READING COMPREHENSION

CONVOCATORIA EXTRAORDINARIA

YEAR 2021-22

NAME GROUP

TASK 1
Read the following article about bad losers. Decide if the statements below are True (T) or False (F) and
put
a cross (X) in the correct column in the statements box.

The first statement (0) is an example. (10 x 1 point= 10 points)

Bad losers?

The hardest lesson to learn in sport is how to lose with dignity, without blaming your defeat on the
referees or refusing to shake hands with your opponent. Here are some famous moments when losing
was just too hard…

In 1981 at Wimbledon, a young John McEnroe was serving. The umpire said his serve was out, but
McEnroe thought it was in. He became furious and shouted, ‘You CANNOT be serious!’ at the
umpire. He also called the umpire ‘an incompetent fool!’

In the 2003 Athletics World Championship, the 100 metres runner, Jon Drummond, was disqualified
for a false start. Drummond lay down on the track and began to cry. Two hours later, his coach told
journalists: ‘He’s still crying. We’re making him drink water because he’s becoming dehydrated’.

In the 1982 German Grand Prix, Nelson Piquet was winning the race. He was trying to pass Eliseo
Salazar (who was last in the race), but Salazar didn’t let him go past him, and Piquet crashed into
Salazar. Piquet jumped out of his car and started trying to hit and kick Salazar (without much
success!). South Korean footballer Ahn Junh-Hwan scored the goal that sent Italy out of the 2002
World Cup when they beat them 2-1. But Jung-Hwan also played for the Italian football club
Perugia. After the match, the president of the club, Luciano Gaucci, announced that the player’s
contract would not be renewed. ‘That gentleman will never set foot in Perugia again’, Gauci said. ‘I
have no intention of paying a salary to somebody who has ruined Italian football.’ Gauci later
apologised, but Ahn Jung-Hwan left the club and never went back to an Italian club.

When England won the Rugby World Cup in 2003 by beating Australia in the last minute of the
match, the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, was so angry that in the medals ceremony he
almost threw the medals at the English players. His behaviour was described by a journalist as being
‘like an unhappy five-year-old at a birthday party who starts throwing toys around’.
 STATEMENTS T F TEACHE
R
Losing with dignity is a challenging lesson to learn in sports. X ✓
0.

1. John McEnroe was angry after the umpire called him ‘an incompetent fool’

Two hours after Jon Drummond was disqualified, his coach was worried about
2. his health.

3. Nelson Piquet was trying to win the race by passing Eliseo Salazar.

4. After the crash, Salazar started to hit and kick Piquet.

5. Footballer Ahn Jung-Hwan disqualified Italy from the World Cup by scoring
the definitive goal.

6. Gaucci said sorry for what he had said.

7. Jung-Hwan never played for a European team again.

8. The Rugby match between England and Australia was uncertain until the end.

9. The Australian Prime Minister did not accept the result gracefully.

10. The press shared the Prime Minister’s reaction.

TOTAL _____ x 1 mark = ____________ /10 marks

 TASK 2
Read the following article about tennis. Choose the best answer A, B or C according to the text.
There is only ONE correct answer for each statement. The first one (0) is an example. Write the
letters in the spaces provided in the box.

Play to win
16-year-old Harry Moore writes about his hobby, tennis.

My parents have always loved tennis and they’re members of a tennis club. My older brother was
really good at it and they supported him – taking him to lessons all the time. So I guess when I
announced that I wanted to be a tennis champion when I grew up I just intended for them to notice
me. My mother laughed. She knew I couldn’t possibly be serious, I was just a 4-year-old kid!

Later, I joined the club’s junior coaching group and eventually took part in my first proper contest,
confident that my team would do well. We won, which was fantastic, but I wasn’t so successful. I
didn’t even want to be in the team photo because I didn’t feel I deserved to be. When my coach
asked what happened in my final match, I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t believe I’d lost – I
knew I was the better player. But every time I attacked, the other player defended brilliantly. I
couldn’t explain the result.

After that, I decided to listen more carefully to my coach because he had lots of tips. I realised that
you need the right attitude to be a winner. On court, I have a plan, but sometimes the other guy will
do something unexpected, so I’ll change it. If I lose a point, I do my best to forget it and find a way
to win the next one.

At tournaments, it’s impossible to avoid players who explode in anger. Lots of players can be
negative – including myself sometimes. Once I got so angry that I nearly broke my racket! But my
coach has helped me develop ways to control those feelings. After all, the judges have a hard job
and you just have to accept their decisions.

My coach demands that I train in the gym to make sure I’m strong right to the end of a tournament.
I’m getting good results: my shots are more accurate and I’m beginning to realise that with hard
work there’s a chance that I could be a champion one day.

EXAMPLE

0. Who in Harry’s family loved tennis before him?

a) His grandfather
b) His aunt and uncle
 c) His parents and brother

1. Harry thinks he said that he was going to be a tennis champion in order to

a) Please his parents
b) get some attention
c) annoy his older brother

2. How did Harry feel after his first important competition?

a) Confused about his defeat.
b) Proud to be a member of the winning team.
c) Amazed that he had got so far in the tournament.

3. What does Harry try to remember when he’s on the court?

a) Don’t let the other player surprise you.
b) Respect the other player.
c) Don’t keep thinking about your mistakes.

4. What does Harry say about his behaviour in tournaments?

a) He found it difficult to deal with one judge’s decisions.
b) He stays away from players who behave badly.
c) He tries to keep calm during the game.

5. How does Harry feel about his ability now?

a) He believes he still needs to improve a lot.
b) He’s confident he could become a champion someday.
c) He’s not sure that he can carry on playing for much longer.

EXAMPLE 0 1 2 3 4 5
Text
a
Answer
✓
Teacher

TOTAL _____ x 1 mark = ____________ /5 marks

ANSWER KEY

TASK 1.

1. False
2. True
3. False
4. False
5. True
6. True
7. False
8. True
9. True
10. False

Text retrieved from English File. Third Edition. Questions are original.

TASK 2.

1. b
2. a
3. c
4. c
5. b

Adapted from: PET for schools 2020.