During his life Dr James Naismith worked as a doctor, taught P.E and wrote several books. While he never thought it very important, Dr Naismith is today best known for one thing. He was the inventor of basketball.
Dr James Naismith was born in Canada in 1861 and his first job was at a special sports school in the USA. One day the school principal told James he was having a problem with the students. Because of heavy snow, the students could not go outside. He told James that they needed a sport the boys could play indoors and gave the teacher two weeks to think of something.
It was on the very last day that James came up with his idea. The “birth of basketball” is said to be on December 21, 1891, when two teams from the school played the first game. It was quite different from the basketball games of today. It had 9 players on each team and footballs were used instead of basketballs. Soon after, the game changed to 5 players on each side, using special “basketballs” through nets.
Although Dr Naismith did not live to see basketball become the worldwide game it is today, in 1936, just three years before his death, basketball became an Olympic sport at the Games in Berlin.
1.Which of the following things did Dr James Naismith NOT do?
A. Teach P.E in school. B. Write some books.
C. Work at a hospital. D. Take part in the Olympic Games.
2. In which season did Dr Naismith invent basketball?
A. Summer. B. Winter. C. Spring. D. Autumn.
3.Why is December 21 thought to be the birthday of basketball?
A. It was on this day that Dr Naismith came up with his idea for basketball.
B. It was the day on which Dr Naismith was born.
C. It was the day on which Dr Naismith was asked by his boss to invent a new game.
D. It was on this day that the first game of basketball was played.
4.At the time of Dr Naismith’s death, which of the following was true?
A. Basketball was already a worldwide game.
B. Basketball was played with 9 players on each side.
C. Basketball was an Olympic sport.
D. Basketball was still played using footballs.
My friend Monty Roberts told me a story about a young boy. One day at school, the boy was asked to write a paper 26 what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.
That night he wrote a seven – paper 27 his dream of owning a farm. He put a great deal of his heart into the paper and the next day he handed it in to his 28 . Two days later he received his paper back. On the 29 page was a large red F with a 30 that read, “See me after class.” The boy went to see the teacher after class and asked, “ 31 did I receive an F?” The teacher said, “This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. Owning a farm requires a lot of money. There’s no 32 a young man could ever do it.” Then the teacher added, “ 33 you will rewrite this paper, I will reconsider your 34 .”
The boy went home and 35 about it long and hard. Finally, after a week, he turned in the 36 paper, making no changes.
Monty then said, “I tell you this story because you are sitting on my farm. I 37 have that school paper over fireplace.” He added, “The best part of the story is that two summers ago the same schoolteacher brought 30 kids to camp out on my farm. When the teacher was 38 , he said, ‘Look Monty, I can tell you this now. When I was your teacher, I was something of a dream 39 . During those years I stole a lot of kids’ dreams. Fortunately you had enough courage not to 40 yours.”
Don’t let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what…
1. A. in B. at C. for D. about
2.A. giving B. taking C. describing D. making
3.A. classmate B. teacher C. father D. writer
4.A. front B. middle C. back D. last
5.A. word B. note C. paper D. letter
6.A. What B. Where C. Why D. How
7.A. road B. way C. method D. idea
8.A. Now B. Although C. Since D. If
9. A. work B. idea C. grade D. advice
10.A. thought B. write C. spoke D. read
11.A. new B. same C. different D. second
12. A. never B. again C. even D. still
13. A. arriving B. leaving C. moving D. reaching
14.A. stealer B. maker C. lover D. leader
15. A. take up B. make up C. give up D. break up
Ted came for the weekend wearing only some shorts and a T-shirt, _______ is a stupid thing to do in such weather.
A. this B. that C. what D. which
―Helen________ go on the trip with us, but she isn’t quite sure yet.
A. shall B. may C. must D. can
Tom, as well as his parents, _______ the movie very much.
A. like B. likes C. do like D. are like
What ______ pity that you couldn’t be there to receive_______ prize!
A. a; a B. the; a C. a; the D. the; the
