閱讀短文，根據其內容簡要回答問題。

1     When the Beijing Olympics begin this August，the world will be watching．The games have become a huge international event．People will come from around the world to watch 10,500 athletes from 205 countries and districts compete（競爭）to take home the gold．

2     The first recorded Olympics，in 776 B．C．，were an important religious（宗教的）festival．Olympic sports have changed a lot in the last few thousand years．The ancient games began with just one 192-meter race．In later years，the games grew to include a total of six sports．Most of the ancient Olympic sports tested skills soldiers needed．

3    Even the modern Olympics were once far smaller than they are today．The first of the modern games，in 1896，only had 241 athletes from 14 countries．Moreover（此外），the early modern Olympics were not an independent（獨立的）event．Until l 908 the Olympics were part of the world’s fair!

4     At the first modern Olympics，there were 43 events from ten sports．Many of the sports from the early modern games are no longer part of the Olympics，such as golf and tug of war（拔河）．There has always been a lot of disagreement over changing Olympic sports．

5     The number of Olympic sports has constantly increased throughout history．At the Beijing games，athletes will compete in 302 events from 28 sports．Despite（盡管）all the changes over the years，some ancient sports are still part of the modern games．These include running，boxing and wrestling．

1．How many countries and districts will take part in the Beijing Olympics?

2．What did the ancient Olympics begin with?

3．What do Paragraph 3 and 4 mainly tell us about?

4．At least how many gold medals will the athletes compete for in the coming Olympics?

5．What ancient sports are still parts of the modern games?

Why play games? Because they are fun, and we can learn even more while playing. Following the rules, planning your next move, acting as a team member — these are all “game” ideas that you will come across all through your life. They can help you in different ways.
Think about some of the games you played as a young child, such as rope-jumping and hide-and-seek. Such games are very interesting. But perhaps more importantly, they translate part of life into exciting games that teach children some of the basic rules they will be expected to follow the rest of their lives, such as taking turns and cooperating (合作).   
Many children’s games have a practical side. Children around the world play games that prepare them for work they will do as grown-ups. For example, some Saudi Arabian children play a game called bones, which improves the hand-eye coordination (協調) needed in fishing.
The most famous games of all, the Olympic Games, bring athletes from around the world together to take part in friendly competitions. People who watch the event (比賽項目) know that a gold medal is a win for the whole country, not just the athlete who got it. For countries experiencing natural disasters (災害) or wars, an Olympic win can mean so much.
Sports games are also an event that unites (團結) people. Football is the most popular sport in the world. People all over the world play it — some for fun and some for a living. Nicolette Iribarne, a Californian football player, has discovered a way to spread hope through football. He created a foundation (基金會) to provide poor children with not only soccer balls but also a bright future.
Next time you play your favorite game or sport, think about why you enjoy it, what skills are needed, and whether these skills will help you in other parts of your life.

1. 1.

   What are children expected to learn when they play games?

   1. A.
      To act as a team leader.
   2. B.
      To follow the basic rules.
   3. C.
      To train how to move fast.
   4. D.
      To practice rope-jumping.
2. 2.

   What can we learn from the passage?

   1. A.
      Games can help everybody to make much money.
   2. B.
      Games can turn real-life experiences into a story.
   3. C.
      Games can make skill learning more interesting.
   4. D.
      Games can prevent all the countries from disasters.
3. 3.

   What’s the main idea of the passage?

   1. A.
      Games can help people in different ways.
   2. B.
      People are advised to play games for fun.
   3. C.
      An Olympic win means a lot to every country.
   4. D.
      Sports can get people all over the world together.

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games will take place in Vancouver and Whistler(惠斯勒) from February 12 to 28. As the world’s 1._____ athletes will compete there, Canada is preparing for it well.

It will be broadcasted(播出) in Canada’s two 2._____languages——English and French. Billions of television viewers worldwide will 3.______ the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Athletes from more than 80 4.______ will compete in 86 medal events over 17 days. Then the Paralympics(殘奧會) will 5._____ from March 12 to 21. Canada has 6._____ millions of dollars preparing. Thousands of spectators will visit the country. Canada will be 7._____ it all.

 The building of Olympic gyms began in 2005. Opening and closing ceremonies will be held indoors, at BC Place Stadium. It’ll 8.______55,000 seats. Some competitions, 9.______ ski, and bobsled, will take place in Whistler. It’s a ski village. During the Games, roads will be closed. More than 15,000 policemen will work to 10.______ the peace throughout the Games.

The United States is the only country to host the Winter Games four times. Team USA hopes 2010 will be a golden year.

11. A. worst      B. best               C. cleverest            D. tallest

12. A. special   B. unusual         C. official      D. ordinary

13.A. watch         B. notice           C. look         D. hear

14. A. cities    B. towns            C. villages            D. countries

15. A. run          B. begin            C. stop     D. end 

16. A. paid         B. took             C. cost   D. spent

17. A. full of      B. ready for        C. worried about  D. afraid of

18. A. give         B. serve        C. hold             D. host

19. A. with         B. including        C. as        D. so

20. A. keep             B. make             C. let        D. protect

Why play games? Because they are fun, and we can learn even more while playing. Following the rules, planning your next move, acting as a team member — these are all “game” ideas that you will come across all through your life. They can help you in different ways.

Think about some of the games you played as a young child, such as rope-jumping and hide-and-seek. Such games are very interesting. But perhaps more importantly, they translate part of life into exciting games that teach children some of the basic rules they will be expected to follow the rest of their lives, such as taking turns and cooperating (合作).   

Many children’s games have a practical side. Children around the world play games that prepare them for work they will do as grown-ups. For example, some Saudi Arabian children play a game called bones, which improves the hand-eye coordination (協調) needed in fishing.

The most famous games of all, the Olympic Games, bring athletes from around the world together to take part in friendly competitions. People who watch the event (比賽項目) know that a gold medal is a win for the whole country, not just the athlete who got it. For countries experiencing natural disasters (災害) or wars, an Olympic win can mean so much.

Sports games are also an event that unites (團結) people. Football is the most popular sport in the world. People all over the world play it — some for fun and some for a living. Nicolette Iribarne, a Californian football player, has discovered a way to spread hope through football. He created a foundation (基金會) to provide poor children with not only soccer balls but also a bright future.

Next time you play your favorite game or sport, think about why you enjoy it, what skills are needed, and whether these skills will help you in other parts of your life.

1.What are children expected to learn when they play games?

2.What can we learn from the passage?

3.What’s the main idea of the passage?