Unit Ten
The Olympic Games
In ancient Greece athletic1 festivals were very important and had strong religious associations. The Olympian athletic festival held every four years in honour of Zeus, king of the Olympic Gods, eventually lost its local character, became first a national event and then, after the rules against foreign competitors had been abolished, international. No one knows exactly how far back the Olympic games go, but some official records date from 776 B.C..
The games took place in August on the plain by Mount Olympus. Many thousands of spectators gathered from all parts of Greece. The exact sequence
of events is uncertain, but events included boy's gymnastics, boxing, wrestling, horse racing2 and field events, though there were fewer sports involved than in the modern Olympic Games.
On the last day of the Games, all the winners were honoured by having a ring of holy olive leaves placed on their heads. Although Olympic winners received no prize money, they were, in fact, richly rewarded by their state authorities.
After an uninterrupted history of almost 1,200 years, the Games were suspended by the Romans in 394 A.D.. They continued for such a long time because people believed in the philosophy behind the Olympics: the idea that a healthy body produced a healthy mind, and that he spirit of competition in sports and games was preferable to the competition that caused wars. It was over 1,500 years before another such international athletic gathering3 took place in Athens in 1896.
Nowadays, the Games are held in different countries in turn. The host country provides vast facilities, including a stadium, swimming pools and living accommodation, but competing countries pay their own athletes' expenses.
The Olympics start with the arrival in the stadium of a torch, lighted on Mount OLympus by the sun's rays. It is carried by a succession of runners to the
stadium. The torch symbolized5 the continuation of the ancient Greek athletic ideals, and it burns throughout the Games until the closing ceremony. The well-known Olympic flag, however, is a modern conception: the five interlocking rings symbolize4 the uniting of all five continents participating in the Games.
character n. 1.性格,品质,品德 2.特性,特色 3.人物,角色 4.符号,汉字
characteristic a. 特有的,典型的 n.特性,特征
[联想词]
trait n. 特征,特点,特性
abolish vt. 彻底废除,废止
[联想词]
erase vt. 1.擦掉,抹掉 2.清除
extinguish vt. 1.熄灭,扑灭 2.使消亡,使破灭
terminate v.停止,终止
revive vt. 使复苏 vi.恢复
spectator n.观众,旁观者
gymnastics n. 1.体操 2.训练 3.技巧,绝技
wrestle6 vt. 1.摔跤 2.使劲搬运 vi. 1.摔跤 2.使劲搬运 3.努力解决olive n. 橄榄,橄榄树
suspend vt. 1.暂停,中止 2.悬挂,吊
suspension n. 1.暂停,中止 2.暂令停止参加 3.悬置机构 4.悬浮液 5.悬,挂,吊
succession n. 1.连续,接续 2.一连串,一系列 3.接替,继任
successor n.接替的人,继任者
[联想词]
serial n. 连续剧,连载故事 a.连续的
acccommodate vt. 1.容纳 2.向...提供住处 3.使适应,顺应
accommodation n.住处,膳宿
symbolize vt. 1.象征,标志 2.用符号代表
symbol n. 1.象征,标志2.符号
[联想词]
token n.1.标志,信物,纪念品 2.代价券
badge n. 1.徽章,证章 2.标记,标识 3.象征
conception n. 1.思想,观念,概念 2.构想,设想 3.怀孕
authority n. 1.权力,管辖权2.官方,当局 3.当权者,行政管理机构 4.权威,专家
authoritative7 a. 1.权威性的,可信的 2.专断的,命令式的
authorize8 vt.授权,批准
arrogant9 a.傲慢的,自大的
authentic10 a. 1.真的,真正的 2.可信的,可靠的
点击  收听单词发音
|
1
athletic
|
|
| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 |
参考例句： |
- This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
- He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。
|
|
2
racing
|
|
| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 |
参考例句： |
- I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
- The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。
|
|
3
gathering
|
|
| n.集会，聚会，聚集 |
参考例句： |
- He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
- He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。
|
|
4
symbolize
|
|
| vt.作为...的象征，用符号代表 |
参考例句： |
- Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。
- Dolphins symbolize the breath of life.海豚象征着生命的气息。
|
|
5
symbolized
|
|
| v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句： |
- For Tigress, Joy symbolized the best a woman could expect from life. 在她看，小福子就足代表女人所应有的享受。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
- A car symbolized distinction and achievement, and he was proud. 汽车象征着荣誉和成功，所以他很自豪。 来自辞典例句
|
|
6
wrestle
|
|
| vi.摔跤，角力；搏斗；全力对付 |
参考例句： |
- He taught his little brother how to wrestle.他教他小弟弟如何摔跤。
- We have to wrestle with difficulties.我们必须同困难作斗争。
|
|
7
authoritative
|
|
| adj.有权威的，可相信的；命令式的；官方的 |
参考例句： |
- David speaks in an authoritative tone.大卫以命令的口吻说话。
- Her smile was warm but authoritative.她的笑容很和蔼，同时又透着威严。
|
|
8
authorize
|
|
| v.授权，委任；批准，认可 |
参考例句： |
- He said that he needed to get his supervisor to authorize my refund.他说必须让主管人员批准我的退款。
- Only the President could authorize the use of the atomic bomb.只有总统才能授权使用原子弹。
|
|
9
arrogant
|
|
| adj.傲慢的，自大的 |
参考例句： |
- You've got to get rid of your arrogant ways.你这骄傲劲儿得好好改改。
- People are waking up that he is arrogant.人们开始认识到他很傲慢。
|
|
10
authentic
|
|
| a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的 |
参考例句： |
- This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
- Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。
|
|
