A. ASIAN/ˈEꞮƷN/ B. VIETNAM /ˌVJETˈNÆM/ C. JAPAN/DƷƏˈPÆN/ D. AMER...

5. A. Asian_/ˈeɪʒn/ B. Vietnam /ˌvjetˈnæm/ C. Japan_{/dʒəˈpæn/} D. American /əˈmerɪkən/II. READING COMPREHENSION (4p) A. Read the passages and do the tasks. Reading 1: Read the following passage and choose the best answer for each question. (1p) In 776 B.C., the first Olympic Games were held at the foot of Mount Olympus to honor the Greeks’ chief god, Zeus. The warm climate for outdoor activities, the need for preparedness in war, and their lifestyle caused the Greeks to create competitive sports. Only the elite and military could participate at first, but later the games were open to all free Greek males who had no criminal record. The Greeks emphasized physical fitness and strength in their education of youth. Therefore, contest in running, jumping, discus and javelin throwing, boxing, and horse and chariot racing were held in individual cities, and the winners competed every four years at Mount Olympus. Winners were greatly honored by having olive wreaths placed on their heads and having poems sung about their deeds. Originally, these contests were held as games of friendship, and any wars in progress were halted to allow the games to take place. They also helped to strengthen bonds among competitors and the different cities represented. The Greeks attached so much importance to the games that they calculated time in four-year cycles called “Olympiads,” dating from 776 B.C. The contest coincided with religious festivities and constituted an all-out effort on the part of the participants to please the gods. Any who disobeyed the rules were dismissed and seriously punished. These athletes brought shame not only to themselves, but also to the cities they represented.