Question

Cheerleading is the fastest growing girls' sport, yet more than half of Americans do not believe it is a sport. Actually, competitive cheerleading is a sport.

A sport is a “physical activity against/with an opponent, governed by rules and conditions under which a winner is declared, and the primary purpose of the competition is a comparison of the relative skills of the participants. "Because cheerleading follows these guidelines, it is a sport.

Competitive cheerleading includes lots of physical activities. Like gymnasts, cheerleaders must learn to tumble (翻滚) . They perform lifts and tosses. This is where the "flied' are thrown in the air, held by "bases" in different positions that require strength and cooperation with other teammates.

Just as basketball and football have guidelines for competitive play, so does competitive cheerleading. The whole routine has to be completed in less than 3 minutes and 15 seconds and the cheerleaders are required to stay within a certain area.

Competitive cheerleaders' goal is to be the best. Just like gymnasts, they are awarded points for difficulty, creativity and sharpness. The more difficult a mount, the sharper the motions, the better the score. Cheerleading is a team sport so without cooperation, first place is out of reach.

Cheerleading is the number-one cause of serious sports injuries to women. Emergency room visits for cheerleading are five times the number of those for any other sport, partially because they do not wear protective gear. While many athletes are equipped with hip pads or helmets, smiling cheerleaders are tossed into the air and spiral down into the arms of trusted teammates. The fliersmust remain tight at all times so that their bases can catch them safely. Also, because cheerleading is not yet recognized as a sport by many schools, neither proper matting nor high enough ceilings are provided to ensure safety. Instead, the girls use whatever space is available. More recognition of competitive cheerleading as a sport would decrease the number of injuries.

So why do many Americans not think cheerleading is a sport? Some people argue that cheerleaders are just "flirts in skirts" with their only job to entertain the crowd, but cheerleaders today work just as hard as other athletes.

Hopefully, cheerleading will become as well-known a sport as football and basketball, and even appear in the Olympics since cheerleaders are just as athletic and physically fit as those involved in the more accepted sports.

1.What does the underlined word "bases" in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A. Strength and cooperation.

B. Lifts and tosses.

C. Supporting teammates.

D. Physical activities

2.Gymnasts are mentioned in the passage to _

A. explain the dangers of cheerleading

B. show their similarities with cheerleaders

C. suggest cheerleaders learn to do gymnastics

D. present the guidelines of gymnastic movements

3.It can be learned from the passage that cheerleading

A. is a good sport for all people

B. lacks necessary guidelines to follow

C. is more than a form of entertainment

D. enjoys greater popularity than other sports

4.This passage is written mainly to

A attract more girls to cheerleading

B draw people's attention to cheerleading

C call for more recognition of competitive cheerleading as a sport

D criticize some Americans who do not think cheerleading as a sport

 

Answer 1

1.C

2.B

3.C

4.C

【解析】

试题分析:本文是一篇论述文，通过介绍啦啦队的具体活动来呼吁人们要把啦啦队的活动列为一项体育运动。啦啦队是以团队形式出现的，并且结合舞蹈、口号、舞伴特技，包括托举等难度动作和技巧，他们还要遵守比赛规则中对性别、人数、时间等的限制。

1.that require strength and cooperation with other teammates.

中的other teammates可以推测该词意思是指啦啦队的“队员”，选C。

2.细节理解题。根据第三段 Like gymnasts, cheerleaders must learn to tumble (翻滚) . They perform lifts and tosses. 和第四段Just like gymnasts, they are awarded points for difficulty, creativity and sharpness.可知啦啦队的队员要和体操运动员一样学会翻滚等动作，他们有着相似的地方，故答案选B。

3.推理判断题。根据文章对拉拉队员的要求和他们的表演动作以及倒数第二段but cheerleaders today work just as hard as other athletes以及末段…… since cheerleaders are just as athletic and physically fit as those involved in the more accepted sports.可知啦啦队的活动已经不只是表演了，故答案选C。

4. 主旨大意题。作者在文章开头提出Actually, competitive cheerleading is a sport.然后介绍了如今啦啦队的一些具体要求和活动，然后在文章最后又重申自己的论点Hopefully, cheerleading will become as well-known a sport as football and basketball, and even appear in the Olympics……，由此判断文章中心内容是通过介绍来引起人们对啦啦队的重视，呼吁人们要把这项活动去当做一项运动，选C。

考点：考查社会生活类短文阅读