Description:DIRECTIONS: In the passages that follow, certain words and phrases are underlined and numbered. In most cases, you are to choose the one that best expresses the idea, makes the statement appropriate for standard written English, or is worded most consistently with the style and tone of the passage as a whole. If you think the original version is best, choose "NO CHANGE." I Am Iron Man

[1] The term "Iron Man" has many connotations, including references to a song, a comic book icon, even a movie. [2] Yet only one definition of the term truly lives up to its name: the Ironman Triathlon held annually in Hawaii¹ a picturesque setting for a challenging race. [3] This grueling race demands amazing physical prowess and the ability to swim, bike, and run a marathon, all in less than 12 hours with no break. [4] Very few individuals are up to the task.

Otherwise,³ Gordon Haller is a notable exception. Growing up in the 1950s, Haller developed an interest in many sports categorized as endurance athletics, and welcomed their⁴ grueling physical demands. As he pursued a degree in physics he drove a taxi to pay the bills, but competitive training proved⁵ his passion. So when he heard about the race in 1978, the first year it was held, he immediately signed up.

The race somewhat⁶ originated in an amusing way. The members of two popular sports clubs, the Mid-Pacific Road Runners of Honolulu, and the Waikiki Swim Club⁷ of Oahu, had a long-standing and good-natured debate going over who made better athletes: runners