GRUPO A

Rafael Nadal’s body may be getting weaker, but his desire is not
One of the most remarkable traits of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer throughout their
incredible careers has been the way they have maintained their hunger for titles and enthusiasm for the
sport, no matter the obstacles.
The happiness on Nadal’s face as he completed an incredible comeback to beat Daniil Medvedev in the
5 final of the Australian Open told its own story. First, he needed a month and a half to recover from foot
surgery, which left him wondering if he would even make it to Melbourne. Then, a month later, he had
Covid, which also interrupted his preparations. Now, finally Nadal is back as champion and, for now, the
most successful ever. He referred to winning his first grand slam at 19 at the French Open in 2005 as a
“super-special moment, but when you’re 35, and up until six weeks ago you did not even know whether
10 you would be able to play in the tournament, it is more emotional than the first one, no doubt about that,”
he said.
Nadal will now go to the French Open, where he has won the title an astonishing 13 times, with renewed
confidence. Nadal’s victory may also inspire Djokovic — the world No. 1 who beat him in Paris last
year— to come back even stronger. Djokovic was unable to play at the Australian Open because of visa
15 issues due to not being vaccinated against Covid, so he will have a point to prove. But the way Nadal
played throughout the Australian Open will surely convince him he has more grand slam titles to win.
“A month and a half ago, I didn’t know if I was going to be able to be here. But you have given me the
energy to keep trying to come back next year. Things can change quickly, but I feel lucky to have the
chance to compete this way. It has been amazing for me and unforgettable. I feel confident that I’m going
20 to keep going, keep fighting and playing this sport that makes me happy.”
Both Djokovic and Federer were quick to congratulate Nadal on social media. Their rivalry has pushed
each other and though Nadal is top of the pile for now, he is too modest to say he is the best. “I will never
say I deserve it,” he said. “I don’t care much if I am No. 1 or not. For me it’s about enjoying nights like
today; that means everything for me.”
25 Asked what has taken him to this point, Nadal said: “Love for the game, passion, positive attitude and
working spirit, along with the right people next to me, helping every single day.” It’s this remarkable
humility that has been present throughout his career that has allowed him to accept the painful defeats and
enjoy his many highs. On the evidence of the past two weeks, there is more to come.

Fragment adapted from The Guardian, January 2022

1. Say whether the following sentences are TRUE or FALSE according to the text. COPY the evidence from
the text. No marks will be given without the evidence. (1.5 points)

a) The famous Spanish player was not able to play for some time due to an injury.
b) Nadal’s closest rivals made no comments on him winning his second Australian Open.
c) Nadal’s modesty helps him cope with the ups and downs of his sport.

2. ANSWER the questions below. COPY no more than 10 words and/or a number from the text to answer each
question. (1.5 points)

a) How did Nadal describe his first important victory as a teenager?

3. FIND a word or expression in the text that means... (1 point)

a) the opposite of ordinary (lines 1-11)

Going on an excursion
Your friend: Did you bring the sandwiches?
You: Me?! No, (1) _______________________________
Your friend: Yes, I did. I said I would get the drinks. We need some food.
You: I know, but I did bring some crisps and sweets. (2) ___________________________
Your friend: Crisps and sweets?! Are you mad?! We’ll be stopping to drink all the time.
You: (3) ________________________?
Your friend: We can get something at a petrol station.
You: (4) _____________________
Your friend: I know, I know, but today we don’t have too many options, do we?
You: OK, (5) _______________________________
Your friend: Look on Google maps!
You: (6) _______________________________
Your friend: Let’s go then.

5. Read the following situations and WRITE what you would say in each one to show that you understand
the context of the situation. Write between 10 and 25 words. (1.5 points)

a) “You promised me you were going to tidy up your room,” your mum complains. Apologise.
b) You bought a ticket for a party that was cancelled, but you still haven’t got your money back. Complain to
the organisers.
c) You have been studying at your friend’s house and his mum invites you stay for dinner. Refuse politely.

6. WRITE a composition of about 120-150 words on the following topic (3 points):

Athletes like Rafa Nadal can be an inspiration for young people. Give your opinion.