Reading: The Olympics History and Values
The Olympics history and values is a B1 reading text that combines historical narrative with reflection on contemporary values. The text covers the Olympics’ origin in ancient Greece, the 19th-century revival under Pierre de Coubertin, the founding of the modern Games, the development of the Olympic values (excellence, friendship, respect), and current debates about commercialism, doping, and political boycotts. Learners read for chronology, value identification, and current-issues analysis.
This worksheet builds B1 reading comprehension through a historical-and-evaluative text on the Olympics.
Worksheet preview
What’s inside:
- A B1 reading text (~450 words) on Olympics history and values
- Pre-reading vocabulary box with sport-and-values terms
- Comprehension items: chronology, value identification, current-issues recognition
- Vocabulary-in-context: sport-and-ethics lexis
- Writing follow-up: discuss whether the modern Olympics still live up to their values
- Full Answer Key plus Teacher Notes
Common challenges: Values vocabulary at B1 is more abstract than concrete vocabulary — excellence, friendship, respect, fair play, sportsmanship, dignity. Historical narrative uses Past Simple consistently, with Past Perfect for earlier events. Current-affairs language mixes evaluative adjectives (controversial, divisive, troubled, celebrated).
For: Adult and teenage learners (14+) at CEFR B1, in intermediate classes, 1:1 lessons, or self-study. Maps onto Cambridge B1 Preliminary (PET) Reading. Part of the Culture & Lifestyle Readings collection — the natural next step is Urban Life vs Rural Life, which extends historical/sport reading into comparative-society territory.
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