Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions.  

When ice skating, it is very important to have good equipment and use it properly. When choosing a pair of skates, look for high quality skating shoes with sharp steel blades. Choosing the right size stakes is also important. The leather shoes, which are called boots, should reach up to about the middle of your calf. Make sure that your skate boots fit snugly. First, put on two pairs of cotton or lightweight wool socks. Then, step into your skates. Your heels should not be able to slide up and down in the boots. If your boots do not fit properly, they will not support your feet, and the skates won’t respond correctly when you move your muscles. It will look like your ankles are weak and will cause you severe discomfort.   Each boot is attached a metal blade by crews at two different places. The blade of skate is a narrow piece of steel that is strong enough to support the weight of your body. The bottom of the blade, which touches the ice, is hollowed out, leaving two very thin edges. Stakes have guards, pieces of wood or rubber that fit over blades to protect these edges. You should use these guards when wearing your skates off the ice, 

Which of the following is closest in meaning to “equipment” in paragraph 1?