Question

The United States is a sports-loving nation. Sports in America take various forms: organized competitive struggles, athletic games, hunting and fishing. Most sports are seasonal, so that what is happening in sports depends upon the time of year.

Baseball is the most popular sport in the US. It is played throughout the spring and summer, and professional baseball teams play well into the fall.

Football is the most popular sport in the fall. The game originated as a college sport more than 75 years ago. It’s not the same as European football or soccer. In American football there are 11 players as well on each team, and they are dressed in padded uniforms and helmets because the game is rough and injuries are likely to occur. It is still played by almost every college and university in the country.

Basketball is the winner sport in American schools and colleges. Like football, basketball originated in the US, many Americans prefer it to football because it is played indoors throughout the winter and because it is a faster game. And the famous NBA games are considered the best of this game.

Other sports attracting a great many people include wrestling, boxing and horse racing. Although horse-racing fans call themselves sportsmen, the exactness of the term is questionable, as only the jockeys who ride the horses in the races can be considered athletes. The so-called sportsmen are the spectators, who do not come primarily to see the horses race, but to bet upon the outcome of each race. Gambling is the attraction of horse racing.

1.Baseball is so popular in America that some professional teams play it until ________.

A.spring B.summer C.fall D.winter

2.When playing football, American players are dressed in a special uniforms ________.

A.to avoid unexpected injuries

B.to play it like European football

C.to make the game rough enough

D.to look like professional players

3.Many Americans prefer basketball to football because ________.

A.NBA games are very popular

B.it is originated in the US

C.it is much faster than football

D.it is played indoors throughout winter

4.Horse-racing fans can’t be exactly considered as sportsmen because they ________.

A.mainly stand and watch the races

B.don’t ride horse in the races

C.are only interested in the results

D.don’t care who wins in the races

5.The underlined word “jockeys” in the last paragraph refers to _______.

A.the person who bets upon the the race

B.the person who cares about horse-racing

C.the rider who enjoys watching the race

D.the rider who competes in horse-racing

Answer

1.C

2.A

3.D

4.B

5.D

【解析】

本文为说明文。美国是一个十分热爱体育运动的国家，大多数的运动项目都具有季节性。文章主要介绍了棒球、足球、篮球以及赛马等运动项目。

1.细节理解题。根据第二段中的Baseball is the most popular sport in the US. It is played throughout the spring and summer, and professional baseball teams play well into the fall.可知，棒球运动在美国非常受欢迎，职业棒球队一直打到秋天。故选C。

2.细节理解题。根据第三段中的In American football there are 11 players as well on each team, and they are dressed in padded uniforms and helmets because the game is rough and injuries are likely to occur. It is still played by almost every college and university in the country.可知，美国球员在打美式橄榄球时身着特殊的衣服，目的是避免发生意外伤害。故选A。

3.细节理解题。根据第四段中的Many Americans prefer it to football because it is played indoors throughout the winter and because it is a faster game. And the famous NBA games are considered the best of this game.可知，与美式橄榄球相比，很多美国人更喜欢篮球的原因是篮球在室内举行。故选D。

4.细节理解题。根据最后一段中Although horse-racing fans call themselves sportsmen, the exactness of the term is questionable, as only the jockeys who ride the horses in the races can be considered athletes可知，虽然赛马爱好者称自己为运动员，可是他们并不骑马参赛，不能自称运动员，故选B。

5.词义猜测题。根据as only the jockeys who ride the horses in the races can be considered athletes. 画线词之后的定语从句可知，在比赛中骑马人才被认为是选手，故该词指的是参加赛马比赛的选手。故选D。