Reading Comprehension

Unit 1: The World’s Game

RE3 Lesson A
Part 1- P. 9
 Pre-Reading Activity
The World’s Game – P. 9

Why is soccer such a popular sport? Give reasons

1. Brings people together – unifies them

2. Promotes team play / encourages team work
3. Has easy rules
4. All you need is a ball, a team, and a field

RE3 Unit 1 Soccer Lesson A Vocabulary

 The World's Game
Paragraph A
• A Throughout history, humans have played some kind of kicking game. What
the world now calls football, or soccer in the U.S., began as far back as 2500
B.C.E. 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.
• The passage is mainly about ____________.
a. the popularity of soccer
b. how boys learn to play soccer
c. soccer in African countries
 The World's Game
Paragraph A
• A Throughout history, humans have played some kind of kicking game. What
the world now calls football, or soccer in the U.S., began as far back as 2500
B.C.E. 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.
• The passage is mainly about ____________.
a. the popularity of soccer
b. how boys learn to play soccer
c. soccer in African countries
Paragraph B
• B 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.
• The word camaraderie probably means ____________.
a. difference in groups
b. togetherness
c. popularity
Paragraph B
• B 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.
• The word camaraderie probably means ____________.
a. difference in groups
b. togetherness
c. popularity
Paragraph B
• B 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.
Q. According to Paragraph B, why is soccer an international sport?
• a. Soccer teams compete against other countries in the World Cup.
• b. Professional players from Cameroon and Portugal make a lot of money.
• c. Players from many countries play on national teams in other countries.
• d. Soccer is a popular sport in parts of Asia and in Latin America.
Paragraph B
• B 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.
Q. According to Paragraph B, why is soccer an international sport?
• a. Soccer teams compete against other countries in the World Cup.
• b. Professional players from Cameroon and Portugal make a lot of money.
• c. Players from many countries play on national teams in other countries.
• d. Soccer is a popular sport in parts of Asia and in Latin America.
Paragraph B
• B 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.
Q. According to Paragraph B, why is soccer a popular sport?
• a. Soccer promotes togetherness
• b. Professional players enjoy great wealth
• c. Players from many countries play on national teams in other countries.
• d. All of the above
Paragraph B
• B 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.
Q. Why is soccer a popular sport?
• a. Soccer promotes togetherness
• b. Players from many countries play on national teams in other countries.
• c. Professional players enjoy a large amount of money
• d. All of the above
Paragraph C
• C Soccer is popular for all of these reasons, but ultimately, the main
reason for its universal appeal may be this: It is 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. “You just need a flat space and a ball.”
Q. What is the main reason for soccer’s universal appeal?
• a. Its simplicity
• b. Can be played with anything
• c. Rich an poor people can play it
• d. All of the above
Paragraph C
• C Soccer is popular for all of these reasons, but ultimately, the main
reason for its universal appeal may be this: It is 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. “You just need a flat space and a ball.”
Q. What is the main reason for soccer’s universal appeal?
• a. Its simplicity
• b. Can be played with anything
• c. Rich an poor people can play it
• d. All of the above
 Paragraph C
Inference Question
• C Soccer is popular for all of these reasons, but ultimately, the main
reason for its universal appeal may be this: It is 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. “You just need a flat space and a ball.”
Q. What aspect of soccer is the author referring to by It’s a simple game?
• a. The rules are easy for people to understand
• b. You can play it anywhere with anything
• c. You don’t need much talent to play soccer
• d. There are only a few versions of soccer
 Paragraph C
Inference Question
• C Soccer is popular for all of these reasons, but ultimately, the main
reason for its universal appeal may be this: It is 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. “You just need a flat space and a ball.”
Q. What aspect of soccer is the author referring to by It’s a simple game?
• a. The rules are easy for people to understand
• b. You can play it anywhere with anything
• c. You don’t need much talent to play soccer
• d. There are only a few versions of soccer
Paragraph D
• D It is this unique simplicity that makes soccer the most popular
sport in Africa. Here, even in rural areas far from the bright lights and
big stadiums, children and adults play the game, often with
handmade balls.
Q. Which is the best example of a handmade soccer ball?
• a. a ball that once was used by the national team
• b. plastic bags tied together with elastic bands
• c. a smaller ball intended for use by young children
• d. a product of a name-brand company like Nike
Paragraph D
• D It is this unique simplicity that makes soccer the most popular
sport in Africa. Here, even in rural areas far from the bright lights and
big stadiums, children and adults play the game, often with
handmade balls.
Q. Which is the best example of a handmade soccer ball?
• a. a ball that once was used by the national team
• b. plastic bags tied together with elastic bands
• c. a smaller ball intended for use by young children
• d. a product of a name-brand company like Nike