Lesson: Reading Really Helps

B. Reading

Read the following text published in a newspaper in 2012 and answer the questions that follow.

Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt are great, but who's better?

With the curtains closing on the 2012 London Olympics, it’s impossible not to look back and reflect on the greatest performances by Olympic athletes.

[Photo: Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports]

The Olympics have many memorable moments and athletes we'll remember by name alone. The list is quite big. Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt are the latest additions to this list of the bests. They made the London Olympics stand apart. If there is any question like this: "What is the standout performance of London 2012?", perhaps the answer is "The London Games gave us Michael Phelps vs. Usain Bolt." The first one is an already decorated Olympian, who put the finishing touches on his great athletic career. And another came up with a new definition of fast. Two of the most popular Olympic sports, sprinting and swimming, saw their two biggest stars captivating audiences. They’d also dominated the 2008 Beijing Games, but Phelps and Bolt cemented their legacies in London. Phelps, the American swimmer, passed gymnast Larissa Latynia for the most Olympic medals ever. Bolt was the third man to repeat as a 100-meter gold medalist and the first as a 200-meter gold medalist, and he broke his own Olympic record by running the 100 meters in 9.63 seconds. Once Phelps and Bolt were back in their pool and track, the storylines changed.

Phelps is the most-decorated Olympian ever, with 22 overall medals: 18 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze. Bolt is the most accomplished Olympic sprinter, with the unprecedented double, making clear that he’s the fastest man in the world.

But there’s a debate: Who had the better Olympics? It’d be tough to top Phelps’ eight gold medals in Beijing, but what if we’re only talking London?

London was Phelps’ grand finale. He won four golds and two silvers in seven events, and he says he’ll never race again.

London was Bolt’s chance to prove he’s still the greatest. Bolt won six gold medals in six Olympic finals. He is the first man ever in the history of the modern Games to sweep the 100 and 200 in back-to-back Olympics. Not to mention the addition of back-to-back relay golds.

And Bolt became a legend, in his own words. Phelps already was. Bolt is just 25 years old, so there is no telling how long he can be on top of the sprinting world. What if he decides to "retire" from sprinting to focus on the 400 meters, just to break another world record or two? It would be amazing - and entirely possible for him to accomplish.

Who had the better 2012 Games? You tell us, let the debate begin.

[Adapted from USA Today, Sports, London 2012]

Questions:

1. What makes the London Olympic Games 2012 exceptionally sensational?
2. How are Phelps and Bolt brilliantly similar and different?
3. Between these two Olympians, who has bagged the highest honor within the same timeframe?
4. What is so special about Bolt's achievements?
5. How does Bolt evaluate himself?

C. Flowcharts

Make two flowcharts: one about Michael Phelps and one about Usain Bolt. The first two points are done for you.

Michael Phelps

the greatest --> swimmer --> ever --> ...

Usain Bolt

the most --> successful --> sprinter --> ...

D. Vocabulary

Read the following text and complete the blank spaces with the appropriate words from the box below.

Word Box: answer, sprinter, Olympians, speed, Olympics, swimmer, debate, legends, retired, prove, histories, biggest

These are the stories of two of the most successful ___________ of history. While one is famous as the fastest _______, the other is celebrated as the fastest _______ of the world. However, both are unparalleled for their ________ in their own field. They made history in the Beijing _________. They have made newer _________ in the London Olympics too. They are living _______ now.

Though Phelps has _______ from his race, Bolt has prospects to _______ himself in the next Olympic as well. After the _______ show on earth is over in London, this _______ will go on — who is better? Only time will _______ this question.

E. Debate

Work in pairs. Decide who is better: Michael Phelps or Usain Bolt. Give arguments in favor of your decision.