PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR THE TOEFL (READING)

PRACTICE EXERCISES FOR THE TOEFL (READING)

EXERCISE 56: NARRATION/SEQUENCE – POPULAR CULTURE

In some questions in the Reading Section on the Paper-Based TOEFL, you will be asked to recall and relate information and content from narration or sequence passages about popular culture. Choose the best answer.

Basketball

Although he created the game of basketball at the YMCA in

Springfield, Massachusetts, Dr. James A. Naismith was a Canadian.

Working as a physical education instructor at the International

YMCA, now Springfield College, Dr. Naismith noticed a lack of

interest in exercise among students during the wintertime. The New

England winters were fierce, and the students balked at participating

in outdoor activities. Naismith determined that a fast-moving game

that could be played indoors would fill a void after the baseball and

football seasons had ended.

First he attempted to adapt outdoor games such as soccer and

rugby to indoor play, but he soon found them unsuitable for confined

areas. Finally, he determined that he would have to invent a game.

In December of 1891, Dr. Naismith hung two old peach baskets

at either end of the gymnasium at the school, and, using a soccer ball

and nine players on each side, organized the first basketball game.

The early rules allowed three points for each basket and made

running with the ball a violation. Every time a goal was made,

someone had to climb a ladder to retrieve the ball.

Nevertheless, the game became popular. In less than a year,

basketball was being played in both the United States and Canada.

Five years later, a championship tournament was staged in New York

City, which was won by the Brooklyn Central YMCA.

The teams had already been reduced to seven players, and five

became standard in the 1897 season. When basketball was introduced

as a demonstration sport in the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis, it

quickly spread throughout the world. ln 1906, a metal hoop was used

for the first time to replace the basket, but the name basketball has

remained.

1	What does this passage mainly discuss? A.    The Olympic Games in St. Louis in 1904 B.    The development of basketball C.    The YMCA athletic program D.    Dr. James Naismith	6	Where in the passage does the author  discuss the first basketball championship tournament? A.    Lines 10-12 B.    Lines 13- 15 C.    Lines 21- 22 D.    Lines 24-26
2	When was the first demonstration game of basketball held during the Olympics? A.       1891 B.       1892 C.       1897 D.       1904	7	What does the author mean by the statement in lines 24-26: “When basketball was introduced as a demonstration sport in the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis, it quickly spread throughout the world”? A.       Basketball was not considered an Olympic sport at the St. Louis games. B.       Basketball became popular worldwide after its introduction at the Olympic Games in St. Louis. C.       Basketball players from many countries competed in the Olympic Games in St. Louis. D.       Basketball was one of the most3. popular sports at the Olympic Games in St. Louis.
3	The phrase "balked at" in line 6 could best be replaced by A.       resisted B.       enjoyed C.       excelled at D.       were exhausted by	8	Why did Naismith decide to invent basketball? A.       He did not like soccer or rugby. B.       He was tired of baseball and football. C.       He wanted his students to exercise during the winter. D.       He could not convince his students to play indoor
4	The word "fierce" in line 6 is closest in meaning to A.       long B.       boring C.       extreme D.       dark	9	The author mentions all of the following as typical of the early game of basketball EXCEPT A.       three points were scored for every basket B.       running with the ball was not a foul C.       nine players were on a team D.       the ball had to be retrieved from the basket after each core
5	The word "them" in line 11 refers to A.       indoors B.       seasons C.       games D.       areas	10	It can be inferred from the passage that the original baskets A.       were not placed very high B.       had a metal rim C.       did not have a hole in the bottom D.       were hung on the same side

 

ANSWER KEY 1.      B 2.      D 3.      A 4.      C 5.      C 6.      C 7.      B 8.      C 9.      B 10.  C

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