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2013 ‫מועד דצמבר‬ - 39 - ‫ פרק ראשו ן‬- ‫ אנגלית‬

Reading Comprehension

This part consists of two passages, each followed by several related questions. For each
question, choose the most appropriate answer based on the text.

Text I (Questions 13-17)

(1) Like karate and judo, taekwondo is a sport that began as a traditional Asian fighting
method. Taekwondo, which means "kick-strike art" in Korean, developed from the
military training given to young noblemen in the seventh century.

In recent years, taekwondo has become increasingly popular in the United States.
(5) The American Taekwondo Union estimates that 6.3 million people are studying

taekwondo in the country today, compared to 1.6 million in 1990. Children make up the
fastest-growing group of taekwondo students.

More and more parents are sending their children to taekwondo classes, not to
learn how to fight, but to learn obedience and respect. Not only are children taught how
(10) to spin, kick and break bricks with their hands, but they are also taught self-control and

integrity. Instructors impose high standards of behavior, which are often much stricter
than those set by parents.

Some of the parents who send their children to study taekwondo do not have much
time to spend with them and do not want to spend the little time they do have

(15) disciplining their youngsters. These parents hope that taekwondo will help improve
their children's behavior, grades in school and ability to concentrate.

In many cases, it works. Parents report that their children become better behaved
and more respectful after taking taekwondo classes. Some parents even enroll in classes
themselves to learn how to better discipline their children.

Questions

13. The main purpose of the first paragraph is to -

(1) discuss fighting methods used in taekwondo
(2) explain what taekwondo is
(3) describe early taekwondo fighters
(4) compare taekwondo to other types of Asian fighting

)‫© כל הזכויות שמורות למרכז ארצי לבחינות ולהערכה (ע"ר‬

.‫ בלא אישור בכתב מהמרכז הארצי לבחינות ולהערכה‬- ‫ כולה או חלקים ממנה‬- ‫ או ללמדה‬,‫אין להעתיק או להפיץ בחינה זו או קטעים ממנה בכל צורה ובכל אמצעי‬