Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct word or phrase that best fits each of the numbered blanks.
The position of sport in today’s society has changed out of all regconition. People no longer seem to think of sport as “just a game” – to be watched or played for the sake of enjoyment. (23)_______, it has become big business worldwide. It has become accepted practice for leading companies to provide sponsorship. TV companies pay large sums of money to screen important matches or competitions. The result has been huge financial rewards for athletes, some of (24)_______ are now very wealthy, particularly top footballers, golfers and tennis players. In addition, it is not unusual for some athletes to receive large fees on top of their salary, for advertising products or (25)_______ personal appearances.
A trend towards shorter working hours means that people generally tend to have more free time, both to watch and to take part in sporting activity; sport has become a significant (26)_______ of the recreation industry that we now rely on to fill our leisure hours. Professional sport is a vital part of that industry, providing pleasure (27)_______ millions of ordinary people all over the world.
(26)______
A.task
B.contribution
C.part
D.role