EF p 162. The Impact Of Food and Exercise On Our Health. Speaking Interaction Sample. Cloze

 

Tom: Hi, Emily! Lovely to see you—how have you been?

Emily: Hi, Tom! I’m doing really well, thanks. Just wrapped up a session at the gym, actually.

Tom: Oh really? Good for you! I must admit, I’ve been meaning to get back into exercising, but somehow I keep putting it (1)__________________. Has it made much of a difference for you?

Emily: Absolutely! It’s been transformative, both physically and mentally. Not only (2)_____________ I feel fitter, butI’ve also noticed a boost in my mood and energy levels. To be honest, I never expected it to have such a wide-ranging impact.

Tom: Wow, that’s impressive. I’ve been feeling sluggish lately, and frankly, a bit out of shape. If I’d known it would make such a difference, I might (3)_____________ started sooner! Any suggestions for getting back into it?

Emily: Definitely. First and foremost, start small—setting unrealistic goals only leads to frustration. For instance, even going for a brisk walk every (4)_____________ day can be a great place to begin.

Tom: That seems doable. I always thought I needed to go all in from the start, but your way sounds more sustainable.

Emily: Exactly. And another thing—choose activities you actually enjoy. Were you to pick something dull just for the sake of fitness, chances (5)_____________ you won’t stick with it. Dancing, swimming, football—whatever keeps you moving and smiling.

Tom: That’s a good point. I’ve always loved playing football, so perhaps I should join a casual team or have a kickabout with some friends.

Emily: That’s the spirit! And finally, consistency is key. (6)_______________ missing a session now and then is no disaster, making exercise a habit is what really brings results.

Tom: Thanks for the encouragement, Emily. I genuinely feel more motivated now. Speaking of health, I suppose food plays an equally important role, doesn’t it?

Emily: It certainly does! In fact, even if you exercise regularly, a poor diet can seriously undermine your efforts. You know what they say— you are (7)______________ you eat!

Tom: I’ve heard that one before. I must confess, though, my diet’s been rather dreadful lately—too much fast food and not enough greens.

Emily: Don’t beat yourself up—we all fall into bad habits sometimes. The good news is, making even a few changes can have a big impact. For starters, try to prioritise whole, unprocessed foods—think fresh vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.

Tom: Right, makes sense. And I suppose cutting back (8)______________ snacks is part of the plan too?

Emily: Spot on. Portion control is another game-changer. All (9)____________ often, we eat mindlessly, especially when we’re stressed or distracted. Smaller plates, conscious eating—it all helps.

Tom: Guilty as charged! I definitely snack more when I’m anxious or bored.

Emily: You’re not alone. Being aware of that is already a step in the right direction. Oh, and one more thing—stay hydrated. People often underestimate how vital water is for everything from digestion to concentration.

Tom: I always forget that! I’ll start keeping a bottle of water on me more often.

Emily: That’s a great idea. Remember, making lasting changes isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being consistent. Small, manageable steps will get you there.

Tom: Thanks, Emily. I really appreciate all the advice—you’ve given me a lot to think about!

Emily: Anytime, Tom. I’m rooting (10)_______________ you! Let me know how it goes—I’d love to hear about your progress.

 

 

 

 

 

KEY

 

 

1. off 

2. do

 

 

 

 

3. have 

4. other

 

 

 

 

 

5. are 

6. Although

 

 

 

 

7. what 

8. on

 

 

 

 

9. too 

10. for

Open World p 141. Word Formation Cloze

 Do the Reading and use of English part 3 Ex

Open World p 140. Open Cloze

 Do the Reading and use of English part 2 Ex.

Open World p 137. Word Formation Cloze

 Do Ex 1 and 2

grassroots: /ˌɡrɑːsˈruːts/

ordinary people in society or in an organization, rather than the leaders or people who make decisions.

E.g.

the grassroots of the party     

We need support at grassroots level. 

Grassroots football means all football which is non-professional and non-elite. It encourages mass participation. Stimulates greater interest in the game. Provides more opportunities for social inclusion. Supports healthy lifestyle.

 

diehard: strongly opposing change and new ideas. Sp. acérrimo

E.g.

diehard supporters of the exiled king

a few diehard fans 

disown somebody/something:  to decide that you no longer want to be connected with or responsible for somebody/something. Sp. repudiar    

E.g.

Her family disowned her for marrying a foreigner.     

Later he publicly disowned the rebellion.     

They have never disowned their humble roots

little/nothing short of something  used when you are saying that something is almost true, or is equal to something. Sp. simple y llanamente, totalmente.

E.g.

Last year's figures were little short of disastrous.         

The transformation has been nothing short of a miracle

shameful: that should make you feel ashamed. Sp. vergonzoso

E.g.

It was shameful the way she was treated.
There is nothing shameful about being poor.

 

top-flight: /ˌtɒp ˈflaɪt/ of the highest quality, rank or level

E.g.

We need to hire a top-flight salesperson.

Mexico City is home to three top-flight football teams.

His office says he has kept at least 20 top-flight journalists 

clueless: very stupid; not able to understand or to do something. Sp. inútil, no tener ni idea.

E.g.

He's completely clueless about computers.     

Henry was a young and very clueless officer.

match officials means the referee, the assistant referees and any fourth official appointed to a Competition Match.

 

credit: praise or approval because you are responsible for something good that has happened.

to give sb credit for (doing) sth Sp. reconocer a algn el mérito de (haber hecho) algo 

E.g.

At least give him credit for trying (= praise him because he tried, even if he did not succeed) 

 

dump: to get rid of something that you do not want. Sp. deshacerse de.

E.g.

Ellie dumped all the photos of her ex-husband.  

He dumped her body into the sea. 

 

illusion: a false idea or belief, especially about somebody or about a situation.

to be under the illusion that ... Sp. creerse que ...
he was under the illusion that he would win Sp. se creía que iba a ganar

E.g. 

under the illusion that… She's under the illusion that (= believes wrongly that) she'll get the job. 

 

the point: the main or most important idea in something that is said or done

that's not the point Sp. esto no viene al caso, no es eso.

I know it won't cost very much but that's not the point (= not the important thing). 

 

bond: something that forms a connection between people or groups, such as a feeling of friendship or shared ideas and experiences. Sp. lazo, vínculo.

E.g.

A bond of friendship had been forged between them.     

The agreement strengthened the bonds between the two countries 

 

have the time of your life   ​(informal) to enjoy yourself very much.

 

not break the bank ​(informal, humorous) if you say something won’t break the bank, you mean that it won’t cost a lot of money, or more than you can afford.

E.g.

We can just get a sandwich if you want—that won’t break the bank  

 

Speakout Advanced p 85. Sport, Health and Diet. Extra Speaking

Speakout Advanced p 85. Sport, Health and Diet Activities. Extra Speaking

Speakout Advanced p 84. Sport. Extra Speaking

A Have a conversation as natural as possible with a partner about the topic. Use the pictures above and the questions below to help you.

1. Do you prefer individual or team sports? Why?

2. Can you give any examples of cases of cheating in professional sports?

3. How would you define the “spirit of the Olympic Games”? Does it still exist?

4. What role do technological advances play in sport?

5. What is the ultimate purpose of sporting activities? Is sport necessary for a healthy lifestyle? Why?

6. Where would you go to get away from your day-to-day routine and what would you do?

7. Do you think an extreme experience weekend might be good for you or for somebody you know?

B MONOLOGUE

Student A

1. What do you think will be the effects of money-hungry practices on organized sport in the long run?

 2. Is there any way to instil and maintain the idea of ‘fair play’ in young children who take part in organized sport?  

3. Do professional athletes have a responsibility to be role-models for the young?

Student B

1. Is the practice of sports encouraged in your community?  How?

2. Doping has become a serious issue in the world of sport.  Are doping control tests necessary.  Why?  Why not?

3. What is your country's most popular spectator sport? Why do you think professional sports are big business?

Vocabulary

White water: a part of a river that looks white because the water is moving very fast over rocks. E.g. a stretch of white water. White-water rafting.

ultimate /ˈʌltɪmət/ basic. Fundamental. E.g. the ultimate truths of philosophy and science. We could not trace the ultimate source of the rumours.

instil something (in/into somebody) to gradually make somebody feel, think or behave in a particular way over a period of time. Sp. inculcar. E.g. to instil confidence/ discipline/ fear into somebody

fair play the fact of playing a game or acting honestly, fairly and according to the rules. E.g. a player admired for his sense of fair play. The task of the organization is to ensure fair play when food is distributed to the refugees.

spectator sport a sport that many people watch; a sport that is interesting to watch. E.g. What is the country's most popular spectator sport? Fishing is not really a spectator sport.

Speakout Advanced p 84. Interview with an Adventure Sailor. Extra Listening

KEY

1. A



2. C



3. A



4. B



5. D



6. B


Vocabulary
set off: to begin a journey. E.g. We set off for London just after ten.
 
set out to leave a place and begin a journey. E.g. They set out on the last stage of their journey.

perilous:  /ˈperələs/ very dangerous. E.g. a perilous adventure/ journey.

take somebody on to employ somebody. E.g. to take on new staff. She was taken on as a trainee.


comradeship /ˈkɒmreɪdʃɪp/ the feeling of friendship between people who live or work together, especially in a difficult situation. E.g. I also like the comradeship of working with someone.

unsung /ˌʌnˈsʌŋ/ not praised or famous but deserving to be. E.g. the unsung heroes of the war.
 
sort something/somebody/yourself out to deal with somebody's/ your own problems successfully. E.g. If you can wait a moment, I'll sort it all out for you. You load up the car and I'll sort the kids out.

driven: (of a person) determined to succeed, and working very hard to do so. E.g. Douglas was driven by a need to learn the truth.

single-handedly:  on your own with nobody helping you. Alone. E.g. She single-handedly saved the town from disaster.
 
have a go (at something/at doing something) to make an attempt to do something. E.g. ‘I can't start the engine.’ ‘Let me have a go.’I'll have a go at fixing it tonight. 

hang-gliding: a sport in which you fly while hanging from a frame like a large kite which you control with your body movements. Sp. ala delta. E.g. to go hang-gliding.

kite-surfing:  the sport of riding on water while standing on a short wide board and being pulled along by wind power, using a large kite.

take it/things easy to relax and avoid working too hard or doing too much. E.g. The doctor told me to take it easy for a few weeks.I like to take things easy when I'm on holiday.

ultimate: /ˈʌltɪmət/  1. happening at the end of a long process.  Final. E.g. our ultimate goal/ aim/ objective/ target 2. most extreme; best, worst, greatest, most important, etc. E.g. This race will be the ultimate test of your skill. Silk sheets are the ultimate luxury. Nuclear weapons are the ultimate deterrent.
 
scratch the surface (of something) to deal with, understand, or find out about only a small part of a subject or problem. E.g. We left feeling that we had just scratched the surface of this fascinating country.

drive: to make someone determined to do something. E.g. We want to find out what drives a successful businesswoman like Sylvia.  Douglas was driven by a need to learn the truth.
 
have your hands full to be very busy or too busy to do something else. E.g. She certainly has her hands full with four kids in the house. 

dinghy:  /ˈdɪŋi/ a small open boat that you sail or row. E.g. a sailing dinghy.

take something/somebody on to decide to do something; to agree to be responsible for something/ somebody. E.g. I can't take on any extra work. We're not taking on any new clients at present.

be down to: be attributable to (a particular factor or circumstance). E.g. he claimed his problems were down to the media.
 

Ready for C1 p 3. Ellen MacArthur - Motivation, Preparation & Communication. Listening

Ellen MacArthur was born on 8 July 1976. She is best known as a solo long-distance yachtswoman. On 7 February 2005 she broke the world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe, a feat which gained her international renown. Francis Joyon, the Frenchman who had held the record before MacArthur, recovered the record again in early 2008, besting MacArthur's record by nearly two weeks.
In second 43'' she says: "You see a sponsor's logo on the hull(casco). Without that sponsor, that event wouldn't happen."

Fill in the gaps
1. The challenges Ellen faces are not only the boat and having the boat _____________, but also communicating the challenge before and after, and her physical preparation.
2. For the success of such a project every small job can be absolutely critical i.e. a ___________, a single ____________.
3. In the product as a whole are involved  ____________, ____________ and __________ .
4. When she crosses the Start line Ellen’s energy focused on ____________________.
5. Ellen has to concentrate on __________________; _________________; _____________.
6. On Christmas Day Ellen went ______________.
7. Ellen was finally able to open her Christmas presents __________________. 
8. During a race it is crucial to _______________________.



KEY:
1. on the start line



2. lashing

lashing: a rope used to fasten something tightly to something else. E.g. The sail burst free of its lashings.



bolt: a piece of metal like a screw without a point which is used with a circle of metal (= a nut ) to fasten things together. Sp tornillo. E.g. nuts and bolts.



3. the boat, the sailor and a sponsor



4. crossing the finish line.



5. making sure she has eaten



the best boats



the finish line



6. through a storm



7. A week after Christmas. On New Year's day



8. Manage your energy. Putting the energy in the right area of the boat and at the right time. You have to maintain your energy.


Exercise 2
Listen to the video and try to answer these questions:

1. What are Ellen’s challenges about?

•
•
2. What can be absolutely critical for the success of such a project?

3. What or who is involved in the product as a whole?

•
•
•
4. What is Ellen’s energy focused on when she crosses the Start line?

5. What does she have to concentrate on?

•
•
6. What happened on Christmas Day?

7. When was she finally able to open her Christmas presents?

8. What is crucial to do during a race?



KEY:
1.Not only the boat and having the boat on the start line, but also communicating the challenge before and after, and her physical preparation.



2. Every small job can be critical.ie a lashing, a single bolt.



3. The boat, the sailor and a sponsor.



4. Crossing the finish line.



5. Making sure she has eaten; the best boats; the finish line.



6.She went through a storm.



7. A week after Christmas. On New Year's day



8. Managing your energy during a race.Putting the energy in the right area of the boat and at the right time. You have to maintain your energy.  

Speakout Advanced p 84. Around The World in 94 Days. Extra Reading

In February 2001, at the age of 24, Ellen MacArthur became the youngest and fastest ever woman to sail round the world. After 94 days alone on board yacht Kingfisher, she finished second to Michel Desjoyaux of France in the single-handed Vendee Globe event.


In sport, like life, the winner is usually feted, and runners-up quickly forgotten. This time the roles were reversed and it was Ellen, weighing just 50 kilos and barely 1m 60 tall, that really captured people's imaginations and emotions. One newspaper in France, where she was and is a real heroine, summed up the national mood there with the headline "Well done, Michel, bravo Ellen".


As with many spectacular achievers, the signs were there from an early age, even in the unpromising nautical terrain of landlocked Derbyshire. Her great-grandparents were sailing people and a great-uncle was a merchant seaman, but any real link with the sea is tenuous. There was, however, an Auntie Thea who lived on the east coast of England and had a 26-foot sailing boat called Cabaret. It took just one trip on the open sea with her aunt to spark off Ellen's lifelong passion. She was eight years old. After that she began saving her pocket money and spent all her spare time reading sailing books in the library, absorbing information like a sponge. With her savings and the help of her grandmother she bought a 8-foot fibreglass dinghy, and from that moment on there was no keeping her away from the water.


Sailing around Britain single-handed at the age of 18 was just the start; Ellen had long since set her sights on the Vendee. But finding the money to undertake round-the-world voyages is no easy feat. She wrote 2,000 letters requesting sponsorship and received just two replies, one, happily, from the Kingfisher company who were looking to expand into France. And in terms of race preparation, if thoroughness was the key of success, Ellen could certainly be considered one of the favourites. In the eight months leading up to the start on the race, she sailed no fewer than 60,000 miles at the helm of her 60-foot Kingfisher, far more than the rest of the fleet put together in the same period.


During her three months at sea MacArthur negotiated deadly icebergs, gigantic waves and gale-force winds. She endured the freezing cold of the Arctic and suffered the blistering heat of the windless doldrums. Racing conditions meant sleeping in 10-minute bursts, a survival suit that stayed on for weeks at a time and hands and wrists covered in sores and cuts. Food was dried or frozen. Water came from desalinator, which passes sea water through a membrane. "You don't really wash in the icy waters of the southern ocean", she laughs. "Anyway, there's no one to tell you that you smell."


As Kingfisher crossed the fishing line Ellen was surrounded by hundreds of spectator boats and a cheering crowd of 200,000 lined the shore. Stepping off her yacht she looked remarkably composed and seemed to take the change from solitude to public adulation very much in her stride. Her thoughts, she later confessed, were on the realization that had dominated her life for the previous four or five years. "Throughout that time my sole focus had been crossing the finished line, and in the fastest possible time." Now she could savour that moment.


But despite MacArthur's belief that everyone who finishes the Vendee is a winner, she still feels a sense of disappointment that, having taken the lead from the eventual winner Michel Desjoyaux 10 days from the finish, she did not quite have the energy or good fortune to turn her advantage into victory. "You have to believe you can win from the start." she asserts. "Deep down you're a competitor, you don't climb the mast and come back black and blue just for a cruise. You do it because it's a race."

The public will now be hoping to see a suitable encore, some new feat of endurance to justify her celebrity status. For Ellen can no longer claim , as she did in her post-race press conference, to be the simple Derbyshare girl with "no mobile, no credit cards, no money, no nothing"; she is a heroine and an inspiration to others of her generation. As if to reinforce this, and despite her reluctance to take on this role, she later commented: "If there's one thing I've learned in this past year, it's that deep down in your heart, if you have a dream, then you can and must make it happen."


Questions.


1. At the time of her achievement we learn that Ellen


A. Enjoyed only short-lived success.
B. Was more famous in France than anywhere else.
C. Attracted more attention than Michael Desjoyaux.
D. Became popular because of her size.


2. Where did Ellen's initial interest in sailing come from?


A. She came from a family of sailing enthusiasts.
B. She went to see one of her relatives.
C. She read widely on the subject .
D. She lived near the sea.


3. What do we learn about Ellen at the start of the race?


A. People thought she had a very good chance of winning.
B. She was a more experienced sailor than the other racers.
C. She had been waiting for this moment since she was 18.
D. She had gone to great lengths to achieve her ambition.


4. The writer suggests that one cause of discomfort for Ellen at sea was


A. The shortage of water.
B. Her failure to sleep.
C. Extremes of temperature.
D. A lack of cooking facilities.


5. According to the winter, when Ellen finished the race, she was


A. Overwhelmed by her new-found fame.
B. Surprised by the number of people who came to greet her.
C. Able to reflect on her achievement.
D. Delighted to be amongst people again.


6. According to the writer, Ellen


A. Thinks she deserved to win the race.
B. Has mixed feelings about the outcome of the race.
C. Knew she would win the race.
D. Thinks Michel Desjoyaux was lucky to beat her.


7. Which of the following views does the writer express in the last paragraph?


A. She has the power to motivate.
B. She has no right to fame yet.
C. Her comments lack depth.
D. She needs to change her lifestyle.




ANSWERS
1. C 2. B 3. D 4. C 5. C 6. B 7. A

 

Vocabulary

Single-handed: on your own with nobody helping you.

Fêted /ˈfeɪtɪd/: admired, honoured and entertained.

Runners-up: a person or team that does not finish first in a competition or race, but that wins a prize.

To reverse roles: to exchange the positions or roles of two things.

Barely: just; certainly not more than (a particular amount, age, time, etc.).

To sum up: summarise.

Mood: the way a group of people feel about sthg; the atmosphere in a place or among a group of people.

Headline: the title of a newspaper article printed in large letters, especially at the top of the front page.

Achiever: a person who achieves a high level of success, especially in their career.

Unpromising: not likely to be successful or show good results. Sp. Poco prometedor.

Landlocked: surrounded by land. Sp. Sin salida al mar, sin litoral.

Merchant seaman: a member of the merchant navy or a sailor on a ship below the rank of an officer.

Tenuous: weak, easily proved false.

To spark off: to cause sthg to start, especially suddenly. Sp. Desencadenar, despertar.

Lifelong: lasting or existing all through your life.

Fibreglass:/ˈfaɪbəɡlɑːs/ Sp. fibra de vidrio

Dinghy: /ˈdɪŋi/a small open boat that you sail or row. Sp. Bote, velero.

To set your sights on sthg / on doing sthg: to decide that you want sthg and to try very hard to get it

To undertake: to make yourself responsible for sthg and start doing it.

Voyage: a long journey, especially by sea or in space.

Feat: an action or a piece of work that needs skill, strength or courage. Sp. Hazaña, proeza.

To request: to ask for sthg formally and politely.

In terms of: used when you are referring to a particular aspect of sthg. Sp. En cuanto a, desde el punto de vista de.

Thoroughness: meticulousness. Sp. meticulosidad, esmero.

To lead up to: to be an introduction to or the cause of sthg.

Helm: a handle or wheel used for steering a boat or ship. Sp. Timón.

Fleet: a group of ships fishing together.

To negotiate: to successfully get over or past a difficult part on a path or route. Sp. Sortear, salvar, superar.

Gale-force winds: extremely strong winds.

To endure: to experience and deal with sthg that is painful or unpleasant, especially without complaining. Sp. Soportar, aguantar.

Blistering: extremely hot in a way that is uncomfortable. Sp. Abrasador.

Doldrums: a lack of activity or improvement.

Bursts: a short period of intense activity or strong emotion that often starts suddenly.

Sore: a painful, often red, place on your body where there is a wound or an infection. Sp. Llaga.

Desalinator: device for removing salt from sea water.

To cheer: to shout loudly, to show support or praise for sby, or to give them encouragement.

To step off: to lift your foot and move it off a particular direction; to move a short distance. Sp. Bajarse, apearse.

Composed: calm and in control of your feelings. Sp. Sereno, tranquilo.

Adulation: excessive flattery or admiration. Sp. Adulación

To take sthg in stride: to accept and deal with sthg difficult without letting it worry you too much. Sp. Tomarse algo con calma.

To fulfil: to do or achieve what was hoped for or expected.

Sole: only.

Savour: /ˈseɪvə/to enjoy the full taste or flavour of sthg, especially by eating or drinking it slowly.

Take the lead: Sp. tomar la delantera

Eventual: final, Sp. último

To assert: to state clearly and firmly that sthg is true. Sp. Afirmar.

Deep down: if you know sthg deep down, you know your true feelings about sthg, although you may not admit them to yourself.

Mast: a tall pole on a boat or ship that supports the sails.

Black and blue: Sp. amoratado

Encore: an extra short performance given at the end of a concert or other performance; a request for this made by an audience calling out.

Endurance: the ability to continue doing sthg painful or difficult for a long period of time without complaining. Sp. Resistencia, aguante, fortaleza, entereza.

Reluctance: Sp. desgana, renuencia, a regañadientes. Reluctant: hesitating before doing sth because you do not want to do it or because you are not sure that it is the right thing to do

Take on: adopt. Sp. Adquirir

Go to great lengths: Sp.  hacer lo posible

Overwhelm: affect deeply in mind and emotion. Sp. Abrumar.

Outcome: Sp.  Resultado 

Speakout Advanced p 84. Birth of the Olympics. Extra Listening

BIRTH OF THE OLYMPICS

 1. Who was worshipped in Olympia?
2. How often did the Games take place?
3. What was the earliest race?
4. What kind of facilities did the sanctuary of Zeus provide?
5. What were some of the competitions held in Olympia?
6.  how long was an average lap?
7. What awards were the winners presented with in Olympia itself?
8. How were the names of the winners remembered?

KEY

BIRTH OF THE OLYMPICS

 1. Who was worshipped in Olympia? Both gods and men / Zeus.
2. How often did the Games take place? Every four years / every fourth year.
3. What was the earliest race? The 200-yards sprint.
4. What kind of facilities did the sanctuary of Zeus provide? Guest houses, a stadium, training centres, a school for wrestlers and boxers, a gymnasium.
5. What were some of the competitions held in Olympia? The pentathon ( javelin, discus, running, jumpin, wrestling combats), 200 metres long races, 400 metres long races, 5,000 metres long races.
6.  How long was an average lap? A third of a mile.
7. What awards were the winners presented with in Olympia itself? With a palm branch and an olive wreath.
8. How were the names of the winners remembered? Their names were used in the Greek calendar / they named their years after Olympic winners.

Speakout Advanced p 84. Birth of the Olympics. Extra Cloze

Complete the following text by writing the missing words. Use ONLY one word for each space.

BIRTH OF THE OLYMPICS

It all began in 776 BC, with a simple foot race of about 200m held at Olympia in Greece. __________ (1) four years from then, athletes as well __________ (2) poets and artists met there for a festival in honour of the god Zeus. __________ (3) from foot racing, the event came __________ (4) include wrestling, boxing and the pentathlon. Winners became overnight heroes and __________ (5) festival merited a permanent place in the Greek calendar to mark a span of four years __________ (6) they called the Olympiad.
The games __________ (7) for nearly 1200 years, until 394 AD, ____________ (8) the Christian Roman Emperor Theodosius 1 banned all such “pagan” celebrations. A millennium and a half later, a French baron began a campaign to recreate that spirit __________ (9) good-natured but serious competition. Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s family wanted __________ (10) to become an officer in the French Army. But de Coubertin believed that the cause of peace __________ (11) be better served __________ (12) a regular meeting of amateur, world-class athletes and dedicated his energy __________ (13) realising his dream. During the 1890s he __________ (14) speech after speech to international sports associations, and __________ (15) last persuaded them to revive the name and spirit of the ancient Olympic Games.
KEY

BIRTH OF THE OLYMPICS

It all began in 776 BC, with a simple foot race of about 200m held at Olympia in Greece. EVERY (1) four years from then, athletes as well AS (2) poets and artists met there for a festival in honour of the god Zeus. APART (3) from foot racing, the event came TO (4) include wrestling, boxing and the pentathlon. Winners became overnight heroes and THE / THIS (5) festival merited a permanent place in the Greek calendar to mark a span of four years WHICH / THAT (6) they called the Olympiad.
The games LASTED / CONTINUED (7) for nearly 1200 years, until 394 AD, WHEN (8) the Christian Roman Emperor Theodosius I banned all such “pagan” celebrations. A millennium and a half later, a French baron began a campaign to recreate that spirit OF (9) a good-natured but serious competition. Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s family wanted HIM (10) to become an officer in the French Army. But de Coubertin believed that the cause of peace WOULD (11) be better served BY(12) a regular meeting of amateur, world-class athletes and dedicated his energy TO (13) realising his dream. During the 1890s he MADE (14) speech after speech to international sports associations, and AT (15) last persuaded them to revive the name and spirit of the ancient Olympic Games.