5

Question

This passage is adapted from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, “The Importance of Athlete Activists.” ©2015 by Time USA, LLC.
Which sentence best supports the author’s claim that athletes are sometimes used by governments to make political statements?
Responses

“Fans want to indulge in the escapism of the sport without the heavy baggage of real life interfering.” (paragraph 1)
Answer A: “Fans want to indulge in the escapism of the sport without the heavy baggage of real life interfering.” (paragraph 1)
A

“In 1980, the U.S. and 59 other countries boycotted the Summer Olympics in Moscow to protest the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan.” (paragraph 3)
Answer B: “In 1980, the U.S. and 59 other countries boycotted the Summer Olympics in Moscow to protest the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan.” (paragraph 3)
B

“But when athletes wish to stand up for causes they personally believe in, they are often condemned.” (paragraph 4)
Answer C: “But when athletes wish to stand up for causes they personally believe in, they are often condemned.” (paragraph 4)
C

“Ali’s sacrifice inspired me to boycott the 1968 Olympic basketball team to call attention to the rampant racial injustice of the time, which resulted in people calling me ‘un-American.’” (paragraph 4)

Answer 1

The sentence that best supports the author’s claim that athletes are sometimes used by governments to make political statements is:

B: “In 1980, the U.S. and 59 other countries boycotted the Summer Olympics in Moscow to protest the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan.” (paragraph 3)

This sentence illustrates a direct example of how governments use athletes and athletic events to make political statements, specifically through the boycott of the Olympics in response to a geopolitical event.