100 American People

Source: eslfast.com

Billie Jean King was a famous American tennis player who helped women win more rights. In the past, women in the United States could not vote, own property, or get an education, but things have changed a lot since then. In 1973, King played an exhibition match against the older male champion Bobby Riggs, who claimed that women’s tennis was far weaker than men’s. King beat Riggs easily, showing that women could compete at a high level. Her win became a symbol of the fight for gender equality, and she continued to speak out for women’s rights.

equal rights

Definition: the concept that women should enjoy the same legal and societal privileges as men, as emphasized in the text's discussion of women's struggle.
Example: "The victory was part of the equal rights movement that was sweeping the nation during that time."

exhibition

Definition: a specially arranged sports match designed to showcase a particular point or skill, highlighted by King's match against Riggs.
Example: "King's greatest accomplishment, however, was an exhibition match that took place in Houston, Texas on September 20, 1973."

advocate

Definition: a person who publicly supports and promotes a cause, as King did for women's rights.
Example: "King became an outspoken advocate of equal rights for women."

Grand Slam

Definition: the most prestigious tennis tournaments, whose titles King won repeatedly.
Example: "She won 39 Grand Slam Titles, 12 singles, 16 women's doubles, and 11 mixed doubles."

second-class

Definition: a status indicating inferior social or legal standing, describing how women were treated in the past.
Example: "It was not so long ago that women in the United States were treated like second-class citizens."

Which rights were women historically denied in the United States according to the passage?

The right to vote only
The right to own property only
The right to education only
All of the above

How many Grand Slam singles titles did Billie Jean King accumulate in her career?

In which city and state did Billie Jean King's famous exhibition match occur?

Houston, Texas
New York, New York
Los Angeles, California
Chicago, Illinois

What was Bobby Riggs's age when he issued his challenge to King?

According to the text, what broader significance did King's victory hold?

It secured a large cash prize for her.
It demonstrated that women could compete against men.
It marked her retirement from professional tennis.
It was intended to promote the Federation Cup Championships.

Do you think Billie Jean King's match with Bobby Riggs helped the fight for women's rights? Why or why not?
Have you ever faced a situation where you had to prove yourself against stereotypes? Share your experience.
Why do you think Bobby Riggs claimed that a 55‑year‑old could beat the top woman player?
How did the outcome of the match change people's view of women's tennis?
Some people say exhibition matches are not real competition. Should they be used to argue for equality? Why or why not?
Is it more important to fight for equal rights in sports or in other areas like work and education? Explain your opinion.
Imagine you could ask Billie Jean King three questions about the match. What would you ask?
Rewrite the ending of the match as if Riggs had won. How would that have affected the women's rights movement?
What might have happened to women's tennis if King had lost the match?
Do you think women today still face the same challenges as the women in the article? Why or why not?

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100

2 years and 9 months ago Level: Upper-Intermediate (B2)

Billie Jean King: An Advocate of Equal Rights for Women

It was not so long ago that women in the United States were treated like second-class citizens. They did not have the same basic rights as their male counterparts had. At one time, women were not allowed to vote, own property, or get education. Since those dark times, the women of America have made great strides in their struggle for equality. One of their heroes was the great Billie Jean King.

King was a professional tennis player, who gained great success during her career on the women's tennis court. She won 39 Grand Slam Titles, 12 singles, 16 women's doubles, and 11 mixed doubles. She found success in just about every venue she participated in, including the Federation Cup Championships. King's greatest accomplishment, however, was an exhibition match that took place in Houston, Texas on September 20, 1973.

The 29-year-old King, who was at the top of her professional career at the time, faced a former Wimbledon Champion, Bobby Riggs. Riggs was one of the best men's players during his prime in the late 1930s and 40s. The 55-year-old Riggs challenged King to an exhibition match claiming that the women's game was far inferior to the men's game. He said that even a 55-year-old, "washed-up" former player could beat the top woman in the world. The stage was set for the match. However, it was not much of a match at all.

King soundly defeated Riggs without much trouble. The match was later exposed for what many people claimed it would be: a showcase for King to demonstrate that women could compete against men. The victory was part of the equal rights movement that was sweeping the nation during that time. King became an outspoken advocate of equal rights for women.