ЕГЭ – диалог (интервью) 53 с вопросами и выбором ответов

1. The narrator says she is amazed because
1) people haven’t forgotten her.
2) people’s attitudes changed after watching her play the match.
3) people recognize her on the street.

2. The narrator’s parents taught her
1) to achieve her goals.
2) great lessons in economy.
3) how to earn money for her first tennis racket.

3. The economist Muhammad Yunus is the narrator’s hero because
1) he won the Nobel Prize.
2) he explained how he developed the Grameen Bank.
3) he was able to change people’s lives.

4. The narrator particularly admires Julie Foudy because
1) she is energetic and has leadership qualities.
2) she lights everything up around her.
3) she has the courage to ask for help.

5. According to the narrator,
1) sport doesn’t require any effort.
2) athletes must have daily training programmes.
3) success in sport is thought to be easy.

6. The narrator believes that a great tennis player
1) trains a lot.
2) has great will power.
3) is clever.

7. The narrator concentrates on
1) winning tennis matches.
2) trying her best both on and off the court.
3) what she does off the court.

1 – 2
2 – 1
3 – 3
4 – 1
5 – 3
6 – 3
7 – 2

When I’m stopped on the street, people often want to tell me that they’ve never forgotten my match against Bobby Riggs in 1973. Every single day of my life, people come up to me and say, 4I remember watching you play that match, and win.’ Men, especially, tell me this. It’s amazing. They say, ‘I have a daughter now, and she’s ten years old. I’m raising my daughter differently because of seeing you play that match.’ They really insist that their daughters and sons have equal opportunities. It’s been a huge shift in attitude. These men are so different from their fathers and grandfathers.
My parents have always been the biggest inspiration in my life. They worked three jobs so that my brother, Randy, and I could pursue our athletic dreams as kids. They taught us great lessons, which are particularly relevant today, with the economy the way it is. My parents always said, ‘If you don’t have it, don’t spend it.’ When I was eleven and wanted to buy my first tennis racket, they didn’t buy it for me. I had to work odd jobs to earn it. Their attitude was, ‘Let’s see if you’re really interested. Let’s see if you have the focus.’ I guess I solved that one!
Actually, I don’t have much free time but when I do have a spare minute, I enjoy reading. My favourite book is Banker to the Poor: Micro Lending and the Battle Against World Poverty by Muhammad Yunus, the economist who won the Nobel Prize in 2006. It’s great. He explains how he developed the Grameen Bank and how, through the concept of micro-financing, he was able to change a lot of people’s lives. As soon as he gave out a small loan to different people, he began to visualize what that could lead to. He saw the potential. He is one of my heroes. That’s what I try to do for tennis and other things.
The person I admire most of all is Julie Foudy, former Olympic soccer star. She walks into a room and just lights it up. We see each other every October at the Women’s Sports Foundation dinner in New York, which brings together athletes from over 130 sports. She’s energetic, bright, and possesses all of the qualities that go into leadership, which sports is a great venue for. Sometimes she’ll just call me and say, ‘Help!’ We should all ask for help when we need it, particularly when we’re young—and, you know, when you need help. It takes courage to ask for it. With her energy and her leadership qualities, Julie can do just about anything. That’s great!
People always think that being a great sportsman doesn’t require any effort. They believe that success is easy. Absolutely wrong! Athletes must have a daily discipline of mind, body, and soul. They have to do it all as physical exertion teaches tenacity and will power. But you cannot just be ‘dead from the neck up.’ It is also a way of thinking, the mental side that often spells the difference between an average hitter and a good hitter and between a good hitter and a great hitter. Life is difficult sometimes. But every time I see a ball bounce, I think about bouncing back myself. It’s a philosophy.
I don’t only think about winning tennis matches. I also think about what I’ve done off the court. Everything I’ve done is trying to push the envelope, whether it’s on or off the court, to create a more level playing field for others and to help people have a better quality of life. That’s what I care about.