C. Seats should be more comfortable.

听第10段材料，回答第18至20题。

18. Who is Pierre?

A. A doctor from Senegal. B. A university researcher. C. A United Nations official.

19. What does Pierre mainly talk about?

A. Food supplies in the world. B. The role that the UN plays. C. The purpose of his study.

20. What is the expected outcome of Pierre's work?

A. A new medicine. B. A new type of rice. C. A new farming method.

第二部分 阅读理解 （共两节,满分40分）

第一节（共15小题;每小题2分,满分30分）

阅读下列短文,从每题所给的A、B、C和D四个选项中,选出最佳选项。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　A

　　　　　　　　　　My First Marathon

　　A month before my first marathon,one of my ankles was injured and this meant not running for two weeks,leaving me only two weeks to train. Yet,I was determined to go ahead.

　　I remember back to my 7th year in school. In my first P.E. class,the teacher required us to run laps and then hit a softball. I didn't do either well. He later informed me that I was "not athletic".

　　The idea that I was "not athletic" stuck with me for years. When I started running in my 30s,I realized running was a battle against myself,not about competition or whether or not I was athletic. It was all about the battle against my own body and mind. A test of wills!

　　The night before my marathon,I dreamt that I couldn't even find the finish line. I woke up sweating and nervous,but ready to prove something to myself.

　　Shortly after crossing the start line,my shoe laces(鞋带) became untied. So I stopped to readjust. Not the start I wanted!

　　At mile 3,I passed a sign: "GO FOR IT,RUNNERS!"

　　By mile 17,I became out of breath and the once injured ankle hurt badly. Despite the pain,I stayed the course walking a bit and then running again.

　　By mile 21,I was starving!

　　As I approached mile 23,I could see my wife waving a sign. She is my biggest fan. She never minded the alarm clock sounding at 4 a.m. or questioned my expenses on running.

　　I was one of the final runners to finish. But I finished! And I got a medal. In fact,I got the same medal as the one that the guy who came in first place had.

　　Determined to be myself,move forward,free of shame and worldly labels(世俗标签),I can now call myself a "marathon winner".

21. A month before the marathon, the author ____________.

A. was well trained B. felt scared

C. made up his mind to run D. lost hope

22. Why did the author mention the P.E. class in his 7th year?

A. To acknowledge the support of his teacher.

B. To amuse the readers with a funny story.

C. To show he was not talented in sports.

D. To share a precious memory.