Running a marathon (马拉松)
Have you ever taken part in a marathon? A marathon is 42km long. It is the longest race in the world. To make the runner’s body work, harder training is quite necessary. A runner should start to prepare for a marathon at least three months before. Preparation may have races, many hours of running at different speeds and changes in diet(饮食). During the training time the runner must eat a fit diet.  The diet should have lots of things needed in training the players.
In the early days of training, runners run 80km per week. The running is increased every two or three weeks and at least two long runs per week are needed.
Two weeks before the marathon, the training programme becomes less, from 100km per week down to 60km and then to 30km in the final week. On the last two days they may not run at all.
Breakfast should be eaten at least three hours before the race.  Easily digested(消化) food such as cereal(麦), toast(烤面包) and scrambled(捣碎) egg is best,  with as much fluid(液体) as possible.  Runners should drink water about half an hour before the race to keep up the body fluid. 
【小题1】According to the passage, when should a marathon runner begin his training?

　　The earth goes ____6____ the sun. It takes one year for the earth to do that. And at the same time the earth ____7____ is spinning（旋转）around once every twenty-four ___8_____ .

　　The sun gives light. It keeps us ____9____ . It makes things grow. We can't ___10_____ without（没有）the sun.

（　）1. A. walking　　  B. laughing　　　　　　　　   C. shining　　　　　　　　　　 D. resting

（　）2. A. feel　　　　    B. see　　　　　　　　　　　　  C. hear　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. learn

（　）3. A. throws　　   B. gives　　　　　　　　　　    C. shows　　　　　　　　　　 D. sells

（　）4. A. real　　　　    B. important　　　　　　　　 C. easy　　　　　　　　　　    D. difficult

（　）5. A. watches　　 B. looks　　　　　　　　　　   C. has　　　　　　　　　　　　  D. wants

（　）6. A. round　　    B. near　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. by　　　　　　　　　　　　   D. above

（　）7. A. he　　　　　　 B. himself　　　　　　　　　　 C. it　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 D. itself

（　）8. A. months　　  B. weeks　　　　　　　　　　  C. days　　　　　　　　　　    D. hours

（　）9. A. hot　　　　    B. cold　　　　　　　　　　　　 C. warm　　　　　　　　　　  D. cool

（　）10. A. play　　　　 B. live　　　　　　　　　　　　  C. eat　　　　　　　　　　　　   D. drink

　　America is a very large country, but traveling there is really very quick and easy. When you are paying a visit to the USA and want to see as much of the (1) as possible, you'd better travel by bus. There is fast 2 service between cities, for example, the Greyhound Bus Service. All of its buses have a picture of a dog on the side. Some buses have two storeys（层）. The top covering of the bus is often made of glass. In the summer time, the heat of the sun will get in (3) the glass and you may (4) too hot. Although the buses are cooled by air-conditioner（空调）, it doesn't (5) work well because the sunshine on the top storey is too (6) . The seats are very soft. Over each seat there is a reading light. On the long-distance journey, stops are made for meals at roadside (7) . You can have enough time to stretch your legs and have a good taste of food. It takes about three and a half (8) to cross America by bus with short stops for meals. Many people, especially tourists, like to (9) a bus around the country. If you have chances to visit America, don't (10) to try a bus.