Unit 2 The Olympic Games
AN INTERVIEW
Pausanias, who was a Greek writer about 2,000 years ago, has come on a magical journey on March 18th 2007 to find out about the present-day Olympic Games. He is now interviewing Li Yan, a volunteer for the 2008 Olympic Games.
P: My name is Pausanias. I lived in what you call “Ancient Greece” and I used to write about the Olympic Games a long time ago. I’ve come to your time to find out about the present-day Olympic Games because I know that in 2004 they were held in my homeland. May I ask you some questions about the modern Olympics?
L: Good heavens! Have you really come from so long ago? But of course you can ask any questions you like. What would you like to know? P: How often do you hold your Games?
L: Every four years. There are two main sets of Games-the Winter and Summer Olympics, and both are held every four years on a regular basis. The Winter Olympics are usually held two years before the Summer Games. Only athletes who have reached the agreed standard for their event will be admitted as competitors. They may come from anywhere in the world. P: Winter Games? How can the runners enjoy competing in winter? And what about the horses?
L: Oh no! There are no running races or horse riding events. Instead there are competitions like skiing and ice skating which need snow and ice. That’s why they’re called the Winter Olympics. It’s in the Summer Olympics that you have the running races, together with swimming, sailing and all the team sports.
P: I see. Earlier you said that athletes are invited from all over the world. Do you mean the Greek world? Our Greek cities used to compete against each other just for the honour of winning. No other countries could join in, nor could slaves or women!
L: Nowadays any country can take part if their athletes are good enough. There are over 250 sports and each on has its own standard. Women are not only allowed, but play a very important role in gymnastics, athletics, team sports and …
P: Please wait a minute! All those events, all those countries and even women taking part! Where are all the athletes housed?
L: For each Olympics, a special village is built for them to live in, a main reception building, several stadiums for competitions, and a gymnasium as well.
P: That sounds very expensive. Does anyone want to host the Olympic Games?
L: As a matter of fact, every country wants the opportunity. It’s a great responsibility but also a great honour to be chosen. There’s as much competition among countries to host the Olympics as to win Olympic medals. The 2008 Olympics will be held in Beijing, China. Did you know that? P: Oh yes! You must be very proud.
L: Certainly. And after that the 2012 Olympics will be held in London. They have already started planning for it. A new village for the athletes and all the stadiums will be built to the east of London. New medals will be designed of course and … P: Did you say medals? So even the olive wreath has been replaced! Oh dear! Do you compete for prize money too?
L: No, we don’t. it’s still all about being able to run faster, jump higher and throw further. That’s the motto of the Olympics, you know-“Swifter, Higher and Stronger.”
P: Well, that’s good news. How interesting! Thank you so much for your time.
Book 2 Unit 2
ancient /'e?n??nt/ adj. 古代的；古老的 compete /k?m'pi:t/ vi. 比赛；竞争 competitor /k?m'pet?t?/ n. 竞争者 take part in 参加；参与
medal /'medl/ n. 奖章；勋章；纪念章 stand for 代表；象征；表示
△ mascot /'m?sk?t; 'm?sk?t/ n. 吉祥物
△Pausanias /p?: 'se?n??s/ 帕萨尼亚斯 (男名；古希腊人名) Greece /gri:s/ n. 希腊
Greek /gri:k/ adj. 希腊(人)的；希腊语的 n．希腊人；希腊语
magical /'m?d??kl/ adj. 巫术的；魔术的；有魔力的
volunteer /v?l?n't??/ n. 志愿者；志愿兵 adj. 志愿的；义务的 vt. & vi. 自愿 homeland /'h??ml?nd/ n. 祖国；本国
regular /'reɡj?l?/ adj. 规则的；定期的；常规的 basis /'be?s?s/ n. (pl bases) 基础；根据 athlete /'?θli:t/ n. 运动员；运动选手
admit /?d'm?t/ vt. & vi. 容许；承认；接纳 slave /sle?v/ n. 奴隶
nowadays /'na??de?z/ adv. 现今；现在
gymnastics /d??m'n?st?ks/ n. (pl) 体操；体能训练 △ athletics /?θ'let?ks/ n. (pl) 体育运动；竞技
stadium /'ste?d??m/ n. （露天大型）体育场 (pl stadiums or stadia) gymnasium (gym) /d??m'ne?z??m/ (/d?im/) n. 体育馆；健身房 as well 也；又；还
host /h??st/ vt. 做东；主办；招待 n. 主人 responsibility /r?sp?ns?'b?l?t?/ n. 责任；职责
△ olive /'?l?v/ n. 橄榄树；橄榄叶；橄榄枝；橄榄色 △ wreath /ri:θ/ n. 花圈；花冠；圈状物 replace /r?'ple?s/ vt. 取代；替换；代替 motto /'m?t??/ n. 座右铭；格言；警句 swift /sw?ft/ adj. 快的；迅速的
△ similarity /s?m?'l?r?t?/ n. 相像性；相似点 △ Athens /'?θ?nz/ 雅典(希腊首都)
charge /t?ɑ:d?/ vt. & vi. 收费；控诉 n. 费用；主管 in charge 主管；看管
physical /'f?z?kl/ adj. 物理的；身体的 fine /fa?n/ vt. 罚款
poster /'p??st?/ n. 海报；招贴
advertise /'?dv?ta?z/ vt. & vi. 做广告；登广告 △ Atlanta /?t'l?nt?/ n.亚特兰大(女名；城市名) △ princess /pr?n'ses/ n. 公主 glory /'ɡl?:r?/ n. 光荣；荣誉
bargain /'bɑ:ɡ?n/ vi. 讨价还价；讲条件 n. 便宜货 △ prince /pr?ns/ n. 王子
hopeless /'h??pl?s/ adj. 没有希望的；绝望的
△Hippomenes /h?'p?m?ni:z/ n.希波墨涅斯 (男名；古希腊人名) foolish /'fu:l??/ adj. 愚蠢的；傻的 △ goddess /'ɡ?d?s/ n. 女神 pain /pe?n/ n. 疼痛；痛苦
one after another 陆续地；一个接一个地 deserve /d?'z?:v/ vi. & vt. 应受（报答或惩罚）；值得 △ striker /'stra?k?/ n. 敲击者；（足球的）前锋
THE STORY OF ATLANTA
Atlanta was a Greek princess. She was very beautiful and could run faster than any man in Greece. But she was not allowed to run and win glory for herself in the Olympic Games. She was so angry that she said to her father that she would not marry anyone who could not run faster than her. Her father said that she must marry, so Atlanta made a bargain with him.
She said to him, \st as me, he will be killed. No one will be pardoned.\
Many kings and princes wanted to marry Atlanta, but when they heard of her rules they knew it was hopeless. So many of them sadly went home, but others stayed to run the race. There was a man called Hippomenes who was amazed when he heard of Atlanta's rules, \hey cannot run as fast as this princess?\d his mind. \s Hippomenes watched he thought, \She promised to help him and gave him three golden apples. She said, \ing past. When she stops to pick it up, you will be able to run past her and win.\he King. He said, \her - or die!\
英语必修二unit2 课文原文+单词+音标
