Question

    By the 1970s, the Olympic Marathon had come a long way from the dusty roads of Athens. Yet women were still not allowed to compete and the struggle to establish a women’s Olympic Marathon was itself something of a long-distance race.

Women had been excluded from long-distance running until 1928, when the typical long race was the 800 meters. The women competitors hadn’t properly prepared for the race and several fell down and became temporarily unconscious due to extreme tiredness. This led Olympic organizers in 1928 to consider the marathon too violent for women.

This is not to say there was no tradition of women’s long-distance running. Women had been prohibited from participating in the ancient Olympics by the cruel law. But women in ancient Greece held their own festival to honor the goddess Hera every five years. Only one athletic event was held — a running race.

When the Olympics were revived in 1896, women were again excluded. However, in 1967, women’s ability in running attracted great attention. Number 261 in the Boston Marathon was given to K V. Switzer. Not until two miles into the race did officials realize that Switzer was a woman. Race officials tried to catch Switzer and remove her from the race but her teammates fended them off with body blocks. And Switzer wasn’t scared by officials’ aggressive actions. She kept running. Although the running was demanding, Switzer didn’t give up and eventually finished the race. Switzers story made the quest for equality in long-distance running for women a political issue. Slowly, the rules did begin to change.

The first women’s marathon officially agreed by the IAAF was the Tokyo International, held in 1979. IAAF president Adriaan Paulen watched the race. He was so impressed by the level of the competition that he announced he would fully support the effort to establish a women’s marathon in the Olympics. Soon the IAAF recommended to the IOC that a women’s marathon be included in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. And the advice was adopted.

1.What was the reason for women’s failing to attend the Olympic Marathon in 1928?

A.They generally weren’t enthusiastic about it.

B.They were thought not strong enough for it.

C.They weren’t supported by the public to attend it.

D.They were too tired to make full preparations for it.

2.Which of the following can best replace the underlined word in Paragraph 3?

A.separated B.banned C.freed D.protected

3.Which of the following best describe Switzer?

A.Brave and determined. B.Talented and kind.

C.Honest and easygoing. D.Optimistic and clever.

4.What’s Adriaan Paulen’s contribution to women’s running?

A.Letting women have the right to compete against men in running.

B.Making a series of rules for women’s running.

C.Having trained many outstanding women runners.

D.Helping women be qualified for the Olympic Marathon.

Answer

1.B

2.B

3.A

4.D

【解析】

这是一篇说明文。文章主要说明了女性在争取女子长跑马拉松资格中的努力，在1928年以前，女子长跑一直被排除在外。当奥运会在1896年恢复时，妇女再次被排除在外，而一个名为K V. Switzer的女性因为勇敢和比赛官方斗争，并完成了比赛使追求女性长跑平等成为一个政治问题。后来在Adriaan Paulen的建议下女性获得参加奥运会马拉松的资格。

1.

细节理解题。根据第二段中The women competitors hadn’t properly prepared for the race and several fell down and became temporarily unconscious due to extreme tiredness. This led Olympic organizers in 1928 to consider the marathon too violent for women.可知女选手们没有做好比赛准备，有几位选手因极度疲劳而摔倒，暂时失去意识。这使得1928年的奥运会组织者认为马拉松比赛对女性来说过于激烈了。由此可知，女子未能参加1928年奥运会马拉松比赛的原因是他们被认为不够强壮。故选B。

2.

词义猜测题。根据后文from participating in the ancient Olympics by the cruel law…Only one athletic event was held — a running race.可知在古代，残酷的法律禁止妇女参加奥运会。唯一能参加的体育赛事就是跑步比赛。由此可知，划线单词意思为“禁止”。A. separated分开；B. banned禁止；C. freed解放；D. protected保护。故选B。

3.

推理判断题。根据第四段中Race officials tried to catch Switzer and remove her from the race but her teammates fended them off with body blocks. And Switzer wasn’t scared by officials’ aggressive actions. She kept running. Although the running was demanding, Switzer didn’t give up and eventually finished the race. Switzers story made the quest for equality in long-distance running for women a political issue. Slowly, the rules did begin to change.可知比赛官员试图抓住Switzer并把她带离比赛，但她的队友用身体挡开了他们。瑞士官员的激进行动并没有吓倒他们。她一直在跑。虽然跑起来很吃力，但Switzer没有放弃，最终完成了比赛。Switzer的故事使追求女性长跑平等成为一个政治问题。慢慢地，规则开始改变。由此可推知，Switzer是个勇敢挑战权威，且坚定完成了比赛的女性。故选A。

4.

细节理解题。根据最后一段中He was so impressed by the level of the competition that he announced he would fully support the effort to establish a women’s marathon in the Olympics. Soon the IAAF recommended to the IOC that a women’s marathon be included in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. And the advice was adopted.可知比赛的水平给他留下了深刻的印象，他宣布他将全力支持女子马拉松在奥运会上的发展。不久，国际田联向国际奥委会推荐在1984年洛杉矶奥运会中加入女子马拉松。这个建议被采纳了。由此可知，Adriaan Paulen对女子跑步的贡献是帮助女性获得参加奥运会马拉松的资格。故选D。