TEXT D Parkour is a physical activity that is difficult to categorize. It is not an extreme sport, but an art or discipline that resembles self-defense in the martial arts. According to David Belle, "the physical aspect of parkour is getting over all the obstacles in your path as you would in an emergency. You want to move in such a way, with any movement, as to help you gain the most ground on someone or something, whether escaping from it or chasing toward it.① Thus, when faced with a hostile confrontation with a person, one will be able to speak, fight, or flee. As martial arts are a form of training for the fight, parkour is a form of training for the flight. Because of its unique nature, it is often said that parkour is in its own category: "Parkour is parkour." An important characteristic of parkour is efficiency. Practitioners move not only as fast as they can, but also in the least energy-consuming and most direct way possible. This characteristic distinguishes it from the similar practice of free running, which places more emphasis on freedom of movements, such as acrobatics. Efficiency also involves avoiding injuries, short and long-term, part of why parkour's unofficial motto is tre et durer (to be and to last). Tracers claim that parkour also influences one's thought process by enhancing critical thinking skills that allow one to overcome everyday physical and mental obstacles. There are fewer predefined movements in parkour than gymnastics, as it does not have a list of appropriate "moves." Each obstacle a tracer faces presents a unique challenge on how they can overcome it effectively, which depends on their body type, speed and angle of approach, the physical make-up of the obstacle, etc. Parkour is about training the body mind to react to those obstacles appropriately with a technique that works. Often that technique cannot and need not be classified and given a name. In many cases effective parkour techniques depend on fast redistribution of body weight and the use of momentum to perform seemingly impossible or difficult body maneuvers at speed. Absorption and redistribution of energy is also an important factor, such as body rolls when landing which reduce impact forces on the legs and spine, allowing a tracer to jump from greater heights than those often considered sensible in other forms of acrobatics and gymnastics. There are many basic techniques that are emphasized to beginners for their versatility and effectiveness. Most important are good jumping and landing techniques. The roll, used to limit impact after a drop and to carry one's momentum onward, is often stressed as the most important technique to learn. Many tracers develop joint problems from too many large drops and rolling incorrectly. Due to large drops parkour has sometimes received criticism for its questionable safety. Several communities in Great Britain have been warned by law enforcement or fire and rescue of the potential dangers of parkour. Although David Belle has never been seriously injured while practicing parkour, there is no careful study about the health issues of large drops and tracers stress gradual progression to avoid any problems.
Which of the following activities is mostly close to parkour? A. Jogging. B. Obstacle race. C. Gymnastics. D. Acrobatic performance
ID：9121-12419 Directions: There are 20 blanks in the following passage. For each blank there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You should choose the one that best fits into the passage. Then mark the corresponding answer on ANSWER SHEET.
The kids who grew up on “Star Trek” can’t find ___36___ way around Earth. Americans can___37___direct to England, but only half can find it on a map of Europe. They can fly almost___ 38___in the United States for a few hundred dollars, but they put New York State in 37 placed on both coasts. When they look for the United States__39___ , they spot it in China, Australia, Brazil, the Soviet Union, India and Botswana. For people who are supposed to be leaders of the__40 __world, Americans are___41 ___ dumb, according to a survey conducted for the National Geographic Society. In many school systems, geography has been mixed with history___42___melted down into social studies. Social studies has been processed into “teacher resource packages” and___43___of good writing, excitement, color and any ideas that aren’t simplistic, too__44___and too deadening to hold students’ attention. In the last few years, evidence of America’s educational__45___has prompted hundreds of studies, generated baskets___46___legislation and moved parents into advocacy groups. But there’s little to show that the trend has been___47___. No matter___48___you try, you can’t make it seem funny that many Americans say pandas come from Panama, the Summer Olympic Games were held in Vietnam or___49___ Iraq, and Columbus was trying to get to Europe when he bumped into___ 50___. 36. A. it’s B. the C. their D. a 37. A. write B. fly C. dial D. drive 38. A. somewhere B. anywhere C. anytime D. everywhere 39. A. itself B. themselves C. for themselves D. by itself 40. A. tough B. free C. cruel D. real 41. A. geographically B. especially C. somewhat D. extremely 42. A. and B. or C. which D. while 43. A. dreamed B. consisted C. cheated D. robbed 44. A. dark B. bright C. yellow D. gray 45. A. priority B. inferiority C. short backs D. controversy 46. A. full of B. with C. according to D. out of 47. A. stopped B. followed C. reversed D. appreciated 48. A. how B. if C. whether D. don’t 49. A. may be B. on the contrary C. instead D. maybe 50. A. the Pacific B. Spain C. the Atlantic D. America
ID：9121-11876 Interestingly, __1__ Chaplin came from Britain, he was __2__ popular in other countries than in his own mother country. The truth is that most English people __3__ the Tramp a little __4__. It was generally thought __5__ them that he had __6__ of an eye for the ladies __7__ his clothes gave him an appearance more __8__ an Italian waiter than __9__ else. __10__ the image was not gentleman-like according to many English people. __11__, the silent movies helped Chaplin to __12__ his true nationality from American audiences. He __13__ making a talking movie __14__ 1936 when he __15__ a nonsense language which sounded like no known nationality. He __16__ said he thought of the Tramp __17__ an educated man who had fallen __18__ hard times. The truth is, however, that he was probably popular because he __19__ as character who revolted __20__ the privileged classes. 8 A like B alike C dislike D unlike
