Понимающее чтение по теме "The Olympic Games"

The Olympic Games

In ancient Greece (Древняя Греция) athletic festivals were very important and had strong religious associations(ассоциации). The Olympic Games were held every 4 years in honor of (в честь)Zeus and became a national event. As the result it has become the international event(собитие). No one knows exactly how far back the Olympic Games go, but some official records date from 776 B.C.

The Games took place in August on the plain by Mount Olympus. Many thousands of spectators (зритель)gathered from all parts of Greece, but no married woman was admitted even as a spectator. The sports included boys’ gymnastics, horse-racing(конный спорт), fields events such as discus throwing and the very important foot races. There was also boxing and wrestling and special tests of varied ability such as the pentathlon(пятиборье), the winner of which excelled in running, jumping, discus throwing and javelin throwing and wrestling. The evening of the third day was devoted to sacrificial offerings (жертвоприношение) to the heroes of the day, and the fourth day, that of the fool moon, was set aside as a holy day.

On the sixth and last day, all the visitors were crowned with holy garlands (венец) of wild olive from a sacred wood. Although the  Olympic game player received no money prize, they were, in fact, highly rewarded by the state authorities. The public honor also made the strict discipline of the ten-month training period worthwhile (полезный, стоящий)

After an uninterrupted history of almost 1200 years, the Games were abolished (были отменены)in A.D. 394, the Christian Era, because of the pagan origin. It was over 1500 years before there was another such international athletics gathering. The Greek institution was revived (возобновлен)in 1896 and the first small meeting took place in Athens. After 1908 London Olympics, success was re-established(возрожден) and nations sent best their sportsmen. In times of peace the Games have taken place ever since four-yearly intervals.

Nowadays the Games are held in different countries in turn. The host country provides vas facilities, including a stadium, swimming pools and a living accommodation, but competing countries pay their own athletes’ expenses.

The Olympics starts with the arrival in the stadium of a torch, lighted on Mount Olympus by the sun’s rays. It is carried by a number of runners to the stadium. The torch symbolizes the continuation of the ancient  Greek athletic ideas and it burns throughout the Games until the closing ceremony.  The well known Olympic flag is a modern conception:  the five interlocking (переплетенный)rings symbolize the uniting of all five continents participating in the Games.

Vocabulary exercises

1.     Найдите английский эквивалент в тексте

a.      Древняя Греция

b.     В честь Зевса

c.      Национальное событие

d.     Гора Олимп

e.      Зритель

f.       Конный спорт

g.     Пятиборье

h.     Жертвоприношение

i.       Герой дня

j.       Посетитель

k.     Короновать

l.       Священный венец дикой оливы

m.   Игры были открыты

n.     Прибытие на стадион

o.     Символизировать

p.     Переплетенные кольца

2 Определите верно или не верно высказывание, обозначив TRUE (верно), False (не верно)  и дайте правильный вариант.

1.     The first Olympic games took place in 700 B.C.

2.     Only Greeks could take part in the Games.

3.     The Olympic Games were held every 6 years in honor of (в честь) Zeus and became a national event.

4.     The Games took place in September on the plain by Mount Everest.

5.     All the visitors were crowned with holy garlands (венец) of wild olive from a sacred wood.

6.     Nowadays the Games are held in different countries in turn.

7.     The well known Olympic flag is an ancient (древний)conception.

8.     The five interlocking rings symbolize the uniting of all countries of the world.

9.     The Games were abolished in A.D. 394, the Christian Era, because of the pagan origin.

10. The torch symbolizes the continuation of the ancient  Greek athletic ideas.

GOOD JOB, GUY J