preparation
n. the act or process of preparing 准备

be ashamed of
feeling foolish or uncomfortable because of (sth.) 因…感到难为情

finger-tipped
a. using or operated by the fingers 用手的

push-up
n. (AmE) 俯卧撑

runway
n. 跑道

startle▲
vt. give a sudden shock or surprise to 使大吃一惊

bale
n. （一）大捆，（一）大包

hay
n. 干草

intensity
n. the state of being intense 强烈、剧烈，紧张

anxiety
n. a feeling of worry or fear 忧虑，担心

tension
n. worry or nervousness 紧张，不安

tense
a. feeling worried or nervous; making people worried or nervous 紧张的；令人紧张的

along with
together with 连同

stretch out
伸展

breeze
n. 微风，轻风

deafen
vt. make (sb.) unable to hear, esp. for a short time 使聋

deaf
a. unable to hear at all or to hear well 耳聋的

sprint
vi. run at one's fastest speed, esp. for a short distance 疾跑

take-off
n. 起跳；（飞机）起飞

effortless
a. needing little or no effort 容易的，不费力气的

eruption
n. 爆发

erupt▲ vi.

thump
n. (noise made by) a heavy blow 重击（声）

bring (sb.) back to earth
使回到现实中

in one's mind's eye
在想象中

congratulate
vt. 祝贺

media
n. 大众传播媒介

sponsorship
n. 资助；赞助

Proper Names

David Naster
大卫·纳史特

the Olympics = Olympic Games 奥林匹克运动会

Michael
迈克尔（男子名）

Bert
伯特（男子名，Albert, Herbert, Bertram 的昵称，亦作Burt）

Mildred
米尔德里德（女子名）

Language sense Enhancement

1. Read aloud paragraphs 9-10 and learn them by heart.
2. Read aloud the following poem written by the American deaf-blind writer and educationist, Helen Keller (1880-1968).

Facing Fate
Helen keller

Security is mostly a superstition.
It does not exist in nature,
nor do the children or men as a whole experience it.
Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run
than outright exposure.
Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.
To keep our faces toward change and
behave like free spirits
in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.

3. Read the following quotations. Learn them by heart if you can. You might need to look up new words in a dictionary.

Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it.
—— Helen Keller

No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.
—— William Penn

All rising to great place is by a winding stair.
——Francis bacon

If we face our tasks with the resolution to solve them, who shall say that anything is impossible.
—— Wilfred Grenfell

4. Read the following humorous story for fun. You might need to look up new words in a dictionary.

A missionary unexpectedly met a lion in the jungle. Not seeing any way to escape, he fell to his knees in prayer. He was comforted by seeing the lion kneeling next to him.

" Dear Brother, how delightful to join you in prayer when only a moment ago I feared for my life," the missionary said.

" Don't interrupt," said the lion, "I'm just saying grace."