Mega Sports Events

Which of these inferences is best supported by the following passage (paragraph 10)?

Across professional sports, in fact, one of the most obvious and quantifiable manifestations of gender-based discrimination is that women athletes face a huge pay gap. The total pay-out for the Women’s World Cup was 15 million United States dollars, compared with 576 million United States dollars for the last men’s World Cup — nearly 40 times more for men. The exception is tennis, which since 2007 has awarded equal prize money at all four Grand Slam tournaments.

• A. The pay for successful women athletes lags disproportionately behind their male counterparts’.

• B. There is no further work to do to reach complete gender equality in the sport of tennis.

• C. The payout for the World Cup is ridiculous.

• D. Women athletes are expected to out-earn their male counterparts by 2050.

Which of the following inferences is best supported by the passage below (paragraph 4)?

In many countries, it has been recognized that sport can be a force to amplify women's voices and tear down gender barriers and discrimination. Women in sport defy the misperception that they are weak or incapable. Every time they clear a hurdle or kick a ball, demonstrating not only physical strength, but also leadership and strategic thinking, they take a step towards gender equality.

• A. The speaker is prepared to call out specific countries where women’s sports have not received enough media attention.

• B. The speaker believes that allowing women to play sports will help them become less “weak or incapable.”

• C. The speaker believes that participation in sporting events is an opportunity for women to challenge stereotypes placed upon them.

• D. The speaker believes that sports involving kicking or hurdling motions are superior to other types of sport.

Which of the following adjectives best describes the speaker’s tone?

• A. pessimistic

• B. outraged

• C. passionate

• D. cloying

What is most closely the central idea of the following passage (paragraph 8)?

Interesting to note that since 1991, any new sport seeking to join the Olympic programme must have women’s competitions. Yet even at mega events, women still face challenges. At the last FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015, women were required to play on artificial turf, which is often regarded as more physically punishing than natural grass. It is impossible to imagine a men’s world cup on this type of surface.

• A. In the 1990s, there were new sports included in the Olympics.

• B. Less accomplished female athletes face barriers in mega events.

• C. Women competing in sports face certain obstacles that are unheard of for their male counterparts.

• D. Artificial turf should be used at the men’s World Cup.

Which of the following is most closely a main idea of the speech?

• A. Sports fans who are unsure about watching female athletes should give them a chance.

• B. Sports has an important role to play in women’s rights.

• C. Mega sporting events have a negative impact on women’s equality and should be banned.

• D. Not all sports can help women become better athletes.

Which passage from the text best supports the main idea of the speech?

• A. “While sports events aim to promote values of fairness, there is also a dark side.”

• B. “Interesting to note that since 1991, any new sport seeking to join the Olympic programme must have women’s competitions. Yet even at mega events, women still face challenges.”

• C. “Mega sports events bring billions of people together. These events have the potential to leave social and economic legacies.”

• D. “The Olympics of the modern era started as an all-male event, with women making gradual inroads to compete in different disciplines.”

PART A:

Which of the following statements best expresses one of the speaker’s main concerns about “mega events”?

• A. Violence against women is amplified during major sports events.

• B. The increasingly commercial nature of major sporting events is distracting from issues that really matter.

• C. The inherent violence of sports inspires fans to become violent towards the opposing teams’ fans.

• D. The rise of video game technology has rendered sporting events obsolete.

PART B:

Which passage from the text best supports the speaker's main concern about "mega events"?

• A. “Violence against women and girls occurs in all countries and happens in many situations, including in relation to sports events.”

• B. “Incredibly enough, women were only allowed to run the marathon in the Olympics in 1988.”

• C. “While sports events aim to promote values of fairness, there is also a dark side.”

• D. “Evidence from the UK suggests that domestic violence increases during world cups or when the home team loses.”

What is the meaning of ensure as it is used in the following sentence?

It is our challenge to ensure the achievement of gender equality in the sports world.

• A. to make sure of something

• B. to give assistance to someone or something

• C. able to be seen

• D. to add a resource to a common supply

What is the meaning of the word contribute as it is used in the following sentence?

I am pleased to be part of this important discussion and I agree with the previous speakers that sport has enormous power to generate real social, economic and environmental change and contribute to sustainable development, social cohesion and even to challenge mindsets and prejudice.

• A. to make sure of something

• B. to give assistance to someone or something

• C. able to be seen

• D. to add a resource to a common supply