Question 1
Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow :
Jesse Owens was a track and field star. His most famous moment was in the 1936 Olympics when he won four gold medals- much to the annoyance of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party who hoped that the Olympics would be a showcase for the Aryan supremacy. Later in life, Jesse Owens became a goodwill ambassador for America.
Jesse Owens was born in Alabama and at the age of nine, the family moved to the Granville section of Cleveland. His early life was marked by poverty and he was forced to take up many menial jobs such as delivering goods and working in a shoe repair shop. However, he was able to develop his passion for athletics. At an early age he was identified as having great potential. Jesse attended Ohio State University without a scholarship so he had to work part time. He gave credit to Charles Riley, his high school coach who encouraged him and made allowances for his difficulty in attending training sessions because Jesse had to work in a shoe repair shop in the morning.
In the 1930’s, America was a highly segregated society and when travelling with the team, Jesse had to suffer the indignities of eating at separate restaurants and staying in different hotels.
One of his great athletic feats was in 1935 during one particular track meet in which he broke three world records. This included the long jump (His record stood for 25 years), 220 yards and 220 yards hurdles. He also equalled the record for 100 yards. Jesse’s finest moment came in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, he won Olympic gold in the 100m long jump, 200m and 4 x 100 metres relay. (An achievement not matched until Carl Lewis in 1984). It was a convincing rebuttal to the Nazi’s hopes of displaying Aryan superiority. Hitler gave medals to German athletes on the first day, but after Jesse’s victories Hitler decided not to give any more medals. Albert Speer later wrote that Hitler was annoyed that the negro, Jesse Owens had won so many gold medals. Jesse Owens rose to national prominence in 1936, when he equalized the world record (9.4 second) for the 100 yard dash.
In 1936, he was given the title - ‘Press Athlete of the year.’ In 1976, Jesse was awarded the ‘Presidential Medal of Freedom.’ With great irony, Jesse Owens was treated well during his stay in Germany; he didn’t experience the segregation that he did back home in the United States.
(a) Give the meaning of each of the following words as used in the passage. One word answers or short phrases will be accepted. [3]
(i) menial
(ii) feats
(iii) rebuttal
(b) Answer the following questions in your own words :
(i) Why did America choose Owens as its goodwill ambassador? [2]
(ii) When was Jesse Owens’ passion for athletics identified? How did Charles Riley help Owens? [3]
(iii) How did American society treat Owens when he was travelling with the team? [2]
(iv) How did Hitler express his annoyance against Jesse’s victories? [2]
(c) In not more than 50 words, list the achievements of Jesse Owens. [8]
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