【题目】
Is running a marathon in under two hours possible? Will a human ever be able to run that fast? Currently, the world record for the 42.195 km (26.219 miles) distance is held by Kenyan Dennis Kimetto. His time of 2:02:57 hours was achieved at the Berlin Marathon of 2014.
For many years, long-distance runners have been trying to get nearer and nearer to the magical mark of two hours. Studies published in the past by medical and athletic experts have come to the conclusion that running a marathon in under 2 hours can be done. They even see a time of around 1:57 as the fastest a human can ever run. However, we will have to wait at least a decade or longer for this to happen.
Many things must fit together to deliver an under two-hour marathon. An athlete would have to have the perfect body size and weight, the right running strategy and of course, the right nutrition. Today's most perfect runners come from Kenya and Ethiopia, countries that have dominated (统治) long-distance races for decades. East African athletes have long legs and lungs that can take in lots of oxygen. Training at high altitudes gives them a strong heart and a very large blood volume (容量).
Ideal weather conditions with cool temperatures and almost no wind will also be needed to attempt such a quick time. An ultra-fast marathon would only be possible on flat city courses, like Berlin or London, with few curves (弯道).
Since the beginning of the modern Olympic Games in 1896, athletes have tried to run long-distance races as fast as possible. In 1900, the marathon world record was around 3 hours. In the following 30 years, men were able to reach a mark of 2:30. As time went on achieving faster times became more and more difficult. In the last 15 years, for example, the world record has improved by only 3 minutes.
On the other hand, some experts think that such fast performances will only be possible with the help of illegal drugs or substances (物质). In the past years, several East African runners have been tested positive and many of them banned.
【1】What are Paragraphs 3 & 4 mainly about?
A.The benefits of running a marathon.
B.The conditions for an under two-hour marathon.
C.The development of modern long-distance races.
D.Perfect runners who can compete in a marathon.
【2】Which of the following does the author agree with?
A.East Africans are born to be long-distance runners.
B.It's impossible to beat the marathon world record again.
C.More and more athletes are losing their interest in marathons.
D.It's easier to achieve a marathon world record in Berlin than in London.
【3】What's the author's attitude towards running a marathon in under 2 hours?
A.Hopeful.B.Doubtful.
C.Uncertain.D.Uninterested.
【4】What's the main purpose of the text?
A.To inform.B.To discuss.
C.To educate.D.To persuade.
在线课程【答案】
【1】B
【2】A
【3】C
【4】B
【解析】
这是一篇议论文。作者主要就能否在两小时内跑完马拉松，和人类是否可以跑得更快进行了讨论。
【1】主旨大意题。根据文章第三段的Many things must fit together to deliver an under two-hour marathon.和第四段的Ideal weather conditions with cool temperatures and almost no wind will also be needed to attempt such a quick time.可知，这两段主要讲了两个小时内完成马拉松所需要的条件。B. The conditions for an under two-hour marathon.（两小时内完成马拉松所需条件）符合以上说法，故选B项。
【2】推理判断题。根据文章第三段的Today's most perfect runners come from Kenya and Ethiopia, countries that have dominated (统治) long-distance races for decades. East African athletes have long legs and lungs that can take in lots of oxygen. Training at high altitudes gives them a strong heart and a very large blood volume (容量).可知东非的田径运动员腿长、肺活量强，而且高海拔的训练增强了他们的心脏功能和血容量，且近年的优秀长跑运动员大都来自东非。故推测作者认为东非人天生适合长跑。A. East Africans are born to be long-distance runners.（东非人是天生的长跑运动员）符合以上说法，故选A项。
【3】推理判断题。根据文章第三段的Many things …the right nutrition.第四段的Ideal weather conditions….like Berlin or London, with few curves (弯道).以及第五段的As time went …the world record has improved by only 3 minutes.可知要想在两分钟之内跑完马拉松需要天时地利人和，且在过去的15年里，世界纪录里显示只快了3分钟。故推测作者认为想要在2小时内完成马拉松是不能确定的。故选C项。
【4】推理判断题。根据文章第一段的Is running a marathon in under two hours possible? Will a human ever be able to run that fast? 和下文提到的两小时跑完马拉松需要的条件，马拉松的世界纪录等可知作者写这篇文章的目的主要是对第一段的两个问题进行讨论。故选B项。