SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

Olympia is green and lush, amidst groves of trees. Here was the great Sanctuary of Zeus, the Altis, and the setting for the Olympic Games. For over a thousand years, in peace and war, the Greeks assembled here to celebrate this great festival. The simple crown of wild olive was sufficient to immortalize the victor, his family, and his city.

Aerial view of sanctuary from SE

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

The ancient Olympics were rather different from the modern Games. There were fewer events, and only free men who spoke Greek could compete, instead of athletes from any country. Also, the games were always held at Olympia instead of moving around to different sites every time. trainer

watching wrestlers

chariot

race

Like our Olympics, though, winning athletes were heroes who put their home towns on the map. One young Athenian nobleman defended his political reputation by mentioning how he entered seven chariots in the Olympic chariot-race. This high number of entries made both the aristocrat and Athens look very wealthy and powerful.

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

map of some cities which sent competitors

to the Olympics in the 5th century B.C.

The ancient Olympic Games, part of a major religious festival honoring Zeus, the chief Greek god, were the biggest event in their world. They were the scene of political rivalries between people from different parts of the Greek world, and the site of controversies, boasts, public announcements and humiliations.

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

Where did the Olympic games come from?

One myth says that the guardians of the infant god Zeus held the first footrace, or that Zeus himself started the Games to celebrate his victory over his father Cronus for control of the world. Another tradition states that after the Greek hero Pelops won a chariot race against King Oenomaus to marry Oenomaus's daughter Hippodamia, he established the Games.

enthroned Zeus

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

Why were they held at Olympia? Olympia was one of the oldest religious centers in the ancient Greek world. Since athletic contests were one way that the ancient Greeks honored their gods, it was logical to hold a recurring athletic competition at the site of a major temple. Also, Olympia is convenient geographically to reach by ship, which was a major concern for the Greeks. Athletes and spectators traveled from Greek colonies as far away as modern-day Spain, the Black Sea, or Egypt Olympia,

Temple of Zeus

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

Were there other contests like the Olympics?

There were 3 other major games which were held on 2- or 4-year cycles: the Isthmean Games at Corinth, the Pythian Games at Delphi, and the Nemean Games at Nemea. Because it started 200 years before the other competitions, the Olympics remained the most famous athletic contest in the ancient Greek world.

Sites of the four major athletic competitions

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

The Olympics were open to any free-born Greek in the world. There were separate mens' and boys' divisions for the events. Women were not allowed to compete in the Games themselves. However, they could enter equestrian events as the owner of a chariot team or an individual horse, and win victories that way.

Who could compete in the Olympics?

athletes

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

How were the athletes trained? Athletics were a key part of education in ancient Greece. Many Greeks believed that developing the body was equally important as improving the mind for overall health. Also, regular exercise was important in a society where men were always needed for military service. Plato's Laws specifically mentions how athletics improved military skills. Greek youth therefore worked out in the wrestling-school (palaestra) whether they were serious Olympic contenders or not. trainer

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

What prizes did Olympic victors get? A victor received a crown made from olive leaves, and was entitled to have a statue of himself set up at Olympia. Although he did not receive money at the Olympics, the victor was treated much like a modern sports celebrity by his home city. His success increased the fame and reputation of his community in the Greek world. It was common for victors to receive benefits such as having all their meals at public expense or front-row seats at the theater and other public festivals. One city even built a private gym for their Olympic wrestling champion to exercise in

Youth, detail of head and shoulders

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

Judges were drawn from Elis, the local region which included Olympia. The number of judges increased to 10 as more events were added to the Olympics. Even though the judges were all Eleans, local Elean Greeks were still allowed to compete in the Olympics. The Elean people had such a reputation for fairness that an Elean cheating at the Games was a shock to other Greeks.

Who were the Olympic judges?

two boxers, official,

and Olympias

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

What was the penalty for cheating?

Anyone who violated the rules was fined by the judges. The money was used to set up statues of Zeus, the patron god of the Games at Olympia. In addition to using bribes, other offenses included deliberately avoiding the training period at Olympia.

official on right

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

The latest Olympic Games

Time 1984

(23rd)

1988

(24th)

1992

(25th)

1996

(26th)

2000

(27th)

Place Los Angeles

USA

Seoul

South Korea

Barce-lona

Spain

Atlanta

USA

Sydney

Australia

Gold medals won by China

15 5 16 16 28

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

Read the text and find something about the numbers here:Read the text and find something about the numbers here:

A:776BC

B.393AD

C.1896

D.311

E.8,000

F.250

G.1984

H.16

The old Olympic Games from which the modern games came began around the year 776 BC in Greece.

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

The Olympic Games are the biggest meeting in the world.There are _____kinds of Olympic Games.____is the Summer Olympic Games,and the_____ is theWinterOlympics._____of them are_____every_____years.

The old Olympic Games_____around the year 776BC inGreece.At that time there were not___many sports____today.And women were mot allowed to____ ___ ___the games.But now there are many new sports in the Olympics.Just in the Summer Olympics there are more than 250 different sports.And_______are also allowed to join in the games.They even compete_____medals_____men of the games.

began

four

takepart in

women

Both held

two

soas

for with

OneOther

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

Read the text quickly to sum up every paragraph:

Para 1:

Para 2:

Para 3:

Para 4:

Para 5:

The Olympic Games are held every four years.

The ancient Olympic Games

The modern Olympic Games

The Olympic motto

The preparation for the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

fourEvery years athletes all over the world the Olympic Games.The old Olympic Games from which the games came began around the year in Greece. Many of the sports were the same they are now. were not allowed to take part in the games. After about the year the Olympic Games stopped. For . there were no Olympic Games.The first Olympic Games in modern happened in They were held in Greece — the country in which the games were born. In the 1896 games there were competitors from just countries. After that more and more countries joined in the games. In 2000 over _____ athletes from nearly countries went to Sydney for the Olympic Games! There are different events in the games.Horse-riding ,hammer throw and shooting are some of the more unusual sports. In Sydney the Chinese team got gold medals, ranking_____ of all the competing countries.

from take part in

modern776BC as

Women393AD centuries

times 1896

311 1310,000

20027th 300

28 third

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

True or False

1. Both the Summer and Winter Olympics are held every four years.

2. The modern Olympic Games began around the year 776 BC. 3. In the old times both men and women were allowed to take part

in the Olympic Games. 4. The first modern Olympic Games happened in the year 400

AD. 5. The Olympic Games were born in Greece. 6. The 26th Olympics was held in Sydney in Australia 7. In Sydney the Chinese team won 28 medals, ranking third of all

the competing countries. 8. Horse-riding is one of the unusual sports in the Olympic

Games.

( T )

( F )

( T )

( T )

( T )

( F )

( F )

( F )

=about

_________=every fourth year 每四年

_______________

=join in 参加 ( 活动 )

______=not usual

______= and ranked

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

Born: in Greece,776BC men√ Women ×

Stopped: 393 AD

Modern: in Greece, 1896 13 countries

Sydney 2000 200 countries

2008China:

The history of the Olympics

Retell the text

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

every + 基数词 + 名词 / +every + 序数词 + 名词表示”每……次””每隔……”的意思 .

He comes every four days. He comes every 4th day.他每 4 天来一次 / 他每隔 3 天来一次Take a pill every three hours. Take a pill every 3rd hour.每 3 小时吃一次药 / 每隔两小时吃一次药“ 每隔一”的表达方式 :every other, every two, every 2nd.

you only need to water plants every other day.你只需每隔一天浇一次水 .I visit my parents every other weekend.我每隔一周探访我父母一次 .

“where are we?”______one of the children asked him the question.A.Every a few minutes B. Every few minutesC. Every a few minute D. Every few minute

B. Every few seconds /ten days. Every 直接修饰 few.

√

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

I see them once ______.A. every second days B. every two dayC. every other day D. every other days

C. Every second 后接单数可数名词 ,A 错 ; every two 后接可数复数名词 ,B 错 ;Every other 后接单数名词 ,D 错

√

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

rank做名词 , 意思是”军衔” ,” 官衔” ,” 职衔” ,” 学衔”

That officer holds the rank of captain.这位军官有上尉军衔 .He is a scholar with rank of full professor.他是正教授级的学者 .He wants to be in the top rank of performers.

做动词 , 意思是”评等级” ,” 位于……等级” .

Teachers usually rank students according to their grades.老师通常按分数给学生评定等级 .He is a student who ranks high in his class.他是班上的优等生 .

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

1. Star Wars: episode 4 and ET _____second and fourth on the list of the most successful movies.

2. He will become a soldier of the top ______.

3. Mary _____ _ the top in the singing contest by the judges.

4. He is a writer of first _______.

5. Shanghai ______ as one of the world’s largest cities.

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

rank

rank

was ranked

rank

ranks

more than no more than

more than 通常表示 :“ 超过” ,” 比……多”The museum is more than ten kilometers from here.博物馆距此有 10 多千米 .“ 不仅仅是” ,” 不只是”China Daily is more than a newspaper. It helps to improve our English.< 中国日报 > 不仅仅是一张报纸 . 它还有助于提高我们的英语水平 .Mr. Zhang is more than a teacher. He is our best friend.张老师不知识我们的老师。他还是我们最好的朋友。

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

“ 仅仅” ,” 不过” ,” 至多”He looked like a professor, but in fact he was no more than a college student.他看上去像个教授 , 但事实上他只不过是一个大学生 .There are no more than ten students in the classroom.教室里只有 10 个学生。比较 :There are not more than ten students in the classroom.不到 10 个学生在教室里 .

no more than 通常用来表示 :

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

1. don’t worry about her. She is _____ fifteen years old, and she can take care of herself.2. She is _____ five years old. She is too young to understand it.3. It is much ______ a dictionary. It helps me a lot.4. I had ______ 2 Yuan in my pocket. But the book cost 5 Yuan, so I couldn’t afford it.5. Mike is _____ a child, so please forgive him.6. This is a very large factory. There are ______ 45,000 workers in it.7. He spent very little time at school, perhaps ______ a year in all.

1. More than 2. no more than 3. more than 4. no more than 5. no more than 6. More than 7. no more than

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

prefer

Prefer + 名词意思是”更喜欢”--- Would you prefer tea or coffee?--- I prefer tea.你喜欢喝茶还是咖啡 ? 我更喜欢喝茶 .

Prefer to do意思是”宁可做某事”I prefer not to think about it.我宁可不去想它 .

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

Prefer doing … to doing prefer + 名词… to + 名词意思是”胜过……” “喜欢…… , 而不喜欢”I prefer the town to the country.我喜欢城市而不喜欢农村 .I prefer reading to watching TV.比起看电视 , 我还是喜欢看书 .

Prefer … rather than意思是”宁愿…… , 而不愿……”I prefer rice rather than noodles.我宁可吃米饭也不吃面条 .I prefer to walk there rather than go by bus.我宁可走路也不愿坐公共汽车去那儿 .

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading

1. He found those books too boring and ____ an interesting film.2. He offered to drive us to the school, but we _____ (walk).3. I _____ rice _____ bread.4. He didn’t see the film yesterday. He _____ (stay) at home ____(go) with us.5. She ______(live) abroad.6. Last year Jim ______(spend) the summer by himself.

1. preferred 2. preferred to walk3. prefer … to… 4. preferred to stay, rather than go5. Prefers to live 6. preferred to spend

SB1 UNIT 8 Reading