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BEST IELTS Academic Reading Test 519
IELTS ACADEMIC READING TEST 519 – PASSAGE – 1
IELTS ACADEMIC READING TEST – 519
READING PASSAGE – 1
SALUTE TO A CHAMPION
A. We as human beings have a cherished dream to leave our mark in history before we perish. Sports persons globally have achieved name and fame in their respective spheres. Their charisma is not less than that of the leaders of the celluloid. All sports people throughout their careers try to keep the field afire with their performances and when they retire at the end of their careers, the misty tearful eyes of their fans is the pension they earn.
B. Sports have always been called democratic because they accommodate all champs from various games. One can achieve name and fame in a game of one’s choice, irrespective of colour, class or creed. One such icon has been Muhammad Ali, a world hero, who was a non-white. People looked at him as a superman. He was not only a macho icon for sportsmen; his fans were also fascinated by the very glimpse of him.
IELTS Academic Reading Test
C. The style of quitting the field forever got a new streak when Don Bradman announced his retirement right in the middle of a match after being bowled out on a duck. This low score did not pull down the public morale. He was given a standing ovation because he had already left a mark on his fans’ minds. Only a few sports people are able to get such a great passing out ceremony. Most of the great champions fade out in the mist of time without a final farewell from the fans. Possibly, they are unable to decide the time for their well deserved retirement.
D. Fans with a deep emotional link with Pete Sampras could not outlive the day he retired. The endless tears and tributes he received from his fans almost flooded the Arthur Ashe Stadium at the US Open Tennis Championship. The whole episode left a mark in history. Pete Sampras earned a huge following of fans during his career and the day he declared his retirement, became a red letter day for the sports lovers. All spectators, be it the front liners or the ones sitting in the VIP boxes, the old players or the ones watching the event live on TV, all lived the sentiment of the moment.
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E. Sampras made a world record in winning the grand slam titles fourteen times. Even at the tender age of 19, he cherished a dream close to his heart, a dream to create history someday. He began his career with full zest and worked diligently to achieve his goal. The young sensation proved his prowess when there was no live coverage. There was no sports media to celebrate the victories. He was a champion who undoubtedly rose above all the yardsticks laid to measure his ability. He reigned for a decade.
He was a tremendous man with a great athletic body. He was well composed in the court even in a pressure situation. As a player committed to his fans, he took his fans to the peak of ecstasy when he played matches. It was a pleasure to watch him play. His powerful shots, impeccable sportsmanship and extreme poise even under pressure, makes him stand out. He felt moral inclination towards his fans and hence did a brilliant job all through his career. Now that he has left the scene, he has achieved a position of inimitable eminence in the minds of his fans. The historic performances have made him an unquestionable topper in sports.
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F. Heroes like Sampras are praiseworthy. Their presence itself graces the game. They are sincere and show perfect sportsmanship in and outside the field. They make a graceful entry and exit honourably. They outdo other contenders throughout their careers and leave all contemporaries way behind. Sampras did that amicably. He broke Australian Roy Emerson’s record of picking the grand slam titles 12 times. Even on the eve of his retirement, when he was virtually playing his last match, he secured a majestic win by beating his arch rival and close friend Andre Agassi. Such are the people who devote a lifetime to the game.
G. On the contrary, modern image-driven sports icons are busy endorsing various advertisements, even promoting liquor and smoking. They participate in third rate entertainment shows with film actors. They attend political rallies in support of their politician friends and have little time to promote national and social causes. They are merely looking for money throughout their careers. They earn little place in history. They have comfortable bank balances though.
IELTS Academic Reading Test
Questions 1 – 7
The text has seven sections. Choose the correct heading (i-xii) for each section (1-7) and move it into the gap.
i. A Committed Champion
ii. Fascination of Sportspersons
iii. Level Playing Field in Sports
iv. Temptation Driven Icons
v. True Champions
vi. Recognising the Time to Retire
vii. The Emotional Fans
viii. History of a Game
ix. Rising Above All
x. Earning of True Sportsmen
xi. Dilemma of Sportsmen
xii. A Teary Tribute
IELTS Academic Reading Test
1. Paragraph A
2. Paragraph B
3. Paragraph C
4. Paragraph D
5. Paragraph E
6. Paragraph F
7. Paragraph G
IELTS Academic Reading Test
Questions 8 – 13
Choose TRUE if the statement agrees with the information given in the text,
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.
8. Sportspersons have as much appeal as the film stars.
9. Sports are not free from racial discrimination.
10. Don Bradman had the most distinctive way of declaring his retirement from the game.
11. There was no sports media to celebrate any of Sampras’ fourteen grand slam wins.
12. Sincere efforts of a sportsperson always fetch praise for him.
13. Modern money-making sports icons don’t earn long lasting name and fame.
IELTS Academic Reading Test
IELTS Academic Reading Test
ANSWERS
1. X
2. III
3. VI
4. XII
5. I
6. V
7. IV
8. TRUE
9. FALSE
10. TRUE
11. NOT GIVEN
12. NOT GIVEN
13. TRUE
IELTS Academic Reading Test