2 . 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 meters of the 42-kilometer race, the crowd rises to its feet to shout and cheer. The name of the race comes from a battle(战争) in Ancient Greece. According to the story, a soldier ran from the battle field, 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 kilometers—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 kilometers. 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, and past New York’s famous landmarks. But perhaps one of the most beautiful and unique 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 very good at sport—can run a marathon, if they train for it.
1. What did the crowd do when the leader came into the stadium?
| A．They stood up quietly. | B．They shouted with excitement. |
| C．They carried him to the line. | D．They cried sadly. |
2. How is the second paragraph developed?
| A．By following time order. | B．By listing numbers. |
| C．By following space order. | D．By giving reasons. |
3. What do we know about the marathon according to the passage?
| A．The name of the race comes from a battle in Greece. |
| B．The Marathons have the same length all the time. |
| C．The Great Wall Marathon is the easiest course to run. |
| D．People not good at sport cannot run a marathon unless trained. |
4. Which is the most special marathon mentioned in the passage?
| A．The Marathon in London in 1908. |
| B．The Great Wall Marathon. |
| C．The Marathon in New York. |
| D．The Marathon in 1896. |
