情系乒乓

甘肃 马 斐

坚持打乒乓球使“我”发生了巨大的改变……

主题语境：人与自我 篇幅：344词 建议用时：7分钟

1I was first introduced to table tennis when I was 13. I still remember my first few attempts when the racket (球拍) and the ball just didn't seem to meet!

2I am not a person who can be called “talented”at sports. I was a fat and clumsy （不灵活的） kid back then. However, something about table tennis pulled me towards the sport, though I was not good at it. As days went by, I learned new techniques and became one of the best players in my school. It became my stress buster.The changes I experienced in the process of learning to play this game are as follows.

3I was no longer clumsy. My balance and attention improved. My posture was much better, and I could finally carry things without the fear of dropping them. My holding ability was stronger and my response movement also improved. This is because the sport requires much concentration and swift movements and adjustments.

4I was no longer fat. I was so determined to become a better player that I devoted almost all my free time to table tennis. All those hours wasted on watching TV and playing video games were all spent on playing table tennis then. I lost weight and thus became fit. My physical and mental strength increased, and I felt better than ever!

5I paid more attention in class. Long hours of playing table tennis improved my attention, as the game requires you to pay attention to your opponent's shots and watch the ball closely. I was more observant of my surroundings than before.

6I could handle pressure. The competitive nature of the sport taught me how to react to different situations in a short time. I became used to being in high pressure situations, so I could also handle my academics, projects and extra-curricular activities well.

7Apart from these, I developed my social skills, learned to develop strategies to deal with different situations, and most importantly, learned to accept defeat. So, table tennis is one game that I recommend everyone to play at least once.

Reading Check

1. What does the underlined word “buster” in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A. Producer. B. Destroyer. C. Connector. D. Receiver.

2. What can be learned about playing table tennis according to the text?

A. It requires great talent.

B. It should be learned before 13.

C. It may increase players' pressure.

D. It requires concentration and adjustments.

3. What does paragraph 4 focus on about playing table tennis?

A. Its influence on health.

B. Its influence on study.

C. Its influence on social communication.

D. Its influence on dealing with difficulties.

4. What's the text?

A. A news report. B. A book review.

C. A sporting story. D. A scientific study.

Language Study

运动的影响相关表达

1. I was no longer clumsy. 我不再是个笨手笨脚的人了。

2. I was so determined to become a better player that I devoted almost all my free time to table tennis. 我决心要成为一名更好的球员，所以我几乎把所有的空闲时间都花在了乒乓球上。

3. All those hours wasted on watching TV and playing video games were all spent on playing table tennis then. 所有那些浪费在看电视和玩电子游戏上的时间后来都花在打乒乓球上了。

4. I lost weight and thus became fit. 我减重了，因此也健康了。

5. I was more observant of my surroundings than before. 我比以前更善于观察我周围的环境。

6. The competitive nature of the sport taught me how to react to different situations in a short time. 这项运动的竞争性质教会我如何在短时间内对不同的情况作出反应。

7. Apart from these, I developed my social skills, learned to develop strategies to deal with different situations, and most importantly, learned to accept defeat. 除此之外，我还发展了自己的社交技能，学会了制定策略以应对不同的情况，最重要的是，我学会了接受失败。