A
If the Olympic Games are a history of mankind,wrestling (摔跤) is the prologue (序幕).When the ancient Games of the Olympic were born,wrestling was already an ancient game.Widely recognized as the world's oldest competitive sport,wrestling appeared in a series of Egyptian wall paintings as early as 5,000 years ago.When the ancient Olympic Games began in 776 BC,more than two thousand years later,it included wrestling and in the years that followed,wrestling featured as the main event.
The sport would return in a similar role when the Olympic Games returned after a 1,500year absence in 1896.Organizers,seeking direct links to ancient times,found wrestling was very popular across much of the ancient world,from Greece,Assyria and Babylon to India,China and Japan.GrecoRoman wrestling,a style which was believed to be passed down from the Greek and Roman wrestlers of old was brought back into use.
In GrecoRoman wrestling,the wrestlers used only their arms and upper bodies to attack.They could hold only those same parts of their opponents (对手).It worked nicely from a historical attitude,but another cheerful and relaxing style was sweeping across Great Britain and the United States by then.Known as“catch as catch can”,it had become popular at fairs and festivals in both countries.
In 1904,the Olympic Games added the second wrestling event and called it“freestyle”.Now,wrestlers could use their legs for pushing,lifting and tripping,and they could hold opponents above or below the waist.
语篇解读:本文是一篇说明文。文章主要介绍了“摔跤”这一奥运比赛项目有着悠久的历史。
1.The first ancient Games of the Olympiad were held almost years ago.
A.776 B.1,500
C.3,000 D.5,000
解析:选C 细节理解题。从第一段我们可以看出古奥运会是在公元前776年开始的,与C答案最接近。
2.What does the writer want to tell us by saying wrestling is the prologue?
A.The ancient Olympic Games have a long history.
B.Wrestling was an important game in the ancient Olympic Games.
C.Wrestling is popular all the time.
D.Wrestling has a really long history.
解析:选D 推理判断题。整篇文章是在介绍摔跤的历史。在古奥运会举行之前,摔跤就已经作为一种运动形式存在了。作者说摔跤是人类历史的序幕,旨在说明摔跤作为一种运动有悠久的历史。
3.Why was GrecoRoman wrestling brought back into use in 1896 when the Olympic Games returned?
A.Because organizers wanted to find direct links to ancient times.
B.Because wrestling was very popular across much of the ancient world.
C.Because people believed it was passed down from the Greek and Roman wrestlers of old.
D.Because all of the above.
解析:选D 细节理解题。根据第二段内容可知,A、B、C三项都是希腊—罗马式摔跤重新作为奥运项目的原因,故选D项。
4.Concerning wrestling,which of the following is WRONG?
A.Wrestling has a longer history than the ancient Olympic Games.
B.In GrecoRoman wrestling,wrestlers can only use their arms and upper bodies to attack.
C.In 1904,another kind of wrestling took the place of GrecoRoman wrestling.
D.In Olympic Games,wrestlers can hold opponents above or below the waist now.
解析:选C 细节理解题。根据最后一段中的In 1904,the Olympic Games added the second wrestling event and called it “freestyle”.可知,在1904年又增加了一种自由式摔跤比赛,并没有说取代了原来那种。