The City Marathon
A2 · Short Articles · about 2 min · 142 words · Difficulty ●●○ Steady
Three thousand runners, one 78-year-old star, and money for a children's hospital.
Read
Last Sunday, three thousand runners took part in the Chicago City Marathon. The race started in Grant Park at 7:00 a.m. Runners came from thirty states, and hundreds of volunteers gave water and cheered along the streets.
The oldest runner was Mr. Carter, age 78. 'I run slowly,' he said, 'but I always finish.' The youngest runners, age nine, ran a short family race with their parents.
The race went past the lake and through the downtown streets. Families watched from the sidewalks with signs, flags, and music. Food trucks in the park sold sandwiches and lemonade to the happy crowds.
The winner finished in two hours and fifteen minutes. This year, the marathon raised $200,000 for the children's hospital. The hospital will use the money for a new children's playroom and medical books. 'Every step helps a child,' said one volunteer.
Vocabulary
Three thousand runners took part.
Volunteers gave water to the runners.
People cheered along the streets.
The winner finished in two hours.
The marathon raised $200,000.
Key Expressions
- last Sunday
- took part in
- all ages
- for a good cause
Reading Strategy — Numbers tell the story
Questions
Each question trains a named skill. Read the explanations after you check your answers — they show you where the answer lives in the text.
Mini Review
- 3,000 runners raced in Chicago; the winner finished in 2:15, and $200,000 went to a children's hospital.
- In event reports, scan for numbers first, then read around them.
- Useful words: runner, volunteer, cheer, finish, raise.
Keep going
📘 Grammar deep-dive: Past Simple: Finished Time🌱 Vocabulary Builder: the A2 Sports Free Time set✍️ Writing Lab: Describing Experiences: A Day I Will Never Forget← Previous text · A2 — all texts · Next: Lost and Found →
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