The first true piece of sports equipment that man invented was the ball.In ancient Egypt，as everywhere，pitching(投掷)stones was a favourite children's game.But a badly thrown rock could hurt a child.Looking for something less dangerous to throw，the Egyptians made what was probably the first ball.

At first，balls were made of grass or leaves held together by vines.Later they were made of pieces of animal skin sewed together and filled tightly with feathers or hay.Even if the Egyptians were warlike，they found time for peaceful games.Before long they had developed a number of ball games，each with its own set of rules.Perhaps they played ball more for instruction than for fun.Ball playing was thought of mainly as a way to teach young men the speed and skill they would need for war.

1．The ball was probably invented because________.

A．throwing stones often caused injuries

B．throwing stones was not fun

C．games with stones did not have rules

D．rocks were too heavy to throw

A　[推理判断题。由第一段可推知，球的出现是因为“投掷石块可能会伤了孩子”。]

2．The first balls were probably made of ________.

A．animal skin stuffed with rocks

B．twists of hay

C．skin stuffed with hay or feathers

D．grass and leaves tied with vines

D　[细节理解题。由第二段第一句可以得出答案。]

3．This passage says that the Egyptians played ________.

A．many different games with balls

B．many different kinds of games

C．only one ball game

D．different games with similar rules

A　[细节理解题。由第二段可知，埃及人发明了许多球类运动。]

4．The best title for this passage is ________.

A．The First Ball Games

B．How Egyptian Children Played Games

C．Egyptian Sports

D．The Beginning of Sports

A　[主旨大意题。整篇文章主要讲述了球类运动的出现。]

The word“sport”first meant something that people did in their free time.Later it often meant hunting wild animals and birds.About a hundred years ago the word was first used for organized games.This is the usual meaning of the word today.People spend a lot of their spare time playing football，basketball，tennis and many other sports.Such people play because they want to.A few people are paid for the sport they play. These people are called professional(职业化的) sportsmen.They may be sportsmen for only a few years，but during that time the best ones can earn a lot of money.

For example，a professional footballer in England earns more than￡3,000 a year. The stars can earn a lot more.International golf(高尔夫球)and tennis champions(冠军)can make more than￡50,000 a year. Of course，only a few sportsmen can earn as much money as that.It is only possible in sports for individuals (个人)，like golf，tennis and motor racing(赛车)．Perhaps the most surprising thing about sportsmen and money is this：the stars can earn more money from advertising(打广告)than from sports.As advertisement for sports equipment doesn't simply say“Buy our things”．It says“Buy the same shirts and shoes as...”．Famous sportsmen can even advertise things like watches and food.They allow the companies to use their names or photographs of them and they are paid for this.Sports are no longer just something for people's spare time.

5．The word“sport”first meant ________.

A．something that people did in their spare time

B．organized games

C．hunting wild animals and birds

D．money

A　[细节理解题。由第一段第一句可知，“运动”一词最初的含义是“人们在业余时间里所做的事情”。]

6．________ are paid for the sport they play.

A．Many

B．Few

C．Professional sportsmen

D．People who want to play

C　[细节理解题。由第一段倒数第二、三句可以得出答案。]

7．It is only possible for champions of ________ that can earn more than￡50,000 a year.

A．football　　　　　 B．volleyball

C．basketball D．tennis

D　[推理判断题。由第二段第二、三句知网球冠军一年可以挣5万多英镑。]

8．Sport is more for ________ than for anything else.

A．health

B．money

C．people's spare time

D．people's whole time

B　[推理判断题。由短文最后一句可知，体育再也不只是人们业余时间才做的事情。结合上文提到运动员挣钱可知，答案为B项。]

Good health is the most valuable thing a person can have，but one cannot take good health for granted.It is important to remember that the body needs proper care in order to be healthy.There are three things that a person can do to help stay in good shape：eat right food，get enough sleep，and exercise regularly.

Proper nutrition(营养)is important for good health.Your body cannot work well unless it receives the proper kind of“fuel(燃料)”．Don't eat too much food with lots of sugar and fat.Eat plenty of food high in protein，like meat，fish，eggs and nuts.Vegetables and fruits are very important because they provide necessary vitamins and minerals.However，don't overeat.It is not helpful to be overweight.

Getting the proper amount of sleep is also important.If you don't get enough sleep，you feel tired and easily get angry.You have no energy.Over a long period of time a little amount of sleep may even result in a change of personality(人的个性)．Be sure to allow yourself from seven to nine hours of sleep each night.If you do，your body will feel strong and refreshed，and your mind will be sharp.

Finally，get plenty of exercise.Exercise firms the body，strengthens the muscles，and prevents you from gaining weight.It also improves your heart and lungs.If you follow a regular exercise programme，you will probably increase your lifespan(寿命)．Any kind of exercise is good.Most sports are excellent for keeping the body in good shapes：basketball，swimming，bicycling，running and so on are good examples.Sports are not only good for your body，but they are enjoyable and interesting，too.

If everybody were to eat the right food，get plenty of sleep and exercise regularly，the world would be a happier and healthier place.We would all live to be much older and wiser.

9．In order to keep good health，________.

A．we should eat a lot of sweets

B．one needs a large amount of fat

C．people should eat according to the food nutrition

D．we must try to sleep now and then

C　[细节理解题。由第二段第一句“Proper nutrition(营养)is important for good health.”这一信息可知答案。]

10．Sleeping less for a long time ________.

A．can keep healthy

B．is no good for you

C．gets you more energy

D．will change your personality

B　[推理判断题。由第三段的内容可知长期睡眠不足会导致人疲劳、易怒、没有精神，由此可知无益于人的身体健康；D项过于绝对，与本段中“Over a long period of time a little amount of sleep may even result in a change of personality(人的个性)．”这一信息不能完全吻合。]

11. The writer explains ________ in this passage.

A．how to eat

B．the importance of doing exercise

C．how to keep healthy

D．what to eat

C　[细节理解题。由第一段第一句“Good health is the most valuable thing a person can have，but one cannot take good health for granted.”这一信息，以及本段最后的“...eat the right food，get plenty of sleep，and exercise regularly.”可知A、B、D三项只是其中的一部分内容。]