Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.

I. The story of Lance Armstrong is one of the most spectacular in sports history.
Having been diagnosed with stage 3 cancer at the age of 25, he would later
recover and continue to become a world champion in 1999 when he won his
first Tour de France, considered the most prestigious and difficult race in cycling.
This elevated his status as one of the most revered athletes of his time.
Armstrong became a household name and helped increase the popularity of
cycling globally. However, despite all his success and glory, Armstrong's career
was not without controversy. From the beginning of his dominance in the cycling
world, he was constantly accused of taking performance-enhancing drugs,
accusations he strongly denied. Eventually, however, the truth caught up to him.
Armstrong’s rise and fall would be both sudden and dramatic.

II. Even before his cancer diagnosis, Armstrong had been cycling around the globe
for years. What is more, he was winning races. In 1993, he won the Thrift Drug
Classic in Pittsburgh, the K-Mart West Virginia Classic, and the CoreStates
USPRO national championship in Philadelphia, a trio of wins known collectively
as the Thrift Drug Triple Crown of Cycling.

III. In 1999, his first tour de France victory was propelled in part by four stage wins,
boosting his total time. He beat Alex Zülle, the second-place finisher, by 7
minutes and 37 seconds. However, Jan Ullrich, with whom he would later have
an established rivalry, did not participate because of injury, so Armstrong was
still not quite at the top of the cycling world. Ullrich was back for the 2000 Tour
de France and thus began the Armstrong/Ullrich rivalry. Armstrong beat Ullrich
by 6 minutes and 2 seconds in the 2000 Tour de France, despite winning just
one stage. Later that year, Armstrong would go on to win bronze in the Summer
Olympics.

IV. In 2001, Armstrong again overcame Ullrich, who in turn had beaten Armstrong
for the Olympic gold the previous year, for the victory by 6 minutes and 44
seconds. In 2002, Ullrich did not participate due to suspension, and Armstrong
took top honours over Joseba Beloki of Spain by 7 minutes. In 2003, it was the
same story: Armstrong beat Ullrich by just a few minutes. In 2004, Armstrong
won his record-setting sixth Tour de France, finishing 6 minutes and 19 seconds
ahead of German cyclist Andreas Klöden, Ullrich finished fourth. Finally,
Armstrong won again in 2005 and then announced he would be retiring to spend
time with his family and dedicating his efforts to his cancer foundation.

V. In 2008, Armstrong came out of retirement. He continued to brush off doping

allegations and he told the media he was prepared to work harder to compete
at an elite level as he was now 37.. Of the 127 riders who completed the race,
Armstrong finished a lacklustre 27th, disappointing many of his fans. Despite
struggling in various races and still dodging allegations that he never competed
in a Tour de France while clean, he decided to participate in the 2009 race.
Though Armstrong finished third that July, it was still impressive: After all, he
was 38 and had been away from professional cycling for three years.
VI. Ahead of the 2010 Tour de France, Armstrong said it would be his last race.
Around this time, his former U.S. teammate Floyd Landis sent emails to cycling
officials detailing his use of performance-enhancing drugs while racing for the
U.S. Postal Service team. Landis also accused Armstrong and other teammates
of doing the same. "I want to clear my conscience," Landis told the media at the
time. "I don't want to be part of the problem anymore." Still denying allegations
and claiming there was no proof, Armstrong competed in the 2010 Tour de
France months after the Landis emails, coming in 23rd place.

VII. In some ways, the story of Lance Armstrong’s rise and fall is one of obsession
with winning at all costs. Even in retirement, Armstrong couldn't dodge the
allegations. More of his former teammates started to break their silence in 2011,
in a preview of the evidence they will ultimately give against him in the U.S. Anti-
Doping Agency's (USADA) case. In October 2012, a USADA report against
Armstrong left no doubt he doped throughout most of his career. He didn't
contest the case, was stripped of all accomplishments from August 1998
onward and ultimately received a lifetime ban from cycling. Finally,
Armstrong confessed publicly in an interview with Oprah Winfrey in January
2013. The interview was emotionless, and it was unclear if Armstrong regretted
what he did. He admitted to doping for every Tour de France he competed in
and won.
Adapted from: https://www.espn.com

1. What is the passage about?

a. The rise and fall of Lance Armstrong
b. Armstrong’s accomplishments in cycling
c. Armstrong and the dramatic doping scandal
d. Facing and overcoming obstacles as a top cyclist (1 mark)

2. What would a cyclist need to do to earn the Thrift Drug Triple Crown of Cycling?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
(3 Marks)

3. Why was Armstrong still not considered the top cyclist despite winning the 1999
Tour de France?
a. Armstrong did not compete against Jan Ulrich that year.
b. Armstrong only had one title to his name at that point.
c. Armstrong was not famous enough at that point.
d. Armstrong was not considered as a strong contender
(1 mark)
4. In paragraphs 3 and 4, the writer highlighted the achievements of Armstrong
and Ulrich to emphasise the idea that both of them…
a. were great rivals.
b. took part in some similar competitions.
c. found it difficult to remain champion cyclists for long.
d. were equally good cyclists. (1 mark)

5. Which ONE (1) of these words best replaces the word “propelled” (Paragraph
3)?
a. driven
b. shot
c. forced
d. pushed (1 mark)

6. Which ONE (1) of these words best replaces the word “lacklustre” (Paragraph
5)?
a. uninspiring
b. brilliant
c. dull
d. bland (1 mark)

7. What does the word “race” (Paragraph 5) refer to?

______________________________________________________________
(1 mark)
8. Who does the word “his” (Paragraph 6) refer to?
a. Floyd Landis
b. Lance Armstrong
c. The US Postal Team
d. The media (1 mark)

9. Give TWO (2) reasons why Floyd Landis admitted to using banned
substances?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
(2 marks)

10. In your opinion, does Lance Armstrong regret taking banned substances to
enhance his performance? Why or why not?
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
(3 marks)
PART 2
Read the sentences below and indicate your answer by circling either True (T) or False
(F).
1. Lance Armstrong is still admired as a successful athlete today. T/F

2. Armstrong only started cycling after being diagnosed with cancer. T / F

3. Lance Armstrong never won first place after coming out of retirement. T / F

4. After retiring, Lance Armstrong devoted his time to various cancer foundations
T/F

5. Lance Armstrong admitted to doping for every competition he entered. T / F

(5 marks)

PART 3

Below is a paragraph. Rearrange the chunks of sentences to form a meaningful text.

Number them in the correct order (1 to 5).

NO. SENTENCE CHUNKS

Immigration authorities and border communities in the U.S. and Mexico
have been feeling the strain of a large numbers of migrants, mostly from
Central America.
This increase in migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally has
brought about an increase in the number of crashes involving vehicles filled
with people. The passengers often pay large amounts to be smuggled into
the U.S. and their smugglers stuff them into overcrowded vehicles and
trucks.
In August, a packed van carrying 29 migrants crashed on a remote South
Texas highway. At least 10 people were killed, including the driver.
Authorities said at the time another 20 were injured.
The following March 13 people were killed when a tractor-trailer slammed
into a SUV carrying 25 migrants about 125 miles east of San Diego, near
Holtville, California. In that case, cars drove through a piece of the border
fence that was cut away.
Such illegal border crossings are projected to increase exponentially in the
next 5 years as more people flee their home countries due to crime and
economic hardships.
Adapted from: https://www.npr.org

(5 marks)