2012 Summer Olympics(b)|2012年伦敦夏季奥运

Olympic traditions, once comprised of only a single foot race in ancient Greece, have now grown to incorporate a staggering array of sports and competitive events from BMX biking to Taekwondo. Along with expanding the kinds of sports in which athletes can participate, the Olympics have also broadened its views on what kinds of athletes can compete.

The Summer Paralympics, held every four years shortly after the Olympics, allow athletes with disabilities to compete against each other rather than against non-disabled ones, who would otherwise possess an unfair advantage during competition. Having a disability didn't stop athletes in the past from competing in the Olympics. In 1904, American George Eyser won six medals in gymnastics despite having a wooden leg.

In 1948 Dr. Ludwig Guttmann hosted a sporting event for British World War II veterans who suffered from spinal injuries. The games took place on the opening day of the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, and 12 years later these games had evolved into the first ever Paralympics, welcoming disabled athletes whether they were veterans or not. Since then, the number of athletes competing in the Paralympics has increased almost tenfold, from 400 in 1960 to 3,900 in 2008.

Athletes competing in the Paralympics are divided into six broad groupsmputee, cerebral palsy, visually impaired, wheelchair, intellectual disability, and les autres, which is for athletes whose disabilities do not fit into any of the aforementioned categories. The most decorated Paralympian ever is Trischa Zorn, a swimmer from the US. Blind from birth, she won a total of 41 gold, nine silver, and five bronze medals during her illustrious 24-year Paralympic career.

    1.     Where did the Olympics originate?

(A) In ancient Rome.

(B) In London.

(C) In Paris.

(D) In ancient Greece.

    2.     Which of the following is true about the opening ceremony for the 2012 Summer Olympics?

(A) It is being overseen by Steven Spielberg.

(B) It is titled The Isles of Thunder.

(C) Billions will watch it on TV.

(D) It will be broadcast in the winter of 2012.

    3.     What was extraordinary about George Eyser?

(A) He was a cook from Elis and the first ever Olympic champion.

(B) He won 41 gold medals over a career which spanned 24 years.

(C) He organized the first ever Paralympics.

(D) He won six medals competing against non-disabled athletes despite having a wooden leg.

    4.     Which of the following can be concluded about the Paralympics?

(A) It's only for people that have served in the military.

(B) There are now 10 times as many athletes as there were when the Paralympics started.

(C) It has become more popular than the actual Olympics.

(D) Only people with five types of disabilities are allowed to participate.

奥运的传统赛事，曾经仅由古希腊时期的单人竞走比赛组成，现在已经发展至纳入种类繁多的体育与竞技活动，范围从自行车越野赛到跆拳道等多项。随着运动员可以参加的比赛项目扩增，奥运也将视野拓展到其他运动员身上。

奥运结束后不久，每 4 年举办一次的夏季残障奥运随即登场，让残障运动员彼此较量，而非与四肢健全的人士比赛，否则正常人会在竞赛中占有不平等的优势。在过去，伤残也无法阻止运动员竞逐奥运。1904年，尽管左腿装上木制的义肢，美国籍的乔治‧艾瑟仍在体操比赛中夺下 6 面奖牌。

之后，格特曼博士为在二次世界大战中脊椎受伤的英国老兵举办比赛。这些比赛于 1948 年的伦敦夏季奥运开幕当天举行，12年后，这些赛事演变成有史以来首届残障奥运会，不论是老兵与否，皆欢迎所有的残障运动员参加。自此之后，参加残障奥运会的运动员人数成长将近 10 倍，从 1960 年的 4 百人成长到 2008 年的 3 千 9 百人。

参加残障奥运会的运动员被分为 6 大类──截肢者、脑性痲痹者、视力受损者、轮椅人士、智能障碍者，最后一类则是无法归类于上述任何类别的残障运动员。史上获得最多残障奥运奖牌的运动员是美国的游泳选手佐恩。她先天失明，却在其卓越的 24 年运动生涯中夺下 41 面金牌、9 面银牌和 5 面铜牌。

答案：    D   C   D   B