Hi Everyone!! This article will share The Marathon Story & Questions & Answers.
In my previous posts, I have shared the questions and answers of An Information Bureau, When Sachin Walks Out To Bat and Building A Shelter so, you can check these posts as well.
The Marathon Story Questions & Answers
Question 1: Choose the correct option:
(a) This story is about
i. a war between Persia and Athens
ii. a clever Athenian General
iii. the origin of the marathon
iv. a Greek called Pheidippides
(b) The war in 490 BCE took place in
i. Sparta
ii. Persia
iii. Marathon
iv. Athens
(c) The Persian army landed at Marathon because it
i. was convenient
ii. had a big army
iii. had sailed across the Aegean Sea
iv. wanted to conquer Athens
(d) The Athenians did not send a messenger on horseback to Sparta because
i. horses cannot run as fast as humans.
ii. Pheidippides was faster than any horse.
iii. a horse couldn’t have run well on the rocky and rough surface.
iv. a horse can’t talk to deliver a message.
Question 2: How did the Athenians defeat the Persians?
Answer: Though, the Persian army was much larger than the Athenian army but the Athenian General Miltiades’ strategy helped them to ensure their victory. He divided the Athenian army into three groups – the left, the right and the centre wings. The centre wing attacked the Persian army from the front and then pretended to fall back. When the Persian army charged forward, the left and the right wings used that opportunity to surround the Persian army. Soon, the Persian army was defeated.
Question 3: When and why was the first marathon race run?
Answer: After the Athenian army defeated the Persian army at Marathon, they realized that the Persian army might be going round the coast to attack Athens. They needed to warn Athens and so, they sent Pheidippides, the messenger, to Athens. When Pheidippides reached Athens, he warned them but collapsed from exhaustion and died. The legend of Pheidippides was revived through the Olympic Games in the form of a 40 km race from the Marathon Bridge to the Olympic Stadium in Athens. This was the first marathon race in 1896.
Question 4: How was the standard length of the Marathon fixed?
Answer: In the 1908 Olympic Games, at the request of the British Royal family, the Marathon race was started from Windsor Castle so that the royal children could witness its start to White City Stadium, so that the race could finish in front of the royal family’s viewing box. The runners covered a distance of 42.195 km, instead of the earlier 40 km. This distance became the standardized length of the marathon.
Question 5: How did Pheidippides demonstrate qualities of commitment, endurance and will power?
Answer: Pheidippides not only ran from Marathon to Sparta to ask them for help, but also ran back to Marathon to fight in the battle against the Persians. After the battle was won, he ran to Athens to deliver the message. He could make this possible not just by physical strength but also because of his loyalty towards Athens and the will to serve his nation. The legend of Pheidippides shows his commitment to his fellow Athenians, his power to endure extreme physical strain and the will power that helped him to not give up and do his duty.
Question 6: What qualities do marathon runners of todays need?
Answer: Marathon runners from all around the world today need the same qualities of commitment and dedication that Pheidippides showed 2500 years ago. A runner needs to be committed to one’s goal to participate in a 42.195 km race. He needs to show dedication in preparing for it. Practice, discipline and will power not only increase the runner’s stamina but enables him to endure great physical and mental strain.
Question 7: Complete the sentences:
(a) Athens asked Sparta for help because they were having common enemies.
(b) The Persian Army was five times bigger than Athenian army.
(c) Persia was large in number than Athens.
(d) Pheidippides died because he was so much exhausted.
(e) The Men’s Marathon is the last event in the modern Olympic games.
So, these were The Marathon Story Questions & Answers.