Question

Chris Kennedy looked into the camera. "Here we go," he said, with a slightly goofy smile. Then he dumped a bucket of ice and water on his head.

It was an important moment in history.

Believe it or not, the video of this social media stunt touched off a trend. It spurred scientific research and led to important medical advances. It also helped improve the lives of patients. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge made a splash on social media back in 2014. But it's had a lasting effect. The success story shows what can happen when people pull together for a good cause.

What Is ALS?

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease that damages nerve cells. It affects a patient's ability to move, speak, eat, and breathe. ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Lou Gehrig, who many say was one of the greatest baseball players of all time, had ALS. That's how many people learned about the disease.

A Chilly Challenge

In his video, Chris Kennedy didn't just drench himself with icy water. He dared others to do the same or else give money to help support ALS research. Kennedy posted the video on social media in June 2014. But it got only a modest amount of attention. Among the first to accept the challenge, however, were Anthony Senerchia, Pete Frates, and Pat Quinn. They had ALS themselves. The three of them worked hard to popularize the campaign. They're considered the founders of the movement.

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge went viral on social media during the summer of 2014. And donations poured in. Many people gave money and got drenched. They also got a chance to raise even more money by calling out friends. Taylor Swift, LeBron James, Lady Gaga, and Selena Gomez stepped up. So did former president George W. Bush. Over 17 million people took part in the chilly challenge. These efforts raised global awareness about the disease. They also raised more than $200 million in donations for ALS organizations worldwide.

Outstanding Outcomes

The flood of donations made a huge difference. The ALS Association has said the Ice Bucket Challenge "changed the fight against ALS forever." Thanks to the challenge, the organization got nearly three times more money for research. It was also able to start working with more doctors, which enabled more patients to receive quality care.

The rush of funding sped up the development of new drugs, too. In the past, decades might pass between breakthroughs. But within the span of just two years, there was progress. Between 2022 and 2023, the government approved three new treatments for ALS.

The article states:

Chris Kennedy looked into the camera. "Here we go," he said, with a slightly goofy smile. Then he dumped a bucket of ice and water on his head.

Why did the author include this passage?

a. To show that Kennedy was mostly interested in creating a fun video, not in a cause
b. To establish that the central topic of the article is Kennedy, not the Ice Bucket Challenge
c. To demonstrate the danger of icy water and the silliness of the Ice Bucket Challenge
d. To interest the reader with colorful details about a moment central to the article

Answer 1

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

d. To interest the reader with colorful details about a moment central to the article

Answer 2

Which best summarizes the last paragraph of the article?

a. You can accept the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to help others.
b. You can support a cause you care about in creative ways.
c. The best way to attract attention is to make a difference safely.
d. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was a very cool idea.

Answer 3

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

c. The best way to attract attention is to make a difference safely.

Answer 4

This article would help a student write an essay on __________.

A. the local support groups for ALS patients
B. hospital equipment for ALS patients
C. important events in the history of ALS
D. the number of people living with ALS

Answer 5

[AI-generated answer — Bot GPT 3.5]

C. important events in the history of ALS