1.(viii) List one way in which playing a sport reduces the risk of falling.
1.(viii) List one way in which playing a sport reduces the risk of falling.
Playing sports such as basketball, soccer, tennis and baseball engages multiple muscle groups simultaneously and helps build lean muscle. This challenges and improves a person's balance, and it is this improved balance that reduces the risk of falling. (Naming improved balance, or the muscle-building/coordination behind it, is acceptable.)
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark: identifying the correct mechanism from Paragraph 5 (improved/challenged balance, or building lean muscle / engaging multiple muscle groups / better coordination).
- 21 mark: correctly linking that mechanism to the reduced risk of falling in a complete sentence.
- 3A circular answer that merely repeats 'reduces fall risk' without a mechanism scores at most 1 mark.
Hint
Find the sentence in Paragraph 5 that mentions balance — sport 'challenges the balance,' and better balance means fewer falls.
Quick Oral Answer
Sports engage multiple muscle groups and build lean muscle, which challenges and improves balance; better balance is what reduces a person's risk of falling.
Analysis & Explanation
A 2-mark question on Paragraph 5 that requires stating the MECHANISM behind reduced fall risk, not just repeating the phrase.
Concept
- Team sports (basketball, soccer, tennis, baseball) engage multiple muscle groups at once and build lean muscle.
- Paragraph 5: "They challenge the balance, reduce fall risk and test the limits of endurance."
Key points to include
- Name the mechanism: improved/challenged balance, stronger muscles, or better coordination.
- Connect that mechanism explicitly to reduced fall risk.
Common mistakes
- A circular answer ("sports reduce falling because they reduce fall risk") scores at most 1 mark — it restates the question instead of answering it.
- Confusing this with the sleep/heart benefits described in Paragraph 4.
Real-world link
- Balance-based activity is prescribed for the elderly precisely because stronger stabilising muscles and better proprioception prevent falls.
Common Mistakes
- 1Giving a circular answer that just repeats 'it reduces fall risk' without explaining how (improved balance/muscle strength).
- 2Pulling the answer from Paragraph 1's 'refines coordination' when the question is specifically about the fall-risk sentence in Paragraph 5.
- 3Listing several unrelated benefits instead of the one way asked for, wasting time in a 2-mark question.
Interesting Facts
Balance-challenging sports like tennis and basketball train proprioception — the body's sense of its position in space — which is a leading protective factor against falls in older age.
The passage's claim aligns with WHO guidance recommending balance and strength activities at least twice a week to prevent falls among adults over 65.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just write 'sports reduce fall risk'?
No. That merely repeats the question. You must state the reason — improved balance, stronger muscles or better coordination — to earn full marks.
Which sports does the passage mention here?
Paragraph 5 names basketball, soccer, football, tennis and baseball, which engage multiple muscle groups and build lean muscle while challenging balance.