©(AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)
Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- If you could break a world record, what would it be for? Why?
- What sport would you like to play if you were a famous athlete? Why?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- compete /kuhm-PEET/
- podium /POH-dee-uhm/
- qualify /KWOL-uh-fahy/
- injury /IN-juh-ree/
- pause /pawz/
[verb] – to take part in a contest or race
She competes in singing contests every year.
[noun] – a raised platform where winners stand during a ceremony
The champion stood on the podium to receive his trophy.
[verb] – to meet the conditions to do something
She qualified for the national math competition.
[noun] – damage to the body
He had an injury after falling off his bike.
[verb] – to stop for a short time
He paused his music career to focus on school.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
Yared Nuguse is a top runner in the United States. He competes in middle-distance races, such as the 1,500 meters. At the 2025 Millrose Games in New York, Nuguse set a world indoor mile record with a time of 3:46.63. However, his record was broken five days later by Jakob Ingebrigtsen from Norway. Nuguse also won a bronze medal in the 1,500 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which was his first time on the Olympic podium.
Nuguse grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. A gym teacher helped him start running. Before he focused on sports, Nuguse wanted to become a dentist. He studied biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame. Although he qualified for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, he could not compete because of an injury. Today, Nuguse trains in Boulder, Colorado, with coach Dathan Ritzenhein. He is part of the Grand Slam Track league. Nuguse has paused his goal of becoming a dentist to focus on running. In March 2025, Nuguse announced that he is gay, which helped start conversations about inclusivity in sports. Nuguse also enjoys taking care of his pet tortoise, Tyro. Experts say he is a dedicated athlete who works hard to improve and often races against the best runners in the world.
Nuguse grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. A gym teacher helped him start running. Before he focused on sports, Nuguse wanted to become a dentist. He studied biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame. Although he qualified for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, he could not compete because of an injury. Today, Nuguse trains in Boulder, Colorado, with coach Dathan Ritzenhein. He is part of the Grand Slam Track league. Nuguse has paused his goal of becoming a dentist to focus on running. In March 2025, Nuguse announced that he is gay, which helped start conversations about inclusivity in sports. Nuguse also enjoys taking care of his pet tortoise, Tyro. Experts say he is a dedicated athlete who works hard to improve and often races against the best runners in the world.
Comprehension questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- Where did Yared Nuguse set a world indoor mile record in 2025?
- Who broke Yared Nuguse’s world indoor mile record five days later?
- What medal did Yared Nuguse win in the 1,500 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics?
- What did Yared Nuguse want to become before focusing on sports?
- Why could Yared Nuguse not compete in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics?
Discussion questions
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Have you ever joined a race or sports event? If so, what sport did you join? If not, what sport would you like to try? If not, would you like to try a sport in the future? Why or why not?
- Do you have a teacher who helped you try something new? If so, what did the teacher help you with? If not, what would you like a teacher to help you learn?
- Do you agree that it is okay to change your dreams, like Yared Nuguse did when he stopped studying to focus on running?
- What are the good things and bad things about being a famous athlete?
- What can schools and teachers do to help students discover their talents, like Yared Nuguse’s teacher did?