History of the ancient Olympic Games

山东新泰新汶一中 孙启禄

体裁篇幅 建议用时说明文373词 7分钟

难词探意

1.champion /΄t∫æmpiən/ n.冠军；第一名

2.legend /΄ledʒənd/ n.传说

3.contestant /kən΄testənt/ n.比赛者

4.spectator /spek΄teɪtə(r)/ n.观看者；观众

5.decline /dɪ΄klaɪn/ v.下降；衰退

6.dedication /ˌdedɪ΄keɪ∫n/ n.献身；奉献

As is known to all, the first modern Olympics were held in 1896, but the history of the Olympics in Greece dates back to much earlier time.

The first written records of the ancient Olympic Games date to 776 BC, when a cook named Coroebus won the only event—a 192-meter footrace called the stade (the origin of the modern stadium)—to become the first Olympicchampion.However, it is generally believed that the Games had been going on for many years by that time.Legendhas it that Heracles (the Roman Hercules), son of Zeus and the mortal woman Alcmene, founded the Games, which by the end of the 6th century BC had become the most famous of all Greek sporting festivals.Contestantscame from a dozen or more Greek cities, and by the 5th century BC from as many as 100 cities, from throughout the Greek Empire.

Like the Summer Olympics of today, the ancient Olympics were held every four years.One of the main features of the ancient Olympics was the Olympic truce (休战).The truce meant that all wars were stopped, so that athletes andspectatorscould compete and travel in peace.Thousands of people from all over the Greek world came to watch.

At first, Olympic competition was limited to foot races, but later a number of other events were added, including wrestling, boxing, horse and chariot racing, and military competitions.The ancient pentathlon (五项全能运动), introduced in 708 BC, consisted of foot race, long jump, discus and javelin throws, and wrestling.With the rise of Rome, the Olympicsdeclined, and in 393 AD the Roman emperor Theodosius Ⅰ, a Christian, abolished the Games as part of his efforts to suppress (压制)paganism(异教信仰) in the Roman Empire.

The ancient Olympics existed until 393 AD.But the modern Olympics are still going strong.“The Olympics gather athletes from around the world,” said Sue Macy, author of a new National Geographic book, Swifter, Higher, Stronger: A Photographic History of the Summer Olympics.“It's so much bigger today.”

“You should pay attention not just to the winners but to the people who don't win the gold medal.Think about the hard work they did and thededication,” Macy said.

Reading Check

1.Why were the ancient Olympics special?

A.They were held every four years.

B.They were the most famous festivals.

C.They stopped wars between countries.

D.They had many military competitions.

2.What does the underlined word “abolished” in Para.4 most probably mean?

A.Promoted.B.Improved.C.Hosted.D.Ended.

3.What suggestion did Sue Macy give to us?

A.Paying attention to the gold medals.

B.Considering how people can win gold medals.

C.Focusing on those who win good medals.

D.Relating to the losers in the game.

Language Study

Sentence for writing

As is known to all, the first modern Olympics were held in 1896, but the history of the Olympics in Greece dates back to much earlier time.众所周知，第一届现代奥运会是于1896年举行的，但希腊奥运会的历史可以追溯到更早的时候。

【信息提取】本句是一个复合句，as引导的是非限制性定语从句，同时as在句中作主语。date back to意为“追溯到……”。

【句式仿写】众所周知，北京是一座拥有三千年历史的城市。