A
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 Coubertin's ideas.So in 1896，the modern Olympic Games were held in Athens，Greece.Since then the Olympics have been held once every four years，except three times，when there were wars.
The modern Olympic games have many foot races and field sports programs.The longest race in the games is called marathon．
Before the start of the Olympic Games，runners carry lighted torch(火炬) through many nations towards the stadium 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 basin filled with oil.It catches fire.It is then，only then，that the Olympic Games can begin.
The Olympic flame burns throughout the games.It is the flame of peace.
【语篇解读】 本文主要讲述了现代奥运会的创办以及比赛项目。
1．Before 1896 French schools didn't teach ．
A．maths B．history
C．sports D．physics
C [细节理解题。根据第一段中的“At his time sports were not taught in French schools.”可知，在1896年之前法国学校不教授体育。故选C。]
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
B [细节理解题。根据第二段中的“Sports teachers of other countries liked de Coubertin's ideas.So in 1896，the modern Olympic Games were held in Athens，Greece.”可知，顾拜旦帮助举办了现代奥运会。故选B。]
3．According to this passage，the third modern Olympic Games should have been held in ．
A．1915 B．1924
C．1896 D．1904
D [推理判断题。根据第二段中的“So in 1896，the modern Olympic Games were held in Athens，Greece.Since then the Olympics have been held once every four years”可知，现代奥运会每隔四年举行一次，第一次是在1896年，因此第三次是在1904年。故选D。]
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
A [词义猜测题。根据第三段的“The longest race in the games is called marathon.”可知，marathon是赛跑(foot race)比赛。 故选A。]
