🔥What is an unfair advantage in sport?: Đề thi thật IELTS READING (IELTS Reading Recent Actual Test) - Làm bài online format computer-based, kèm giải thích từ vựng

What is an unfair advantage in sport?

Olympic athletes increasingly depend on technology to help them win—but is that fair?

A. What happened to the Australian athlete Ron Clarke in the 10,000 metres at the Mexico City Olympics of 1968 is now virtually forgotten, though at the time it was headline news. Clarke was the greatest distance runner in history—he'd broken more world records than anybody else. But in front of 55,000 horrified spectators, the event went disastrously wrong. In the third lap, one runner keeled over, and with six laps to go, two more were carried away. Yet the race was being conducted at a relatively leisurely speed: the halfway time was the slowest since the Paris Olympics of 1924.

With two laps to go, Clarke was in the leading pack. "I'd never felt better in a race," he says. But suddenly, he too began to struggle, and as the frontrunners moved up a gear, a gap opened up. Clarke remembers nothing of his last lap, which he ran in 90 seconds. "Normally I would run it in 64," he explains. He stumbled across the line in sixth place and collapsed. He was administered oxygen and stretchered off the track.

B. Mexico City is surrounded by mountains and is over 2,240 metres above sea level. That the altitude would have an impact on the Games was predicted. Clarke had raised the issue himself but had been told by the Australian sports authorities that complaining was regarded as bad sportsmanship. As it turned out, he had good reason to do so. Clearly, the link between athletic performance and altitude needed further investigation.>> Form đăng kí giải đề thi thật IELTS 4 kĩ năng kèm bài giải bộ đề 100 đề PART 2 IELTS SPEAKING quý đang thi (update hàng tuần) từ IELTS TUTOR

C. Although there were few standout performances in distance running at the Mexico Games, they marked a turning point: the start of an astonishing record of success by East Africans. While Clarke lay crumpled in a heap, runners from Kenya and Ethiopia were celebrating their gold and silver medals. The record books confirm how entrenched this pattern has become. The names of the seven fastest men in history over 5,000 metres are Bekele, Gebrselassie, Komen, Kipchoge, Sihine, Songkok, and Chereno. They are all from either Kenya or Ethiopia. Between 1997 and 2011, the 10,000 metres men's world record was smashed five times, dropping from 26:31.32 to 26:17.53. Each time, the record was broken by a Kenyan or an Ethiopian.

While there is a complex mix of economic, political, social, and cultural explanations for the pre-eminence of East Africans, one factor is surely that many of these athletes have lived most of their lives in thin air.

D. At high altitudes, a number of physiological alterations occur, most importantly, more red blood cells and haemoglobin are produced. This, in turn, increases the capacity of the blood to carry oxygen, which feeds the muscles and gives an advantage to the athletes when they return to sea level. However, it is impossible to train with the same level of intensity in the mountains—both aerobic capacity and cardio-respiratory function suffer at altitude. As a result, the consensus is that the optimum approach to athletic preparation is: Live High, Train Low (LHTL). Yet, that has obvious practical drawbacks. Not many people live in the mountains, and those who do would prefer not to spend several hours each day driving up and down winding, treacherous roads.

E. That's where the altitude tent—sometimes called the hypoxic tent—comes in. Around two decades ago, two different scientists had the same exciting thought. If they could artificially control the atmosphere within a confined space, they could simulate the effects of high altitude and save an athlete at sea level from the time and expense of traveling to higher ground. Altitude tents have improved over the years: they're not as hot or as noisy as the early prototypes, and are much cheaper too. They are also perfectly lawful. Five years ago, when the tents were investigated by WADA (the World Anti-Doping Agency), it was ruled they did not violate the spirit of distance running. It is now routine for athletes to sleep in them in preparation for an event.

F. However, it is not the case that all new technologies gain approval. In 2008, a staggering 105 world records were broken in swimming, the vast majority achieved by competitors wearing the Speedo LZR Racer suit. These suits use a high-tech fabric tested in NASA's wind tunnels, which reduces drag and improves buoyancy. The LZR was initially sanctioned by FINA, the international swimming body. But as better suits were produced by Speedo and other manufacturers, and more records were broken, they became increasingly controversial. In a 2009 ruling, FINA changed its mind, banning all suits made with this high-tech fabric.

G. Going faster, higher, stronger is integral to the logic of athletics in general, and the Olympics in particular. Athletes believe they need records all the time. And the only way they can achieve records is by improving the clothing, the kit, the training, the nutrition—all to identify minute distinctions between people of 0.0001 of a second. But when a new technology is invented, the relevant sports authority has to consider whether to embrace or reject it. In some cases, athletes are granted permission to use the technology; in others, it is banned. But whatever the outcome, rulings should not appear arbitrary. Arguments have to be examined and weighed, and the rule logic ought to apply in every case.

Questions 14-20

Reading Passage 2 has seven paragraphs, A-G.

Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number, i-vii, in boxes 14-20 on your answer sheet.

• Early research into athletes’ physiology
• A convenient method of acclimatization
• The need for a rational approach
• Changes in the body
• The athletes who break the rules
• Well-founded concerns
• The surprising outcome of a race
• The reversal of a decision
• The runners who dominate

Questions 21 and 22

Choose TWO letters, A-E.
Write the correct letters in boxes 21 and 22 on your answer sheet.

Which TWO of the following statements about Ron Clarke are made in the passage?

A. Clarke was not performing well immediately prior to the Mexico Games.
B. The worries Clarke had before the Mexico Games were not taken into account.
C. Clarke's experiences at the Mexico Games are widely talked about today.
D. At one stage of the Mexico Games 10,000 metres, Clarke was near the front.
E. Clarke was the only runner at the Mexico Games who appeared to be affected by the altitude.

Questions 23-26

Complete the summary below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 23-26 on your answer sheet.

Do all new technologies gain approval?
Some people may be puzzled by attitudes towards performance-enhancing technologies in sport. For example, why is the altitude tent considered acceptable, but not the LZR Racer suit? For distance running, WADA concluded that the altitude tent was not contrary to the 23 of the sport. However, the LZR swimsuit, which is made from a special fabric that aids buoyancy and cuts down 24 was banned.

Athletes think they have to continually set fresh 25. This is made possible by better 26 and training, as well as improved clothing and equipment. However, when sports authorities have to decide whether to give permission for a new performance-enhancing technology to be used, it is important that their decisions are not seen as arbitrary.

• Unfair advantage

  • Vietnamese: Lợi thế không công bằng
  • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: "What is an unfair advantage in sport?"

• Horrified

  • Vietnamese: Kinh hoàng, sợ hãi
  • Explanation: Feeling shock or fear because of something frightening or disturbing.
  • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: "55,000 horrified spectators."

• Keel over

  • Vietnamese: Ngã lăn ra
  • Explanation: To suddenly fall or collapse, especially from exhaustion or illness.
  • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: "One runner keeled over."

• Struggle

  • Vietnamese: Vật lộn, khó khăn
  • Explanation: To experience difficulty or effort in doing something.
  • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: "Clarke too began to struggle."

• Frustratingly

  • Vietnamese: Một cách thất vọng
  • Explanation: In a way that causes feelings of frustration.
  • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: "Frustratingly, the race was conducted at a relatively leisurely speed."

• Altitude

  • Vietnamese: Độ cao
  • Explanation: The height above sea level or the ground.
  • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: "Mexico City is surrounded by mountains and is over 2,240 metres above sea level."

• Premise

  • Vietnamese: Giả thuyết, cơ sở
  • Explanation: An idea or statement that forms the basis for an argument or reasoning.
  • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: "That the altitude would have an impact on the Games was predicted."

• Consensus

  • Vietnamese: Sự đồng thuận
  • Explanation: General agreement among a group of people.
  • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: "The consensus is that the optimum approach to athletic preparation is: Live High, Train Low (LHTL)."

• Drawbacks

  • Vietnamese: Hạn chế, nhược điểm
  • Explanation: Disadvantages or negative aspects of something.
  • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: "Yet that has obvious practical drawbacks."

• Prototype

  • Vietnamese: Mẫu đầu tiên, nguyên mẫu
  • Explanation: The first or original model of something from which other forms are developed.
  • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: "They are not as hot or as noisy as the early prototypes."

• Simulate

  • Vietnamese: Mô phỏng
  • Explanation: To imitate or replicate something, usually to create a similar environment or experience.
  • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: "They could simulate the effects of high altitude."

• Hypoxic

  • Vietnamese: Thiếu oxy
  • Explanation: Relating to low oxygen levels.
  • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: "Around two decades ago, two different scientists had the same exciting thought... the hypoxic tent."

• Sanctioned

  • Vietnamese: Được chấp thuận
  • Explanation: Officially approved or permitted.
  • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: "The LZR was initially sanctioned by Fina."

• Controversial

  • Vietnamese: Gây tranh cãi
  • Explanation: Causing disagreement or debate.
  • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: "The LZR was initially sanctioned but became increasingly controversial."

• Aerobic capacity

  • Vietnamese: Khả năng hô hấp
  • Explanation: The ability of the body to take in and use oxygen during exercise.
  • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: "As a result, aerobic capacity and cardio-respiratory function both suffer at altitude."

• Buoyancy

  • Vietnamese: Sự nổi
  • Explanation: The ability to float or rise in a fluid (water or air).
  • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: "The LZR suits reduce drag and improve buoyancy."

• Drag

  • Vietnamese: Sự cản trở
  • Explanation: Resistance, especially in relation to moving through a fluid, like air or water.
  • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: "The LZR suits reduce drag."

• Examine

  • Vietnamese: Xem xét, kiểm tra
  • Explanation: To look at something carefully in order to understand or investigate it.
  • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: "Arguments have to be examined and weighed."

• Arbitrary

  • Vietnamese: Tuỳ ý, tùy tiện
  • Explanation: Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.
  • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: "Rulings should not appear arbitrary."

• Rational

  • Vietnamese: Hợp lý
  • Explanation: Based on reason or logic.
  • IELTS TUTOR xét ví dụ từ bài đọc: "It is important that their decisions are not seen as arbitrary, but rational."

• v
• vii
• vi
• viii
• i
• iii
• ix
• musicians
• castles
• violin-making
• moisture
• A
• D