It’s never too late to start a new exercise routine, but most people don’t plan to become an Olympic athlete in their 30s! Mieke Gorissen has done just that, and now she’s inspiring millions with her story. A math and physics teacher from Diepenbeek, Belgium, the 38-year-old has always loved to read, knit, and go for short runs.

Back in 2018 when she was 35, Mieke decided to take her running game to the next level. She hired a trainer to improve her form and technique, and before she knew it, she was running faster and farther than ever before. Over the next three years, Mieke increased her speed and stamina(耐力) , competing in just two marathons before qualifying for the ultimate race at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

Running in Tokyo proved to be brutal for many athletes. Fifteen of her competitors in the women’s marathon dropped out before they even reached the finish line, but Mieke kept on tracking!

At the end of the race, Mieke was just happy to have finished. She only started running competitively a few years ago, and she was older than many of her peers. So when an interviewer told her that she’d finished 28th in the race, she couldn’t believe it.

“No. That’s not possible,” she cried. That’s when it all must have hit her because Mieke burst into tears of sheer joy! “I was already happy to finish the race,” she said. “I do think I have reached my goal and that I can be happy.”

Mieke said she ramped up her running at the perfect time in her life — and not just because she now ranks in the top 30 female marathon runners in the entire world!

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1.Which of the following is NOT mentioned about Mieke Gorissen in Paragraph 1?

A Her occupation.

B Her birthplace.

C Her nationality.

D Her interests.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据第一段A math and physics teacher from Diepenbeek, Belgium, the 38-year-old has always loved to read, knit, and go for short runs.可知，米克·戈里森现年38岁，是一名数学和物理老师，来自比利时迪彭贝克，她一直喜欢阅读、编织和短跑。文中并未提及她的出生地，故选B。

2.What can we learn from Paragraph 2?

A Mieke made the most important decision at the age of 35.

B Without the trainer, Mieke was unable to complete the marathon.

C Runners’ form and technique is essential to winning the race.

D The experience of two marathons is enough for an Olympic athlete.

解析：选C。C 推理判断题。根据第二段She hired a trainer to improve her form and technique, and before she knew it, she was running faster and farther than ever before.可知，米克雇了一位教练来提高她的体能和技巧，在她意识到这一点之前，她已经比以往跑得更快更远了。由此看出跑步者的体能和技巧对于赢得比赛至关重要。故选C。

3.What does the underlined word “brutal” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A Cruel.

B Impatient.

C Crazy.

D Unfortunate.

解析：选A。A 词义猜测题。根据第三段Fifteen of her competitors in the women’s marathon dropped out before they even reached the finish line…可知，在女子马拉松比赛中，米克的15名竞争对手甚至在到达终点线之前就退出了比赛。由此说明马拉松比赛是十分“残酷的”，选项A与之同义，故选A。

4.How did Mieke respond to her final result?

A She felt a little disappointed.

B She was very satisfied with it.

C She blamed herself for her fault.

D She expressed her thanks to supporters.

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。根据最后一段I do think I have reached my goal and that I can be happy.可知，米克认为她已经达到了她的目标，她感到快乐。由此推断她对自己取得的比赛成绩感到满意。故选B。