Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.

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Unit: Sports and school clubs

How Basketball Started

📋 How to use this lesson 8 MINUTES

👩‍🏫 For the teacher

Give learners 8 minutes to read the short story and answer all 8 questions.

Check answers together at the end by looking at the evidence sentences.

🎒 For the student

First, read the story carefully and find the hard words in the word box.

Next, choose or write your answers for questions 1 to 8.

📖 The Story of Basketball

Reading Time: 2 mins

A simple vintage-style storybook illustration of teacher James Naismith in 1891 holding a brown leather ball inside a wo

A teacher called James Naismith made basketball in 1891. He lived and worked in Springfield, Massachusetts. For the very first game, the players used a ball and two peach baskets. The two baskets hung up high. Each team had nine players. That was the first basketball game with nine players on each team.

💡 Word Helper: Words to know

peach basket

A wooden basket used for holding fruit. Naismith hung two baskets to catch the ball.

player

A boy or a girl who plays a sport or game on the court.

team

A group of players who wear the same shirts and play together to win.

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Questions 1 to 8

Answer these questions from easy to hard. Good luck!

8 Questions

Q1 True or False • Easy

James Naismith was a teacher.

____ True ____ False

Q2 True or False • Easy

James Naismith worked in Springfield, Massachusetts.

____ True ____ False

Q3 Multiple Choice • Easy

When did James Naismith make basketball?

____ a. In 1891 ____ b. In 1991 ____ c. In 1800

Q4 Multiple Choice • Medium

What did the players use for baskets in the first game?

____ a. Metal rings ____ b. Peach baskets ____ c. Plastic boxes

Q5 Multiple Choice • Medium

How many players were on each team in the first game?

____ a. 5 players ____ b. 9 players ____ c. 11 players

Q6 True or False • Medium

In the first game, the players used two balls and one peach basket.

____ True ____ False

Q7 Fill in the blank • Harder

Write the missing state name from the story:

James Naismith worked in Springfield, ____ (Type here...).

Q8 Fill in the blank • Harder

Complete the sentence with one word from the story:

In the first game, each team had nine ____ (Type here...).

Reading: How Basketball Started

How Basketball Started

📖 The Story of Basketball

💡 Word Helper: Words to know

Questions 1 to 8

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