Villa Nicoletta in autumn than in spring |
| D．you can go in for extreme sports in Villa Nicoletta |
Writing contests are a great way for high school students to showcase their creative skills. Here are some of the top free writing contests for high school students.
Young Lions Fiction Contest
Award Amount: $10,000
Deadline: Usually in September
The Young Lions Fiction Contest was established in 2001 by the New York Public Library. Five finalists are recognized, with one taking home the grand prize of $10,000. To qualify, the author must be 25 or younger and submit a novel or a collection of short stories.
53-Word Story Contest
Award: Publication in Prime Number Magazine
Deadline: 21st of each month
Hosted by Prime Number Magazine, writers are put to the test and have to respond to a prompt (提示) with a 53-word story. The prompt changes each month, and the responses must be 53 words exactly. Only stories are permitted and only one submission per writer per month is allowed.
Signet Essay Contest
Award Amount: $1,000 to be used towards your higher education
Deadline: April 22, 2021
I£ you are a Wuthering Heights fan, then the Signet Essay Contest is the one for you. Five high school juniors or seniors can win an award for their two to three — page essays. You must select one of the five prompts1 based on the events and characters in Wuthering Heights.
Ocean Awareness Contest
Award Amount: Scholarships up to $1,500
Deadline: June 15, 2021
The Ocean Awareness Contest aims to recognize writers while raising awareness about the climate crisis. Students can submit visual art, film or music. Each category has specific qualifications, so make sure to check.
【小题1】How many people can get the grand prize in Young Lions Fiction Contest?| A．One. | B．Five. | C．Six. | D．Ten. |
| A．It is held on the last day of each month. |
| B．The participants can choose any topic. |
| C．It awards winners a large sum of money. |
| D．The entry must contain exactly 53 words. |
| A．They are all free of charge. |
| B．They provide scholarships. |
| C．They accept various forms of works. |
| D．They center on environmental issues. |
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