How did Luz Long help Josse Owens ?

Question

Accepted Answer

Here's a detailed explanation based on the provided correct option:

**Explanation for the Correct Option (Option 1):**

**Option 1: Luz Lóng advised Josse to draw a line a few inches behind the board and aim at making his take off from there.**

This option is correct because it accurately reflects the historical account of how Luz Long helped Jesse Owens during the 1936 Berlin Olympics long jump event. Jesse Owens had fouled on his first two attempts, putting him at risk of not qualifying for the finals. Luz Long, his German competitor, observed Owens' technique and realized that Owens was overstepping the take-off board. Long, despite being a competitor and representing the host nation with its specific political agenda, approached Owens and advised him to draw a line a few inches *behind* the actual take-off board. By aiming to jump from this self-made line, Owens would ensure he didn't foul, even if he slightly overstepped his mark relative to the line, as he would still be behind the official board. Owens followed this advice, successfully qualified, and went on to win the gold medal. This act of sportsmanship and technical advice was crucial for Owens' performance.

**Explanation for the Incorrect Options:**

*   **Option 2: Luz Long advised Josse to take rest for a few minutes.**
    This option is incorrect. While taking rest might be a general suggestion for an athlete, it was not the specific, critical piece of advice Luz Long gave to Jesse Owens in that high-pressure situation. Owens' problem was a technical one (fouling), not primarily one of fatigue that a few minutes of rest would solve.

*   **Option 3: Luz Long advised Josse to forget that he was participating in a competition.**
    This option is incorrect. Advising an athlete to "forget" they are in a competition is counterproductive and unrealistic. Athletes need to be focused and aware of the competitive environment. Luz Long's advice was practical and technical, aimed at solving a specific problem within the competition, not at making Owens disengage from it.

*   **Option 4: Luz Long advised Josse not to accept the Master Race Theory of Hitler.**
    This option is incorrect. While the friendship between Luz Long and Jesse Owens, an African American athlete, was a powerful symbolic rejection of Hitler's "Master Race Theory," Luz Long's *direct help* to Owens during the competition was not in the form of political advice. His assistance was purely technical, focused on helping Owens overcome a performance issue in the long jump event. Their interaction became a symbol against the theory, but the advice itself was not about the theory.