阅读理解
Throughout history, humans
have played some kind of kicking game. What the world now calls football, or soccer
in the US, began as far back as 2500 B. C. with the Chinese game of tsu chu.
The sport we know today originated in Britain. By the 1840s, England's Football
Association established a set of rules, and the modern game was born. Today,
more than 120 million players all over the globe participate in the game, truly
making soccer the world's sport.
So, why is soccer so
popular? Maybe it's the game's camaraderie: the feeling that the team on the
field is your team; their win is your victory, and their loss is your defeat.
Or maybe it's the game's international quality. In countries like France,
England, Spain, and Brazil, major teams have players from many different
nations, and these clubs now have fans all over the world. Or perhaps it's the
promise of great wealth. A number of professional soccer players, including
Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o and Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, come from poor
families. Today, both of these players make millions of euros every year.
Soccer is popular for all
of these reasons, but ultimately, the main reason for its universal appeal may
be this: It's a simple game. It can be played anywhere with anything—a ball, a can, or even some bags tied together. And anyone can
play it. "You don't need to be rich...to play soccer," says historian
Peter Alegi. "Your just need a flat space and a ball.
But joining a professional
team and making a lot of money isn't the main reason that soccer is so popular
all over Africa, say Abubakari Abdul-Ganiyu, a teacher who works with youth
clubs in Tamale, Ghana. "Soccer is the passion of everyone here," he
says, "It unifies us." In fact, more than once, the game has helped
to bring people together. In Ivory Coast, for example, immigrants and Muslims
faced discrimination for years. Yet many of the country's best soccer players
are from Muslim and immigrant families. As a result, the national team has
become a symbol of unity and has helped to promote peace throughout the world.
(1)
What is this text mainly about?
A . The history of soccer.
B . Soccer clubs.
C . The popularity of soccer.
D . How African soccer began.
(2)
Which is not a possible reason for soccer's popularity according to paragraph 2?
A . The team spirit among players.
B . Famous players from many different countries.
C . The number of soccer games played all over the world.
D . The possibility of making a lot of money.
(3)
Which of the following statements about the Ivory Coast national team is not true?
A . Many of its best players are from immigrant families.
B . One of its teachers is Abubakari Abdul-Ganiyu.
C . There are Muslim players on the team.
D . It has helped to promote peace in the country.
答案: C
C
B