Ⅱ. 阅读理解
A
The final event in the Olympics is the marathon. It is also usually the most exciting. As the leader comes into the stadium to run the last few metres of the 42-kilometre race, the crowd rises to their feet to shout and cheer. The name of the race comes from a battle in Ancient Greece. According to the story, a soldier ran from the scene of the battle, Marathon, to Athens, to bring the news of a Greek victory against the Persians. He died just after arriving.
The marathon has been an Olympic event since the modern games started in 1896. At first the distance was 40 kilometres—the distance between Marathon and Athens. In 1908, however, at the London Olympics, it was changed. The King of England wanted the runners to leave from his castle in Windsor and arrive in a new stadium in central London. The distance was 26 miles—about 42 kilometres. In fact, the 1908 marathon ended dramatically(戏剧性地). When the leader, an Italian, entered the stadium he turned the wrong way and fell onto the ground. Officials picked him up and helped him to the finishing line, just as the second runner, an American, entered the stadium. The Americans protested(抗议) and in the end the American runner was declared(宣布) the winner. Since then, there have been many more exciting marathons.
In fact, you don't have to wait for the Olympic Games to run or watch a marathon, as there are marathons in over sixty countries and hundreds of cities around the world today. One of the most famous marathons is in New York, and is watched by two million people around the streets and across the bridges of the city's five boroughs(行政区), and past New York's famous landmarks. But perhaps one of the most beautiful and extraordinary marathons ever is the Great Wall Marathon, which most competitors find is the toughest course to run.
The marathon is the final Olympic event because it is thought to be the hardest. But experts believe that most people—even people who are not particularly good at sport—can run a marathon, if they train for it.
( ) 1. When the leader comes into the stadium, the crowd ______.
A. runs to his feet happily
B. sings and dances
C. carries him to the line
D. shouts with excitement
( ) 2. What can we learn from the passage?
A. The name of the race comes from a battle in Greece.
B. From 1908, the marathon events are of the same length.
C. The soldier who ran from marathon to Athens won a gold medal.
D. The marathon events in the Games have the same length all the time.
( ) 3. Who won the marathon in 1908?
A. The leading runner.
B. The Greek winner.
C. The American runner.
D. The Italian soldier.
( ) 4. Which is the most special of the marathon events in the world according to the passage?
A. The Great Wall Marathon.
B. The marathon in New York.
C. The marathon in London in 2012.
D. The marathon in the Beijing Olympic Games.
( ) 1.
D
( ) 2.
A
( ) 3.
C
( ) 4.
A
