The Games may never be safe again but they must go on The Observer July

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Niveau: Secondaire, Lycée
Bac 97 GRP 1 ES I) COMPREHENSION The Games may never be safe again, but they must go on The Observer, 28 July 1996 I just froze and felt sick. I knew exactly what it was all about. The immediate memory was Munich. I wasn't there, but for those who were it must have brought back a nightmare. There may have been a difference from Atlanta, but the end result was the same : an unspeakable act of barbarity. In 1972, of course, the Games were selectively targeted ; a by-product of an Arab-Israeli conflict. We don't know yet what was behind this, but ultimately there's no difference in the overall horror. You can't switch on your TV without recognising that Centennial Park has become a symbol for the city's celebration of the Games. It's where the partying goes on, so whoever planted the bomb knew they were likely to inflict massive injury. It wasn't an economic target. The bombers didn't pick an empty broadcast centre or go for the rapid transport system. They actually picked a place where they knew that the people there would have had absolutely no interest or involvement with their cause. Of course, there are many who will say that sport is not worth the spilling of anyone's blood, and that these Olympics should have been abandoned there and then.

• perhaps there


• raid


• part au mouvement olympique


• steamed up


• most appropriate


• his mother


• competence linguistique


• global comprehension


• air-raid siren

Sujets

• Atlanta
• Kingdom
• Moscow
• London
• Munich
• bac

Informations

• Publié par: profil-insu-2012
• Nombre de lectures: 378
• Langue: English

Extrait

Bac 97
GRP 1 ES

I) COMPREHENSION

The Games may never be safe again, but they must go on


The Observer, 28 July 1996 We all know the Games are no longer just about
sport. They are about commercialism, politics, ego,
I just froze and felt sick. I knew exactly what it was many things - but essentially they are about youth.
all about. The immediate memory was Munich. I wasn't Only the other day, I went to Gatwick to see off 18
there, but for those who were it must have brought back youngsters from all over the United Kingdom who
a nightmare. were going to attend an Olympic youth camp in
There may have been a difference from Atlanta, but Atlanta. They were going not to compete, but to enjoy
the end result was the same : an unspeakable act of themselves as part of the Olympic movement.
barbarity. In 1972, of course, the Games were These are the sort of young people who could have
selectively targeted ; a by-product of an Arab-Israeli ended up as the victims of a misguided political
conflict. We don't know yet what was behind this, but message.
ultimately there's no difference in the overall horror. We tend to forget the Olympics have often been
You can't switch on your TV without recognising used as a political platform, whether for Nazism in
that Centennial Park has become a symbol for the city's 1936 or the African boycott in 1976.
celebration of the Games. It's where the partying goes Now this is the second occasion when they have
on, so whoever planted the bomb knew they were likely spilled over into ghastly tragedy. As a human being, a
to inflict massive injury. politician and a former Olympian I am saddened and
It wasn't an economic target. The bombers didn't appalled.
pick an empty broadcast centre or go for the rapid It would be hard for something as large as the
transport system. They actually picked a place where Olympics to avoid being a target for cranks, extremists
they knew that the people there would have had and terrorists, but if you decided to do away with it
absolutely no interest or involvement with their cause. because of such threats, you would also have to scrap
Of course, there are many who will say that sport is the World Cup and other major global gatherings.
not worth the spilling of anyone's blood, and that these These people are not respecters of ethos, philosophy
Olympics should have been abandoned there and then. or tradition. To them nothing is sacred. They just
I do not agree. They went ahead in Munich and it is cynically target something they know is going to give
right that they do so now, because you cannot concede them wall-to-wall publicity for their acts of horror.
to terrorism or blackmail. Sebastian Coe won gold medals in the 1500 metres
If you do, then you admit these people have the in the Moscow and Los Angeles Olympics. He is now
ability to derail something which, for all its Tory MP for Falmouth and Camborne.
imperfections, has a massive ability to unify.

(1.35) a crank : a mad person


a) Global Comprehension

1) Who is the narrator ?
Name :
Present occupation :

2) What tragic event does the article refer to ?

3) Say precisely where it took place

Say when it took place

4) Why was this place chosen ? Justify by quoting the text.
b) Detailed Comprehension

1) Pick out at least four expressions in the text showing that the narrator was deeply shocked by the event.

2) pick out three sentences or groups of words showing that the event is unforgivable.

3) Why does the narrator take such an interest in the event ?

4) Say whether the following statements are true or false and justify with a quotation from the text.

a) After the tragic event, nobody wanted the games to stop

b) The narrator thought it was necessary for the games to go on.

c) He thinks it's always safer to accept terrorists' demands

5) Find in the text the sentence that refers to the old spirit of the Olympic Games

6) Show that the Olympic Games have now lost their initial purpose. Quote one sentence from the text.

7) The author refers to three events proving the presence of politics in the Olympic Games. Which ones ?

8) Among the following adjectives, circle those which best qualify terrorists. For each adjective chosen, justify
with one quotation.

- Cruel : - Dedicated : - Compassionate :
- Longing for fame : - Willing to help : - Disrespectful :

9) Would you say this article is
- a cry of alarm ? - a hopeful vision of sport ? - a message of peace ?
Choose the most appropriate statement and briefly justify you choice in your own words.

10) Translate into French from 1.24 ('Only the other day...) down to 1.28 (..Olympic movement')


II) COMPETENCE LINGUISTIQUE

1. Without changing their meaning, rephrase the following sentences using modals.
a. People probably felt horrified at that tragic event.
People...

b. It is impossible that the Olympic Games should go on like this.
The Olympic Games...

c. Perhaps there were more spectators in Atlanta than in Munich.
There...

d. The author is sorry that there weren't enough policemen on the spot.
The author thinks there...

e. It isn't necessary for the organisers to postpone the Games.
The organisers...

2. Turn the following sentences into the passive (expressing the agent only when necessary)

a. People say the Olympic Games are dangerous...

b. Someone planted the bomb just before midnight.
... c. They had to take many victims to hospital.
...
d. Doctors have given the victims much psychological help.
(Give two possible sentences.)
-...
-...
e. In the future, people won't look at the Olympic Games in the same way.
...

3. Use the prompts to rephrase the following sentences without changing their meaning.
a. The author is sorry the terrorists spoilt the Olympic Games.
He wishes...

b. It is the English youngsters' first trip to the United States.
It's the first time...

c. The terrorists wanted everybody to speak about them.
They made...

d. Most athletes don't usually take drugs.
Most athletes aren't used...

4. Translate into English

a. Cet athlète s'entraîne depuis cinq ans.
...
b. Le public reproche aux athlètes de gagner trop d'argent.
...
c. Au lieu de se lamenter, les organisateurs feraient mieux de réagir.
...
d. Si elle était restée à Atlanta, elle aurait assisté aux Jeux Olympiques.
...

COMPREHENSION : CORRIGE

a) Global Comprehension

1) Who is the narrator ?
Name : Sebastian Coe
Present occupation : Tory MP for Falmouth and Camborne
2) What tragic event does the article refer to ?
It refers to the bomb that exploded during the 1996 Olympics

3) Say precisely where it took place
It took place in Centennial Park, Atlanta
Say when it took place : July 1996

4) Why was this place chosen ? Justify by quoting the text
"It's where the partying goes on, so whoever planted the bomb knew they were likely to inflict massive injury" (L.
9 10 11)

b) Detailed Comprehension
1) pick out at least four expressions in the text showing that the narrator was deeply shocked by the event
- I just froze (L.1) - (I) felt sick (L.1) - I am saddened (L. 32) - (I am) appalled (L. 33)

2) Pick out three sentences or groups of words showing that the event is unforgivable
- "an unspeakable act of barbarity" (L.5) - "ghastly tragedy" (L. 31/32) - "acts of horror" (L. 40)
3) Why does the narrator take such an interest in the event ?
He's a former Olympian who's taken part in the Olympics twice
4) Say whether the following statements are true or false and justify with a quotation from the text
a) After the tragic event, nobody wanted the games to stop (False)
F - "sport is not worth the spilling of anyone's blood..., these Olympics should have been abandoned" (L. 16 à 18)

b) The narrator thought it was necessary for the games to go on.
T - "They went ahead in Munich and it is right (true) that they do so now" (L. 18 et 19)

c) He thinks it's always safer to accept terrorists' demands (False)
F - "To them nothing is sacred" (L. 38/39)

5) Find in the text the sentence that refers to the old spirit of the Olympic Games
"has a massive ability to unify" (L.21)

6) Show that the Olympic Games have now lost their initial purpose. Quote one sentence from the text.
"They are about commercialism, politics, ego, many things" (L. 22/23)

7) The author refers to three events proving the presence of politics in the Olympic Games. Which ones ?
He refers to the Arab-Israeli conflict (L. 6), Nazism (/. 3O) and the African boycott (L. 3O)

8) Among the following adjectives, circle those which best qualify terrorists. For each adjective chosen, justify
with one quotation.
1 - Cruel : "act of barbarity" (L.5)
2 - Dedicated