🪄 2A 核心词汇表 (Target Vocabulary)
01 gear n. B2
/ɡɪr/
释义 Definition
the equipment, clothes, etc. that you use to do a particular activity or sport
装备，器材，用具
课文例句 Example
“She had never run 50 kilometers before, had no special gear or training for such a distance, and was also the only woman in the competition.”
02 humble adj. C2
/ˈhʌmbl/
释义 Definition
not proud or not believing that you are important; quiet about your accomplishments
谦逊的，谦虚的，不自大的
课文例句 Example
“Rai, however, remains humble. “I have been able to do the things I did because so many people believed in me and took chances.””
03 merely adv. B2
/ˈmɪrli/
释义 Definition
used to emphasize that you mean exactly what you are saying and nothing more; only or simply
仅仅，只不过
课文例句 Example
“As women, we are expected to help out with chores at home from childhood and then get married and raise a family, so it becomes a struggle, not merely a challenge.”
04 odds n. C2
/ɑːdz/
释义 Definition
the probability or degree of likelihood that something will happen (against all odds = despite severe challenges)
可能性，几率；逆境（against all odds 克服重重困难）
课文例句 Example
“But against all odds, she beat everyone—even the men.”
05 pace n. B2
/peɪs/
释义 Definition
the speed at which someone or something walks, runs, or moves, or the speed at which a change happens
速度，步速，节奏
课文例句 Example
“Though the mindset seems to be changing, it’s still at a snail’s pace and has a long way to go before women are seen as equivalent to men.”
06 persistent adj. C2
/pərˈsɪstənt/
释义 Definition
continuing to do something in a determined way even when facing difficulties or opposition
坚持不懈的，执着的，百折不挠的
课文例句 Example
“I started running, I got professional training that taught me techniques, and gradually I became more determined, motivated, and persistent to chase my dreams.”
07 pursue v. C1
/pərˈsuː/
释义 Definition
to try to achieve or get something over a period of time; to follow a course of action or career
追求，从事，致力于
课文例句 Example
“While recovering from knee surgery, I have been providing guidance to men and women alike in running and encouraging them to pursue a career as professional athletes.”
08 rural adj. B2
/ˈrʊrəl/
释义 Definition
relating to or characteristic of the countryside rather than the town or city
乡村的，农村的
课文例句 Example
“It’s hard to find good role models for young women in our region, especially one coming from the same rural village background as most of the young generation.”
09 stereotype n. C1
/ˈsteriətaɪp/
释义 Definition
a fixed, but often mistaken or oversimplified, idea about what a particular type of person or group is like
刻板印象，成见，老套观念
课文例句 Example
“Running is no issue, but breaking gender stereotypes is.”
10 throughout prep. B2
/θruːˈaʊt/
释义 Definition
in every part of a place, or during the whole of a period of time or event
自始至终，贯穿整个时期；遍及
课文例句 Example
“The grit and joy she embodies throughout all her hardships and victories is an inspiration to all of us!”
Reading 2A: The Sky Runner · 课文互动精读
💭 Unit 2 Warm Up (P.29) & Before You Read (P.30)

Warm Up (P.29) · 1. What are some sporting activities people mainly do on or near mountains? 2. Why are some of these activities difficult to do?

Teacher's Guide · Possible answer(s)

1. skiing, snowboarding, mountain climbing, rock climbing, abseiling
2. Mountains are steep, so it’s exhausting to go up. Snow can be icy and dangerous. Avalanches are possible. There is less oxygen at higher altitudes. The terrain is difficult.

Before You Read (P.30) · A. Discussion: Look at the photo and read the caption. What kind of physical and personal characteristics might make a person successful at this sport? Discuss with a partner.

Teacher's Guide · Possible answer(s)

physically fit, strong leg muscles, stamina and endurance, big lungs, patience and tolerance

Before You Read (P.30) · B. Predicting: Read the first paragraph of the reading. What challenges do you think Mira Rai had to overcome in order to become a trail runner? Discuss your ideas with a partner. Then read and check your answers.

Teacher's Guide · Possible answer(s)

She had to overcome her family’s expectations that she would stay in her village and continue doing what all females before her had done.

Paragraph A Mountain Roots & Early Hardships · 大山深处的起点与艰辛童年
1 Growing up in a village in eastern Nepal’s Bhojpur Mountains, Mira Rai had dreams that went far beyond the conventional expectations for Nepali women.
2 The eldest daughter of five children, she was expected to fetch water, tend crops and livestock, and help out at home.
3 By age 12, she no longer regularly attended school, and instead hauled heavy bags of rice up and down steep trails—often barefoot—to trade at the market.
4 It was hard work—but great training for a future trail runner.
Paragraph B Breaking Free from Tradition · 挣脱传统束缚
1 “As a girl,” Rai recalls, “I would constantly be told to know my place, suppress my voice, and act in a certain manner.
2 For me, breaking free from these traditions itself was a big dream.”
Paragraph C Against All Odds · 逆境突围的一战成名
1 Several years ago, Rai’s dream became reality.
2 She was running outside Kathmandu when two male trail runners invited her to enter her first trail race, the Kathmandu West Valley Rim 50K.
3 She had never run 50 kilometers before, had no special gear or training for such a distance, and was also the only woman in the competition.
4 But against all odds, she beat everyone—even the men.
5 From there, a community of supporters came together to give her a chance to compete in international trail running competitions.
Paragraph D On a Mission to Empower · 赋能新生的使命
1 Today, the running world recognizes Rai as a high-elevation trail racing phenomenon.
2 Now she is on a mission to help both women and men of Nepal through sports.
3 Rai believes her work to empower others has just begun.
4 “We have realized that Nepal has tremendous potential to develop competitive athletes,” she says.
Paragraph E Being the Change · 身体力行的改变者
1 Wasfia Nazreen, a mountain climber from Bangladesh, knows first-hand the impact Rai has had on the young women of Nepal.
2 “For someone who has left school so early and missed the learning we take for granted, Mira has been able to turn back time and set a rare example by being the change herself,” she says.
Paragraph F Blazing a Trail · 开拓先锋之路
1 “It’s hard to find good role models for young women in our region, especially one coming from the same rural village background as most of the young generation,” Nazreen says.
2 Mira is blazing a trail, not just in terms of being able to speak nationally on gender equality, but also by getting young people into running through the new Kathmandu Trail Race Series.
3 “The grit and joy she embodies throughout all her hardships and victories is an inspiration to all of us!”
Paragraph G Remaining Humble · 保持谦逊与回馈之心
1 Rai, however, remains humble.
2 “I have been able to do the things I did because so many people believed in me and took chances, and I want to give back so others can have a chance just the way I did,” she says.
3 “We have a saying in Nepal, ‘Khana pugyos, dina pugos,’ which means, ‘Let there be enough to eat, let there be enough to give.’”
Paragraph H Interview: Challenging Gender Stereotypes · 访谈：打破性别刻板印象
1 Interviewer: Which is more difficult: running a hard, steep trail race or breaking gender stereotypes?
2 Mira Rai: Running is no issue, but breaking gender stereotypes is.
3 For the society we live in, it’s difficult for women and men alike because doing anything out of convention means a lot of struggle—especially for women.
4 As women, we are expected to help out with chores at home from childhood and then get married and raise a family, so it becomes a struggle, not merely a challenge.
5 You get called a rebel, and for an adventure sport that involves risks, nobody encourages you.
6 “You’ll end up breaking your bones!” they’d say.
7 Though the mindset seems to be changing, it’s still at a snail’s pace and has a long way to go before women are seen as equivalent to men.
Paragraph I Advice for Future Runners · 给后来者的建议
1 What advice do you have for someone who wants to be a stronger runner like you?
2 MR: It was a matter of chance and luck that I became a runner.
3 Back in the village we had to walk hours on end—up and down grueling terrain, often barefoot, with a heavy weight on our backs—and this definitely contributed.
4 I started running, I got professional training that taught me techniques, and gradually I became more determined, motivated, and persistent to chase my dreams.
5 However, I’ve also learned that proper diet, enough rest, confidence, yoga, and mental well-being—as well as having good support from my mentor Richard Bull and my coach Dhruba Bikram Malla—are just as important as being in shape.
Paragraph J Education & Learning English · 教育遗憾与学习英语
1 You stopped going to school regularly when you were 12.
2 Do you wish you’d had more school?
3 MR: I feel that if I’d finished more school, I would have been able to communicate with more confidence and have a better insight into world affairs.
4 In many cases when I first started racing abroad, I couldn’t even be a part of conversations because of my poor English skills.
5 I used to just sit there and listen, but I didn’t feel uncomfortable being there as everybody was very supportive.
6 However, with media and sponsors, it would’ve definitely been more helpful had I obtained more education back home.
7 Even today when I try to read newspapers, I fail to understand quite a few words, so I am taking English classes these days, and it’s certainly helping.
Paragraph K Returning to the Village · 重返故里：设施变迁与观念破冰
1 Running has helped you see the world.
2 What is it like to return to your village now that you have been to Hong Kong, Italy, and other places?
3 MR: I return once a year during the Dashain, the largest festival of the year, and the people there are living the same sort of lives as I saw when I was a kid.
4 We used to have kerosene lanterns, but now there are bulbs that run on solar power.
5 The village had no access by road back in the day; now there are dirt tracks that connect to big towns.
6 But the mud houses are the same.
7 There’s phone connection, but it doesn’t work well.
8 When I go back, I meet a lot of youngsters that ask me how they can live differently.
9 They definitely seem motivated, but sadly their folks do not agree with such ambition.
10 While the physical infrastructure in my village has improved, the mindset has not.
11 I remain hopeful that the future generation will break the mold.
Paragraph L Guiding the Next Generation · 指导与激励年轻一代
1 What work are you doing now with communities in Nepal?
2 MR: While recovering from knee surgery, I have been providing guidance to men and women alike in running and encouraging them to pursue a career as professional athletes.
3 Every so often, I visit schools and children’s homes to share my knowledge about running, particularly training, diet, and more importantly, an active lifestyle.
Paragraph M Organizing Trail Races · 组织本土越野赛事
1 We have realized that Nepal has tremendous potential to develop competitive athletes, so we’re organizing a series of trail races in Kathmandu.
2 These are short races aimed for both beginners and experienced runners.
3 I also organized a small race back in my hometown of Sano Dumma last October, to introduce the sport to the young crowd and get them interested in running.
4 In the coming days, I plan to organize races that aim to identify and promote promising runners.
Paragraph N Dreaming of Mont Blanc · 环勃朗峰超级越野赛之梦
1 Is there a personal challenge that you still want to achieve?
2 MR: I have always dreamed of running in the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc in France.
3 It’s a challenging race for elite runners from all over the world—166 kilometers!
4 I would love to see where I stand in this race.
📖 原书词注 Footnotes

1. role model: A role model is someone who is a good example for young people to follow. (榜样，楷模)

2. grit: If you show grit, you have courage and determination. (坚毅，勇气)

3. mindset: Your mindset is your way of thinking. (思维模式，观念)

📝 2A 预习全真练习 (Preview Exercises)
Before You Read (P.30) Reading Comprehension (P.35-36) Critical Thinking (P.36) Reading Skill: Guessing Meaning from Context—Idioms and Colloquial Language (P.37)
💭 Before You Read (P.30)

A. Discussion: Look at the photo and read the caption. What kind of physical and personal characteristics might make a person successful at this sport? Discuss with a partner.

Teacher's Guide · Possible answer(s)

physically fit, strong leg muscles, stamina and endurance, big lungs, patience and tolerance

B. Predicting: Read the first paragraph of the reading. What challenges do you think Mira Rai had to overcome in order to become a trail runner? Discuss your ideas with a partner. Then read and check your answers.

Teacher's Guide · Possible answer(s)

She had to overcome her family’s expectations that she would stay in her village and continue doing what all females before her had done.

预习练习得分: 0 / 22 题
Reading Comprehension (P.35-36)
P.35 Reading Comprehension · Part A #1
1. [GIST] Which of the following would be the best alternative title for the passage?
P.35 Reading Comprehension · Part A #2
2. [DETAIL] Which of the following is NOT true about Mira Rai’s life as a child?
P.35 Reading Comprehension · Part A #3
3. [DETAIL] In paragraph F, what is NOT given as a reason that Rai is a good role model?
P.35 Reading Comprehension · Part A #4
4. [REFERENCE] In paragraph H, what is Rai referring to when she says, “it becomes a struggle, not merely a challenge”?
P.35 Reading Comprehension · Part A #5
5. [VOCABULARY] The word grueling in paragraph I is closest in meaning to ________.
P.35 Reading Comprehension · Part A #6
6. [COHESION] Where would be the best place in paragraph I to insert this sentence?
“It wasn’t much fun, but it definitely helped me develop my stamina.”
P.35 Reading Comprehension · Part A #7
7. [DETAIL] Which of these questions about Rai’s home village cannot be answered by information in the passage?
Part B · Summarizing (P.36)

SUMMARIZING B. Complete the summary of paragraphs A–G. Use no more than three words from the reading passage for each answer.

📖 查看课文 Paragraphs A–G 原文对照

A Growing up in a village in eastern Nepal’s Bhojpur Mountains, Mira Rai had dreams that went far beyond the conventional expectations for Nepali women. The eldest daughter of five children, she was expected to fetch water, tend crops and livestock, and help out at home. By age 12, she no longer regularly attended school, and instead hauled heavy bags of rice up and down steep trails—often barefoot—to trade at the market. It was hard work—but great training for a future trail runner.

B “As a girl,” Rai recalls, “I would constantly be told to know my place, suppress my voice, and act in a certain manner. For me, breaking free from these traditions itself was a big dream.”

C Several years ago, Rai’s dream became reality. She was running outside Kathmandu when two male trail runners invited her to enter her first trail race, the Kathmandu West Valley Rim 50K. She had never run 50 kilometers before, had no special gear or training for such a distance, and was also the only woman in the competition. But against all odds, she beat everyone—even the men. From there, a community of supporters came together to give her a chance to compete in international trail running competitions.

D Since then, Rai has won several international trail running races, and in 2017 was named a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year. Now she is on a mission to help both women and men of Nepal through sports. “We have realized that Nepal has tremendous potential to develop competitive athletes,” she says. To further this goal, Rai has organized a series of trail races in Kathmandu to get young people interested in the sport.

E Today, this humble trail runner from a rural Nepalese village has become a hero in her country, especially to young women. Wasfia Nazreen, a famous mountaineer from neighboring Bangladesh, describes the impact Rai has had:

F “It’s hard to find good role models for young women in our region, especially one coming from the same rural background as the majority of our population. Usually, young girls from the countryside take it for granted that their lives will be limited to helping out at home, getting married, and raising children. Mira is blazing a trail, not just in terms of what she is able to do as an athlete, but also in terms of how she is inspiring others to dream big. She is also using her platform to speak nationally on gender equality. The grit and joy she embodies throughout all her hardships and victories is an inspiration to all of us!”

G National Geographic recently spoke with Rai about her life and her future goals.

Born and raised in Nepal, Mira Rai was expected to be a (1) ________ Nepalese woman. As a child, she had to fetch water for her family and carry large (2) ________ to market. But these challenging tasks provided good (3) ________ for her future career.

Rai got her big break when she participated in her (4) ________—the Kathmandu West Valley Rim 50K. Incredibly, she beat everyone. Her victory propelled her to international fame.

One of Rai’s goals is to help both male and female athletes in her native country. She believes that Nepal has a lot of (5) ________ to produce world-class athletes. A famous climber from Bangladesh said that Rai has had a very positive influence on young female athletes. She said that it was not easy for young women from the countryside to find good (6) ________. She said that Rai also gives talks to promote (7) ________ in her home country.

P.36 Reading Comprehension · Part B Summarizing #1
1. Born and raised in Nepal, Mira Rai was expected to be a (1) ________ Nepalese woman.
P.36 Reading Comprehension · Part B Summarizing #2
2. As a child, she had to fetch water for her family and carry large (2) ________ to market.
P.36 Reading Comprehension · Part B Summarizing #3
3. But these challenging tasks provided good (3) ________ for her future career.
P.36 Reading Comprehension · Part B Summarizing #4
4. Rai got her big break when she participated in her (4) ________—the Kathmandu West Valley Rim 50K.
P.36 Reading Comprehension · Part B Summarizing #5
5. She believes that Nepal has a lot of (5) ________ to produce world-class athletes.
P.36 Reading Comprehension · Part B Summarizing #6
6. She said that it was not easy for young women from the countryside to find good (6) ________.
P.36 Reading Comprehension · Part B Summarizing #7
7. She said that Rai also gives talks to promote (7) ________ in her home country.
💡 Critical Thinking · Applying Ideas (P.36)

Think of someone who, like Mira Rai, became successful after overcoming hardships in their life. Note your ideas below, then describe the person to your partner.

Teacher's Guide · Possible answer(s)

Malala Yousafzai is another strong woman who became successful after overcoming hardships in her life. She has become an activist for female education and even won the Nobel Peace Prize after having been shot by the Taliban in her native Pakistan.

Reading Skill: Guessing Meaning from Context—Idioms and Colloquial Language (P.37)
Guessing Meaning from Context—Idioms and Colloquial Language

The language found in interviews often contains colloquial language and idiomatic expressions. As with other vocabulary, the context can be helpful in determining meaning. If the context doesn’t help and you have no idea what an idiom means, consult a dictionary.

INFERRING MEANING A. Find the expressions in bold in the reading passage. Choose the correct meaning.

P.37 Reading Skill · Part A #1
1. breaking free (paragraph B)
P.37 Reading Skill · Part A #2
2. against all odds (paragraph C)
P.37 Reading Skill · Part A #3
3. take for granted (paragraph E)
P.37 Reading Skill · Part A #4
4. blazing a trail (paragraph F)
P.37 Reading Skill · Part A #5
5. break the mold (paragraph K)

INFERRING MEANING B. Find and note expressions in the reading passage that have the same meaning as the definitions below.

P.37 Reading Skill · Part B #1
1. accept one’s position in society (paragraph B)
P.37 Reading Skill · Part B #2
2. involved in an important task (paragraph D)
P.37 Reading Skill · Part B #3
3. extremely slowly (paragraph H)
✍️ Reading Skill · Part C: Relating (P.37)

RELATING C. Choose three of the expressions in Activity A or B. Write sentences about yourself or people you know using each one.

Teacher's Guide · Possible answer(s)

1. My best friend passed her exam, against all odds!
2. My brother broke the mold when he decided to open his own company instead of finishing college.
3. I’m on a mission to get a good job when I graduate.

📘 2A 核心词汇掌握打卡

请自主朗读并检测以下 10 个核心词汇，勾选已熟练掌握的单词：

gear /ɡɪr/ 装备，器材，用具
humble /ˈhʌmbl/ 谦逊的，谦虚的，不自大的
merely /ˈmɪrli/ 仅仅，只不过
odds /ɑːdz/ 可能性，几率；逆境（against all odds 克服重重困难）
pace /peɪs/ 速度，步速，节奏
persistent /pərˈsɪstənt/ 坚持不懈的，执着的，百折不挠的
pursue /pərˈsuː/ 追求，从事，致力于
rural /ˈrʊrəl/ 乡村的，农村的
stereotype /ˈsteriətaɪp/ 刻板印象，成见，老套观念
throughout /θruːˈaʊt/ 自始至终，贯穿整个时期；遍及
📝 2A 词汇实战强化 (Vocabulary Practice)
Part A: Completion (P.38) Part B: Definitions (P.38) Part C: Word Usage (merely) (P.38)
复习练习得分: 0 / 13 题
Part A: Completion (P.38)

COMPLETION A. Complete the information using the correct form of the words in the box. Five words are extra.

gearhumblemerelyoddspacepersistentpursueruralstereotypethroughout

The Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc isn’t (1) ________ a trail race through a pretty part of the Alps: It’s also a grueling test of endurance. Each summer around 10,000 athletes run through (2) ________ countryside, up steep hills, and down deep valleys.

Some ultramarathons are broken up into stages, allowing runners to take rests (3) ________ the race. But the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc is non-stop—and lasts through the night. Runners are required to bring appropriate (4) ________ for such a long race, including flashlights and a security blanket. The best runners aim to keep a steady (5) ________ in order to finish the race in 20 to 24 hours. In recent years, more than a third of participants did not cross the finish line.

P.38 Vocabulary Practice · Part A #1
1. The Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc isn’t (1) ________ a trail race through a pretty part of the Alps: It’s also a grueling test of endurance.
P.38 Vocabulary Practice · Part A #2
2. Each summer around 10,000 athletes run through (2) ________ countryside, up steep hills, and down deep valleys.
P.38 Vocabulary Practice · Part A #3
3. Some ultramarathons are broken up into stages, allowing runners to take rests (3) ________ the race.
P.38 Vocabulary Practice · Part A #4
4. Runners are required to bring appropriate (4) ________ for such a long race, including flashlights and a security blanket.
P.38 Vocabulary Practice · Part A #5
5. The best runners aim to keep a steady (5) ________ in order to finish the race in 20 to 24 hours.
Part B: Definitions (P.38)

DEFINITIONS B. Complete the definitions using the unused words from the box in Activity A.

P.38 Vocabulary Practice · Part B #1
1. If you are ________, you are quiet about your accomplishments.
P.38 Vocabulary Practice · Part B #2
2. If you ________ something, you try and get it.
P.38 Vocabulary Practice · Part B #3
3. The ________ of something happening refers to how likely it is.
P.38 Vocabulary Practice · Part B #4
4. A ________ is a fixed, but often mistaken, idea about what a group of people are typically like.
P.38 Vocabulary Practice · Part B #5
5. If you are ________ at something, you continue to do it.
Part C: Word Usage (merely) (P.38)

WORD USAGE C. The adverb merely can be used to emphasize that you mean exactly what you are saying and nothing more. Mark where it should be placed in each sentence.

P.38 Vocabulary Practice · Part C #1
1. Mark where merely should be placed in the sentence:
“He didn’t quit the ultramarathon; he stopped to take a rest.”
P.38 Vocabulary Practice · Part C #2
2. Mark where merely should be placed in the sentence:
“They didn’t mean to cause a problem—they were trying to help.”
P.38 Vocabulary Practice · Part C #3
3. Mark where merely should be placed in the sentence:
“He didn’t talk much about his motivation, mentioning that he did it for his family.”

🏆 Unit 2A 学习通关

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