between the two passages
Passage 1
Millions of people all over the globe watch the Olympics these days—they extol the skiers, they applaud the ice skaters, and they cheer for the gymnasts. Yet, there are several odd events that never got much approval or coverage. %0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AIn the steeplechase, competitors run through an obstacle course full of fences, hurdles, and pools of water—this race is from the 1908 Olympic Games in London.%0D%0AOdd Events Then and Now%0D%0A%0D%0ASynchronized Swimming has been a fan favorite for many years, but there is one odd Olympic event that spawned from this idea. Solo Synchronized Swimming became an event in 1984—this event went on for eight years. One swimmer performed to music, and only one person was in sync. Perhaps someone caught on to the thought that a solo performance is already synchronized.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnother strange event is Racewalking—the contestants do not run, but they are walking so quickly that they look like they are extremely late for an appointment. This event started in the early 1900s, and it is a highly competitive and rule-oriented race—the participants must have one foot on the ground at all times or they are disqualified.%0D%0A%0D%0AOne of the more invigorating events to watch is the Steeplechase; this is a fun race to watch because it is not just simply a foot race, but rather a quite complicated obstacle course—participants jump over barriers only to land in pools of water, there are fences to go around, and there are hurdles to jump. Sometimes, people trip over the hurdles, land in the water, and a human pile-up happens—before you know it, there are six or seven people trying to get up out of the water to start running again.%0D%0A%0D%0AAn event that is no longer part of the Olympics is called Singlestick. In fact, it only appeared during the Olympic games in 1904, and only a few people participated. This event is set up much like fencing, only the competitors use wooden sticks as their weapons.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe Olympics have a set of rules and regulations—called the Olympic Charter—that dictates what sports will become events. One regulation now forbids any event that requires propulsion from a mechanical device, but at one time, there was a glorious boat race. Olympic motorboat racing was a one-time event during the London Games in 1908. According to the article “Thubron Wins First and Last Motorboat Racing Gold” on the official Olympic website at olympic.org, the race “took in 40 nautical miles, the vessels circling an eight nautical mile course five times each,” and the event’s treacherous weather called for the event to be “rerun after weather conditions took a turn for the worse,” but in the end, Ernest Blakelock Thubron won the race.%0D%0A%0D%0AChanges in the Games%0D%0A%0D%0AOne original and enduring event that has transformed over time is the Pentathlon; this event is comprised of five different competitions. The ancient version of the Pentathlon consisted of the long jump, discus throwing, wrestling, a foot race, and javelin throwing; the entire event occurred on one day, and the rules varied (for example, when participants wrestled, they were not allowed to bite their opponent, but broken arms and disfigured faces were often consequences of these matches). The modern version is a bit more refined—it was altered in the early 1900s to reflect an overall comprehensive athlete. Participants in the modern Pentathlon compete in five diverse areas: swimming, fencing, shooting, running, and horse riding; modern pentathlon competitors are highly skilled—both physically and mentally—as they work their way through these unique competitions.
passage 2
The Olympics are fascinating to watch as the best athletes from all over the globe engage in a variety of heated sports competitions. However, in the past, there were some rather unusual events and facts surrounding the games as the origins of the Olympics were plagued with extreme violence, religious afflictions, and arrogant rulers.%0D%0A%0D%0AAncient History%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0AThis ancient vase depicts a chariot race from the early Olympic games. Crowds loved the violent races, and participants were often injured or dragged to their deaths.%0D%0AAncient Olympic history dates back over 3,000 years ago, and no one took it more seriously than the Greeks. All free men were able to compete, but women could not participate; married women were not even allowed to attend the games. Every four years, the Olympic Games were held in Olympia, Greece; the more modern version began in 1896 in Athens, Greece. In 776 BC, the first recorded Olympic Games took place, and the first Olympic champion was Coroebus, a cook who ran a 192-meter race.%0D%0A%0D%0ADue to belligerence of war or other unavoidable circumstances, the Olympics were interrupted or ceased altogether on several occasions throughout history. Additionally, some rulers believed that the games were pagan (going against their religion), so they would forbid them to proceed, and at other times, some rulers would alter these events due to their own desires to be the champion. For example, the Emperor Nero once fell out of his chariot during a race, however, he ultimately declared himself the victor.%0D%0A%0D%0ABrutal Events%0D%0A%0D%0ABoxing may not be as brutal a sport as some others, but in ancient times, the rules were much more lenient. In the ancient Olympics, boxers were not classified by weight as they are today; any weight—enormous or diminutive—could compete with one another, and it was considered a fair fight even though there could be significant weight differences.%0D%0A%0D%0APankration was similar to what we now know as martial arts. This ruthless, cut-throat event combined wrestling and boxing together, and fighters could kick, choke, and grapple with one another. The only two rules that were enforced were no biting and no gouging of the eyes.%0D%0A%0D%0AChariot racing was the premier event that drew the most substantial crowds—blood, injuries, and death were almost guaranteed—so the bloodthirsty masses loved it. The chariots were pulled by horse teams and made of lightweight materials so that the racers could go faster. There were countless accidents and deaths; the horses would continue to run after a crash if they were still able, so the chariot drivers were often dragged to their deaths. Chariot racing ended in 549 AD.%0D%0A%0D%0AMythological Origins%0D%0A%0D%0AMany mythological legends give credit for the Olympic Games to Hercules, and these legends say that Hercules founded and participated in the original games. Hercules started the games to celebrate a victory over Augeas—the games were to honor Zeus, the father of Hercules, and cows were slaughtered as a sacrifice to the god.%0D%0A%0D%0A Another myth claims that Pelops founded the original Olympics—he did so after winning a chariot race. The race itself was scandalous because there were claims that Pelops cheated by sabotaging his opponent’s chariot.
WRITING TASK%0D%0A%0D%0AThere have been many bizarre Olympic events, and several changes have occurred through the years as the Olympic games have continued to develop.%0D%0A%0D%0AThink about the Olympic games, and then write an explanatory essay in which you explain some unusual historical and current Olympic events and how the games have changed through the years. %0D%0A%0D%0ABe sure to use evidence from BOTH texts in your explanatory essay. Write your answer in the space provided.%0D%0A%0D%0ABefore you write, be sure to:%0D%0A%0D%0A• think about ideas, facts, definitions, details, and other information and examples you want to use;%0D%0A• think about how you will introduce your topic and what the main topic will be for each paragraph;%0D%0A• develop your ideas clearly and use your own words, except when quoting directly from the source texts;%0D%0A• be sure to identify the sources by title or number when using details or facts directly from the sources.%0D%0A%0D%0ANow write your explanatory essay in the space provided. Be sure to:%0D%0A%0D%0A• use information from the two texts so that your essay includes important details;%0D%0A• introduce the topic clearly, provide a focus, and organize information in a way that makes sense;%0D%0A• develop the topic with facts, definitions, details, quotations, or other information and examples related to the topic;%0D%0A• use appropriate and varied transitions to create cohesion;%0D%0A• clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts;%0D%0A• use clear language and vocabulary to inform about the topic;%0D%0A• provide a conclusion that follows the information presented; and%0D%0A• check your work for correct grammar, usage, capitalization, spelling, and punctuation
The Olympic Games have a long history filled with unusual events and changes over the years. In Passage 1, it is mentioned that there are odd events that never received much approval or coverage. One of these events is the steeplechase, which involves running through an obstacle course full of fences, hurdles, and pools of water. This event originated in the 1908 Olympic Games in London. Another odd event mentioned is Solo Synchronized Swimming, which became an event in 1984. This event involved one swimmer performing to music and being in sync with themselves. It can be argued that the idea of a solo performance is already synchronized. Racewalking is also mentioned as a strange event, where contestants walk so quickly that they resemble someone extremely late for an appointment. This event started in the early 1900s and has a rule that participants must always have one foot on the ground or they will be disqualified.
In Passage 2, the focus is on the historical origins of the Olympics and some brutal events that took place. It is mentioned that the ancient Olympics were filled with violence and belligerence. For example, chariot racing was a premier event that drew the most substantial crowds, but injuries and deaths were almost guaranteed. Chariots were pulled by horse teams and made of lightweight materials, leading to accidents and often dragging the chariot drivers to their deaths. Boxing was also a brutal event where weight classifications did not exist, resulting in fighters of all sizes competing against each other. Pankration was another ruthless event that combined wrestling and boxing, allowing fighters to engage in kicking, choking, and grappling.
It is evident that the Olympics have undergone significant changes throughout history. In the modern version, as mentioned in Passage 1, the Pentathlon has transformed to include swimming, fencing, shooting, running, and horse riding. This alteration reflects a more comprehensive athlete. The Olympic Charter, as mentioned in Passage 1, dictates what sports become events. At one time, there was even motorboat racing during the Games. However, a regulation was introduced forbidding any event that requires propulsion from a mechanical device.
In conclusion, the Olympic Games have seen the inclusion of various unusual events and have undergone significant changes throughout history. Passage 1 highlights events such as the steeplechase, Solo Synchronized Swimming, and Racewalking as odd events that have been part of the Olympics. Passage 2 focuses on the brutal and violent nature of ancient Olympic events like chariot racing, boxing, and Pankration. The changes in the Games are evident with the transformation of the Pentathlon and the introduction of regulations regarding mechanical devices. From violent origins to more refined and inclusive events, the Olympics have evolved to captivate audiences worldwide with a multitude of sports competitions.