A cloudless Southern California sky looms over the Pro Park Course for the Pro Skate Park Series. Here to compete are some of the top female skaters in the world. The women skaters range in age from early adolescence to early 30s, but in a sport that embraces youth, there is one who stands out. At 8 years old, Sky Brown, would be the youngest skater, male or female, ever to compete at this series.
   She is known to some — a minor star of the viral age. When her first video was posted to YouTube, Sky initially gained a little internet fame as a premature and level-headed 4-year-old — highly intelligent, well-spoken beyond her years, hugely talented, and yet grounded. Four years later, it was announced that she would be competing at Huntington Beach. Still, the question remains: Is she truly ready, or will this be another case where reality comes crashing down hard on all the hype?
And then, it turns out to be anything but. Sky goes out and presents one surprise after another. Commentators Neal Hendrix and Chris Pastras are left in awe, “Half of the pros can't do.” The only thing that makes the prodigy look like a kid is her size. In every other regard, she holds her own with skaters 10 and 20 years her senior. Before the competition at Huntington, Sky was a curiosity. After, she is a competitor.
Sky's first memory of a skateboard is seeing her father, Stuart, doing a few tricks in front of the family home. “It always looked really fun,” says Sky. “I just kept begging to try it.” Sky progressed quickly, although she never had a formal coach. Somehow she just had the knack. Every movement, every shift in weight, every push and pull of body on board, she absorbed. Then, she did it herself.
“You get so close to making it,” she says of her process, “and think you're about to land it, and then it takes you 100 more times. I'm always saying to my parents, 'Just one last try.'” If anyone was pushing, striving to get better, it was Sky herself, learning new tricks the same way everyone else does — by trying, failing, falling, and getting back up again.
38. What does the author intend to do in Paragraph 2?
A. To show Sky’s early experience.
B. To show Sky’s talents from varied aspects.
C. To show the public’s doubt about Sky’s competence.
D. To show the public’s recognition of Sky’s performances.
39. What do we know about Sky?
A. She equals the senior skaters in the competition.
B. She looks like a professional skater in terms of her figure.
C. She participates in a competition inappropriate for the young.
D. She has already become a household name before the competition.
40. What is the main reason for Sky’s achievements?
A. Her parents push her too hard.
B. She practices hard and never quits.
C. Her coach is very strict with her.
D. Her father exerts a strong influence on her.
41. What is the best title for the text?
A. A Rocky Road Leads to Internet Fame
B. A Strong Competitor Stands out from Crowd
C. An 8-year-old Skater Amazes the World
D. A Wonder Shows at the Pro Skate Park Series
【答案】38. C    39. A    40. B    41. C
【解析】
这是一篇人物传记。文章讲述了8岁的小女孩Sky Brown，在与青少年及成年人的滑板比赛中脱颖而出，四年后她决定参加亨廷顿海滩的比赛，在人们的怀疑声中，她展现出一个又一个惊喜。她回忆了自己的成长之路，是反复的练习和尝试造就了她的成功。
【38题详解】
推理判断题。由第二段中的“Still, the question remains: Is she truly ready, or will this be another case where reality comes crashing down hard on all the hype?（不过，问题依然存在：她真的准备好了吗？还是说这又是一个现实在大肆宣传下崩溃的例子？）”，可知，人们对Sky Brown的能力还持有怀疑态度。故选C项。
【39题详解】
推理判断题。由第三段中的“he only thing that makes the prodigy look like a kid is her size.（唯一让神童看起来像个孩子的就是她的身材。）”可知B选项“She looks like a professional skater in terms of her figure.（根据她的身材可以看出来她像一个职业选手）”是错误的。由第一段中的“The women skaters range in age from early adolescence to early 30s,（女子滑板运动员的年龄从青春期早期到30岁出头不等）”可知C选项“She participates in a competition inappropriate for the young.（她参加了一个不适合年轻人参加的比赛。）”是错误的。由第三段中的“Before the competition at Huntington, Sky was a curiosity.（在比赛前，她是令人好奇的）”可知D选项中的“a household name家喻户晓的名字”表达有误。第三段的“In every other regard, she holds her own with skaters 10 and 20 years her senior.（在其他方面，她都能和比她大10到20岁的滑板运动员打成平手）”和A选项意思相符。故选A项。
【40题详解】
细节理解题。由第三段中的“I just kept begging to try it. （我只是不断乞求尝试。）”和文章最后一句话中的“…learning new tricks the same way everyone else does — by trying, failing, falling（……学习新的技巧，就像其他人一样——尝试，失败，跌倒）”可知Sky Brown获得成就的原因是刻苦的训练和永远不放弃的精神。故选B项。
【41题详解】
主旨大意题。通读全文可知，文章讲述了一个小女孩在滑板比赛中脱颖而出，震惊了世界。A选项的“Internet Fame”偏离主题。D选项的中心词是“shows”,因为本文是一篇人物传记，故D项错误。本文重点是突出女孩小小年纪就可以与比她大10到20岁的滑板运动员相抗衡。故选C项。