Question
Overcoming the Odds, Wilma Rudolph
1
Standing at 5 feet 11 inches tall with long, lean legs, Wilma Rudolph was an imposing figure on the track. Dubbed “the fastest woman in the world,” Wilma took home three gold medals during the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, Italy. However, Wilma wasn’t always a successful athlete. When she was a young girl, she couldn’t even walk.
2
Born in 1940 in Tennessee, Wilma was one of 22 children in her family. She was delivered prematurely at four and a half pounds and was a sickly child. Wilma dealt with a bout of pneumonia and scarlet fever, and when she was six years old, she lost the function of her left leg due to polio, a disease that causes muscles to be weak.
3
Even though polio often resulted in paralysis, the future track star was fitted with a large metal brace in hopes of regaining her leg strength. Every day her brothers and sister massaged Wilma’s leg to stimulate growth. Although it was difficult for her family, her mother took time away from her job every week to drive Wilma 90 miles round trip to the doctor for therapy.
4
Wilma and her family’s dedication and hard work paid off. At age 9, Wilma’s leg was strong enough to have the brace removed. She was eager to become a “normal kid” and began playing basketball with her brothers. When she was in high school, she joined the school’s basketball team. Wilma became a star player, breaking the record for the most points in one game. She was extremely fast up and down the court, and people took notice, including the Tennessee State University track coach.
5
Wilma began practicing with the college track team while she was still in high school. She qualified for the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, and won a bronze medal as part of the sprint relay team. But Wilma’s trip to the 1960 Olympics is when she rose to her full potential. Winning gold medals in the 100 meter, 200 meter, and sprint relay, Wilma became one of the most popular athletes at the games. People admired her impressive athletic ability, especially since she beat the odds and overcame a debilitating disease, and her unwavering courage.
6
Many people believe Wilma paved the way for other African-American female athletes. She was an inspiration to Florence Griffith Joyner, the next female to win three gold medals at the Olympic Games, and to many other young athletes around the world.
7
After her Olympic career, Wilma became a teacher and a track coach. In 1977, she penned her autobiography, Wilma, and shared her amazing story with the world. Wilma believed her greatest accomplishment was neither overcoming polio nor winning three Olympic gold medals, but establishing the Wilma Rudolph Foundation, a not-for-profit amateur sports program. Wilma spoke with firsthand knowledge when she reminded her mentees in the program that “triumph can’t be had without a struggle.”
Two-Part Question
Multiple Choice Question
The following question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then, answer Part B.
Part A:
How did playing basketball help Wilma's Olympic career?
A.
It made her feel better about her illness.
B.
It kept her from joining the track team.
C.
It showed her strong running skills.
D.
It helped her strengthen her weak leg.
Multiple Choice Question
Part B:
Which sentence from the text best supports your answer?
A.
She was eager to become a "normal kid" and began playing basketball with her brothers.
B.
Wilma became a star player, breaking the record for the most points in one game.
C.
She was extremely fast up and down the court, and people took notice, including the Tennessee State University track coach.
D.
She qualified for the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, Australia, and won a bronze medal as part of the sprint relay team.
PART A D IS WRONG PART B C IS WRONG
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Based on the text provided, let's analyze the questions again to find the correct answers.
**Part A: How did playing basketball help Wilma's Olympic career?**
The correct answer should be:
**C. It showed her strong running skills.**
Playing basketball helped Wilma develop her speed and athleticism, as noted when she was extremely fast on the court. This likely contributed to her success as a track athlete.
**Part B: Which sentence from the text best supports your answer?**
The correct supporting sentence should be:
**C. She was extremely fast up and down the court, and people took notice, including the Tennessee State University track coach.**
This sentence illustrates how her basketball skills showcased her running abilities, which were integral to her later success in track and field.
So, the final answers are:
**Part A: C**
**Part B: C**
**Part A: How did playing basketball help Wilma's Olympic career?**
The correct answer should be:
**C. It showed her strong running skills.**
Playing basketball helped Wilma develop her speed and athleticism, as noted when she was extremely fast on the court. This likely contributed to her success as a track athlete.
**Part B: Which sentence from the text best supports your answer?**
The correct supporting sentence should be:
**C. She was extremely fast up and down the court, and people took notice, including the Tennessee State University track coach.**
This sentence illustrates how her basketball skills showcased her running abilities, which were integral to her later success in track and field.
So, the final answers are:
**Part A: C**
**Part B: C**