How marathon became an Olympic sport？

江西赣州市南康区第三中学 江海连

体裁篇幅 建议用时说明文371词 7分钟

难词探意

1.distance /΄dɪstəns/ n.距离

2.collapse /kə΄læps/ v.昏倒

3.ceremony /΄serəməni/ n.典礼；仪式

4.enthusiastic /ɪnˌθjuːzi΄æstɪk/ adj.热情的

5.commemorate /kə΄meməreɪt/ v.纪念

6.remarkably /rɪ΄mɑː(r)kəbli/ adv.非常；出乎意料地

The marathon has a proud history and is steeped(沉浸于) in tradition.History records that in 490 BC,the soldier Pheidippides, covered thedistancefrom a battlefield near Marathon, Greece, to Athens in order to bring the news of a Greek victory over the Persians.At the end of this historical run hecollapsedand died from the exertions(努力) of fulfilling his duty.

In 1896 at the openingceremonyof the Olympic Games, the legend of the soldier was honoured with a race from Marathon Bridge to the Olympic stadium in Athens.The run was the final event of the Games and with the Greeks, being the hosts and yet to win a medal, they placed all their hopes on the marathon.

Twenty-five runners lined up on that day, April 10th, 1896, upon Marathon Bridge.The Greek,Spyridon Louis, a postal worker from the village of Marousi, did not disappoint theenthusiasticcrowd waiting at the Panathenaic Stadium when he won the 24.85 miles (40,000 meters) in a time of 2 hours 58 minutes 50 seconds.He finished it 7 minutes earlier than the next competitor.With 8 of 9 finishers being Greeks, the country went into wild celebrations.

The marathon as an event was born.The following year on April 18th saw the first running of the, now famous, Boston Athletic Association marathon.The date chosen was tocommemoratethe famous ride of Paul Revere,remarkablysimilar in distance to the marathon course as well as the fact that he also carried a message.The 24.7-mile course was from Metcalfe's Mill in Ashland, Mass to Boston's Irvingston St.Oval and was completed by 8 of the fifteen starters, with John J.McDermott winning in a time of 2 hours 55 minutes 10 seconds.

For the 1908 London Olympic Games marathon, the distance was changed to 26 miles so that the event could finish in front of the royal box.It took another16years before the distanceof26.2miles was introduced, with the1924 Paris Olympics being the first to hold the now official marathon distance.

Since those days the marathon has progressed into a dash for the line by the elite athletes with the time taken to complete the distance continually tumbling(骤降).

Reading Check

1.What can we know about Pheidippides?

A.He was the fastest soldier in the army.B.He lost his life in the battlefield.

C.He fought bravely in the battle.D.He was a devoted soldier.

2.Why did the whole country of Greece go into wild celebrations?

A.The race was held in their country.

B.They wanted to honor Pheidippides.

C.A postal worker took part in the marathon.

D.Nearly all those who finished the race were Greeks.

3.Which event had the shortest distance?

A.The marathon in the 1896 Games.

B.Boston Athletic Association marathon.

C.The marathon in the 1908 London Olympic Games.

D.The marathon in the 1924 Paris Olympics.

Language Study

Sentence for writing

It took another 16 years before the distance of 26.2 miles was introduced, with the 1924 Paris Olympics being the first to hold the now official marathon distance.人们又花了16年的时间才引入了这个马拉松距离——26.2 英里，1924年的巴黎奥运会第一个使用现在的正式马拉松距离。

【信息提取】本句是“It takes...before...”句式，意为“用了……（时间）才……”，before引导的是时间状语从句，with the 1924 Paris Olympics being...distance是“with+宾语+宾语补足语”结构，在句中作状语，其中宾语the 1924 Paris Olympics和be构成逻辑上的主谓关系，所以用being。

【句式仿写】夜幕降临时，我们来到一条两岸长着红花绿草的小河。