Wilma Rudolph Readworks

What diseases did Wilma Rudolph suffer from as a child?

• measles, mumps, and rubella

• chickenpox and rotavirus

• scarlet fever and polio

• whooping cough and tetanus

How did disease affect Rudolph?

• It caused her to completely lose hearing in her right ear.

• It made it difficult for her to walk and she had to use a brace.

• It weakened her eyesight and she had to wear glasses.

• It gave her frequent headaches and made it hard to focus.

Read the following sentences from the text.

“Wilma Rudolph kept using her leg and could finally walk without the leg brace. She quickly found her passion: sports. She loved basketball and running. In high school, Rudolph trained as a runner. It was clear she had natural talent. In 1956, she went to the Olympic games! She won a bronze medal in a track & field event. In 1960, she competed in the Olympics again and won three gold medals!”

What conclusion can you draw from this evidence about Rudolph’s character?

• Rudolph was a hard worker who overcame obstacles.

• Rudolph was an honest person who did not tell lies.

• Rudolph was a cheerful person who was always smiling.

• Rudolph was a quiet person who kept mostly to herself.

According to the text, how did Rudolph use her fame to fight for equality?

• She attended many civil rights protests and gave speeches.

• She met with the governor of Tennessee and suggested new laws.

• She refused to attend a segregated welcome celebration for her.

• She starred in a movie about her own life and donated the money.

What is the main idea of this text?

• When Wilma Rudolph was a child, she suffered from some diseases, including scarlet fever and polio, which made it difficult for her to walk without the help of a brace.

• Wilma Rudolph was called one of the fastest women in the world because she won a bronze medal at the 1956 Olympics and three gold medals at the 1960 Olympics.

• Wilma Rudolph was an elegant and kind person who created a charitable organization that helped train young athletes and there was a movie made about it in 1977.

• Wilma Rudolph was a Black runner and track star who overcame struggles to become an Olympic gold medalist and used her fame to fight for equality and help others.

Read the following sentences from the text.

“After the Olympics, she returned home to Tennessee. The governor of Tennessee did not believe in integration between Black people and white people. He wanted her welcome celebration to be segregated because Rudolph was a Black American. Rudolph refused to attend this event. She paved the way for equality in sports.”

As used in this excerpt, what does the phrase “segregated” most closely mean?

• separated between Black people and white people

• being the first person to do something differently

• not attending an event because you are very tired

• greeting someone with a big smile and special gift

Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.

Rudolph became a runner and track star __________ some doctors told her she would never be able to walk again.

• initially

• even though

• as a result

• additionally