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Osaka, Japan — Defending champions China lifted the FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Cup trophy（奖品）with perfect 11 straight wins after easing past Argentina 3-0 here on Sunday. With their eleventh win at the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Cup, China won the FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Cup.
This year, the World Cup has been played across different cities, and Team China had training sessions even on traveling days when some participating teams chose to rest up after a tiring flight. “Coach Lang focuses on details of the technique in the training sessions, and I feel our team has become more balanced.” Captain Zhu Ting said. This firm approach explains how China managed to turn the table against the United States at the World Cup. Never giving up, especially in adversity, that’s what the spirit of Chinese women’s volleyball means.
When the team struggled, Zhu was always there, doing whatever was needed to carry the team forward. That’s why she has become a national volleyball icon, just like “Iron Hammer” Lang. As for Lang, she took over the flag from her former coach Yuan Weimin, who was behind China’s rise in the beginning. From coach Yuan to coach Lang, and spiker（主攻手）Lang to spiker Zhu, the flag bearers may have changed over time, but the craving for championships and the steely desire and determination remain the same.
Volleyball is a team sport and behind the on-court team. There is always a supportive coaching team and staff. Lai was one of the members. Shouldering responsibilities as both vice director of China’s Volleyball Management Center and as assistant coach. Apart from coordinating between coaches and players, Chinese coaches and foreign coaches and sometimes within Chinese coaches, she also has to do chores. During Rio 2016, assistant coach Yuan Lingxi headed for the arena（竞技场）at 6 am every day to film the matches and would return to the Olympic Village at 2 am when he would start analyzing China’s opponents and file reports. There are many Lais and Yuans that are not known by the public, but who remain indispensable for the team to overcome difficulties and reach their peak.
24. What does the underlined word “lifted” probably mean in paragraph 1?
A. Raised. B. Won. C. Beat. D. Expected.
25. What does the spirit of Chinese women’s volleyball mean according to paragraph 2?
A. Being a special team. B. Sticking to the end.
C. Winning every game. D. Training hard every day.
26. Why does Zhu Ting become a national volleyball icon?
A. She wins many awards in the World Cup.
B. She keeps strong desire and determination.
C. She takes lots of training after the tiring fight.
D. She does almost everything to help the team forward.
27. What does the author intend to convey in the last paragraph?
A. Hard work is vital in volleyball matches.
B. The coach has a great influence on players.
C. The staff behind the on-court team is also important.
D. Understanding opponents is necessary to win the game.
