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| My Greatest Olympic Prize - Evergreen Publication |
COMPREHENSION (UNSOLVED PASSAGES)
Passage 1
(1) He was surprised to see a tall boy named Luz Long, a German athlete, hitting the pit at almost 26 feet on his practice leaps.
(ii) A German athlete named Luz Long startled Jesse Owens. Jesse Owens was told about Luz Long that Hitler had kept him under wraps, evidently hoping to win the jump with him.
(ili) Jesse thought that if Long won, it would add some new support to the Nazis' Aryan superiority theory.
(iv) Jesse was angry with Hitler because Hitler childishly insisted that his performers were members of a 'Master Race'. He disliked Nazis 'Aryan-superiority theory'.
(V) Jesse, the American Negro athlete, was determined to participate in the Olympic Games and show the master race who was superior and who wasn't.
Passage 2
(1) Every coach tells the athletes that an angry athlete will always commit mistakes. So they should not lose the balance of mind. They should remain calm.
(ii) He failed to qualify for the finals in the room in the Olympic village to thank him. I knew that if it hadn't been for him I probably wouldn't be jumping in the finals the following day. We sat in his quarters and talked for 2 hours-about track and field, ourselves, the world situation, a dozen other things.
(iii) Jesse cursed himself thinking why he had come 3000 miles. Was it only to foul out of the trials and make fool of himself?
(iv) Jesse kicked disgustedly at the dirt. Luz Long, the German athlete had easily qualified for the finals in the first attempt.
(V) Jesse was feeling nervous because he had failed twice in the qualifying jumps for the finals. He was trying to hide his nervousness by walking a few yards from the pit.
Passage 3
(1) Long took pains to reassure Jesse of his capability. He told him that he (Jesse) would be able to qualify for the finals with his eyes closed. This made him feel good.
(ii) Although Long had been schooled in the Nazi youth movement, he did not believe in the Hitler's Aryan-supremacy theory.
(iii) Luz Long was an inch taller than Jesse Owens. He had a lean, mascular frame and clear eyes. He had blond hair and a strikingly handsome chiselled face.
(iv) Long told him that he should draw a line a few inches in back of the board and aim at making his take-off from there. That way he would be sure not to foul and he would jump far enough to qualify.
(v) Long told Jesse that he should draw a line a few inches in back of the board and aim at making his take-off from there. This suggestion removed Jesse's tension. He drew a line a full foot in back of the board and jumped from there. He easily qualified with almost a foot to spare.
Passage 4
(1) Long had told Jesse that he should draw a line a few inches in back of the board and aim at making his take-off from there. This suggestion removed all his tension. He went to Luz Long's room to thank him for this suggestion.
(ii) Jesse carried a feeling of friendship with him after talking to Long for two hours. Long wanted him to do his best-even if that meant his winning.
(ill) Long broke his own past record. He congratulated Jesse for winning the gold medal by 1 jumping 26 feet 51/16 inches.
(iv) Hitler reacted angrily and glared at them from the stands not a hundred yards away when Long congratulated him by shaking hand with him.
(V) We understand that Luz Long was a true sportsman. He did not feel jealous of Jesse at his winning the gold medal. He gave a genuine smile at his victory.
Passage 5
(1) Jesse Owens did not tell Long what was troubling him. In fact, he was feeling jealous of Long, whom Hitler had kept under wraps. Moreover Long had easily qualified for the finals.
(ii) Jesse acted on the suggestion of Long. He drew a line a few inches in the back of the board and jumped from there. He easily qualified for the finals with a foot to spare.
(iii) Long showed true sportsmanship on the victory of Jesse Owens. He congratulated Jesse for winning the gold medal in the Olympics.
(iv) Hitler did not like Jesse's winning the gold medal. He had kept Long under wraps and he was sure that Long would win. But Long not only lost in the Olympics but also congratulated Jesse for his victory. That is why he glared at both of them.
(V) Pierre de Coubertin was the founder of modern Olympic games. According to him the true spirit of the Olympics lies not in winning but in taking part. The essential thing in life is not conquering but fighting well.
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
ASSIGNMENT Develop the following hints into your own answers:
1. Hints
- Luz Long, a tall, lean athlete with mascular body
- kept under wraps to win long jump event
- epitome of true sportsmanship
- observed Jesse's nervousness
- gave him a tip to qualify for the finals
- congratulated Jesse on his victory, not afraid of Hitler
2. Hints
- Jesse Owens, American Negro athlete
- trained hard for six years, to participate in Olympics
- Hitler believed Aryan Supremacy theory
- trained Luz Long; kept under wraps
- Jesse fouled in qualifying jumps
- Long gave a tip
- Jasse confidently drew the line jumped from there, qualified
- Long and Jesse, became friends
- won gold medal, jumped 26 feet 55/16 inches
- Long congratulated him
3. Hints
- Jesse Owens, came for broad jump trial, hoped to win
- surprised to see a tall German athlete (Luz Long) hitting the pit at almost 26 feet on practice leaps unhappy with Hitler's ways
- leaped from several inches beyond the take off board for a foal
- felt upset
- second jump, fouled worse, very sad, nervous
