全國大學(xué)生英語競(jìng)賽樣題（C級(jí)）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.ConversationOne6.WhatissoontoopeninChina?A.TheFrenchMovieFestival.

B.TheFrenchCulturalYear.

C.TheFrenchFoodFestival.7.Howmanyexhibitionswillbeheldforthisactivity?A.200.B.20.C.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.ConversationTwo11.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.Whatreleasedanestimated8.7milliontonsoftheglobalwarminggas?A.Cars.B.Wildfires.C.Wars.SectionD(10marks)Directions:Inthissection,youwillhearashortpassage.Therearetenmissingwordsorphrasesinit.Fillintheblankswiththeexactwordsyouhearonthetape.RemembertowritetheanswersontheAnswerSheet.Aresearchersaysleadintheenvironmentcouldbeamajorcauseofviolencebyyoungpeople.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.In,suchtestsweredoneon190youngpeoplewhowere(29)________andthefindingsshowedthattheiraveragelevelswerehigherthannormal.And,in1998,threehundredchildrenwerestudiedandthetestscoresshowedhigherlevelsof(30)________problemsinthosewithincreasedlevelsoflead.Yettheselevelswerestillconsideredsafebythegovernment.PartIIVocabularyandStructure(10minutes,15marks)Directions:Thereare15incompletesentencesinthispart.ForeachblanktherearefourchoicesmarkedA,B,CandD.Choosetheonethatbestcompletesthesentence.ThenmarkthecorrespondingletterontheAnswerSheetwithasinglelinethroughthecentre.31.Sonervous________thatshedidn'tknowhowtostartherspeech.A.sinceshebecame

B.wouldshebecome

C.thatshebecame

D.didshebecome32.He________anothercareerbut,atthetime,hejustwantedtoearnmoneytostudyabroad.A.mighthavechosenB.mightchoose

C.hadtochooseD.musthavechosen33.Thesecondreportwas________byAugust,butoneyearlateritwasstillnowhereinsight.A.submittedB.tohavesubmitted

C.tosubmitD.tohavebeensubmitted34.Inthisexperiment,thestudentsstudiedarestoppedseveraltimesduringthelisteningtestandaskedtoreportwhatthey________duringthepausebeforeansweringthequestions.A.hadjustbeenthinkingaboutB.havejustbeenthinkingabout

C.arejustthinkingaboutD.hadjustthoughtabout35.Iwasalwaystaughtthatitwas________tointerrupt.A.rudeB.coarseC.roughD.crude36.Smallboysare________questioners.Theyaskquestionsallthetime.A.originalB.peculiarC.imaginativeD.persistent37.Weregrettoinformyouthatthematerialsyouorderedare________.A.outofworkB.outofreachC.outofstockD.outofpractice38.Thebombwill________themomentitistouched.A.goonB.gooffC.gooutD.goover39.Thecarwon't________;I'vetrieditseveraltimes,butitwon'twork.A.beginB.launchC.startD.drive40.Childrenandoldpeopledonotlikehavingtheirdaily________upset.

A.habitB.routineC.practiceD.custom41.Inyourfirstfewdaysatschoolyou'llbegivenatesttohelptheteachersto________youtoaclassatyourlevel.A.locateB.assignC.deliverD.place42.Chinaonlystarteditsnuclearpowerindustryinrecentyears,andshould________notimeincatchingup.A.loseB.delayC.spareD.relieve43.—Youdidanexcellentjobyesterday,Jim!Ireallyenjoyedyourpresentation.

—________

—Ohyeah,itwasfabulous.ItseemstheEnglishprogramisagreatwaytopracticeEnglish.

—Yeah.Itisfunandmotivating.A.Didyoureally?

B.Oh,thankyou.Youaresokind.

C.Really?Whataboutyours?

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.NownewresearchfromWashingtonUniversityinTheresearchersbasetheirconclusionsonbrainscansof21collegestudentswhowerecuedtothinkaboutsomethingintheirpast,andanticipatethesameeventinthefuture,likeabirthdayorgettinglost.Theexperimentwascarriedoutaseachstudentlayontheirstomachinamagneticresonanceimagingmachine,adreadfulbutveryusefulpieceofequipmentthatcanshowwhichareasofthebrainarestimulatedduringspecificthoughtprocesses.ThestudentswerealsoaskedtopictureformerPresidentBillClintoninapastandfuturesetting.Clintonwaschosenbecausehewaseasilyrecognizedandfamiliartoallthestudents.Theresearchersfounda“surprisinglycompleteoverlap”amongregionsofthebrainusedforrememberingthestudent'spastandthoseusedforpicturingthefuture.Andeveryregioninvolvedinrememberingwasalsousedinanticipatingthefuture.Inshort,theresearchersisolatedtheareaofthebrainthat“l(fā)itup”whenthestudentsthoughtaboutaneventintheirownpast.Andmoreimportantly,thatsamearealitupagainwhentheythoughtaboutasimilareventintheirfuture.Infact,theresearchersreportthatthebrainactivitywassosimilarinbothcasesthatitwas“indistinguishable.”ThefindingswerereinforcedwhenstudentsimaginedBillClinton.Sincenoneofthemknewhimpersonally,theirmemorieswerenotautobiographical.Andthebrainscansshowed“significantlyless”correlationbetweenmemoriesofhavingseenpicturesofClintonintheWhiteHouseandprojectinghimintothefuture.Sothis“timemachine,”astheresearchersdescribeit,allowsustousethepasttoseeourselvesinthefuture,andbothourmemoriesandouranticipationareinterdependent.46.Aremarkablehumantraitthatisnotwellunderstoodistheability________.A.tothinkaboutthepastB.toseethefuture

C.torememberthepastD.tocontrolthepresent47.Thefindingssupportthat________.A.futuregoalswillgreatlyinfluenceaperson'spresentperformance

B.aperson'spresentperformanceisdeterminedbyhis/herpastknowledge

C.futurethoughtdependstoagreatdegreeonthememoryofthepast

D.presentthoughtisimpossiblewithouttheabilitytoimaginethefuture48.Theconclusionoftheexperimentonstudentswasthat________.A.thestudentscouldpicturethemselvesbetterthanBillClintoninapastandfuturesetting

B.thestudentscouldimaginethemselvesaswellasBillClintoninapastandfuturesetting

C.thestudentscouldanticipateBillClintonbetterthanthemselvesinapastandfuturesetting

D.thestudentscouldonlypicturethemselvesinapastandfuturesettingbutnotBillClinton49.This“timemachine”inthelastparagraphmostprobablyrefersto________.A.clockB.brainscanning

C.magneticresonanceimagingD.memorySectionB(14marks)

Directions:Thereisonepassageinthissectionwith10questions.GooverthepassagequicklyandanswerthequestionsontheAnswerSheet.Forquestions50-55,markY(forYES)ifthestatementagreeswiththeinformationgiveninthepassage;N(forNO)ifthestatementcontradictstheinformationgiveninthepassage;NG(forNOTGIVEN)iftheinformationisnotgiveninthepassage.Forquestions56-59,completethesentenceswiththeinformationgiveninthepassage.VisitingtheWhiteHouseWhiteHouseToursPublictoursoftheWhiteHouseareavailableforgroupsof10ormorepeople.Requestsmustbesubmittedthroughone'sMemberofCongressandareaccepteduptosixmonthsinadvance.Theseself-guidedtoursareavailablefrom7:30a.m.to12:30p.m.TuesdaythroughSaturday,andarescheduledonafirstcome,firstservedbasisapproximatelyonemonthinadvanceoftherequesteddate.Weencourageyoutosubmityourrequestasearlyaspossiblesincealimitednumberoftoursareavailable.AllWhiteHousetoursarefreeofcharge.Forthemostcurrenttourinformation,pleasecallthe24-hourlineat202-456-7041.PleasenotethatWhiteHousetoursmaybesubjecttolastminutecancellation.WhiteHouseVisitorCenterAlltoursaresignificantlyenhancedifvisitorsstopbytheWhiteHouseVisitorCenterlocatedatthesoutheastcornerof15thandEStreets,beforeoraftertheirtour.TheCenterisopensevendaysaweekfrom7:30a.m.until4:00p.m.andfeaturesmanyaspectsoftheWhiteHouse,includingitsarchitecture,furnishings,firstfamilies,socialevents,andrelationswiththepressandworldleaders,aswellasathirty-minutevideo.Allowbetween20minutestoonehourtoexploretheexhibits.TheWhiteHouseHistoricalAssociationalsosponsorsasalesarea.Pleasenotethatrestroomsareavailable,butfoodserviceisnot.Mobility-Impaired/UsingaWheelchairGuestsrequiringtheloanofawheelchairshouldnotifytheofficerattheVisitorsEntranceBuildinguponarrival.Wheelchairsloansareofferedonafirst-come,first-servedbasis.Reservationsarenotpossible.Visitorsinwheelchairs,orwithothermobilitydisabilities,ontheCongressionalguidedorself-guidedtours,between8:00a.m.and12noon,usethesameVisitorentranceand,withuptofourmembersoftheirparty,areadmittedwithoutwaitinginlineandwithouttickets.Visitorsinwheelchairsareescortedbyrampfromtheentranceleveltothegroundfloor,andbyelevatorfromthegroundtothestatefloor.Guestsgenerallywaitinlinewiththeirfamilyorgroup.Hearing-ImpairedToursforhearing-impairedgroupsmaybearrangedinadvancebywritingtotheVisitorsOffice,WhiteHouse,Washington,DC20502.Toursareusuallyscheduledat9:30a.m.,betweentheCongressionalandpublictourtimes.ParticipantsenterattheEastAppointmentgate.AU.S.SecretService/UniformedDivisionTourOfficerconductsthetourinsignlanguage.Signedtoursareavailabletogroupsof8to20.Groupsarealsoencouragedtobringtheirowninterpreters.Signinginterpretationisalsoavailableforindividualvisitorswithadvancenotice.ACongressionalofficefirstissuesguidedtourticketstoaguestwhoishearing-impairedandthencontactstheVisitorsOfficeatleast2weeksinadvancetorequestinterpreterservice.TheVisitorsOfficeTDD(telephonedeviceforthedeaf)is202-456-2121.Messagesmaybeleftoutsidenormalbusinesshours.Visually-ImpairedToursforvisually-impairedgroupsmaybearrangedinadvancebywritingtotheVisitorsOffice,WhiteHouse,Washington,DC20502.Thetoursareusuallyscheduledat9:30a.m.,betweentheCongressionalandpublictourtimes.ParticipantsenterattheEastAppointmentgate.AU.S.SecretService/UniformedDivisionTourOfficerpermitsvisitorstotouchspecificobjectsintheHouse.Touchtoursarecurrentlyavailableonlytogroupsof8to20,nottoindividualvisitors.GuideanimalsarepermittedintheWhiteHouse.GeneralTourInformationAllWhiteHousetoursarefree.Changesintourschedulesareoccasionallymadebecauseofofficialevents.Noticemaynotbegivenuntilthatmorning.TheVisitorsOffice24-hourInformationLinerecordingat202-456-7041providesthemostup-to-dateinformation.TheTDDis202-456-2121.Visitorsshouldconfirmtourschedulesbycallingtheinformationlinethenightbeforeandthemorningthattheyplantovisit.Itisoccasionallynecessarytocloseindividualroomsonthetour;however,noticeaboutclosedroomsisnotpossible.ProhibitedItemsProhibiteditemsinclude,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.TheU.S.SecretServicereservestherighttoprohibitanyotherpersonalitems.Umbrellas,wallets,cellphonesandcarkeysarepermitted.Pleasenotethatnostoragefacilitiesareavailableonoraroundthecomplex.IndividualswhoarrivewithprohibiteditemswillnotbepermittedtoentertheWhiteHouse.ParkingTheclosestMetrorailstationstotheWhiteHouseareFederalTriangle(blueandorangelines),MetroCenter(blue,orange,andredlines)andMcPhersonSquare(blueandorangelines).On-streetparkingisnotavailableneartheWhiteHouse,anduseofpublictransportationisstronglyencouraged.Restrooms/PublicTelephonesThenearestrestroomsandpublictelephonestotheWhiteHouseareintheEllipseVisitorPavilion(theparkareasouthoftheWhiteHouse)andintheWhiteHouseVisitorCenter.RestroomsorpublictelephonesarenotavailableattheWhiteHouse.50.BothCongressionalguidedandself-guidedtoursneedtobescheduledinadvance.

51.AllWhiteHousetoursarefreeofchargeexceptonfederalholidays.

52.TheWhiteHouseVisitorCenterprovidesfreedrinksbutnotfoodservice.

53.WheelchairreservationserviceisprovidedbytheofficerattheVisitorsEntranceBuilding.

54.Hearing-impairedvisitorscanrequestsigninginterpretationservicefromtheVisitorsOffice.

55.Touchtoursarecurrentlyonlyofferedtovisually-impairedgroupsof8to20.

56.Sometimesofficialeventsmakeitnecessarytoclose________________withoutnotice.

57.ThepersonalitemspermittedtobecarriedintotheWhiteHouseare________________.

58.Thetransportationvisitorsareencouragedtouseis________________.

59.InsidetheWhiteHouse,visitorscannotfindoruserestroomsor________________.SectionC(10marks)Directions:Inthissection,thereisonepassagefollowedby5questions.Readthepassagecarefully,thenanswerthequestionsinasfewwordsaspossible(notmorethan10words).RemembertowritetheanswersontheAnswerSheet.Questions60-64arebasedonthefollowingpassage.Ifyouwereonadistantplanet,andifyouhadinstrumentsthatcouldtellyouthecompositionofEarth'satmosphere,howwouldyouknowtherewaslifeonthisplanet?Waterintheatmospherewouldsuggesttherecouldbewateronthesurface,andasweallknowwaterisconsideredcrucialtolife.Butwaterwouldonlysuggestthatlifeispossible.Itwouldn'tproveit'sthere.Carbon?Thatbasiccomponentof“l(fā)ifeasweknowit?”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.”Buthowaboutelsewhere?Couldthistechniquebeusedtosearchforlifeinothersolarsystems?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.InAugust,athletesfromtheUnitedStatesandaroundtheworldwillcompeteintheBeijingOlympics.ButdidyouknowthatinSeptemberofnextyear,disabledathleteswillcompeteintheParalympicGamesinBeijing?TheOlympicsandtheParalympicsareseparatemovements.Buttheyhavealwaysbeenheldinthesameyear,andsince1988,theyhavealsobeenheldinthesamecity.TheInternationalOlympicCommitteeandtheInternationalParalympicCommitteesignedanagreementintosecurethisconnection.ThenextwintergameswilltakeplaceinVancouver,Canada,in.TheParalympicGamesgrewoutofasportscompetitionheldin1948inEnglandandadoctornamedLudwigGuttmannorganizeditformenwhosufferedspinalcordinjuriesinWorldWarII.Fouryearslater,itbecameaninternationaleventascompetitorsfromtheNetherlandstookpart.Then,in1960,thefirstParalympicswereheldinRome.400athletesfrom23countriescompeted.By,theParalympicGamesinAthenshadalmost4000athletesfrom136countries,whomayhavephysicalormentallimitationsandmaybeblindorinwheelchairs.Yetsometimestheyperformbetterthanathleteswithoutdisabilities.In1968,EuniceKennedyShriver,thesisterofformerPresidentJohnF.Kennedy,startedtheSpecialOlympics,whicharejustforchildrenandadultswithmentallimitationsandwhoseprogramscurrentlyservemorethantwomillionpeoplein160countries.InNovember,inMumbai,India,teamscompetedintheFirstSpecialOlympicsInternationalCricketCup.InadditiontoIndia,thereweremen'steamsfromAfghanistan,Australia,Bangladesh,Nepal,Pakistan,SriLankaandtheWestIndies.Therewerealsowomen'scricketteamsfromIndiaandPakistan.TherearemanyorganizationsintheUnitedStatesthathelppeoplewithdisabilitiesplaysports.Wheelchairtennisisapopularsport.Soisbasketball.Infact,therearemorethanonehundredprofessionalteamsplayingwheelchairbasketballthankstothespecialwheelchairsforathletesthatarelightweightanddesignedforquickmoves.Forpeoplewhowanttogoreallyfastintheirchairs,thereisaPowerWheelchairRacingAssociation.InthestateofUtahthereisaplacecalledtheNationalAbilityCenter,whichteachesallkindsofsportstopeoplewithallkindsofphysicalandmentaldisabilitiesandevengivesfriendsandfamilymembersachancetotryasportasiftheyweredisabled.AreporterfromtheWashingtonPostwantedtoknowwhatitwouldbelikeforablindpersontouseaclimbingwall.So,protectedbyasafetyline,thenewspaperreporterclosedhiseyesandstartedtofeelforplacestoputhishandsandfeet.Trainersonthegroundurgedhimon:“Takeyourtime.Youcandoit.”Finallyhereachedthetop.AttheNationalAbilityCenterpeoplecanlearntoridehorsesandmountainbikes.Theycantrywintermountainsports,andlearnscubadivingandotherwateractivities.ThecenteralsopreparesathletesfortheParalympics.Thesedays,thefirstplacemanypeoplegowhentheywanttotravelistheInternet,wheretheycangetinformationabouthotels,transportationandservicesliketourcompanies.TheInternetcanalsohelptravelersfindspecialservicesforthedisabled.Forexample,therearegroupsthathelpyoungpeoplewithdisabilitiestraveltodifferentcountries.SusanSygall,whousesawheelchairherself,leadsanorganizationcalledMobilityInternationalUSA,andhastraveledtomorethantwenty-fivecountriestotalkabouttherightsofpeoplewithdisabilities.Shesayspeoplewithdisabilitiesareallmembersofaglobalfamilyandworkingtogetheracrossbordersisthemostpowerfulwayofmakingchanges.Su