Past Simple (3)

Exercise One

Read about the story of basketball and answer the questions.

In 1891, a Canadian sports teacher that worked in an American school in Massachusetts invented a new game. His name was James Naismith.

James decided to create a game for his lazy and rebellious students. They had to keep fit but they couldn’t go outside because it was a very cold winter. They had to play in the gym.

He took two old peach baskets that he saw on the floor and put them on the wall. Then, he organized the students in two teams and he asked them to pass a big round ball and throw it into the baskets. This is how J. Naismith invented basketball.

His students loved the game and learnt the 13 rules that their teacher made. Soon it became very popular in the USA.

Basketball ClipartToday basketball is still a very popular team game. Millions of people play this sport all over the world. And there are excellent basketball players!! Can you name any?

1-    What was James Naismith’s job?
2-    Where was he from?
3-    When did Naismith invent Basketball?
4-    Why did they have to play in the gym?
5-    Did they use pear baskets to play the game?
6-    How many rules did the game have?
7-    Did the students like the new game?



Exercise Two

1-     James Naismith wasn’t American.  (   )
2-    Naismith’s students invented a new game.  (   )
3-    He had very good students.  (   )
4-    Basketball was an outdoor game.  (   )
5-    They played with a small ball.  (   )
6-    They used fruit baskets.  (   )
7-    The students were interested in the game. (   )
8-      Basketball is very popular today.  (   )