1. Refer to one or more details from the text to support your understanding of what made Donald Thomas a successful high jumper-both from ideas that are directly stated and ideas that you have inferred from clues in the text.
2. O. the second part of the excerpt, beginning in paragraph 6, the author describe the successes and techniques of two very
different athletes competing in the same event and what made them successful. What information does the author reveal
about the two athletes? Are you able to follow the author's ideas? Support your response with evidence from the text.
3. Based on this excerpt, do you think the author is favoring Donald Thomas's approach to the high jump over Stefan Holm's
technique, or favoring Holm over Thomas? Or is he not taking sides? Support your response with details from the text.
4. As you reread the passage, identify how the author develops the central or main idea. Highlight specific text that adds
critical new information to the central or main idea.
5. In paragraph 7, why does the announcer call Thomas “an unknown quantity”? Support your response with text evidence.
How does this detail connect the central or main idea of the selection?
6. Paragraph 13 discusses an examination of Thomas. Why might scientists have decided to study Thomas? How do their
findings illustrate the author's central idea about the role of genes in sports? Highlight evidence and annotate to explain
7. In paragraphs 14 and 15, how does the author develop and support the idea that the Achilles tendon is very important to
jumping? Highlight evidence to support your ideas and write annotations to explain your choices.
8. Why does the author say in the close of this excerpt that Thomas "seems to contradict the deliberate practice framework
in all directions"? How much control does he actually have over the outcome? Highlight textual evidence that helps
explain your ideas.
your ideas.