Sharon has been a serious runner for six years. She has completed three marathons and several shorter races. Each week she runs about 20 miles.
Her favorite shoes? A $25 pair of Champion shoes she bought at Target. “I like running in simple shoes,” she said, “The more you pay, the more trouble you get.” She is right. Money often buys higher-quality goods, but not when it comes to running shoes.
Over the last forty years, running has been popular as a leisure (闲暇的) sport. In 2009, 476,000 runners took part in a marathon. In 1976, the number was just 25,000. Sales of running shoes reached a record $ 2.36 billion in 2009, 60 percent more than ten years earlier.
But some of those dollars may not have been well spent. In 2007, Scottish researchers tested running shoes at three price levels, ranging from $80 to $150, and found that low-cost and mid-cost shoes within the same brand protected runners’ feet just as well as high-cost ones, sometimes even better.
“The common idea is that if you pay more, you will get better shoes,” said Abboud, director of the Institute of Motion Analysis and Research at the University of Dundee in Scotland, “Our research did not show that.” Professor Abboud and his colleagues have just completed a similar study, as not yet published, with nearly the same results.
If you want to run well and run safely, consider fit first and price last. “You want a shoe that helps you keep a balanced position,” said Mark Montgomery, manager of the JackRabbit Sports store in Union Square in New York, “A more expensive shoe is not always the solution.”
“The less you think about a shoe, the better,” said Ms Bakoul, a marathoner.
According to Sharon, ________.
A.expensive shoes will give you more trouble B.higher-quality shoes will protect your feet better C.taking part in marathons is very important for runners D.running about 20 miles a week is the best for your health
A.it was spent on running B.it was spent on high- cost shoes C.running needs the cheapest shoes D.money often buys higher-quality goods
A.running as a leisure sport will be no longer popular B.Professor Abboud thinks the common idea is right C.Ms Bakoul is against the research results D.Mark Montgomery agrees with Sharon
A.The More, the Better B.Run Well and Run Safely C.The Less, the Better D.Fit First and Price Last
One day a wise man was walking along the beach when he saw a young man far away picking up something and very gently throwing it into the sea. As he got (41) he called out to the young man, "Good morning! What are you doing?"
The young man 42 , looked up and replied, "Throwing starfishes into the sea. "
"Why are you throwing starfishes into the sea?"
"The sun is up and the (43) is going away. And if I don't throw them in they’ll (44) . "
"But, young man, don't you (45) that there are miles and miles of beach and starfishes all along it. You can't (46) make a difference! '"
The young man (47) politely. Then he picked another starfish and threw it into the sea, and said, "It made a difference for that (48) . "
There is something very (49) in each and every one of us. We have all been given the ability to make a difference to shape the future. We must each find our own starfish. And if we throw our starfish wisely and well, the (50) will be better.
A. better B, farther C. closer D. faster
A.continued B.stopped C.watched D.answered
A.water B.wind C.boat D.fish
A.leave B.die C.run D.lose
A.believe B.realize C.expect D.guess
A.possibly B.hardly C.especially D.fortunately
Football is, I do think, the most favorite game in England. It is one of the important ( 36 ) to see. Rich and poor, young and old, one can see them. To a stranger, one of the most surprising things about football in England is the great ( 37 ) of the game which even the smallest boy seems to have. He can (38) you the names of the players in most of the important teams; he has pictures of them and knows the ( 39 ) of Large numbers of matches. He will tell you who he hopes will (40) such a match, and his ideas about football are usually as good as those of men three or four times his age.
A.tides B.matches C.teams D.places
A.medal B.success C.knowledge D.secret
A.say B.tell C.talk D.speak
A.results B.roles C.reasons D.reporters
A.heat B.cover C.enjoy D.win
When July comes, children know they’ll have their examinations and the school year will __36__ soon.
Boys and girls will have nearly a two-month holiday, and they’ll leave school __37__train or by car to __38__ their parents.
The summer holidays are the __39__ time of the year for most children. The weather is usually good, so children can spend most of their time __40__ outside. If one lives in the countryside, he can go and play in the woods or in the fields. If he __41__ in a big town, he can usually go to the park to play.
The best place for children to spend their summer holidays is the __42__. Some children are lucky enough to live near the sea. __43__ for those who do not live there, if they have the luck to stay in one of the big seaside towns for a week or two, they’ll __44__ it all the following school year.
Now, __45__ makes children like the seaside so much? I think they are the sand, the sea and the sun. The feelings of the sand under their feet, salt water on their skin, and the warm sun on
A.arrive B.start C.begin D.end
A.on B.by C.in D.at
A.love B.see C.watch D.return
A.best B.better C.worst D.worse
A.missing B.working C.playing D.studying
A.works B.walks C.lives D.arrives
A.village B.seaside C.city D.park
A.But B.unless C.Or D.And
A.hear from B.speak to C.agree with D.talk about
A.that B.which C.who D.what
In Australia, different people have different ways to enjoy themselves. They also have their own ideas about 61 to pass time.
62 children, about 80%, work hard in school because they have to take lots of exams. After school, they don’t want to stay at home reading books any more. 63 , they put aside their school bags and go out to play.
Some old people 64 early in the morning. Then they go to park to 65 . It helps them know what is happening around the world. In the evening, they would prefer to stay at home66 rather than do anything else.
Young people enjoy having 67 trip on weekends. They go to mountains to have a picnic or go to the 68 to camp. They usually start on Friday and spend one or two days outside. Then on 69 evening, they start their way back home. 70 seems to be in a hurry, although a busy week is waiting for them again.
A.what B.how C.when D.why
A.Some B.Most C.All D.No
A.However B.Though C.Instead D.Or
A.get up B.come up C.stay up D.set up
A.read newspapers B.do sports C.enjoy themselves D.have breakfast
A.climbing hills B.watching TV C.go shopping D.going hiking
A.boring B.busy C.tiring D.relaxing
A.forest B.floor C.flat D.factory
A.Friday B.Sunday C.Tuesday D.Wednesday
A.Anybody B.Somebody C.Everybody D.Nobody
A king was old and he knew it was time to choose a new king. He told all the young people in the country, “I’ll give 51 of you a seed (种子). Plant it and bring it back one year later. Show me the plant that you bring. 52 I’ll choose a new king from you.”
A boy 53 Ling got a seed, too. He planted it 54 . But the seed doesn’t grow at all. A year later, Ling had to take his 55 box to the palace. Others all brought beautiful plants there and Ling felt 56 .
The king 57 the palace and look around. When he found there was nothing in Ling’s box. The king smiled and said to the others, “One year ago, I gave everyone a seed 58 couldn’t grow. But all of you, 59 Ling, have bought me plants and flowers. Ling was the only one with the honesty (诚实) and 60 to bring such a box. So he will be the new king! ”
A.each B.neither C.both D.none
A.and B.but C.although D.so
A.liked B.helped C.named D.asked
A.careful B.carefully C.careless D.carelessly
A.full B.empty C.beautiful D.broken
A.sad B.excited C.happy D.satisfied
A.got B.arrived C.went D.arrived at
B.who C.what D.it
A.besides B.with C.except D.as
A.skill B.courage C.experience D.fear