"Defying Gravity" Simone Biles A3K Quiz

Based on the Article, which best replaces the question mark in the diagram above?

(What is the main idea)?

• A.

  With an abundance of physical strength, talent, and determination, Simone Biles never gave up and became what many consider to be the greatest gymnast in the world.

• B.

  Simone Biles said in her autobiography that failing to achieve a spot on the 2011 U.S. women's junior national team was a heartbreaking failure on her part.

• C.

  At a recent world championship, Simone Biles performed her signature move the "Biles," which is a double-double balance beam dismount with a double-twisting double backflip.

• D.

  After spending many of her early years in foster care, Simone Biles' grandparents, Ron and Nellie Biles, adopted her in 2003.

Which of these is a statement of opinion?

(Facts are things we can PROVE, opinions are how someone may FEEL)

• A.

  In October 2019, Simone Biles made U.S. gymnastics history when she won her 25th world championship medal, more than any other gymnast in the world.

• B.

  Simone Biles was born in 1997 and didn't have an easy childhood, spending her early years in foster care until she was adopted by her grandparents, Ron and Nellie Biles, in 2003.

• C.

  Although her hard work and determination have no doubt contributed to her remarkable performances, Simone Biles' natural physical ability has been the true key to her success.

• D.

  After years of hard work, Simone Biles was named as a replacement for Olympic gold medalist Kyla Ross as a member of the U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team in 2013.

The Article states:

But Biles' disappointment pushed her to work that much harder. And soon enough her dedication began to pay off. In 2013, she was named as a replacement gymnast when two members of the U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team withdrew due to injuries. Biles replaced none other than Olympic gold medalist Kyla Ross. You could say she had big shoes to fill. But then again, gymnasts usually perform barefoot!

Why did the author include this passage?

• A.

  To suggest that Simone Biles worked just as hard as Olympic gold medalist Kyla Ross to achieve success in gymnastics

• B.

  To show how Simone Biles handled a heartbreaking failure to achieve a sought-after spot on the U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team

• C.

  To point out that competition between gymnasts Simone Biles and Kyla Ross gave Biles the motivation needed to replace Ross on the United States' national gymnastics team

• D.

  To draw emphasis to the fact that gymnast Simone Biles wouldn't have been able to join the U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team without a great deal of natural athletic ability

Which is the closest synonym for the word inspiration?

• A.

  opposition

• B.

  motivation

• C.

  imitation

• D.

  instruction

The reader can tell from the Article that __________.

(3 of these are FALSE and 1 is TRUE)

• A.

  Simone Biles only missed gymnastics practice as a child when she was very sick, in spite of the fact that her mother often urged her to attend

• B.

  Simone Biles' grandparents, Ron and Nellie Biles, didn't want Simone to become a gymnast at first because they worried about possible injury

• C.

  gymnast Simone Biles doesn't give up easily even when faced with what she describes as a heartbreaking failure

• D.

  gymnast Simone Biles competed head-to-head against Olympic gold medalist Kyla Ross and won her own gold medal in doing so

Which information is not in the Article?

(Choose the one that is NOT TRUE or NOT in the article)

• A.

  How Simone Biles' poor showing at the U.S. Junior Championships affected her actions

• B.

  Why Kyla Ross was replaced by Simone Biles on the U.S. Women's Gymnastic Team in 2013

• C.

  How old Simone Biles was when she was first introduced to the sport of gymnastics

• D.

  Why Simone Biles didn't finish higher than 14th at the 2011 U.S. Junior Championships

Look at this passage from the Article:

Biles discovered gymnastics during a field trip when she was just 6 years old. And even from a young age, she showed steady commitment to her sport. Her mother has said that skipping practice was never an option for Biles. She practiced even when she was sick, when, let's face it, most of us would probably crawl back into bed.

In this passage, the word commitment means __________.

• A.

  a strong feeling of disappointment that causes confusion

• B.

  the attitude of someone who works very hard to do something

• C.

  the act or process of making something better

• D.

  a natural ability to do something or to learn something

Which passage from the Article best supports the idea that Simone Biles faced difficulties on her road to gymnastic success?

• A.

  In October 2019, the 22-year-old gymnast expertly nailed her landings at the gymnastics world championships. And she also landed herself in the history books, winning her 25th world championship medal, more than any other gymnast in the world. And as if that wasn't enough, two of her moves during the competition were added to the list of signature moves bearing her name. One is now named the "Biles." It's a mind-boggling double-double dismount from the balance beam involving a double-twisting double backflip.

• B.

  Biles' performances are so amazing, you might find yourself thinking gravity's merely a suggestion rather than a natural law. She flawlessly twists and turns in the air like a leaf in the wind. And yet, her techniques demand incredible physical strength to pull off. If you've seen Biles perform, you likely don't need much convincing that she's the greatest gymnast in the world.

• C.

  By then, many already recognized Biles as the greatest of all time, or GOAT. But it was during her Olympic debut that she became a household name. Along with fellow American, swimmer Katie Ledecky, Biles was the most decorated female athlete at Rio, winning five medals in total and four of them gold!

• D.

  In 2011, she finished 14th at the U.S. Junior Championships, after which the U.S. women's junior national team was named. Thirteen gymnasts made the team, meaning Biles missed by one spot. In her autobiography, Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance, Biles describes the defeat as a heartbreaking failure.