阅读下列短文，从每题所给的A、B、C和D 四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
A
When the first modern Olympics kicked off in Athens in 1896, it wasn’t clear whether they’d last. However, it continued in 1900 and 1904, but not as a main attraction. Some of the Olympic events might seem a bit unusual to today’s sports fans.
Chariot (战车) Racing
Starting around 684 B. C., drivers raced each other in horse-drawn chariots at the Olympics, sometimes crashing into one another. Only men could join in Olympic events as athletes, but wealthy women could show their support for chariots as sponsors. Because it was a chariot’s funder who received the victory title, not the racer himself, this was the only way women could “win” at the Olympics.
Hot Air Balloon Racing
The 1896 Olympics lasted less than two weeks; but the 1900 Olympics, which were tied to the months-long world’s fair in Paris, ran from May to October. With the expanded time, the 1900 Olympics featured many more athletes and events than the 1896 Olympics, including various hot air balloon competitions. Hot air balloon drivers competed in terms of distance traveled, altitude reached and best photograph taken from a balloon. However, hot air balloon racing made its appearance for the first time and also the last time in 1900.
Live Pigeon (鸽子) Shooting
Another event that appeared first at the 1900 Olympics was live pigeon shooting. In this competition, organizers set free pigeons into the air in front of a competitor, who then shot as many as possible. The winner was a Belgian man named Leon de Lun, who shot 21 pigeons. Altogether, the competitors killed around 300 pigeons. Luckily, live pigeon shooting only appeared at the Olympics once.
Painting
Starting with the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm and continuing until the 1948 games in London, the Olympics held art competitions in painting as well as sculpture, music, architecture and literature. Some people competed in both the sports and art competitions, and two people even won medals in both fields. The art competitions were called off because so many competitors were professional artists, and the Olympics were supposed to make the amateurs(people who didn’t get paid for their athletic or artistic talent) shine.
1. How could a woman be involved in Chariot Racing?
A. By training a chariot driver. B. By funding a chariot.
C. By competing in the race herself. D. By cheering for her favorite chariot driver.
2. What do Hot Air Balloon Racing and Live Pigeon Shooting have in common?
A. They were accepted as Olympic events only once in history.
B. They required excellent skills in photography.
C. They involved the use of animals as a necessary part.
D. They were warmly welcomed by the audience.
3. Why were the art competitions removed from the Olympic Games?
A. The costs of organizing them were too high.
B. The quality of the artistic works was far from satisfactory.
C. The competitors didn’t meet the organizer’s expectations.
D. The Olympic Games focused more on promoting sports than arts.
【答案】1. B 2. A 3. C
【解析】
【导语】本文是一篇应用文。文章主要介绍了历史上曾经出现在奥运会比赛中而又消失了的比赛项目。
【1题详解】
细节理解题。根据“Chariot (战车) Racing”部分的“Only men could join in Olympic events as athletes, but wealthy women could show their support for chariots as sponsors. Because it was a chariot’s funder who received the victory title, not the racer himself, this was the only way women could “win” at the Olympics.(只有男性可以作为运动员参加奥运会，但富有的女性可以作为赞助商表示对战车的支持。因为获得胜利头衔的是战车的资助者，而不是赛车手本人，这是女性在奥运会上“获胜”的唯一途径)”可知，女性可以通过为战车提供资金支持来参与该项比赛。故选B。
【2题详解】
细节理解题。根据“Hot Air Balloon Racing”部分的“However, hot air balloon racing made its appearance for the first time and also the last time in 1900.(然而，热气球比赛在1900年首次出现，也是最后一次出现)”和“Live Pigeon(鸽子) Shooting”部分的“Luckily, live pigeon shooting only appeared at the Olympics once.(幸运的是，活鸽射击比赛只在奥运会上出现过一次)”可知，热气球比赛和活鸽射击比赛都作为奥运会比赛项目出现了一次。故选A。
【3题详解】
推理判断题。根据“Painting”部分的“The art competitions were called off because so many competitors were professional artists, and the Olympics were supposed to make the amateurs(people who didn’t get paid for their athletic or artistic talent) shine.(艺术比赛被取消了，因为很多参赛者都是专业艺术家，而奥运会本应让业余爱好者（那些没有因运动或艺术天赋而获得报酬的人）大放异彩)”可知，奥运会的艺术比赛本应让业余爱好者大放异彩，然而许多参赛者都是专业的艺术家。由此推知，艺术比赛从奥运会项目中被移除是因为参赛人员并不符合主办方的预期。故选C。
