L e s s o n 1 I/ The Olympic Games
Reading • An article
a Look at the pictures and answer the questions.
1. What do you know about the ancient
Olympic Games?
2. In what ways do you think the modern Olympic
Games are similar or different?
b Read the article opposite and check your answers.
c Read the text again and mark the best place for the
sentences. There is one extra sentence which you
do not need to use.
~ c is all very cfilrerenc from ] unfortunately, competition is no longer always
what went on in the stadiums
of ancient Greece.
0 Historians have found a lot ofinformation
about the ancient Olympic Games, including
[ the type of sports people competed in.
--~
0)The chosen country d oes Its
. best to rmprove
. .
Its
facilities and its government and sponsors spend
enormous amounts of money on marketing.
0 Several Greek city states had been
fighting for many years and there
hadn't been peace for a long time.
0 Some of the sports are the same
too:boxing,wrestling,running
races, and the pentathlon.
d Listen (6) and check your answers.
he Olympic Games is the biggest
international sports event in the world.
It began in 776 BC. fm A king from J
one of the city states came up with the idea of
holding an event during which there would be no
f
fighting. An agreement was made, and the games
began. These ancient Olympic Games continued
until 393 AD. However, no more was heard of
the event until 1896, when the Frenchman
Baron Pierre de Coubertin revived the games in
Athens. Since then, the games have become very
different from those of ancient times.
To begin with, the Olympic Games no longer
take place to honor Zeus, not everyone speaks the
same language, and not everyone is of the same
religion. Every four years, a different country hosts
the games. m] Women now compete in the
games. They are also spectators, something that
was punishable by death in ancient times. Another
difference is that athletes are tested for drugs;
fair, as some athletes take drugs to improve their
performance. mJ In fact, many people
say that this event has become one
big advertising campaign that a
country can end up taking at
least thirty years to pay for!
Is it worth it? Have we managed to
keep the spirit of the ancient games?
Vocabulary Check '
Underline the correct word to complete the sentences. '
1 . Her continue I continual I continuation complaints are \
really annoying.
2. How many people took part in the compete I
competitive I competition?
'
3. What punish I punishable I punishment did the
teacher give you for being fate?
4. I enjoyed talking to Sally. She was very friendly I
friend I friendship.
 b Complete the text with the correct form of the verbs
in the box.

( swim ride study think )

Mr. and Mrs. Anderson 1) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ about

Well what we often do not see taking their teenage kids on an activity vacation for a
is that there are still many few months. So they decided to spend a week in New
similarities between now and
Hampshire. On the first day, they went horseback riding.
then. In ancient times, the event
also took place every four years. While the kids 2) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ through some
t~ Today, the Games still bring people woods, they realized that they hadn't thought about their
together in friendly competition, school work once. They 3) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ for
although from different countries rather than the
same place. Other similiarities include the Olympic their exams for a few weeks, and they had found it quite
flaine, which comes from Olympia, and there are stressful. The next day, while they 4) _ _ _ _ _ _ __
still opening and closing ceremonies. m] Finally, in a mountain lake, they made an important decision-not
very country sends its best athletes, as did each
to get stressed about exams and just do their best!
reek city state, and there are no "amateurs" or
professionals" - everyone is equal.
!So it would seem that although there are continual Vocabulary Expansion • Olympic sports
changes in politics, marketing, and facilities, the
a Label the pictures.
spirit of the Olympic Games is very similar to how
it was in 776 BC. They continue to encourage peace, ( hurdles gymnastics wrestling fencing )
friendship, and fair competition, and the athletes
play the main role. What is more, it is still an event ·
that many people look forward to watching.

Grammar Practice
a complete the sentences with the correct form of the
verbs in parentheses.
_ " _ _ _ _ __ you ever _ _ _ _ __
1 b Categorize the words.
(try) canoeing?"
gloves court stadium tracksuit
"Yes, 1 _ __ _ _ _ it last year in the US."
goggles racket ring pool
2. He _ _ _ _ __ (not go) to that school when
he was young. Activity / Sport Place Equipment
. kI (break) my leg! 1. tennis
3 . ouch! I t h ,n - -- - - -
4.1 _ _ _ __ (not buy) the tickets yet. 2. track and field

"Wh r e - - - -- Anne - - -- (go)?"

3. boxing
5· e •mming pool. She'll be back soon."
"To the sw, 4. swimming
6. I _ _ _ __ (see) him two weeks ago.

ModulP ;:i -