READING COMPREHENSION 02

According to the passage, the 2000 Sydney Paralympics basketball team...

• • won the gold medal despite cheating.

• were in a grey area.

• • were rightly accused of cheating.

• • were accused of cheating when they did not.

Answer explanation

The 2000 Sydney Paralympics basketball team was accused of cheating by entering people who were not disabled into the team. The text does not provide information about winning any medals or being in a grey area. So, the correct answer is c) they were rightly accused of cheating.

British Team cyclist Philip Hindes…

• • lost a medal because he cheated.

• used gamesmanship to win a medal.

• won a medal despite cheating.

• • lost a medal because of gamesmanship.

Answer explanation

British Team cyclist Philip Hindes fell off his bike on purpose to restart the race because he had a bad start. This is an example of gamesmanship, not cheating. He went on to win a gold medal. Therefore, the correct answer is b) he used gamesmanship to win a medal.

Badminton player Carolina Marins…

• used gamesmanship to win a game.

• • used gamesmanship, but lost a game.

• • cheated and won a game.

• did not cheat, but was disqualified.

Answer explanation

Carolina Marins screamed and shouted every time her opponent made a mistake at the 2016 Rio Olympics. This is also an example of gamesmanship, as she was trying to disrupt her opponent's concentration. She did not break any rules, and she won a gold medal. So, the answer is a) she used gamesmanship to win a game.

Diego Maradona is mentioned because he…

• challenged a referee’s decision.

• took advantage of a referee’s mistake.

• • persuaded a referee to make a decision.

• • was punished for his gamesmanship.

Answer explanation

Diego Maradona scored a goal using his hand in the 1986 World Cup. The referee did not see it and awarded the goal, which Maradona did not question. This shows that he took advantage of a referee's mistake. So, the answer is a) he took advantage of a referee's mistake.

Cricketers who leave the field when they feel the ball touch their legs…

• are breaking the rules.

• are rare.

• • are using gamesmanship.

• • are following the rules.

Answer explanation

The text states that few cricketers leave the field when they know they are out, waiting instead for the umpire's decision. This implies that it is rare for cricketers to leave the field on their own, so the correct answer is b) they are rare.

Rivaldo…

• • didn’t realise he was breaking a rule.

• • exaggerated an injury.

• was punished for bending the rules.

• • was accused of cheating when he did not.

Answer explanation

Rivaldo faked an injury during a match in the 2002 World Cup. This could be seen as gamesmanship, but in this case, he was caught out and fined, which means that he had to pay some money as punishment. So, the correct answer is c) he was punished for bending the rules.

The four badminton teams were disqualified…

• after winning their games.

• • because they cheated.

• • because they were sporting.

• despite not cheating.

Answer explanation

Four women's badminton doubles teams from China, Indonesia, and South Korea were disqualified from the 2012 London Olympics for purposely playing badly. They did not break any badminton rules, but their actions were seen as poor sportsmanship. Therefore, the answer is a) despite not cheating.