Question

instructions
read the question carefully and select the best answer.
what is most closely the meaning of it’s hard to open up your hands and let go of what you know as it is used in the following passage (paragraph 10)?
most people don’t get to wake up every day and do something they’re passionate about. you always feel you can give more, but at some point you have to do what’s right for yourself. maybe every athlete goes through that when they retire. it’s hard to open up your hands and let go of what you know. you hold on because it’s so much a part of your routine—and your life. i’ve always been training for something. what happens when that’s gone?
a. once cash steps away from the game of basketball, she does not think that she will stay attached to it in any way.
b. teaching children how to play basketball does not come naturally to cash.
c. cash has prayed hard on this decision.
d. retiring means cash giving up control of what is perhaps her greatest skill.

Explanation:

The phrase "it's hard to open up your hands and let go of what you know" in the passage relates to athletes retiring and letting go of their familiar routine/skill (basketball, as implied by Cash). Option D says retiring means Cash giving up control of her greatest skill, which matches the idea of letting go of what she knows (her skill in basketball). Option A is about stepping away but not letting go; B is about teaching, not letting go; C is about praying, irrelevant. So D is correct.

Answer:

D. Retiring means Cash giving up control of what is perhaps her greatest skill.