大学生英语比赛试题

千里之行，始于足下。第2页/共2页精品文档推荐大学生英语比赛试题大学生英语比赛试题Companynumber：【0089WT-8898YT-W8CCB-BUUT-202108】

2008年全国大学生英语比赛样题(C级)

PartIListeningComprehension(25minutes,30marks)

SectionA(5marks)

Directions:Inthissection,youwillhear5shortconversations.Attheendofeachconversation,aquestionwillbeaskedaboutwhatwassaid.Boththeconversationandthequestionwillbereadonlyonce.Aftereachquestion,therewillbeapause.Duringthepause,youmustreadthethreechoicesmarkedA,BandC,anddecidewhichisthebestanswer.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletterontheAnswerSheetwithasinglelinethroughthecentre.

1.A.Themanisnotsuitablefortheposition.B.Thejobhasbeengiventosomeoneelse.

C.Shehadn'treceivedtheman'sapplication.

2.A.Heisgoingtoseehissectionchief.B.Heisgoingtohaveajobinterview.C.Heisgoingtoseehisgirlfriend.

3.A.Asktoseetheman'sIDcard.B.Getthebriefcasefortheman.C.Showthemanherdocuments.

4.A.Thedormroomistoocrowded.B.Thereisnokitcheninthebuilding.C.Noonelooksafterthedormbuilding.

5.A.Shewasalwaysingoodshape.B.Shestoppedexercisingoneyearago.C.Shelostalotofweightinoneyear.

SectionB(10marks)

Directions:Inthissection,youwillheartwolongconversations.Eachconversationwillbereadonlyonce.Attheendofeachconversation,therewillbeaone-minutepause.Duringthepause,youmustreadthefivequestions,eachwiththreechoicesmarkedA,BandC,anddecidewhichisthebestanswer.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletterontheAnswerSheetwithasinglelinethroughthecentre.

ConversationOne

6.WhatissoontoopeninChina

A.TheFrenchMovieFestival.

B.TheFrenchCulturalYear.

C.TheFrenchFoodFestival.

7.Howmanyexhibitionswillbeheldforthisactivity

A...100.

8.WhatwillbeheldatthefootoftheGreatWall

A.TheCityConcert.

B.TheOpeningCeremony.

C.TheGreatLunch.9.Whichofthefollowingcitiesisnotincludedinthisactivity

A.Chongqing.

B.Wuhan.

C.Shenzhen.

10.Whatwillcertainlymakegreatcontributionstothisactivity

A.Internet.

B.TVshows.

C.Newspapers.

ConversationTwo

11.Whatsoundmorelikeanativespeakerinacasualconversation

A.Examples.

B.Verbs.

C.Idioms.

12.Whichofthefollowingsoundsmoreinformalandmorenatural

A.Gettogether.

B.Meet.

C.See.

13.Whichofthefollowingmeansthatyoucannotinterruptme

A.I'mtiedup.

B.Ihavealotonmyplate.

C.I'mbusy.

14.InAmericanculture,whatisconsideredimportantinaconversation

A.Usingproperlanguage

B.Makingeyecontact.

C.Lookingatyourownfeet.

15.Inbusiness,howmightAmericansfeelaboutyouifyouarelookingaway

A.You'refeelingashamed.

B.You'retellingthetruth.

C.You'retellingalie.

SectionC(5marks)

Directions:Inthissection,youwillhear5shortnewsitems.Aftereachitem,therewillbeapause.Duringthepause,youmustreadthequestionandthenthethreechoicesmarkedA,BandC,anddecidewhichisthebestanswer.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletterontheAnswerSheetwithasinglelinethroughthecentre.

16.Howlongwillittakefornewforeststogrowback

A.65years.

B.20years.

C.40years.

17.WhatdidJimmyCarterplantofocushiseffortsonafterleavingtheWhiteHousein1981

A.Apresidentiallibrary.

B.CampDavid.

C.Winningasecondterm.18.WhatwasregardedasthelifebloodofthecountryoftheMaldives

A.Oil.

B.Agriculture.

C.Tourism.

19.Whatisresponsibleforthedeathofmanypeopleindevelopingcountries

A.Thedevelopmentofresistancetodiseases.

B.Thedifficultytocurenewemergingdiseases.

C.Theinabilityofthepoortoaffordmedicine.

20.Whatreleasedanestimatedmilliontonsoftheglobalwarminggas

A.Cars.

B.Wildfires.

C.Wars.

SectionD(10marks)

Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearashortpassage.Therearetenmissingwordsorphrasesinit.Fillintheblankswiththeexactwordsyouhearonthetape.RemembertowritetheanswersontheAnswerSheet.

AresearchersaysleadintheenviroXXXentcouldbeamajorcauseofviolencebyyoungpeople.DoctorHerbertNeedlemanisa(21)________attheUniversityofPittsburghSchoolofMedicineinPennsylvaniaandhe(22)________hisfindingsattheyearlymeetingoftheAmericanAssociationfortheAdvancementofScience.DoctorNeedlemansaysthepresenceofleadinthe(23)________changestheneuronsthatcontrolactionsandthatcancauseapersontoactinantisocialand(24)________ways.

Inthe1970s,DoctorNeedlemanfoundlowerscoreson(25)________eveninchildrenwhodidnothavesuchsignsofleadpoisoning.Afterthat,leadwas(26)________gasolineandpaintintheUnitedStates.Yetmanyhomesstillhaveoldleadpaint.Leadwasalsousedinolder(27)

________.Infact,officialsjustannouncedstrongertestingandreportingrequirementsasfromnextyearforleadinAmericandrinkingwater.

Thenewestresearchshowsthatevenverysmallamountsofleadinbonescanaffectbraindevelopment.Asimple(28)________canmeasureleadexceptthatanX-rayprocessisneededtomeasurelevelsinbone.In2004,suchtestsweredoneon190youngpeoplewhowere(29)

________andthefindingsshowedthattheiraveragelevelswerehigherthannormal.And,in1998,threehundredchildrenwerestudiedandthetestscoresshowedhigherlevelsof(30)

________problemsinthosewithincreasedlevelsoflead.YettheselevelswerestillconsideredsafebythegoverXXXent.

PartIIVocabularyandStructure(10minutes,15marks)

Directions:Thereare15incompletesentencesinthispart.ForeachblanktherearefourchoicesmarkedA,B,CandD.Choosetheonethatbestcompletesthesentence.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletterontheAnswerSheetwithasinglelinethroughthecentre.

31.Sonervous________thatshedidn'tknowhowtostartherspeech.

A.sinceshebecame

B.wouldshebecome

C.thatshebecame

D.didshebecome

32.He________anothercareerbut,atthetime,hejustwantedtoearnmoneytostudyabroad.

A.mighthavechosen

B.mightchoose

C.hadtochoose

D.musthavechosen

33.Thesecondreportwas________byAugust2005,butoneyearlateritwasstillnowhereinsight.

A.submitted

B.tohavesubmitted

C.tosubmit

D.tohavebeensubmitted

34.Inthisexperiment,thestudentsstudiedarestoppedseveraltimesduringthelisteningtestandaskedtoreportwhatthey________duringthepausebeforeansweringthequestions.

A.hadjustbeenthinkingabout

B.havejustbeenthinkingabout

C.arejustthinkingabout

D.hadjustthoughtabout

35.Iwasalwaystaughtthatitwas________tointerrupt.

A.rude

B.coarse

C.rough

D.crude

36.Smallboysare________questioners.Theyaskquestionsallthetime.

A.original

B.peculiar

C.imaginative

D.persistent

37.Weregrettoinformyouthatthematerialsyouorderedare________.

A.outofwork

B.outofreach

C.outofstock

D.outofpractice

38.Thebombwill________themomentitistouched.

A.goon

B.gooff

C.goout

D.goover

39.Thecarwon't________;I'vetrieditseveraltimes,butitwon'twork.

A.begin

B.launch

C.start

D.drive

40.Childrenandoldpeopledonotlikehavingtheirdaily________upset.

A.habit

B.routine

C.practice

D.custom

41.Inyourfirstfewdaysatschoolyou'llbegivenatesttohelptheteachersto________youto

aclassatyourlevel.

A.locate

B.assign

C.deliver

D.place

42.Chinaonlystarteditsnuclearpowerindustryinrecentyears,andshould________notimeincatchingup.

C.spare

D.relieve

43.—Youdidanexcellentjobyesterday,Jim!Ireallyenjoyedyourpresentation.—________—Ohyeah,itwasfabulous.ItseemstheEnglishprogramisagreatwaytopracticeEnglish.—Yeah.Itisfunandmotivating.

A.Didyoureally

B.Oh,thankyou.Youaresokind.

C.ReallyWhataboutyours

D.Notatall.Mypleasure.

44.—Whatkindofmusicdoyoulike

—Well,Ilikedifferentkinds.

—________

—Er,Iespeciallylikepunkrock.

A.Ibegyourpardon

B.Areyouserious

C.Anyinparticular

D.Whydoyouthinkso

45.—Howdidyoulikethefashionshowlastnight

—________—Ididn'tseeanythingwrongwiththeclothes;theylookedprettynicetome.—Doyoureallythinkpeoplecanwearthatstuffandwalkaroundinstreets

A.Impressive.It'sagoodwaytoshowoffwomen'ssenseofstyleandwealth.

B.Itwascool.Theclothesaremorebeautifulthanthepeoplewearingthem.

C.Nothingserious.It'sonlyashowtoattracttheeyesoffashionfans.

D.Itwasdumb.Ithinkit'sstupidforwomentowearclotheslikethat.

PartIIIReadingComprehension(20minutes,40marks)

SectionA(4marks)

Directions:Thereisonepassageinthissectionwith4questions.Foreachquestion,therearefourchoicesmarkedA,B,CandD.Youshoulddecideonthebestchoice.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletterontheAnswerSheetwithasinglelinethroughthecentre.

Questions46-49arebasedonthefollowingpassage.

Theabilityto“see”oneselfinthefutureisaremarkablehumantrait-somewouldsayunique-thatisnotwellunderstood.That'sdespitethefactthatweprobablyspendasmuchtimethinkingaboutthefutureaswedothinkingaboutthepresent.

NownewresearchfromWashingtonUniversityinSt.Louissuggeststhatit'spreciselybecausewecanrememberthepastthatwecanvisualizethefuture.“Ourfindingsprovideconvincingsupportfortheideathatmemoryandfuturethoughtarehighlyinterrelatedandhelpexplainwhyfuturethoughtmaybeimpossiblewithoutmemories,”saysdoctoralcandidateKarlSzpunar.Thefindingsareconsistentwithotherresearchshowingthatpersonswithlittlememoryofthepast,suchasyoungchildrenorindividualssufferingfromlossofmemory,arelessabletoseethemselvesinthefuture.

Theresearchersbasetheirconclusionsonbrainscansof21collegestudentswhowerecuedtothinkaboutsomethingintheirpast,andanticipatethesameeventinthefuture,likeabirthdayorgettinglost.Theexperimentwascarriedoutaseachstudentlayontheirstomachinamagneticresonanceimagingmachine,adreadfulbutveryusefulpieceofequipmentthatcanshowwhichareasofthebrainarestimulatedduringspecificthoughtprocesses.

ThestudentswerealsoaskedtopictureformerPresidentBillClintoninapastandfuturesetting.Clintonwaschosenbecausehewaseasilyrecognizedandfamiliartoallthestudents.

Theresearchersfounda“surprisinglycompleteoverlap”amongregionsofthebrainusedforrememberingthestudent'spastandthoseusedforpicturingthefuture.Andeveryregioninvolvedinrememberingwasalsousedinanticipatingthefuture.

Inshort,theresearchersisolatedtheareaofthebrainthat“litup”whenthestudentsthoughtaboutaneventintheirownpast.Andmoreimportantly,thatsamearealitupagainwhentheythoughtaboutasimilareventintheirfuture.Infact,theresearchersreportthatthebrainactivitywassosimilarinbothcasesthatitwas“indistinguishable.”

ThefindingswerereinforcedwhenstudentsimaginedBillClinton.Sincenoneofthemknewhimpersonally,theirmemorieswerenotautobiographical.Andthebrainscansshowed“significantlyless”correlationbetweenmemoriesofhavingseenpicturesofClintonintheWhiteHouseandprojectinghimintothefuture.

Sothis“timemachine,”astheresearchersdescribeit,allowsustousethepasttoseeourselvesinthefuture,andbothourmemoriesandouranticipationareinterdependent.

46.Aremarkablehumantraitthatisnotwellunderstoodistheability________.

A.tothinkaboutthepast

B.toseethefuture

C.torememberthepast

D.tocontrolthepresent

47.Thefindingssupportthat________.

A.futuregoalswillgreatlyinfluenceaperson'spresentperformance

B.aperson'spresentperformanceisdeterminedbyhis/herpastknowledge

C.futurethoughtdependstoagreatdegreeonthememoryofthepast

D.presentthoughtisimpossiblewithouttheabilitytoimaginethefuture

48.Theconclusionoftheexperimentonstudentswasthat________.

A.thestudentscouldpicturethemselvesbetterthanBillClintoninapastandfuturesetting

B.thestudentscouldimaginethemselvesaswellasBillClintoninapastandfuturesetting

C.thestudentscouldanticipateBillClintonbetterthanthemselvesinapastandfuturesetting

D.thestudentscouldonlypicturethemselvesinapastandfuturesettingbutnotBillClinton

49.This“timemachine”inthelastparagraphmostprobablyrefersto________.

A.clock

B.brainscanning

C.magneticresonanceimaging

D.memory

SectionB(14marks)

Directions:Thereisonepassageinthissectionwith10questions.GooverthepassagequicklyandanswerthequestionsontheAnswerSheet.Forquestions50-55,markY(forYES)ifthestatementagreeswiththeinformationgiveninthepassage;N(forNO)ifthestatementcontradictstheinformationgiveninthepassage;NG(forNOTGIVEN)iftheinformationisnotgiveninthepassage.Forquestions56-59,completethesentenceswiththeinformationgiveninthepassage.

VisitingtheWhiteHouse

WhiteHouseToursPublictoursoftheWhiteHouseareavailableforgroupsof10ormorepeople.Requestsmustbesubmittedthroughone'sMemberofCongressandareaccepteduptosixmonthsinadvance.Theseself-guidedtoursareavailablefrom7:30a.m.to12:30.TuesdaythroughSaturday,andarescheduledonafirstcome,firstservedbasisapproximatelyonemonthinadvanceoftherequesteddate.Weencourageyoutosubmityourrequestasearlyaspossiblesincealimitednumberoftoursareavailable.AllWhiteHousetoursarefreeofcharge.Forthemostcurrenttourinformation,pleasecallthe24-hourlineat202-456-7041.PleasenotethatWhiteHousetoursmaybesubjecttolastminutecancellation.

WhiteHouseVisitorCenter

AlltoursaresignificantlyenhancedifvisitorsstopbytheWhiteHouseVisitorCenterlocatedatthesoutheastcornerof15thandEStreets,beforeoraftertheirtour.TheCenterisopensevendaysaweekfrom7:30a.m.until4:00.andfeaturesmanyaspectsoftheWhiteHouse,includingitsarchitecture,furnishings,firstfamilies,socialevents,andrelationswiththepressandworldleaders,aswellasathirty-minutevideo.Allowbetween20minutestoonehourtoexploretheexhibits.TheWhiteHouseHistoricalAssociationalsosponsorsasalesarea.Pleasenotethatrestroomsareavailable,butfoodserviceisnot.

Mobility-Impaired/UsingaWheelchair

GuestsrequiringtheloanofawheelchairshouldnotifytheofficerattheVisitorsEntranceBuildinguponarrival.

Wheelchairsloansareofferedonafirst-come,first-servedbasis.Reservationsarenotpossible.

Visitorsinwheelchairs,orwithothermobilitydisabilities,ontheCongressionalguidedorself-guidedtours,between8:00a.m.and12noon,usethesameVisitorentranceand,withuptofourmembersoftheirparty,areadmittedwithoutwaitinginlineandwithouttickets.

Visitorsinwheelchairsareescortedbyrampfromtheentranceleveltothegroundfloor,andbyelevatorfromthegroundtothestatefloor.Guestsgenerallywaitinlinewiththeirfamilyorgroup.

Hearing-Impaired

Toursforhearing-impairedgroupsmaybearrangedinadvancebywritingtotheVisitorsOffice,WhiteHouse,Washington,DC20502.Toursareusuallyscheduledat9:30.,betweentheCongressionalandpublictourtimes.ParticipantsenterattheEastAppointmentgate.A.SecretService/UniformedDivisionTourOfficerconductsthetourinsignlanguage.Signedtoursareavailabletogroupsof8to20.Groupsarealsoencouragedtobringtheirowninterpreters.

Signinginterpretationisalsoavailableforindividualvisitorswithadvancenotice.ACongressionalofficefirstissuesguidedtourticketstoaguestwhoishearing-impairedandthencontactstheVisitorsOfficeatleast2weeksinadvancetorequestinterpreterservice.

TheVisitorsOfficeTDD(telephonedeviceforthedeaf)is202-456-2121.Messagesmaybeleftoutsidenormalbusinesshours.

Visually-Impaired

Toursforvisually-impairedgroupsmaybearrangedinadvancebywritingtotheVisitorsOffice,WhiteHouse,Washington,DC20502.Thetoursareusuallyscheduledat9:30.,betweentheCongressionalandpublictourtimes.ParticipantsenterattheEastAppointmentgate.A.SecretService/UniformedDivisionTourOfficerpermitsvisitorstotouchspecificobjectsintheHouse.Touchtoursarecurrentlyavailableonlytogroupsof8to20,nottoindividualvisitors.GuideanimalsarepermittedintheWhiteHouse.

GeneralTourInformation

AllWhiteHousetoursarefree.Changesintourschedulesareoccasionallymadebecauseofofficialevents.Noticemaynotbegivenuntilthatmorning.TheVisitorsOffice24-hourInformationLinerecordingat202-456-7041providesthemostup-to-dateinformation.TheTDDis202-456-2121.Visitorsshouldconfirmtourschedulesbycallingtheinformationlinethenightbeforeandthemorningthattheyplantovisit.Itisoccasionallynecessarytocloseindividualroomsonthetour;however,noticeaboutclosedroomsisnotpossible.

ProhibitedItems

Prohibiteditemsinclude,butarenotlimitedto,thefollowing:handbags,bookbags,backpacks,purses,foodandbeveragesofanykind,strollers,cameras,videorecordersoranytypeofrecordingdevice,tobaccoproducts,personalgroomingitems(make-up,hairbrushorcomb,liporhandlotions,etc.),anypointedobjects(pens,knittingneedles,etc.),aerosolcontainers,guns,ammunition,fireworks,electricstunguns,mace,martialartsweapons/devices,orknivesofanysize.The.SecretServicereservestherighttoprohibitanyotherpersonalitems.Umbrellas,wallets,cellphonesandcarkeysarepermitted.

Pleasenotethatnostoragefacilitiesareavailableonoraroundthecomplex.IndividualswhoarrivewithprohibiteditemswillnotbepermittedtoentertheWhiteHouse.

Parking

TheclosestMetrorailstationstotheWhiteHouseareFederalTriangle(blueandorangelines),MetroCenter(blue,orange,andredlines)andMcPhersonSquare(blueandorangelines).On-streetparkingisnotavailableneartheWhiteHouse,anduseofpublictransportationisstronglyencouraged.

Restrooms/PublicTelephones

ThenearestrestroomsandpublictelephonestotheWhiteHouseareintheEllipseVisitorPavilion(theparkareasouthoftheWhiteHouse)andintheWhiteHouseVisitorCenter.RestroomsorpublictelephonesarenotavailableattheWhiteHouse.

50.BothCongressionalguidedandself-guidedtoursneedtobescheduledinadvance.51.AllWhiteHousetoursarefreeofchargeexceptonfederalholidays.52.TheWhiteHouseVisitorCenterprovidesfreedrinksbutnotfoodservice.53.WheelchairreservationserviceisprovidedbytheofficerattheVisitorsEntranceBuilding.54.Hearing-impairedvisitorscanrequestsigninginterpretationservicefromtheVisitorsOffice.55.Touchtoursarecurrentlyonlyofferedtovisually-impairedgroupsof8to20.56.Sometimesofficialeventsmakeitnecessarytoclose________________withoutnotice.57.ThepersonalitemspermittedtobecarriedintotheWhiteHouseare________________.58.Thetransportationvisitorsare

encouragedtouseis________________.59.InsidetheWhiteHouse,visitorscannotfindoruserestroomsor________________.

SectionC(10marks)

Directions:Inthissection,thereisonepassagefollowedby5questions.Readthepassagecarefully,thenanswerthequestionsinasfewwordsaspossible(notmorethan10words).RemembertowritetheanswersontheAnswerSheet.

Questions60-64arebasedonthefollowingpassage.

Ifyouwereonadistantplanet,andifyouhadinstrumentsthatcouldtellyouthecompositionofEarth'satmosphere,howwouldyouknowtherewaslifeonthisplanet

Waterintheatmospherewouldsuggesttherecouldbewateronthesurface,andasweallknowwaterisconsideredcrucialtolife.Butwaterwouldonlysuggestthatlifeispossible.Itwouldn'tproveit'sthere.

CarbonThatbasiccomponentof“lifeasweknowit”Notnecessarily.Adiamondispurecarbon,anditmaybepretty,butitisn'talive.

WhatreallysetsEarthapartisnitrogen,whichmakesup80percentoftheplanet'satmosphere.Andit'sthereonlybecausethereisabundantlifeonEarth,sayscientistsattheUniversityofSouthernCalifornia.

ThereportgrewoutofaclassdiscussiontwoyearsagoinacoursetaughtbyCaponeandKennethNealson,professorofearthsciences.Studentswereaskedtocomeupwithdifferentideasaboutsearchingforlifeonotherplanets.Whatisadistinct“signature,”asCaponeputsit,thatwouldshowthereislifeonanotherplanet

That'saquestionthathasbeenkickedaroundinmanyquartersinrecentdecades,especiallysincealleffortstofindsomeformoflife,nomatterwhetheronMarsorinthedistantreachesofspace,havefailed.Atleastsofar.

ThecurrentefforttosearchforsomeevidenceoflifeonMarsfocusesprimarilyonthesearchforwater,becauseithaslongbeenbelievedthatwater,oratleastsomefluid,isnecessaryforthechemicalprocessesthatleadlifetotakeplace.Butthat'sprobablythewrongapproach,theUSCgroupargues.

“It'shardtoimaginelifewithoutwater,butit'seasytoimaginewaterwithoutlife,”saysNealson,whowasontheMarsteambeforemovingtoUSC.

Butnitrogenwouldbeamuchclearersignatureoflife.Onlyabout2percentto3percentoftheMartianatmosphereisnitrogen.That'sjustatrace,anditprobablymeansthereisnolifeonMarstoday,andiftherewasinthepast,itprobablyendedmany,manyyearsago.

But,theUSCteamaddsquickly,thatdoesn'tmeanthere'snolifeanywhereelseintheuniverse.Theydon'tknowwhere,ofcourse,buttheymayhavefoundawaytonarrowdownthesearch.Lookfirstfornitrogen,thenlookforbiologicalactivitythatshouldbethere.

Soiflifeexistselsewhere,andissimilartolifeasweknowit,thereshouldbenitrogen,andthat'swhatweshouldbelookingforfirst,theresearcherssay.

Iftheydon'tfindnitrogenonMars,Caponesays,“thatwillprobablybringustotheconclusionthattherelikelyneverwaslifeonMars.”

ButhowaboutelsewhereCouldthistechniquebeusedtosearchforlifeinothersolarsystems

Maybe.Itmightbepossibletodetectanitrogen-richatmospherearoundaplanetorbitinganotherstar,butnotyet.Currentinstrumentsaren'tthatsensitive.

Iftheyeverare,thesearchforlifemightbenarroweddowntothemostpromisingprospects,chieflybecauseofthepresenceofnitrogen.Andwon'tthatbefun!

Questions:

60.Whatcansuggestlifeispossiblebutcannotbeprovedaccordingtotheauthor

61.Whatisaclear“signature”oflifeonanotherplanetaccordingtoCapone

62.WhatisconsideredasawrongwaytosearchforevidenceoflifeonMars

63.WhatcanprobablyprovethereisnolifeonMarstodaybasedonthenewtheory

64.Whyisitimpossibletousethenewtechniquetosearchforlifeinothersolarsystemsnow

SectionD(12marks)

Directions:Inthissection,thereisonepassagefollowedbyasummary.Readthepassagecarefullyandcompletethesummarybelowbychoosingamaximumofthreewordsfromthepassagetofillinthespaces65-70.RemembertowritetheanswersontheAnswerSheet.

Questions65-70arebasedonthefollowingpassage.

InAugust2008,athletesfromtheUnitedStatesandaroundtheworldwillcompeteintheBeijingOlympics.ButdidyouknowthatinSeptemberofnextyear,disabledathleteswillcompeteintheParalympicGamesinBeijing

TheOlympicsandtheParalympicsareseparatemovements.Buttheyhavealwaysbeenheldinthesameyear,andsince1988,theyhavealsobeenheldinthesamecity.TheInternationalOlympicCommitteeandtheInternationalParalympicCommitteesignedanagreementin2001tosecurethisconnection.ThenextwintergameswilltakeplaceinVancouver,Canada,in2010.

TheParalympicGamesgrewoutofasportscompetitionheldin1948inEnglandandadoctornamedLudwigGuttmannorganizeditformenwhosufferedspinalcordinjuriesinWorldWarII.Fouryearslater,itbecameaninternationaleventascompetitorsfromtheNetherlandstookpart.Then,in1960,thefirstParalympicswereheldinRome.400athletesfrom23countriescompeted.By2004,theParalympicGamesinAthenshadalmost4000athletesfrom136countries,whomayhavephysicalormentallimitationsandmaybeblindorinwheelchairs.