河南汝南高级中学 米云霞

In March，days before her 15th birthday，Ashima Shiraishi successfully climbed Horizon on Mt．Hiei in Japan．She became the first woman and the youngest person ever to solve the“V15”bouldering（攀岩）problem，despite the most difficult type of problems in the sport．

Shiraishi is also the world's youngest person to solve the V10，V13 and V14 bouldering problems，which she did at ages 8，10，and 13．

“Once I have a project in mind，I don't really give up，” she said．“And even if my skin is looking really bad from bouldering，I'll just get back on it．”

The New York City native first got to know the sport at age 6 when she saw park-goers climbing Rat Rock in a city park in New York City．Attracted，she started climbing it every day after school and began training at an indoor climbing gym soon after．

She won her first competition at age 7，competing against grown women climbers．

“It was mostly the movement that really attracted me because it was almost like dancing.It felt like I was dancing on the rock，” she said．

Watching Shiraishi climb is like watching a dance of mental and physical challenge．At 5-foot-1 and 100 pounds，she could be considered at a physical disadvantage compared to taller climbers who can reach holds more readily．But she makes up for it with smooth movements that only a climber of small size could make．

“The most important part of climbing is not really thinking at all．Once you start thinking，you doubt yourself，and that's the worst that could happen to you，” she said．

Shiraishi hopes to compete on the most important stage for sports，the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo，where climbing will make its first official appearance．

Reading Check

1.When did Shiraishi start climbing?

A.After visiting an indoor climbing gym.

B.After seeing people climbing in a city park.

C.After watching a climbing competition.

D.After reading a news report about climbing.

2.What is key to successful climbing according to Shiraishi?

A.Thinking about nothing.

B.Encouraging yourself.

C.Receiving a lot of training.

D.Entering a lot of competitions.

3.Which of the following is Shiraishi's wish?

A.She can solve the “V15” bouldering problem.

B.Climbing will become an Olympic event.

C.She can take part in the Olympic Games.

D.Bouldering will attract more young people.

4.What is the text mainly about?

A.A difficult bouldering problem.

B.The personal life of a teenager.

C.The popularity of bouldering.

D.A successful young climber.

Language Study

Sentence for writing

It was mostly the movement that really attracted me because it was almost like dancing.

【信息提取】本句使用了“It be+被强调部分+that...”的强调句型，当被强调的部分为人时，可以使用who来代替that。

【句式仿写】正是在河边，我找到了丢失的钱包。

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