Tips: Compare each choice with what the speaker says leagues should do.

Why the other options are wrong:

• Leagues should move toward equal pay as women's revenue grows.: Linking pay to revenue is the opponents' idea. The speaker does not say pay should wait for revenue. They argue that pay should reflect revenue, not ideals. In most cases, leagues should be required to show clear progress toward pay equity, with transparency and timelines, rather than being forced into immediate equality that could backfire.
• Leagues should be required to pay women equally right away.: The speaker says leagues should not be forced into equal pay at once. The speaker thinks that could backfire. In most cases, leagues should be required to show clear progress toward pay equity, with transparency and timelines, rather than being forced into immediate equality that could backfire.
• Each league should be free to set its own pace toward equal pay.: The speaker rejects one rule for everyone, but still wants leagues to be required to show progress. Generally speaking, I support the goal of equal pay, but I don't think a one-size-fits-all mandate is the best solution right now. In most cases, leagues should be required to show clear progress toward pay equity, with transparency and timelines, rather than being forced into immediate equality that could backfire.

Correct Answer: Pay should match revenue, and forced equal pay could put smaller organisations at risk.

Why this is correct: The opponents say pay should follow revenue. They also warn that forced equal pay could put smaller organisations at risk. They argue that pay should reflect revenue, not ideals. A sports economist at the University of Alberta recently noted that forcing equal pay without equal revenue could put smaller organisations at risk.

Tips: Each choice has two parts. Check both parts against what the opponents say.

Why the other options are wrong:

• Pay should match audience size, and forced equal pay could put smaller organisations at risk.: The risk part is right, but the opponents tie pay to revenue. Audience size is only mentioned about new women's leagues. They argue that pay should reflect revenue, not ideals. Some men's leagues, like the NHL, generate billions in ticket sales and broadcasting rights, while newer women's leagues are still building their audiences.
• Pay should match audience size, and forced equal pay could put new women's leagues at risk.: Both parts are wrong. The opponents tie pay to revenue, and the warning is about smaller organisations. They argue that pay should reflect revenue, not ideals. A sports economist at the University of Alberta recently noted that forcing equal pay without equal revenue could put smaller organisations at risk.
• Pay should match revenue, and forced equal pay could put big leagues like the NHL at risk.: The revenue part is right. But the NHL is named as a league that earns billions, not one at risk. The warning is about smaller organisations. Some men's leagues, like the NHL, generate billions in ticket sales and broadcasting rights, while newer women's leagues are still building their audiences. A sports economist at the University of Alberta recently noted that forcing equal pay without equal revenue could put smaller organisations at risk.

Correct Answer: It shows that more women compete at the elite level, but their pay has not kept up.

Why this is correct: The report says more women now compete at the elite level. Their pay has not grown at the same speed. This gives supporters a fairness argument. According to a 2023 report by Canadian Women & Sport, women's participation at the elite level has increased by nearly 20% over the past decade, yet pay has not kept pace.

Tips: Notice what was measured. Then notice what stayed the same.

Why the other options are wrong:

• It shows that more women compete at the elite level, and their pay has grown at the same rate.: This is the opposite of the report. It says pay has not kept pace with participation. According to a 2023 report by Canadian Women & Sport, women's participation at the elite level has increased by nearly 20% over the past decade, yet pay has not kept pace.
• It shows that more people watch women's sports, but the athletes' pay has not kept up.: Bigger audiences are mentioned at the start of the report, not in the 2023 study. The study measured how many women compete. especially as women's sports draw larger audiences and greater media coverage According to a 2023 report by Canadian Women & Sport, women's participation at the elite level has increased by nearly 20% over the past decade, yet pay has not kept pace.
• It shows that women's elite pay has risen by nearly 20%, but it still trails men's pay.: The rise of nearly 20% is about how many women compete, not about pay. The report says pay has not kept pace. According to a 2023 report by Canadian Women & Sport, women's participation at the elite level has increased by nearly 20% over the past decade, yet pay has not kept pace.

Correct Answer: It is often cited as a promising example of a phased approach.

Why this is correct: The league comes up in the middle-ground part, about phased approaches. The speaker says it is often cited as a promising example. Some people suggest phased approaches, where leagues commit to narrowing the pay gap over time while investing in marketing and development for women's sports. The launch of the Professional Women's Hockey League, with centrally funded salaries, is often cited as a promising Canadian example.

Tips: Ask two questions. Who is talking about the example, and what idea does it support?

Why the other options are wrong:

• An economist cites it as a promising example of pay that grows with revenue.: Both parts are wrong. The economist does not mention the league. Linking pay to revenue is the opponents' idea. A sports economist at the University of Alberta recently noted that forcing equal pay without equal revenue could put smaller organisations at risk. They argue that pay should reflect revenue, not ideals. The launch of the Professional Women's Hockey League, with centrally funded salaries, is often cited as a promising Canadian example.
• An economist cites it as a promising example of a phased approach.: The phased approach is right, but the economist does not mention the league. The economist warns about the cost of forced equal pay. A sports economist at the University of Alberta recently noted that forcing equal pay without equal revenue could put smaller organisations at risk. The launch of the Professional Women's Hockey League, with centrally funded salaries, is often cited as a promising Canadian example.
• It is often cited as a promising example of pay that grows with revenue.: The league is often cited, but as part of the phased, middle-ground view. Linking pay to revenue is the opponents' idea. Some people suggest phased approaches, where leagues commit to narrowing the pay gap over time while investing in marketing and development for women's sports. The launch of the Professional Women's Hockey League, with centrally funded salaries, is often cited as a promising Canadian example. They argue that pay should reflect revenue, not ideals.

Correct Answer: Respectful, because the speaker sees their worry about money as fair.

Why this is correct: The speaker explains that the critics are not disrespecting women. The speaker says both sides have valid points. That is a respectful attitude. For critics, the concern isn't about disrespecting women athletes, but about keeping leagues financially viable. Both sides have valid points, and the truth lies somewhere in between.

Tips: Listen for how the speaker describes the other side, not only what they say.

Why the other options are wrong:

• Suspicious, because the speaker thinks their worry hides a lack of respect for women.: The speaker says the opposite. The critics' concern is not about disrespecting women athletes. For critics, the concern isn't about disrespecting women athletes, but about keeping leagues financially viable.
• Fully convinced, because the speaker agrees that pay should simply follow revenue.: The speaker respects the critics, but does not adopt their revenue rule. The speaker still wants clear progress toward pay equity. Both sides have valid points, and the truth lies somewhere in between. In most cases, leagues should be required to show clear progress toward pay equity, with transparency and timelines, rather than being forced into immediate equality that could backfire.
• Dismissive, because the speaker thinks women's international success matters more.: International success is the supporters' point. The speaker does not use it to brush aside the critics. They point out that female athletes train just as hard, represent their communities, and often achieve remarkable international success. Both sides have valid points, and the truth lies somewhere in between.

Correct Answer: The team had little money to spare before the salary increases.

Why this is correct: Even small pay rises nearly pushed the team into deficit. So the team must have had very little spare money before the rises. I remember a neighbour who worked for a junior hockey club in Ontario saying that even minor increases in salaries nearly pushed the team into deficit.

Tips: Small words like almost and nearly change the meaning. Listen for them.

Why the other options are wrong:

• The team was already in deficit before the salary increases.: The team was nearly pushed into deficit. So it was not in deficit before the pay rises. I remember a neighbour who worked for a junior hockey club in Ontario saying that even minor increases in salaries nearly pushed the team into deficit.
• The team went into deficit soon after the salary increases.: The word is nearly. The pay rises almost caused a deficit, but the team did not go into deficit. I remember a neighbour who worked for a junior hockey club in Ontario saying that even minor increases in salaries nearly pushed the team into deficit.
• The team could easily afford the salary increases.: If small rises nearly caused a deficit, the team could not afford them easily. I remember a neighbour who worked for a junior hockey club in Ontario saying that even minor increases in salaries nearly pushed the team into deficit.