A
In the summer of 1936，Jesse Owens joined the best athletes from fifty nations to compete in the Berlin Olympic Games.Until then，very few black athletes had competed in the Olympics for the United States.Owens was proud to be on the team.He was very sure of his ability.
Owens spent one week competing in four different Olympic track and field events.And he won four gold medals in all four of the competitions.In the 100meter run，he equaled the fastest time ever run in that Olympic event.In the long jump and the 200meter run，he set new Olympic records.And as part of a fourman team，he helped set a new world record for the 400meter relay race.He was the first American in the history of Olympic track and field events to win four gold medals in single Olympics.
Owens's Olympic triumphs made him a hero.He returned home to parade(游行) in New York and Columbus.Businessmen paid him for the right to use his name in their stores.No one，however，offered him a permanent(固定的) job.He worked at small jobs.He and his family saw good times and bad times.
Poverty was not new to Owens.He was born into a poor family，but he was lucky that he entered a school where one white teacher，Charles Riley, took a special interest in him.He often brought the boy food and invited him to eat with his family.And every day before school，he taught Owens how to run like an athlete.Owens always remembered the teacher who helped change his life.
In 1976，Gerald Ford awarded Jesse Owens the Presidential Medal of Freedom.This is the highest honor an American civilian(平民) can receive.Jesse Owens died of cancer in 1980，at the age of 67.
【语篇解读】 本文主要介绍了著名运动员欧文斯在奥运比赛中所取得的成绩以及他在柏林奥运会前后的生活状况。
1．Owens set new records in the following events EXCEPT ．
A．the 400meter relay race
B．the 100meter run
C．the 200meter run
D．the long jump
B [细节理解题。文章第二段说明了他在100米比赛中打平了在那个奥运赛事中的最快时间，说明他没有创造新的纪录，只是平了纪录。]
2．The underlined word“triumphs”in Paragraph 3 probably means ．
A．challenges B．events
C．styles D．victories
D [词义猜测题。第二段重点介绍了杰西·欧文斯在奥运比赛中所取得的成绩，该段说明他被当作一位英雄，其原因自然是他所取得的成绩，由此推断triumphs应该表示“胜利，成功”之意。]
3．Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A．Owens was the only black person competing in the Olympics for the US until 1936.
B．Owens entered three competitions in the Berlin Olympic Games.
C．Owens lived a rich life after the Berlin Olympic Games.
D．Charles Riley had a great effect on Owens's success and life.
D [细节理解题。根据第四段内容可知杰西·欧文斯的一位白人老师查尔斯·莱利对他产生了很大的影响，给他物质上的帮助，并教会他像运动员一样跑步，因而改变了他的一生。]
4．Which of the following CANNOT be used to describe Owens?
A．Fortunate. B．Confident.
C．Generous. D．Competitive.
C [细节理解题。通过阅读文章不难看出杰西·欧文斯是幸运的，遇到了一位很好的老师，并且他很自信并具有竞争性，但文章中没有谈到他很慷慨。]
