Question 1

Nik Zoricic is best known as:

Accepted Answer

Nik Zoricic was a Canadian ski-cross athlete who tragically died after crashing into a snow bank during a World Cup race in Switzerland in 2012.

Question 2

The 'female athlete triad' is a combination of three different disorders that supposedly result from female athletes overexerting themselves in high-level competitive sport. Which of the following is NOT one of those three conditions?

Accepted Answer

The 'female athlete triad' consists of three interrelated conditions: disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis. ACL injuries, while common among athletes, are not part of this specific triad.

Question 3

Which of the following factors has NOT been emphasized by sociologists as a reason for the persistence of health problems associated with professional football?

Accepted Answer

Sociologists have focused on the structure of professional sports, medical practices, and corporate responsibilities rather than blaming the athletes' personal discipline for ongoing health issues in professional football.

Question 4

In relation to the issue of athletes' responses to injuries in sport, the example of Sydney Crosby can be considered relevant because:

Accepted Answer

Sydney Crosby's experience with concussions and his subsequent decisions to prioritize his health over the traditional 'no pain, no gain' mentality in professional sports, particularly in the NHL, highlights the importance of athlete health and safety over the conventional ethos of playing through injuries.

Question 5

Despite evidence that female athletes exhibit similar tendencies to play through pain and injury, sociological research has found that:

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that despite the similarities in behavior between male and female athletes regarding playing through pain, societal perceptions and media representations often still frame female athletes as having bodies that are inherently less suited for sports. This is a reflection of broader gender stereotypes and biases rather than evidence-based conclusions on physical capability or resilience.

Question 6

When the issue of head injuries and possible neurological and cognitive problems of football players was first brought to the attention of the NFL, they responded by:

Accepted Answer

Initially, the NFL was criticized for denying the evidence and downplaying the risks of brain injury in football, rather than acknowledging the potential dangers and taking immediate action to investigate or address the concerns.

Question 7

The essay by Gladwell into brain injuries in professional football argued that:

Accepted Answer

Gladwell's argument highlights the disparity in risk and reward between the players, who face the physical dangers of the sport, and the owners/league, who reap most of the financial benefits without facing the same risks. This critique does not necessarily call for the banning of football or changes in tackling rules, nor does it compare concern for animal welfare with concern for human athletes.

Question 8

Recent research into what particular injury or health concern has been used, by way of describing it as an 'epidemic' in women's sports, to frame female athletes as being in greater need of guidance and protection compared to male athletes?

Accepted Answer

ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries have been described as an 'epidemic' in women's sports, highlighting a significant health concern that disproportionately affects female athletes compared to their male counterparts. This framing underscores the perceived need for specialized guidance and protection strategies for women in sports.

Question 9

Incredibly, researchers from the Victorian era claimed that, if a woman played vigorous sport,

Accepted Answer

During the Victorian era, there were many misconceptions about women's health and capabilities. One such belief was that engaging in vigorous sports or physical activities could impair a woman's reproductive health, including her ability to bear children. This reflects the period's limited understanding of female physiology and the societal norms that discouraged women from participating in such activities.

Question 10

Plaintiffs for the lawsuit against the NHL in 2018, on the subject of brain injuries in professional hockey, were each awarded as compensation, approximately:

Accepted Answer

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the NHL regarding brain injuries were each awarded approximately $22,000 as compensation. This settlement was significantly lower than the amounts seen in similar lawsuits, such as the one against the NFL.

Quiz 10: Sport and Health