ENGLISH
PRACTICE
COMPREHENSI
ON
TOOLS AND TRICKS
TO TACKLE
COMPREHENSIONS
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HOW TO DO A COMPREHENSION
There are a few tools that you can implement when doing comprehensions.
1. Read your extract first, making notes along the side of the passage.
2. Read the questions and think back to your notes. (Your notes should be sufficient to answer most of
the shorter questions, if they are not then you did not make sufficient notes)
3. Briefly read over the extract again, mentally answering questions that don’t fall under your notes.
4. Answer your questions fully and ensure you answer what is asked.
5. Read back your answers next to the questions and ensure you’ve done what is asked.
TIPS!!!!
- Quote from the text using quotation marks but keep it short.
- Last questions are usually opinion based but always refer to text as well.
- Pay attention to mark allocations.
- DON’T DOUBT YOURSELF
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Gender Gap in Sport: A Matter of Fairness?
1. In recent years, the debate over the pay gap between men and women in sports has gained significant attention. Despite
remarkable achievements by female athletes, their earnings remain significantly lower than those of their male
counterparts. This raises an important question: why does this pay gap exist, and is it fair?
2. According to a 2023 report by Forbes, the highest-paid female athlete, tennis star Naomi Osaka, earned $51.1 million in
endorsements and prize money. However, this amount was still far less than the earnings of the highest-paid male athlete,
Cristiano Ronaldo, who made $136 million in the same year. This stark difference highlights the inequality in sports
salaries.
3. One of the main reasons for this pay gap is revenue generation. Men’s sports, particularly football, basketball, and
cricket, tend to attract larger audiences and higher sponsorship deals. According to FIFA, the 2022 Men’s World Cup
generated approximately $7.5 billion in revenue, whereas the 2019 Women’s World Cup brought in around $131 million.
With such vast differences in income, it is often argued that female athletes cannot be paid the same as their male
counterparts.
4. However, critics argue that this reasoning is flawed. Megan Rapinoe, a star player for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer
Team, stated, “We have won more, generated significant revenue, and still face a huge pay gap.” She and her teammates
fought for equal pay, eventually winning a lawsuit in 2022 that secured a $24 million settlement and a commitment to
equal pay for future matches.
5. Another factor affecting pay disparities is media coverage. Studies have shown that women’s sports receive far less
television and online exposure than men’s sports. A 2021 report by the BBC revealed that only 4% of sports media
coverage globally is dedicated to women’s events. Without the same level of visibility, female athletes struggle to attract
sponsorships and endorsements, further widening the pay gap.
6. Some organisations have started addressing this issue. In 2021, the South African women’s national cricket team
received a significant pay boost after years of earning far less than their male counterparts. Cricket South Africa
announced that both men’s and women’s teams would now receive equal match fees for international games, a step
toward fairness in the sport.
7. Tennis has been one of the few sports to make significant progress in pay equality. The U.S. Open was the first Grand
Slam to offer equal prize money to male and female champions in 1973. More recently, Wimbledon followed suit in
2007, ensuring that female winners received the same amount as male winners. Serena Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam
champion, once said, “Every generation gets better and better. We should all be treated equally.”
8. Despite progress in some areas, many sports continue to show large gaps. In basketball, the highest-paid WNBA player,
Jewell Loyd, earned approximately $234,000 in 2023, while NBA star Stephen Curry made over $50 million in salary
alone. This has led to calls for greater investment in women’s leagues to help them grow and attract more revenue.
9. Supporters of equal pay argue that change starts with greater investment in women’s sports at grassroots levels. If young
girls have access to the same training, facilities, and opportunities as boys, the quality of competition will rise, leading to
higher viewership and sponsorship deals. South African Olympic champion Caster Semenya once said, “We deserve the
same opportunities, the same respect, and the same rewards.”
GENIUS PREMIUM TUITION (PTY) LTD
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Managing Director: Dean Cook
10. While the pay gap in sports is still a reality, efforts are being made to close it. The debate continues, but with more
awareness, support, and investment, the future of women’s sports could see a fairer distribution of earnings. The question
remains: how long will it take before true equality is achieved?
Comprehension Questions
1. According to the passage, why is there a significant pay gap between men and women in sports? (2 marks)
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2. Provide one example from the passage that illustrates progress in achieving pay equality in sports. (1 mark)
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3. Discuss the impact of media coverage on the pay disparity between male and female athletes. Support your answer with
evidence from the passage. (3 marks)
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4. “We deserve the same opportunities, the same respect, and the same rewards.” Explain the significance of this statement
by Caster Semenya in relation to the passage. (3 marks)
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GENIUS PREMIUM TUITION (PTY) LTD
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Managing Director: Dean Cook
5. Do you think equal pay in sports is achievable? Provide your opinion and support it with arguments from the passage. (4
marks)
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6. Imagine you are a sports journalist. Write a short opinion piece (about 100 words) on why pay equality in sports matters.
(4 marks)
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GENIUS PREMIUM TUITION (PTY) LTD
Vat №: 4140278575 Reg №: 201713348507
ASSESSMENT CENTRE: 26 Turaco Street, Norscot, Fourways, Sandton, 2055
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Managing Director: Dean Cook
Memo (Suggested Answers)
1. The pay gap exists due to factors such as revenue generation, sponsorship deals, and media coverage.
Men’s sports attract larger audiences, leading to higher earnings. (2 marks)
2. One example of progress is that Cricket South Africa now pays equal match fees for men’s and
women’s international games. (1 mark)
3. Media coverage is heavily skewed in favor of men’s sports, with only 4% of global coverage
dedicated to women’s sports. This lack of visibility affects sponsorship and endorsement
opportunities. (3 marks)
4. Semenya’s statement highlights the need for fairness and equal opportunities. The passage supports
this by showing the disadvantages women face in pay and media coverage. (3 marks)
5. Answers may vary. A strong response should acknowledge challenges but also mention progress,
such as legal victories and policy changes in certain sports. (4 marks)
6. A well-structured opinion piece should address the importance of gender equality, use evidence from
the passage, and express a clear stance. (4 marks)
GENIUS PREMIUM TUITION (PTY) LTD
Vat №: 4140278575 Reg №: 201713348507
ASSESSMENT CENTRE: 26 Turaco Street, Norscot, Fourways, Sandton, 2055
reception@[Link] 011 467 9884
[Link]
Managing Director: Dean Cook
