PASSAGE 3

(1) The invention of the safety bicycle in the late nineteenth century transformed the world of
cycling. While early versions of bicycles had been used in Europe since the seventeenth century, it
was the safety bicycle with its lightweight hollow steel frame and equal-sized wheels that
revolutionised the cycling experience.

(2) This resulted in enhanced mobility for both men and women, allowing them to explore the
countryside freely and travel between towns. Bicycles symbolised freedom, particularly for women,
granting them self-reliable transportation and the ability to participate in recreational activities, like
bicycle racing. The rise of bicycles also brought a shift in fashion, with more functional and relaxed
clothing tailored specifically for cycling.

(3) Bicyclists also became a political force. They played a significant role in the development of road
maps, guiding riders along the best routes. They campaigned for better infrastructure to enhance
their riding experiences.

(4) Today, advances in technology, wearables and complex data analysis have transformed sports
science, particularly in endurance sports, like cycling. Cyclists can now gather vast amounts of data
simply by using mobile apps to track their activities.

This data not only encompasses exercise details, like its volume or intensity, but also external factors
like the impact of weather on the physiological response of the athlete. Furthermore, technology has
made it very easy to monitor performance-influencing data outside of training, such as heart rate or
sleep quality, through various wearables and cost-effective mobile apps.

(5) However, just because we are able to monitor so much information does not mean that it is
useful for improving the sports performance of our athletes.

In this sense, we believe that we must be critical while adopting any new technologies or trends in
training. The first thing we should know is whether there is scientific support for the use of that new
gadget or wearable. For example, core temperature is of great importance in the mechanisms that
produce fatigue and exhaustion in endurance sports. A few years ago, a device came on the market
that estimated this measurement in a non-invasive way and we saw many top cyclists and runners
wearing it. However, a study later showed it is an invalid device for measuring one's temperature.

(6) Innovation in cycling has evolved from the invention of safety bicycles to technological
advancements in sports science. Maximising the potential benefits of these developments requires
critical thinking to enhance the training and performance of modern cyclists..

Questions

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.

1. What is the passage mainly about?

(a) How did the advancement of sports science impact the fashion industry?

(b) What were the primary societal changes brought about by the rise of bicycles?

(c) How did the invention of the safety bicycle contribute to the development of wearable
technology?
(d) In what ways did early versions of bicycles differ from the safety bicycle in the late nineteenth
century?

2. In which sentence does the author express uncertainty about the use of new technologies in
training?

(a) ...advances in technology have transformed sports science. (paragraph 4)

(b) This data not only encompasses exercise details but also external factors like weather.
(paragraph 4)

(c)...just because we can monitor so much information does not mean it is useful. (paragraph 5)

(d) Maximising the potential benefits of these developments requires critical thinking. (paragraph 6)

3. Complete the sentence appropriately by providing two distinct reasons in the blank below.

It can be said the world of cycling has seen massive changes because……….

4. Which of these is opposite to 'invalid' as used in paragraph 5?

(a) Ethical (b) Accurate (c) Authentic (d) Trustworthy

5. Using information solely from the passage, provide two distinct reasons to complete the sentence
appropriately.

Bicycles can be seen as a symbol of empowerment because…………………………….. .

6. Imagine you are a sports scientist tasked with developing a new technological tool to aid cyclists in
their training. Provide a brief description, within 40 words, of its specific features and why you
choose to include them.

7. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between (I) and (II).

(I) Cyclists were able to improve the accuracy of maps.

(II) Cyclists became influential and campaigned for better infrastructure.

(a) (II) is a contradiction of (I) (b) (II) is independent of (I)

(c) (II) is an example of (I) (d) (II) is the cause of (I)

8. Below are statements from cyclists. Identify two statements that could be said by a cyclist in the
late nineteenth century.

(a) "I like having a personal coach on my wrist. It just told me how many calories I have burned so
far!"

(b) "It's quite a struggle riding up these steep hills on my heavy steel-framed bicycle."

(c) "I feel so liberated whenever I hop on my bicycle. I didn't have freedom like this before!"

(d) "Ugh, there is so much traffic ahead. And I feel so pressured to meet my performance targets
every time I hop on a bike."