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Paula Radcliffe, chasing (角逐) a third London marathon title (冠军), says she has
become a stronger person after her terrible experience at the 2004 Athens Games.
Radcliffe, who failed to complete the Olympic marathon and the 10,000m last August,
said:"Athens made me a stronger person and it made me care about criticism (批评)."
"In the past I wanted to please everyone, but now I am going to listen even more to
the people around me."
She didn't care about criticism made at the weekend by Liz McColgan, who felt Radcliffe
should have rested and let her body recover after her failure in Athens.
"Liz is someone I look up to but she hasn't spoken to me since last year and if she
really cared for me, I'm sure she would have contacted (联系) me."
Instead Radcliffe won the New York City marathon just 11 weeks after Athens.
"In New York I wasn't in my best state but I did know I was good enough to win the
race."
Radcliffe insisted her only goal in Sunday's race would be winning a third title and
not chasing world records.
However, Radcliffe has not ruled out (排除) in the future chasing her "final" world
record time and questioned sayings that marathon runners have the ability in their career
to produce only four or five world-class times.
"I don't think that-although I can't put a number on it," said Radcliffe. "That changes
from person to person."
Radcliffe is sure she can better her winning London 2003 performance some point in the
future. Following a successful three-month training period in the United States, the
31-year-old will chase a third title on Sunday after her first victory in 2002 and again
12 months later.
Radcliffe clocked a time 2:18:56 in her first 42.2-kilometre race three years ago.
Afterwards she set a "mixed course" mark of 2:17:18 five months later in Chicago before
lowering that to a time of 2:15:25 in the 2003 London event.
1. Radcliffe's failure in Athens made her _____.
A. develop respect for Liz
B. love people around her more
C. rest for five months
D. face criticism bravely
2. Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Radcliffe broke the world record in the New York City marathon.
B. Radcliffe didn't fully recover before the New York City marathon.
C. Radcliffe won her first marathon title in the 2004 Athens Games.
D. Radcliffe had a 3-month training before the New York City marathon.
3. By saythg "I can't put a number on it," Radcliffe means she's not sure _____.
A. if she has the ability to set a new world record
B. if she can win another race though she has won many tunes
C. how many times a maradion runner can set the world record
D. if she has the ability to produce four or five world-class times
4. According to the text, Radcliffe has won _____ London marathon title(s).
A. one
B. two
C. three
D. four
5. What can we learn from Radcliffe's story?
A. Practice makes perfect.
B. Well begun is half done.
C. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
D. Where there is a will, there is a way.