四、閱讀測驗
With the first games ever documented in 776 BC, the Olympic Games have its roots almost three millennia ago in ancient Greece. These ancient contests, which took place in Olympia every four years, drew competitors from a number of Greek city-states and eventually the Roman Empire. The games went on until 393 AD, when Theodosius I, the Christian Roman Emperor, outlawed them due to their promotion of worshipping false Gods. The ancient Olympics, which had competitions that lasted anywhere from one to five days, included sports including throwing, running, and jumping. Interestingly, competition was restricted to men.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was founded in 1894, marking the beginning of the contemporary Olympic era. Greece hosted the inaugural modern Games in Athens in 1896, which saw 241 athletes from 14 countries competing in 43 events. Although there was initial support for holding the Games in Athens every four years, the IOC opted for a rotating host city model. Consequently, the 1900 Games were held in Paris, marking the first inclusion of female athletes.
The Winter Olympic Games made their debut in 1924, showcasing sports like ice hockey and skating. Currently, the Summer Olympic Games include participation from over 200 countries and feature around 300 events across seventeen days. Despite their widespread popularity, the Games have encountered several hurdles. They were not conducted in 1916, 1940, and 1944 due to global conflicts. Moreover, issues such as using banned substances to improve performance among athletes and the considerable expenses associated with hosting— illustrated by the $50 billion expenditure on the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi—underscore ongoing worries. However, the Olympic Games continue to be a celebrated and highly anticipated global event.
【題組】46. Which of the following is true about the ancient Olympics?
(A) Spartans also competed in the games.
(B) The Roman Empire was never part of the competition.
(C) Both men and women could enter the competition.
(D) The competition lasted for one week.