Have you ever tried skiing? Skis are long, mostly flat pieces of metal, wood, or plastic. Skiers attach them to their shoes and use them to get over snow, often down a mountain slope. Nordic skiing and Alpine skiing are major events of the Winter Olympic.
Nordic skiing started in Norway and other countries of north Europe. Cross-country skiing takes place on open, hilly land. A cross-country skier must be able to ski uphill, downhill, and cross flat areas. As for a ski-jumping competition, the skier gets down a steep ramp (斜坡) that curves upward at the end. The skier leaps off the end and tries to "fly" as far as possible and then lands on his or her feet.
Alpine events include downhill and slalom racing. Downhill racing is the fastest and most dangerous of all skiing events. The skiers go down a long, steep course that may have large bumps (隆起物). Along the course are gates formed by single poles or pairs of poles. The skier must ski between them and stay on the course. The winner is the skier who completes the course in the shortest time. Slalom racing is similar to downhill racing. However, a slalom course is shorter and more winding (蜿蜒的) than a downhill course.
A. It requires the skier to make high-speed turns.
B. Alpine skiing started in the Alps of central Europe.
C. Skiing is a winter sport that involves the use of skis.
D. The skier who leaps the farthest and has the best style is the winner.
E. Nordic skiing events include cross-country racing and ski jumping.
F. The skier races over and around large bumps of snow called moguls.
G. They are allowed to touch gates with their bodies as long as their skis stay on the course.
