Question

Football is a popular sport. More than a million kids play on high school teams, but football can be a hazard. The National Football League(NFL) has acknowledged that almost 30 percent of its players will eventually suffer from brain-related diseases. That’s a lot.

A recent study involving 40 former NFL players showed that those who started playing football before age 12 did worse on thinking tests than players who started after age 12. By the way, all the tested players scored below average for their age and education. Concerns about the effects of constant hits to the head have caused some medical experts on brain injuries, such as Robert Cantu of Boston University, to recommend that kids not play football before age 14.

I don’t think football is all bad. It helps kids learn teamwork, discipline and how to get into better physical condition. But now that we know that the sport might be dangerous, it’s time to make some changes in the youth and high school football.

First, seasons should be shorter. The high school regular season should not be more than nine games. Second, kids should not play tackle(擒抱) football too soon. As Cantu points out, “By age fourteen, our necks are strong and our overall body strength is sufficient to keep the head steady when we slam at the line of scrimmage(争球).” Personally speaking, I don’t think kids should sit on the couch until they are 14. But they can play flag football and other gentler sports. If you think age 14 is too late to become a good football player, remember that four-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady started playing football at that age.

1.What does the underline word “hazard” mean?

A. difficulty.    B. danger.

C. punishment.    D. pain.

2.Why did the former NFL players perform badly in tests?

A. Their heads were hit frequently.

B. They had some mental disorders.

C. They didn’t take the tests seriously.

D. They received little school education.

3.What does the author advise for kids under 14?

A. They watch football games.    B. They play safer games.

C. Football be forbidden for them.    D. They play 10 games a season.

4.What is the purpose of the text?

A. To entertain.    B. To advertise.

C. To instruct.    D. To warn.

Answer

1.B

2.A

3.C

4.D

【解析】本文主要介绍了足球在青少年中是一项很受欢迎的项目，但是最新的研究表明，年龄太小玩足球会造成大脑的伤害，以此警告青少年谨慎对待足球这项运动。

1.B猜测词意题。根据第一段划线词的下文almost 30 percent of its players will eventually suffer from brain-related diseases.（几乎30%的球员将最终患脑相关疾病。）可知，有一百多万的孩子在高中的足球队里踢球，但是那可能是很危险的。此句中有转折连词but，所以猜测出划线词hazard的意思是B项danger（危险），故选B。

2.A推理判断题。根据第二段Concerns about the effects of constant hits to the head have caused some medical experts on brain injuries, such as Robert Cantu of Boston University, to recommend that kids not play football before age 14.可以推断出，先前的NFL运动员测试表现不好应该是他们的头部受到了频繁的撞击。故选A。

3.C细节理解题。根据第二段such as Robert Cantu of Boston University, to recommend that kids not play football before age 14.可知，作者建议14岁以下的孩子最好不进行足球运动。故选C。

4.D目的意图题。本文主要介绍了足球在青少年中是一项很受欢迎的项目，但是最新的研究表明，年龄太小玩足球会造成大脑的伤害，以此警告青少年谨慎对待足球这项运动。故选D。

【名师点睛】

猜测词义题的常见考查形式及解题方法：

猜测词义题是考试必考题，也是难点之所在。但是如果我们掌握方法，难点也会变易。

猜测词义题的常见解题方法有：1.根据定义或上下文解释进行猜测；2.根据同位关系进行猜测；3.根据构词法（合成、派生、转化等）进行猜测；4.根据因果关系进行猜测；5.根据上下文的指代关系进行猜测；6.根据同义关系进行猜测；7.根据转折或对比关系进行猜测；8.通过上下文理解猜测词义。

例如第1小题猜测词意题。根据More than a million kids play on high school teams, but football can be a hazard.可知，有一百多万的孩子在高中的足球队里踢球，但是那可能是__________。此句中有转折连词but，再根据第一段划线词的下文almost 30 percent of its players will eventually suffer from brain-related diseases.（几乎30%的球员将最终患脑相关疾病。），下文内容是对前面内容的进一步说明，所以猜测出划线词hazard的意思是B项danger（危险），故选B。