1 . One of the most important events in the modern Olympic Games is the Marathon(马拉松)race. The race _______ one of the great events in Greek history.

In 490 B C. about 10,000 Greeks _______ against the Persian army at a place called Marathon. It is _______ that the Persians were ten times as_______ as the Greeks. However, where there is a will, there is a way._______ the brave attack of the Greeks, the Persians were badly beaten and_______away from the plain of Marathon. When the Persians had run away, a soldier, who was the most famous_______in Athens, was _______ to carry the good news to the city and he was also asked to march at full speed.

Although he had fought through the battle and _______many wounds, the soldier at once started off toward the ________ city ________ was twenty-six and a quarter miles from the plain of Marathon to the Marketplace of Athens, ________ there the elders of Athens had gathered ________   for news. He ran and ran over ________ and across plains. As he went on, his lips became ________ and his breathing hard, but when he thought of the ________ of the people of Athens on hearing the news, he ________ harder than ever.

At last the elders of Athens heard a great shout and saw a soldier staggering(蹒跚) toward them.” Rejoice! Rejoice! We won!” said the soldier, and fell down ________..

In________of this noble soldier and athlete, we have in the modern Olympic Games the Marathon race, ________ the athletes run this same distance.