Summary Question [0990/12, Nov 2021]

 

Text B: Finding my feet again

 

This text is about a world-class cyclist, Denise, who had her right leg amputated below the knee after a childhood accident.

 

After my accident I had to fight for my own two legs.
Considering my physical setbacks, it would have been easy to let doubt from others or
myself erode my ambitions. People would say, forget it, this isn’t possible. But I learned
that transformation starts through the process of swimming against the stream.
Just like every other athlete, I love my sport and I’m energised by the highs it gives me,	5
but we live in a society that has certain reinforced norms. One of them is the idea that
as a disabled woman I should be happy that I can walk; why compete in elite-level
sports? Another is the fear that heavy athletic exertion will harm me.
I also navigate another general perception around people with disabilities. I still wanted
to feel attractive despite my missing limb. This was difficult, especially in a society that	10
attaches great importance to physical appearance.
The most exhilarating experience in my life so far was becoming the first female
paracyclist to complete a prestigious mountain tour over seven days. It was 865
kilometres long with 18,000 metres of near-vertical climbing. The strong weather
fluctuations and the hours of climbing severely tested even able-bodied competitors.	15
All were physically and mentally at their limit multiple times.
So I tasted success and experienced fulfilment. But it had been a slow process from
the first time I tentatively mounted my adapted bike and allowed my coach to position
the foot of my prosthetic leg into the adapted pedal. In the beginning I had to have my
foot held in position, but as time went by, I learnt exactly where the foot was, and my	20
perfect leg no longer dominated. This realisation took many sessions of patient and
individualised coaching. Falling from my bike was another setback, but I re-mounted
and gritted my teeth.
The cost of an adapted bike worried both myself and my family. In fact, thoughts of how
I might be a financial burden to my parents nearly put me off. Fortunately, we found	25
funding sources for my bicycle – though we did have to look hard to find them and wait
for them to consider my case. Ironically, now that I am successful, there are sponsors
looking for me! Question (f)     According to Text B, what particular challenges has Denise faced as an elite-level cyclist? You must use continuous writing (not note form) and use your own words as far as possible. Your summary should not be more than 120 words.   Up to 10 marks are available for the content of your answer and up to 5 marks for the quality of your writing. Answers 1       physical setbacks / effects of childhood accident   2       doubting it was possible 3       going against what others thought / challenging expectations 4       limiting social norms / low expectations of her due to stereotype(s) 5       (other people’s) worries that she might hurt herself / concerns for her physical health   6       feeling unattractive / daunted by society’s perception of the perfect body 7       having to break new ground / being the first female paracyclist to complete the mountain tour   8       extreme demands of tour(s) / 865 kilometres long ride(s) / near-vertical climbing in tours / extreme changes in weather in competition / hours of climbing in races 9       slow process to improve / many sessions of patient and individualised coaching / specialist training 10    learning to use the prosthetic leg on the bike / learning not to depend on the permanent leg to do the work   11    falling off the bike 12    concerned might not be able to afford bike / fear of being a financial burden to parents / adapted bikes are worryingly expensive   13    problems with finding funding / funding sources hard to find / having to wait for funding