Unit 2 The Olympic Games Reading and listening

1. Unit 2 The Olympic Games Reading and listening

2. I. Warming up Have you ever heard of any Greek legends? Who are usually the main characters in the legends?

3. II. Reading • Please list the characters in the story. • Who are the main characters? • What do you know about Atlanta? Atlanta, her father, Hippomenes, and the Greek Goddess of Love. Atlanta and Hippomenes. Atlanta was a very beautiful Greek _______. She ran the fastest in Greece, but she was not ______ to take part in the Olympic Games. She was so ______ that she decided not to ______ anyone who could not run faster than her. Her father said that she must get married, so at last she made her ______. She said that if a man wanted to ______ her, she would run against him. If he could not run as ______ as her, he would be ______. princess allowed angry marry rules marry fast killed

4. Reading • What do you know about Hippomenes? Hippomenes was a man who decided to marry Atlanta after he saw her. In order to run as ______ as her, he went to ask the Greek Goddess of Love for ______. She promised to help him and ______ him three golden apples. She told him to ______ an apple in front of Atlanta when she was ______ fast. When she stopped to ______ it up, he would be able to run ______ her and win. Hippomenes took the apples, went to the King and told him that he wanted to marry Atlanta. fast help gave throw running pick past

5. Reading Read quickly and decide whether each of the following statements is true or false. Give a reason. 1. She practised runningto compete in the Olympic Games. ( ) 2.At first Hippomenes understood whymen ran against Atlanta. ( ) 3.Atlantawas not sureshe could win. ( ) 4. She was soangryabout the fact thatshe could not run in the Olympics.( ) F F F T

6. Reading 5. She made asmany menas she couldshare her pain. ( ) 6. Her fatherdid not understandher wish to compete in the Olympics. ( ) 7. Hedidn’t refuseher wish to choose her husband in a race. ( ) T T T

7. Reading • Discuss in pairs: • What do you think will happen in the race between • Hippomenes and Atlanta? • 2. Who do you think will win the race?

8. III. Pre-listening Number the following sentences so they tell the story correctly. The first one is done for you. ( ) One man wanted to win and marry Atlanta very much. ( ) Atlanta married him and they lived happily ever after. ( ) When the race began, Atlanta ran past him. ( ) He asked the Goddess of Love for help. (1) Atlanta was a very beautiful princess. ( ) Many men tried to compete with her, but failed and so were killed. ( ) She stopped to pick them up. ( ) She gave him three golden apples. ( ) She ran too slowly and he won. ( ) He threw the golden apples one after another. ( ) She could run faster than any other man in Greece. 4 11 7 5 3 9 6 10 8 2

9. IV. While-listening Main idea This is a story of how a man ______ a princess by ______ a race with a Goddess’ ______. marries winning help

10. While-listening Listen to the tape again and fill in the blanks. Hippomenes was waiting when Atlanta came out. She thought, “I __________ this man ______!” So she said to her father, “Tell him __________. The race ____________ today.” But Hippomenes said, “These are __________: She ________________ who __________ than her! __________ –let’s run!” to die don’t want to go away will not be run will marry the man her rules runs faster Come on

11. V. Post-listening • Choose one of the questions to discuss in groups. • If you were Hippomenes, would you run against Atlanta? • Do you think Hippomenes deserved to win the race? Why or why not? • How do you think Atlanta felt when she discovered Hippomenes had had help from the Goddess of Love? If you were Atlanta, would you still agree to marry him? Give your reasons.

12. VI. Homework Listen to another Greek story and finish the listening exercises on page 48.