The French Open tennis tournament has been postponed by four months due to the coronavirus pandemic, becoming the latest sporting event to be affected by the worldwide outbreak

The French Open tennis tournament has been postponed by four months due to the coronavirus pandemic, becoming the latest sporting event to be affected by the worldwide outbreak. The first Grand Slam, one of the four major tennis events of the year, was initially scheduled to be played in Paris from May 24 to June 7.

            "In order to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved in the preparation of the tournament, the FFT made the decision to organize the 2020 edition of Roland Garros from 20th September to 4th October 2020," the French Tennis Federation said in a statement on Tuesday. "The current confinement measures have made it impossible for us to continue with our preparations and, as a result, we are unable to hold the tournament on the dates originally planned," it added.

            The announcement came a day after French President Emmanuel Macron ordered stringent restrictions on people's movement to slow the spread of the virus, which has killed 148 people and infected more than 6,600 in the European nation. Many players and tennis commentators openly criticized this decision. "This is madness. Major announcement by Roland Garros changing the dates to one week after the US Open. No communication with the players or the ATP (The Association of Tennis Professionals)... we have ZERO say in this sport," said Canada's Vasek Pospisil, world-ranked 93, on Twitter. With the rescheduling, players will have an unusually short gap of only one week between the US Open, which ends in New York on September 13, and the French Open.

            "It is a difficult but courageous decision that we have taken at this exceptional and evolving time since this weekend," said FFT president Bernard Giudicelli. "We are acting responsibly, we must stand together in solidarity in this fight for everyone's safety." The coronavirus outbreak has infected more than 180,000 and killed at least 7,500 people worldwide, as the epicenter of the pandemic has switched from China to Europe, according to the World Health Organization.

(Adapted from aljazeera.com)

Question 30: What does this passage primarily concern?

            A. Tennis players’ disapproval of a sudden decision.

            B. The effects of the virus outbreak on tennis players.

            C. The postponement of a major tennis tournament.

            D. People openly criticising the French Tennis Federation.

Question 31:The word “it” in paragraph 2 refers to _________ .

            A. the health    B. the FFT       C. the tournament       D. the preparation

Question 32: The word “solidarity” in the final paragraph is closest in meaning to _________ .

            A. sympathy    B. conformity  C. unity           D. agreement

Question 33: Which of the following is NOT true, according to the passage?

            A. The FFT decided to delay the French Open to protect participants’ health.

            B. The decision will make the gap between the US Open and the French Open shorter.

            C. French President Emmanuel Macron ordered the FFT to delay major tennis events.

            D. Some tennis players and commentators are unhappy with the FFT’s decision.

Question 34: What is most likely the reason why Vasek Pospisil criticised the FFT’s decision to delay the French Open?

            A. The FFT did not provide any explanation about their decision.

            B. The FFT made the decision without talking to players or the ATP.

            C. The FFT announced the decision too close to the tournament.

            D. The FFT was not courageous enough to organize the tournament.