The First Olympic Games

Reading I

A. Complete the sentences with the words given below.

exquisite inherited underworld embroidered stew decreed mounted rejoicing furious lush

a. We are having stew for lunch today.

b. The demon was sent to the underworld for his disobedience to the gods.

c. The sleeves of his coat were embroidered in gold.

d. Smita was absolutely furious at having been cheated.

e. Her wedding dress was absolutely exquisite.

f. The prince inherited the kingship after his father's death.

g. There was a great rejoicing when the Nepali Football Team won SAFF U-19 championship.

h. The king mounted his horse and rode away from the palace.

i. The government decreed that the following day would be a holiday on the occasion of Eid.

j. It was wonderful to spend a week in the lush countryside.

B. Write if the following statements are true, false or not given based on the information given in the text.

a. Tantalus' father Zeus was not half god and half man; he was a great Greek god. → False

b. Tantalus wanted to take revenge on the gods by serving his son as stew to them. → True

c. The gods revived Pelops to rule in Elis. → True

d. Princess Hippodamia was impressed with Pelops at the first sight. → True

e. Hippodamia did not want to kill the king to inherit the kingdom. → False

f. The Olympic Games were not held for about 1,500 years due to reasons like earthquakes and floods, not fear of earthquakes. → False

g. In every Olympic Games, the torch is carried from Greece. → True

C. Answer these questions solely based on the text below.

a. Who was Tantalus?

Tantalus was a man who was half man and half god.

b. Why were the gods angry with him?

The gods were angry with Tantalus because he had the horrible idea to chop up his son, Pelops, and serve him as a stew to them, which they considered a forbidden act of human sacrifice.

c. What punishment did gods give Tantalus?

The gods punished Tantalus by sending him to the underworld, where he had to stand in water up to his neck forever.

d. What special qualities did the horses of the king and Pelops have?

The horses of the king could run faster than lightning, and Pelops was given a chariot with a team of snow-white horses that could run faster than the wind.

e. What was the risk of proposing princess Hippodamia?

The risk of proposing to Princess Hippodamia was that Pelops had to win a chariot race against the old king to marry her. If he lost, he would get his head chopped off.

f. How did the stable boy help Pelops win the race?

The stable boy helped Pelops win the race by replacing the bronze pins in the chariot's wheels with pins made of candle wax, causing the king's chariot wheels to fall off during the race.

g. How did the king die?

The king died when the wheels of his chariot fell off during the race due to the melting of the wax pins, and he was thrown to his death.

h. Why did Pelops and Hippodamia organise a feast?

Pelops and Hippodamia organized a great funeral feast in honor of the old king to commemorate his memory.

i. How did the events of the feast become the origin of modern Olympic Games?

The events of the feast became the origin of the modern Olympic Games because Pelops decreed that such games should be held every four years in memory of the king's chariot race. These games were known as the Olympic Games and took place on the fields of Olympia.

j. How is the Olympic torch lit?

The Olympic torch is lit from the rays of the sun on the Olympic fields in Greece.

D. What is the significance of the Olympic Games in the world today?

The Olympic Games are very important in today's world. They bring together athletes from all around the globe to compete in various sports. These games promote friendship and peace among countries, even if they might have differences. People watch these games and cheer for their favorite athletes, which creates a sense of unity and excitement.

The Olympic Games also encourage people to stay active and healthy. Athletes train really hard to participate, inspiring others to get involved in sports and exercise. Moreover, the Olympic Games celebrate different cultures and traditions. When athletes from diverse backgrounds come together, they showcase their unique identities and promote understanding among different nations. In short, the Olympic Games are not just about sports; they're about bringing people together, promoting healthy lifestyles, and fostering a spirit of cooperation and respect in the world.

Grammar I

A. Complete the text below with present perfect or present perfect continuous tense of verbs in the brackets.

Kaski, Pokhara
21 August
Hi Nima!

Just a quick note from Pokhara. We have been here for two days now. We have been staying in a hotel in Lakeside since we arrived. By now, we already have visited many places of interest here. I feel really excited to be here. We have not been to Sarangkot yet. We plan to go there too. I always have wished to go paragliding. I have convinced my parents for this.

How have you been spending your holidays? I guess you have been visiting your grandparents. Please have a great time. We will have a great fun back at school.

With love,
Nirjala

B. Complete the sentences below with present perfect or present perfect continuous tense of the verbs given in the brackets.

a. Siddhartha has learned to drive just in ten years!

b. It has been raining all summer. There are floods and landslides in many places.

c. Palden: You must have finished the book. I think you have been reading it since last week.
Ricky: No, I haven't finished it yet. Actually, I started it just yesterday.

d. What have you been cooking for so long?

e. You have promised to help me many times. You really need to help me today.

f. The children have their exams next week. So they have been preparing a lot.

g. The film is really wonderful. Have you watched it yet?

h. Sitaram has been painting his house all day. He has not finished it yet.

i. Finally, they have fixed the leakage in their roof.

j. I am is so tired now. I have been working hard lately.

Writing I

A. Read the following paragraph about a popular footballer and answer the questions.

a. Which sentence is the topic sentence of the paragraph?

The topic sentence of the paragraph is: "English footballer David Beckham became a popular player in the late 1990s."

b. Are the other sentences related to the topic sentence?

Yes, the other sentences are related to the topic sentence. They provide additional information and details about David Beckham's popularity and his achievements in football.

c. Which sentence concludes the paragraph?

The concluding sentence of the paragraph is: "He is still loved by many even after his retirement."

d. Are the topic and concluding sentences similar or different?

The topic and concluding sentences are different. The topic sentence introduces the main idea of the paragraph by stating that David Beckham became a popular player in the late 1990s. The concluding sentence reflects on his enduring popularity even after retiring from football.

B. Write a similar paragraph about your favourite player. Mark the topic, supporting and concluding sentences in your paragraph.

Cristiano Ronaldo, a talented football player from Portugal, became really famous in the early 2000s and won the hearts of fans all around the world. He started his career with Sporting Club of Portugal and then played for well-known teams like Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al Nassr. Ronaldo is known for his amazing skills, scoring lots of goals, and being a leader on the field. Besides playing football, he's also known for his charity work and striving for excellence, which makes him a great role model and inspires many young athletes.

Topic Sentence: Cristiano Ronaldo, a talented football player from Portugal, became really famous in the early 2000s and won the hearts of fans all around the world.

Supporting Sentence: He started his career with Sporting Club of Portugal and then played for well-known teams like Manchester United, Real Madrid, Juventus, and Al Nassr. Ronaldo is known for his amazing skills, scoring lots of goals, and being a leader on the field.

Concluding Sentence: Besides playing football, he's also known for his charity work and striving for excellence, which makes him a great role model and inspires many young athletes.