How did Phelps become so good? He was born with the body of a swimmer. He stands 1.87meters high and has a wide wingspan (臂展). He knows how to use his body to full advantage. His hands and feet are like paddles (踏板) in the water and he has a strong kick.

But that’s not all；he also has the heart and will to win. He thinks that anything is possible as long as you put your mind to it.

Swimming is Phelps’ life. Every day he spends five hours in the water, swimming about 11 kilometers. He never takes a day off. This is a young man who knows what he wants.

“If I didn’t swim my best, I’d think about it at school, at dinner, and with my friends. It would drive me crazy,” he said.

“There are no limits (限制). The more you dream, the further you get.”

Michael Phelps started to swim at the age of 5. Guess which stroke (动作) he first tried? The backstroke. It’s because he didn’t want to put his face in the water.

By the age of 7, he had taken part in a lot of swimming competitions. At 11, he met Bob Bowman who saw the kid’s great talent.

Twenty-three-year-old Michael Phelps has become a phenomenon (神话) in swimming.

At the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, he won eight gold medals. That was more than the whole Australian team could put together. He beat (打败) Mark Spitz’s 1972 record of seven wins in the pool at the one Olympics. Phelps has put his name next to seven world records.
    Nine days, 17 games, morning and night he competed and won. He had to beat former (从前的) world record-holders and gold medalists. He had to turn their wins into old news.

40. What’s the best title of this article?

A. Home-coming Day                        B. A Happy Day 

C. The Most Important Event                 D. Home-coming Queen or King

C

39. Who can probably become Home-coming Queen or King?

A. The teacher who is kind to the students.                 
B. The student who is popular with the students.

C. The visitor who is famous to the students.        

D. The player who plays best in the football game.

38. Which of the following is NOT mentioned (提及) on Home-coming Day?

A. To see old friends.                           B. To visit teachers they remember.

C. To watch the football game.                          D. To go home to see their family.

37. When do students begin to do everything for Home-coming?

A. The day before Home-coming.                 B. Many weeks before the day.

C. When the guests arrive.                       D. Several hours before Home-coming.

36. The most important event of the year in high schools and colleges is_______.

A. Home-coming        B. the football game        C. graduation          D. winning the game

In American schools there is something called Home-coming Day. Many high schools and colleges with a football team have a home-coming game. This can be the most important event of the year except graduation (毕业) day. Students plan Home-coming Day for many weeks in advance.

Several days before Home-coming ,students start to decorate (装饰)the school. There are signs to wish luck to the team, and many other signs to welcome all the graduates. Many people still come to Home-coming twenty or thirty years after their graduation.

The members of school clubs build booths (摊位) and sell lemonade, apples and sandwiches. Some clubs help to welcome visitors.

During the day people like to look for teachers that they remember from long ago. Often they see old friends and they talk together about those happy years in school.

Everyone soon comes to watch the football game. When the game is half over, the band (乐队)comes onto the field and plays school songs. Another important moment is when the Home-coming Queen or King appears. All the students vote a most popular student Home-coming Queen or King. It is a great honor to be chosen.

Home-coming is a happy day, but it is not perfect unless the football team wins the game. Even if the team loses, the students still enjoy Home-coming. Some stay at the school to dance, and others go to a party. For everyone it is a day worth remembering.

35. What do you think is the possible answer for the father?

A. The father should let the son alone.

B. The father should give his son a beating.

C. The father should allow his son his freedom.

D. The father should be patient enough to have communication with the son.

B