Australian sailor Tom Slingsby’s desire to achieve at the highest level grew as a teenager when he watched the boats compete on Sydney Harbour during the 2000 Olympic Games. 

“When I decided I wanted to be a professional sailor, there was not really a career path,” Slingsby said. “Only the top 1 per cent of sailors were able to make a career, so I knew then I had to be one of the very best in the world. Every single day, whether it was pouring rain, or freezing cold, I would say to myself ‘no one else is training today but I will because this is the dedication (奉献) and passion it takes to reach the top’.” 

That attitude had won Slingsby two world laser (激光级) titles before the 2008 Olympics. He headed into the Games as gold-medal favourite but finished in 22nd place. “I was young, confident, arrogant (自大的) and with a sense that nothing could stop me,” Slingsby said. “The way I look at it, I stopped myself.”

The 2020 Olympic sailing venue in Japan was held in very light winds, so Slingsby knew he had to lose weight. His weight dropped from 87kg to 73kg. “At 78kg, the team doctor had told me not to lose more,” Slingsby said. “I ignored that advice and had a serious viral illness just a week before the Games.” But more than the physical, it was the mental side that affected Slingsby. “I was unable to solve problems, to figure boat-speed issues. I learnt the hard way.”

It was years before Slingsby fully understood the lessons of Beijing but he now understands how it motivated him to his 2012 Olympic win in London and drove him to become one of the best athletes in the sport’s history.

1.What did Slingsby think of being a professional sailor?

A It was rewarding.

B It was hard work.

C It was interesting.

D It was dangerous.

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。根据第二段的“there was not really a career path”“Only the top 1 per cent of sailors were able to make a career”以及“whether it was pouring rain, or freezing cold”可知斯林斯比认为，要成为一名职业帆船运动员并不容易。故选B。

2.Slingsby blamed on ________ for his failure in the 2008 Olympics.

A the weather

B the venue

C himself

D the rule

解析：选C。C 细节理解题。根据第三段最后一句“The way I look at it, I stopped myself.”可知，斯林斯比认为在2008年奥运会中失败的原因在于他自己。故选C。

3.What happened to Slingsby before the 2020 Olympic event?

A He got sick.

B He was injured.

C He got too fat.

D He dropped out.

解析：选A。A 细节理解题。根据第四段的“I ignored that advice and had a serious viral illness just a week before the Games.”可知，斯林斯比在奥运会前一周得了严重的病毒性疾病，即他生病了。故选A。

4.Which of the following has shaped Slingsby’s great career?

A The 2000 Olympics.

B The 2008 Olympics.

C The 2012 Olympics.

D The 2020 Olympics.

解析：选B。B 推理判断题。根据最后一段内容：斯林斯比多年后才完全理解北京奥运会的教训，但他现在明白了北京奥运会是如何激励他赢得2012年伦敦奥运会的冠军，并促使他成为体育史上最优秀的运动员之一，由此可知，他在2008年北京奥运会的失败塑造了他伟大的职业生涯。故选B。