2 . Baron Pierre de Coubertin was a Frenchman. At his time sports were not taught in French schools. De Coubertin believed that sports should go hand in hand with studies. He had an idea. His idea was to begin the Olympics all over again.
Sports teachers of other countries liked de Coubertion’s ideas. So in 1896, the modern Olympic Games were held in Athens（雅典）, Greece. Since then the Olympics have been held once every four years, except three times, when there were wars.
Before the start of the Olympic Games, runners carry lighted torch（火炬）through many nations towards the stadium（运动场）where the games will be held. These sportsmen are from different countries. Yet they work together to carry the Olympic torch. It is passed from runner to runner. When the last runner enters the stadium, he or she places the torch in a special（专门的）basin filled with oil. It catches fire. It is then, only then, that the Olympic Games can begin.
The Olympic flame（火焰）burns throughout the games. It is the flame of peace.
1. Before 1896 French schools didn’t teach_____ .
| A．maths | B．history |
| C．sports | D．physics |
2. De Coubertin_______________.
| A．was the first man to start the Olympic Games |
| B．helped start the modern Olympic Games |
| C．believed that sports were less important than studies |
| D．failed to begin the modern Olympic Games |
3. According to this passage, the third modern Olympic Games should have been held in_________ .
4. “Marathon” in this passage is _______________.
| A．a foot race | B．a jumping contest（比赛） |
| C．field sports | D．a boxing（拳击）match |
