第15周早读阅读练习.docVIP

聿怀中学2014-2015学年度第一学期高一英语周一阅读练习 命题人：张可璇、吴钰 A The final event in the Olympics is the marathon. It is also usually the most exciting.As the leader comes into the stadium to run the last few meters of the 42－kilometre race，the crowd rises to its feet to shout and cheer.The name of the race comes from a battle in Ancient Greece.According to the story，a soldier ran from the scene of the battle，Marathon，to Athens，to bring the news of a Greek victory against the Persians.He died just after arriving. The marathon has been an Olympic event since the modern games started in 1896.At first the distance was 40 kilometers—the distance between Marathon and Athens.In 1908，however，at the London Olympics，it was changed.The King of England wanted the runners to leave from his castle in Windsor and arrive in a new stadium in central London.The distance was 26 miles—about 42 kilometers.In fact，the 1908 marathon ended dramatically(戏剧性地)．When the leader，an Italian，entered the stadium he turned the wrong way and fell onto the ground.Officials picked him up and helped him to the finishing line，just as the second runner，an American，entered the stadium.The Americans protested(抗议)and in the end the American runner was declared(宣布)the winner.Since then，there have been many more exciting marathons. In fact，you dont have to wait for the Olympic Games to run or watch a marathon，as there are marathons in over sixty countries and hundreds of cities around the world today.One of the most famous marathons is in New York，and is watched by two million people around the streets and across the bridges of the citys five boroughs(纽约市的行政区)，and past New Yorks famous landmarks.But perhaps one of the most beautiful and extraordinary(最特别的)marathons ever is the Great Wall Marathon，which most competitors find is the toughest course to run. The marathon is the final Olympic event because it is thought to be the hardest.But experts believe that most people—even people who are not particularly