Basketball
It gets cold in
Most of the ideas Dr. Naismith considered were too rough or needed too much
space, and they wouldn’t work in a small gym.
That’s when he invented basketball.
Dr. Naismith came up with a few rules and hung a peach basket ten feet in
the air. Players were divided into teams
and tried to get a ball into the peach basket.
At first, the basket still had its bottom, so someone had to climb up to
get the ball every time someone made a shot.
The peach baskets were used for fifteen years before they were replaced
by metal hoops with nets and backboards.
Dr. Naismith called his new game "Basket Ball.” The first game was played in a YMCA gym with
nine players on each side (which certainly resulted in a crowded court). The game ended with a score of 1 to 0, with the
only shot was made from about half court.
Today, basketball is one of the most popular sports in the entire
world. Many new rules and changes have
been made, but the foundation of the game can still be seen in Dr. Naismith’s
original rules.
Reading
Comprehension Questions
1) Which of the following phrases best represents the main
idea of the passage?
a.
Basketball hoops are ten feet from the ground and made of
metal.
b.
Basketball was invented by Dr. Naismith as an indoor fitness
activity.
c.
The first basketball players were not very skilled, but
worked hard.
d.
Basketball is one of the most popular sports today across
the world.
2) Based on the passage above, which of the following has
changed since basketball was invented in 1891?
a.
the goal of getting a ball in the basket
b.
the number of players on the court
c.
the hardwood gym where it is played
d.
the fitness level needed to compete
3) According to the passage above, which of the following was
used for the basket for almost fifteen years?
a.
a steel hoop and backboard
b.
an orange basket
c.
a peach basket
d.
a metal barrel
4) Using the contextual clues in the above passage, what is the
meaning of the word “invented”?
a.
copied
b.
created
c.
rules
d.
thoughts
5) The above passage would most likely be seen in which type of
work?
a.
an advertisement
b.
a folk tale
c.
a biography
d.
an autobiography
Answer Key
1)
Which of the
following phrases best represents the main idea of the passage?
a.
Basketball hoops are ten feet from the ground
and made of metal.
b.
Basketball was invented by Dr.
Naismith as an indoor fitness activity.
c.
The first basketball players were not very
skilled, but worked hard.
d.
Basketball is one of the most popular sports
today across the world.
2)
Based on the
passage above, which of the following has changed since basketball was invented
in 1891?
a.
the goal of getting a ball in the basket
b.
the number of
players on the court
c.
the hardwood gym where it is played
d.
the fitness level needed to compete
3)
According to
the passage above, which of the following was used for the basket for almost
fifteen years?
a.
a steel hoop and backboard
b.
an orange basket
c.
a peach basket
d.
a metal barrel
4)
Using the
contextual clues in the above passage, what is the meaning of the word “invented”?
a.
copied
b.
created
c.
rules
d.
thoughts
5)
The above
passage would most likely be seen in which type of work?
a.
an advertisement
b.
a folk tale
c.
a biography
d.
an autobiography