1.  (2 pts.) What does the author argue in favor of or against in this article?

Student A: Sam Murphy argues against testing athlete femaleness.

Student B: Murphy argues against using hormone levels to disqualify an athelete.

Student C: Murphy argues against the IAAF regulations in measuring athelete's femaleness. [too specific in focusing only on IAAF]

Student D: Murphy argues against testing atheletes' gender authenticity. [too general, includes both male and female testing when the article focuses on female testing]

2. (2 pts.) On what grounds does he base his argument?  In which paragraph does he most clearly state these grounds?

Student A: On grounds of inconsistent logic; double-standard, cf. paragraph 5.

Student B: On grounds of biological and financial difference


3. (1 pt.) What can we infer from the writer’s statement that Semenya “won the world championships in Berlin by a huge 2-second margin” (paragraph 2)?

Response


4. (1 pt.) With the help of the context, figure out the word that best completes the first blank in paragraph 2. woman.

5. (1 pt.) Decide which of the two parenthetical comments best completes the second blank in paragraph 2. Put a check (✓ ) in the space.
✓one headline asked "Woman, man or a little bit of both?"
_____ though it has been reported

6. (2 pts.) What is the author’s attitude towards the method used to verify athletes’ gender in the 1960s? How do you know?

Student A: Murphy disagrees with atheletes "parading naked in front of officials." [Does not answer "How do you know"]

Student B: Response.
 

7. (1 pt.)What does the writer mean by “…if you don’t choose the right parents”( ¶5)?

Response

8. (1 pt.) Apart from genetic advantage, what is another example of unfairness in sports mentioned by the author? Use your own words.

Response

9. (1 pt.) In your own words, explain why, according to the author, many track and field world records made by female athletes before 1989 have remained unbroken.

Student A: It is suspect that before 1989 when random drug testing began, female atheletes were doping. ["doping" too colloquial?]

Student B: Murphy points out that in 1989 random drug testing was implemented, preventing athletes from using performance enhancing drugs that gives them better time records.


10. (1 pt.) Which of the following uses the word “handicap” in the same meaning as in “Or Kenyan distance runners be handicapped?” (paragraph 8) ?

a)    The accident two years ago left the swimmer physically handicapped. [crippled; disabled]
b)    I am in favor of handicapping the faster guys so everyone has a chance to win.
c)    Having been in this job for three months, she has found that lack of experience is no real handicap.  [disadvantage]

handicap definitions

• noun (Oxford Dictionaries)
  1  A circumstance that makes progress or success difficult:
  not being able to drive was something of a handicap
  
  2 dated or, offensive  A condition that markedly restricts a person’s ability to function physically, mentally, or socially:
  he was born with a significant visual handicap
  
  3  A disadvantage imposed on a superior competitor in sports such as golf, horse racing, and competitive sailing in order to make the chances more equal.
  3.1  A race or contest in which a handicap is imposed:
  [IN NAMES]: the National Hunt Handicap Chase
  3.2  The extra weight allocated to be carried in a race by a racehorse on the basis of its previous form to make its chances of winning the same as those of the other horses.
  3.3  The number of strokes by which a golfer normally exceeds par for a course (used as a method of enabling players of unequal ability to compete with each other):
  he plays off a handicap of 10
  
  verb (handicaps, handicapping, handicapped)
  [WITH OBJECT]  
  1  Act as an impediment to:
  lack of funding has handicapped the development of research
  1.1  Place (someone) at a disadvantage:
  her lack of formal training handicapped her
  

11. (1 pt.) Based on the questions at the end of paragraph 8, what can we infer about Kenyan distance runners?

Response

12. (3 pts.) Decide if the following statements are true (T) or false (F). In the space provided, explain how information in the article helps you to know. (You may copy the whole sentence as evidence only where appropriate.)

T a) Hyperandrogenism doesn’t necessarily give a woman athletic advantage over others.
Explain: The new IAAF rules regarding disqualifying athletes with hyperandrogenism include a clause exempting "androgen resistance—in which the presence of the hormones proffers no advantage" which indicates a situation where male-level testosterone levels may not affect performance. (paragraph 3)

F b) Semenya is not competing in the London 2012 Olympics.
Explain: Semenya is mentioned to have "qualified easily for the London Olympics" so she is participating in it. (paragraph 6)      

F c) The article doesn’t mention how long Semenya was banned from competition.
Explain: The article specifically mentions "an 11-month hiatus," after which she can legally compete in women's competitions. (paragraph 2)

13. (4 pts.) Use context to figure out the meaning of each of the following.
a)    peaking (para. 1)  being at one's best; being at one's optimal physical condition
b)    detract from (para. 6)  diminish; reduce 
c)    outlandish (para. 6)   strange; bizaare; awkward
d)    derogatory (para. 9)   demeaning; insulting

14. (4 pts.) What does each of the following refer to?
a)    this (para. 3)      Response  
b)    many more (para. 3)  Response 
c)    they (para. 7)    female atheletes who...

d)    those (¶7) 

Student A: world records [too general, vague]

Student B: the 13 world records in women's track and field