A
(2020·河北衡水中学高三第一次联考)Being highly successful in any field is pretty rare. It takes a combination of natural talent, luck, determination, and plenty of outside support for someone to make it big in sports, entertainment, or business. But what if competing is all that matters to you, whether you are likely to succeed or not? This was the goal of Michael Eddie the Eagle Edwards, and that he reached that goal was an amazing achievement.
Born in the UK in 1963, Michael was an enthusiastic downhill skier whose dream was to compete for Britain in worldclass competitions. He would have liked to represent his country in the 1984 Winter Olympics, but there were a large number of downhill competitors, and Edwards didn't qualify. Seeing his chance elsewhere, he switched to ski jumping. Ski jumping didn't cost nearly as much, and there was almost no competition for a place on the Britain team.
But a number of hurdles (障碍) could have meant the end of Edwards' dream. He weighed more than most competitors, which put him at a disadvantage. He had no financialsupport for his training. Poor eyesight meant that he had to wear glasses under his goggles (护目镜)—not a good thing when they steamed up at high altitudes. But he couldn't let any of this discourage him. He saw himself as a true lover of the sport who simply wanted the chance to compete. Winning wasn't the point. Having the opportunity to try was all he cared about. And nothing could stop him from trying.
In the end, Edwards took 55th place in the 1987 World Championships. He then went on to the Calgary Olympics in 1988, where he finished last in both of his events. Many athletes would have been embarrassed by this result, but he was proud of his achievement to this day. His determination to fight against all the odds made him a global hero, and in 2016, the inspiring film Eddie the Eagle was made about his life.
篇章导读：本文是一篇记叙文。文章介绍了一位英国运动员Michael Edwards，他热爱运动，认为比赛的目的是重在参与，而不仅仅是赢得比赛。
1．What is the purpose of the first paragraph?
A．To add some background information.
B．To uncover the secret of success.
C．To expect an answer from readers.
D．To introduce the topic.
答案：D 推理判断题。本段中作者通过对比提问，引出本文的话题人物，故答案为D。
2．Why did Michael Edwards choose ski jumping?
A．It took less skill.
B．The equipment was cheaper.
C．There was little competition.
D．It was easy to win the championship.
答案：C 细节理解题。由第二段最后两句可知，如果Edwards选择滑冰可以很容易进入英国队，故答案为C。
3．After the Calgary Olympics, Edwards .
A．felt he had reached his goal
B．was embarrassed by his results
C．switched to film making
D．was glad it was over
答案：A 推理判断题。由最后一段中的“..., but he was proud of his achievement to this day”可知Edwards对自己的表现和结果很满意，由此可推知，他认为自己已经实现了目标，故答案为A。
4．What made Michael Edwards outstanding?
A．His determination to win.
B．His enthusiasm for the sport.
C．His attitude towards the Olympics.
D．His ability to overcome physical disabilities.
答案：B 推理判断题。由全文可知，Edwards热爱运动，认为参加比赛的目的是重在参与而不仅仅是赢得比赛，故答案为B。
【词汇积累】 ①enthusiastic adj. 热情的；满腔热忱的 ②switch v. (使)改变，转变 ③World Championships 世界锦标赛
【佳句背诵】 It takes a combination of natural talent, luck, determination, and plenty of outside support for someone to make it big in sports, entertainment, or business.
要想在体育、娱乐或商业领域取得成功，需要天赋、运气、决心和大量的外部支持。
