No sporting event takes hold of the world’s attention and imagination like the Olympic Games. The football World Cup fascinates fans in Europe and South America; baseball’s World Series is required viewing in North America; and the World Table Tennis Championships attracts the most interest in Asia.
But the Olympics belong to the whole world. Now, after travelling to 17 countries over 108 years, the summer Games are returning to Athens, the place where the first modern Olympics was held.
Participation in the Games is looked on not only as an achievement, but also as an honour, The 16 days between August 13 and 29 will see a record 202 countries compete, up from Sydney’s 199. Afghanistan is back, having been banned from Sydney because the Taliban government didn’t let women do sports. There is also a place for newcomers East Timor and Kiribati.
A total of 10, 500 athletes will compete in 28 sports, watched by 5. 3 million ticket-paying viewers as well as a television audience of 4 billion.
Athens is to use its rich history and culture to make the Olympics as special as possible. The Games will open with cycling events which start in front of the Parthenon and Acropolis monuments. The final event will be a historic men’s marathon following the original route run by Phidippides in 490 BC to bring news of victory over the Persians.
The ancient stadium at Olympia, first used for the Games nearly three centuries ago, will stage the shot put competitions. And the Panathenian Stadium, where the first modern Olympics was held, is to host the archery (射箭) events.
If the well-known ancient sites deliver a great sense of history to the Games, the 39 new venues add a modern touch to the city of Athens. The main Olympic stadium, with a giant glass and steel roof, is the landmark (标志) building of the Olympics.
"We believe that we will organize a’ magical’ Games," said Athens 2004 President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki. "Our history with the Olympic Games goes back nearly 3, 000 years, and Athens 2004 could be the best ever. /
The Panathenian Stadium is the landmark building of Olympics.

A:Right B:Wrong C:Not mentioned

No sporting event takes hold of the world’s attention and imagination like the Olympic Games. The football World Cup fascinates fans in Europe and South America; baseball’s World Series is required viewing in North America; and the World Table Tennis Championships attracts the most interest in Asia.
But the Olympics belong to the whole world. Now, after travelling to 17 countries over 108 years, the summer Games are returning to Athens, the place where the first modern Olympics was held.
Participation in the Games is looked on not only as an achievement, but also as an honour, The 16 days between August 13 and 29 will see a record 202 countries compete, up from Sydney’s 199. Afghanistan is back, having been banned from Sydney because the Taliban government didn’t let women do sports. There is also a place for newcomers East Timor and Kiribati.
A total of 10, 500 athletes will compete in 28 sports, watched by 5. 3 million ticket-paying viewers as well as a television audience of 4 billion.
Athens is to use its rich history and culture to make the Olympics as special as possible. The Games will open with cycling events which start in front of the Parthenon and Acropolis monuments. The final event will be a historic men’s marathon following the original route run by Phidippides in 490 BC to bring news of victory over the Persians.
The ancient stadium at Olympia, first used for the Games nearly three centuries ago, will stage the shot put competitions. And the Panathenian Stadium, where the first modern Olympics was held, is to host the archery (射箭) events.
If the well-known ancient sites deliver a great sense of history to the Games, the 39 new venues add a modern touch to the city of Athens. The main Olympic stadium, with a giant glass and steel roof, is the landmark (标志) building of the Olympics.
"We believe that we will organize a’ magical’ Games," said Athens 2004 President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki. "Our history with the Olympic Games goes back nearly 3, 000 years, and Athens 2004 could be the best ever. /
Athens 2004 has been proven to be the best Olympic Games.

A:Right B:Wrong C:Not mentioned

Why are the biggest winners in the past decade of trade globalization mostly in South and East Asia, whereas the biggest losers are mostly in the former Soviet bloc (集团) and sub-Saharan Africa History is a partial guide: East Asia has a long trading tradition, lately reinvigorated (给以新的活力) by the Chinese adoption of market economics. The Soviet Union, on the other hand, was sheltered from free-market forces for more than 70 years. In Africa, some countries are disadvantaged because of inadequate infrastructure (基础结构); many countries have little to trade but commodities, the prices of which have fallen in recent years.
In some regions, certain countries have suffered by adopting misguided policies, often under pressure from International Monetary Fund. First among these is Russia, which in the early 1990s tried to embrace capitalism before first building the institutions that make capitalism work, such as an independent bank system, a system of business law, and an adequate method for collecting taxes. Encouraged by the I. M. F., the World Bank and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, President Boris Yeltsin’s regime privatized the state-owned industrial sector, creating a class of oligarchs (寡头政治集团成员), who, knowing how unstable conditions were at home, sent their money abroad instead of investing it at home.
In contrast, China, the biggest winner from globalization, did not follow the I. M. F. formula. Of the former states of the Soviet bloc, only a few, notably Poland and Hungary, managed to grow, which they did by ignoring I. M. F. advice and adopting expansionary plans, including spending more than they collected in taxes. Botswana and Uganda are also success stories, despite their disadvantages, their countries achieved vigorous growth by creating stable civil societies, liberalizing trade and implementing reforms that ran counter to I. M. F. prescriptions.
Japan has a long trading tradition.

A:Right B:Wrong C:Not mentioned

Why are the biggest winners in the past decade of trade globalization mostly in South and East Asia, whereas the biggest losers are mostly in the former Soviet bloc (集团) and sub-Saharan Africa History is a partial guide: East Asia has a long trading tradition, lately reinvigorated (给以新的活力) by the Chinese adoption of market economics. The Soviet Union, on the other hand, was sheltered from free-market forces for more than 70 years. In Africa, some countries are disadvantaged because of inadequate infrastructure (基础结构); many countries have little to trade but commodities, the prices of which have fallen in recent years.
In some regions, certain countries have suffered by adopting misguided policies, often under pressure from International Monetary Fund. First among these is Russia, which in the early 1990s tried to embrace capitalism before first building the institutions that make capitalism work, such as an independent bank system, a system of business law, and an adequate method for collecting taxes. Encouraged by the I. M. F., the World Bank and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, President Boris Yeltsin’s regime privatized the state-owned industrial sector, creating a class of oligarchs (寡头政治集团成员), who, knowing how unstable conditions were at home, sent their money abroad instead of investing it at home.
In contrast, China, the biggest winner from globalization, did not follow the I. M. F. formula. Of the former states of the Soviet bloc, only a few, notably Poland and Hungary, managed to grow, which they did by ignoring I. M. F. advice and adopting expansionary plans, including spending more than they collected in taxes. Botswana and Uganda are also success stories, despite their disadvantages, their countries achieved vigorous growth by creating stable civil societies, liberalizing trade and implementing reforms that ran counter to I. M. F. prescriptions.
Russia was wrongly guided by the I. M. F.

A:Right B:Wrong C:Not mentioned

Why are the biggest winners in the past decade of trade globalization mostly in South and East Asia, whereas the biggest losers are mostly in the former Soviet bloc (集团) and sub-Saharan Africa History is a partial guide: East Asia has a long trading tradition, lately reinvigorated (给以新的活力) by the Chinese adoption of market economics. The Soviet Union, on the other hand, was sheltered from free-market forces for more than 70 years. In Africa, some countries are disadvantaged because of inadequate infrastructure (基础结构); many countries have little to trade but commodities, the prices of which have fallen in recent years.
In some regions, certain countries have suffered by adopting misguided policies, often under pressure from International Monetary Fund. First among these is Russia, which in the early 1990s tried to embrace capitalism before first building the institutions that make capitalism work, such as an independent bank system, a system of business law, and an adequate method for collecting taxes. Encouraged by the I. M. F., the World Bank and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, President Boris Yeltsin’s regime privatized the state-owned industrial sector, creating a class of oligarchs (寡头政治集团成员), who, knowing how unstable conditions were at home, sent their money abroad instead of investing it at home.
In contrast, China, the biggest winner from globalization, did not follow the I. M. F. formula. Of the former states of the Soviet bloc, only a few, notably Poland and Hungary, managed to grow, which they did by ignoring I. M. F. advice and adopting expansionary plans, including spending more than they collected in taxes. Botswana and Uganda are also success stories, despite their disadvantages, their countries achieved vigorous growth by creating stable civil societies, liberalizing trade and implementing reforms that ran counter to I. M. F. prescriptions.
All African countries followed the I. M. F. formula.

A:Right B:Wrong C:Not mentioned

Why are the biggest winners in the past decade of trade globalization mostly in South and East Asia, whereas the biggest losers are mostly in the former Soviet bloc (集团) and sub-Saharan Africa History is a partial guide: East Asia has a long trading tradition, lately reinvigorated (给以新的活力) by the Chinese adoption of market economics. The Soviet Union, on the other hand, was sheltered from free-market forces for more than 70 years. In Africa, some countries are disadvantaged because of inadequate infrastructure (基础结构); many countries have little to trade but commodities, the prices of which have fallen in recent years.
In some regions, certain countries have suffered by adopting misguided policies, often under pressure from International Monetary Fund. First among these is Russia, which in the early 1990s tried to embrace capitalism before first building the institutions that make capitalism work, such as an independent bank system, a system of business law, and an adequate method for collecting taxes. Encouraged by the I. M. F., the World Bank and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, President Boris Yeltsin’s regime privatized the state-owned industrial sector, creating a class of oligarchs (寡头政治集团成员), who, knowing how unstable conditions were at home, sent their money abroad instead of investing it at home.
In contrast, China, the biggest winner from globalization, did not follow the I. M. F. formula. Of the former states of the Soviet bloc, only a few, notably Poland and Hungary, managed to grow, which they did by ignoring I. M. F. advice and adopting expansionary plans, including spending more than they collected in taxes. Botswana and Uganda are also success stories, despite their disadvantages, their countries achieved vigorous growth by creating stable civil societies, liberalizing trade and implementing reforms that ran counter to I. M. F. prescriptions.
The Soviet Union was a capitalist country.

A:Right B:Wrong C:Not mentioned

Why are the biggest winners in the past decade of trade globalization mostly in South and East Asia, whereas the biggest losers are mostly in the former Soviet bloc (集团) and sub-Saharan Africa History is a partial guide: East Asia has a long trading tradition, lately reinvigorated (给以新的活力) by the Chinese adoption of market economics. The Soviet Union, on the other hand, was sheltered from free-market forces for more than 70 years. In Africa, some countries are disadvantaged because of inadequate infrastructure (基础结构); many countries have little to trade but commodities, the prices of which have fallen in recent years.
In some regions, certain countries have suffered by adopting misguided policies, often under pressure from International Monetary Fund. First among these is Russia, which in the early 1990s tried to embrace capitalism before first building the institutions that make capitalism work, such as an independent bank system, a system of business law, and an adequate method for collecting taxes. Encouraged by the I. M. F., the World Bank and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, President Boris Yeltsin’s regime privatized the state-owned industrial sector, creating a class of oligarchs (寡头政治集团成员), who, knowing how unstable conditions were at home, sent their money abroad instead of investing it at home.
In contrast, China, the biggest winner from globalization, did not follow the I. M. F. formula. Of the former states of the Soviet bloc, only a few, notably Poland and Hungary, managed to grow, which they did by ignoring I. M. F. advice and adopting expansionary plans, including spending more than they collected in taxes. Botswana and Uganda are also success stories, despite their disadvantages, their countries achieved vigorous growth by creating stable civil societies, liberalizing trade and implementing reforms that ran counter to I. M. F. prescriptions.
Australia is one of the biggest winners from globalization.

A:Right B:Wrong C:Not mentioned

Why are the biggest winners in the past decade of trade globalization mostly in South and East Asia, whereas the biggest losers are mostly in the former Soviet bloc (集团) and sub-Saharan Africa History is a partial guide: East Asia has a long trading tradition, lately reinvigorated (给以新的活力) by the Chinese adoption of market economics. The Soviet Union, on the other hand, was sheltered from free-market forces for more than 70 years. In Africa, some countries are disadvantaged because of inadequate infrastructure (基础结构); many countries have little to trade but commodities, the prices of which have fallen in recent years.
In some regions, certain countries have suffered by adopting misguided policies, often under pressure from International Monetary Fund. First among these is Russia, which in the early 1990s tried to embrace capitalism before first building the institutions that make capitalism work, such as an independent bank system, a system of business law, and an adequate method for collecting taxes. Encouraged by the I. M. F., the World Bank and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, President Boris Yeltsin’s regime privatized the state-owned industrial sector, creating a class of oligarchs (寡头政治集团成员), who, knowing how unstable conditions were at home, sent their money abroad instead of investing it at home.
In contrast, China, the biggest winner from globalization, did not follow the I. M. F. formula. Of the former states of the Soviet bloc, only a few, notably Poland and Hungary, managed to grow, which they did by ignoring I. M. F. advice and adopting expansionary plans, including spending more than they collected in taxes. Botswana and Uganda are also success stories, despite their disadvantages, their countries achieved vigorous growth by creating stable civil societies, liberalizing trade and implementing reforms that ran counter to I. M. F. prescriptions.
China did not take I. M. F. advice.

A:Right B:Wrong C:Not mentioned

Why are the biggest winners in the past decade of trade globalization mostly in South and East Asia, whereas the biggest losers are mostly in the former Soviet bloc (集团) and sub-Saharan Africa History is a partial guide: East Asia has a long trading tradition, lately reinvigorated (给以新的活力) by the Chinese adoption of market economics. The Soviet Union, on the other hand, was sheltered from free-market forces for more than 70 years. In Africa, some countries are disadvantaged because of inadequate infrastructure (基础结构); many countries have little to trade but commodities, the prices of which have fallen in recent years.
In some regions, certain countries have suffered by adopting misguided policies, often under pressure from International Monetary Fund. First among these is Russia, which in the early 1990s tried to embrace capitalism before first building the institutions that make capitalism work, such as an independent bank system, a system of business law, and an adequate method for collecting taxes. Encouraged by the I. M. F., the World Bank and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, President Boris Yeltsin’s regime privatized the state-owned industrial sector, creating a class of oligarchs (寡头政治集团成员), who, knowing how unstable conditions were at home, sent their money abroad instead of investing it at home.
In contrast, China, the biggest winner from globalization, did not follow the I. M. F. formula. Of the former states of the Soviet bloc, only a few, notably Poland and Hungary, managed to grow, which they did by ignoring I. M. F. advice and adopting expansionary plans, including spending more than they collected in taxes. Botswana and Uganda are also success stories, despite their disadvantages, their countries achieved vigorous growth by creating stable civil societies, liberalizing trade and implementing reforms that ran counter to I. M. F. prescriptions.
Many high officials in Russia have much benefited from privatization.

A:Right B:Wrong C:Not mentioned

The news will horrify everyone.

A:attract B:terrify C:tempt D:excite