Directions: In this section, you are going to read a passage with ten statements attached to it. Each statement contains information given in one of the paragraphs. Identify the paragraph from which the information is derived. You may choose a paragraph more than once. Each paragraph is marked with a letter. Answer the questions by writing the corresponding letter. Michael Jordan’s Farewell Letter to Basketball Dear Basketball, [A] It’s been almost 28 years since the first day we met, 28 years since I saw you in the back of your garage, 28 years since my parents introduced us. [B] If someone would have told me then, what would become of us, I’m not sure I would have believed them; I barely remembered your name. [C] Then I started seeing you around the neighborhood and watching you on television. I used to see you with guys down at the playground. But when my older brother started paying more attention to you, I started to wonder. Maybe you were different. [D] We hung out a few times. The more I got to know you, the more I liked you. And as life would have it, when I finally got really interested in you, when I was finally ready to get serious, you left me off the varsity. You told me I wasn’t good enough. [E] I was crushed. I was hurt. I think I even cried. [F] Then I wanted you more than ever. So I practiced. I hustled. I worked on my game. Passing, shooting, thinking, I ran, I did sit-ups, I did push-ups, I lifted weights. I studied you. I began to fall in love and you noticed. At least that’s what Coach Smith said. [G] At the time, I wasn’t sure exactly what was going on. But now I know. Coach Smith was teaching me how to love you, how to listen to you, how to understand you, how to respect you and how to appreciate you. Then it happened. That night, at the Louisiana Superdome in the final seconds of the championship game against Georgetown, you found me in the corner and we danced. Since then, you’ve become much more than just a court. More than just a hoop. More than just a pair of sneakers. More than just a game. [H] In some respects, you’ve become my life. My passion. My motivation. My inspiration. [I] You’re my biggest fan and my harshest critic. You’re my dearest friend and my strongest ally. You’re my most challenging teacher and my most endearing student. You’re my ultimate teammate and my toughest competitor. You’re my passport around the world and my visa into the hearts of millions. [J] So much has changed since the first day we met, and to a large degree, I have you to thank. So if you haven’t heard me say it before, let me say it now for the world to hear. Thank you. Thank you, Basketball. [K] Thank you for everything. [L] Thank you for all the players who came before me. Thank you for all the players who went into battle with me. Thank you for the championships. Thank you for the All-Star Games and the playoffs. Thank you for the last shots, the buzzer-beaters, the hard fouls, the victories and the defeats... [M] I love you, Basketball. I love everything about you and I always will. My playing days in the NBA are definitely over, but your relationship will never end. Much Love and Respect, Michael Jordan 1. Jordan used to watch other guys playing basketball at the playground. 2. Jordan was very sad when he failed to get into the varsity basketball team. 3. Jordan worked really hard in order to be a good basketball player. 4. With the help of his parents, Jordan first got to know basketball. 5. The final seconds of the championship game against Georgetown made Jordan famous. 6. As a child, Jordan could not believe that basketball would be his dearest friend. 7. Basketball played different roles to Jordan. 8. Coach Smith taught Jordan how to treat basketball. 9. The more Jordan got to know basketball, the more he loved it. 10. Jordan feels grateful for the victories and the defeats basketball brought to him.