Question 7
ComprehensionJAMB 1989 Passage II: Sport and ill-will among nations
I am always amazed when I hear people saying that sport creates goodwill among nations, and that if only the common peoples of the world could meet one another at football or squash, they would have no inclination to meet on the battle field. Even if one didn't know from concrete examples (the 1936 Olympic Games, for instance) that international sporting contests lead to orgies of hatred, one could deduce it from general principles.
Nearly all the sports practised nowadays are competitive. You play to win, and the game has little meaning unless you do your utmost to win. On the village green, where you pick up sides and not feeling of local patriotism is involved, it is possible to play simple for the fun of it and exercise; but as soon as the question of prestige arises, a soon as you feel that you and some larger unit will be disgraced if you lose, the most savage combative instincts are aroused. Anyone who has played even in a school football match knows this. At the international level, sport is frankly a mimic warfare. But the significant thing is not the behaviour of the players but the attitude of the spectators; and, behind the spectators, of the nations who work themselves into furies over these absurd contests and seriously believe — at any rate for short period — that running, jumping and kicking a ball are tests of national virtue.
Even a leisurely game demanding grace rather than strength can cause much ill-will. Football, a game in […]yone gets hurt and every nation has its own style of play […] […]orrible sights in the world is a fight between white and coloured boxers before a mixed audience.
Nearly all the sports practised nowadays are competitive. You play to win, and the game has little meaning unless you do your utmost to win. On the village green, where you pick up sides and not feeling of local patriotism is involved, it is possible to play simple for the fun of it and exercise; but as soon as the question of prestige arises, a soon as you feel that you and some larger unit will be disgraced if you lose, the most savage combative instincts are aroused. Anyone who has played even in a school football match knows this. At the international level, sport is frankly a mimic warfare. But the significant thing is not the behaviour of the players but the attitude of the spectators; and, behind the spectators, of the nations who work themselves into furies over these absurd contests and seriously believe — at any rate for short period — that running, jumping and kicking a ball are tests of national virtue.
Even a leisurely game demanding grace rather than strength can cause much ill-will. Football, a game in […]yone gets hurt and every nation has its own style of play […] […]orrible sights in the world is a fight between white and coloured boxers before a mixed audience.
According to the passage,
- A.all the sports practised nowadays are competitive
- B.games have meaning only when the participants play to win
- C.it is impossible to play a game simply for the fun of it
- D.on the local green, you play not to win but for the fun of it
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: B (games have meaning only when the participants play to win)
Explanation
The passage says a game 'has little meaning unless you do your utmost to win'. A says 'all' where the passage says 'nearly all', and C contradicts the passage, which says you can play for fun on the village green.