Answer Close-Reading Questions
Have students write their responses or use the Close-Reading Questions to guide a discussion.
• What do Eliud Kipchoge and Brigid Kosgei have in common? (Compare and Contrast)
Both are among the best long-distance runners in the world. Also, they are both from a region of western Kenya that makes up part of the Great Rift Valley.
• Explain how training at high elevations can give athletes an advantage. (Cause and Effect)
Air at higher elevations contains less oxygen than air at lower elevations. This makes running harder. But athletes can acclimate to high altitudes over time and begin producing more red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body. When runners compete at lower elevations, they can take in more oxygen, which gives them a natural energy boost.
• Why else might growing up in the Great Rift Valley help runners? (Key Details)
In the region, children often build their endurance by running to school. A diet of healthy, unprocessed foods can also help runners. Finally, many runners there train especially hard because few jobs other than farming are available.