It was the final 800-meter race of the season. I had trained hard all summer, but now, facing my powerful ____1____, Sarah Chen, I doubted myself.

The starting gun fired. The first lap (圈) felt unexpectedly ____2____. But as we turned into the second lap, Sarah was ahead of me a little bit. ____3____ coach’s words “Run your own race”, I told myself to follow her all the time.

____4____, with 200 meters to go, the gap (距离) between Sarah and me became wider. A negative ____5____ hit me, “You can’t catch her. Second place is okay.” I was about to slow down when my coach shouted at me, “Mia, run. Believe yourself.”

Suddenly, something came into my mind—it wasn’t just about winning against Sarah anymore; it was about honoring all those hours of ____6____, and about pushing myself forward. I tried my best to run faster and only ____7____ the finish line.

I crossed the line, ____8____ and tired. Then I heard the announcement, “First place... Mia Johnson!” I was filled with ____9____. Sarah finished a second later, and offered a warm smile and a handshake to me.

What I learned from the race was more than just how to run faster. I also ____10____ that my biggest competitor is often myself. So I’ll keep running and never give up.

1.1.

A host

B coach

C judge

D competitor

解析：选D。D competitor 对手 host 主人；coach 教练；judge 裁判。比赛中 Sarah 是竞争对手。

2.2.

A serious

B smooth

C slow

D strange

解析：选B。B smooth 顺利的 serious 严肃的；slow 缓慢的；strange 奇怪的。第一圈跑得很顺利。

3.3.

A Reading

B Recording

C Remembering

D Reporting

解析：选C。C Remembering 记起 read 阅读；record 记录；report 报道。记起教练的话。

4.4.

A However

B Besides

C Therefore

D Instead

解析：选A。A However 然而（转折） besides 此外；therefore 因此；instead 代替。前面跟住对手，但是差距拉大，表转折。

5.5.

A memory

B idea

C notice

D reply

解析：选B。B idea 想法，念头 memory 记忆；notice 通知；reply 回复。脑海冒出消极想法。

6.6.

A interview

B imagination

C practice

D prediction

解析：选C。C practice 训练，练习 interview 采访；imagination 想象；prediction 预测。不辜负长时间训练。

7.7.

A made up

B looked around

C focused on

D left out

解析：选C。C focused on 专注于 made up 编造；looked around 环顾四周；left out 遗漏。全力奔跑，紧盯终点。

8.8.

A careful

B breathless

C scared

D crazy

解析：选B。B breathless 气喘吁吁的 careful 小心的；scared 害怕的；crazy 疯狂的。跑完长跑后气喘疲惫。

9.9.

A kindness

B stress

C regret

D joy

解析：选D。D joy 喜悦 kindness 善良；stress 压力；regret 遗憾。听到自己是第一名，充满喜悦。

10.10.

A realized

B warned

C decided

D expected

解析：选A。A realized 意识到 warn 警告；decide 决定；expect 期待。领悟到最大敌人是自己。