55. Reading Skills Comprehension: Football

FOOTBALL

(S.S.C. 1995)

Read the Passage carefully and answers the following Questions:-

 The ancient Aztecs, Chinese, Greeks and Romans played games in which a ball was kicked. A game called “footballer” was so popular in merry old England that King Henry II (1154-1189) became alarmed because he feared his soldiers would neglect to practice archery. He, therefore, threatened to imprison any player and anyone on whose land the game was played. The game was against the law in England for 400 years. It was made legal during the sixteenth century. By that time archery wasn’t needed because firearms were used in warfare. King James, I gave the sport his blessing, praising it as a clean, honourable and manly sport.

 In 1863, many British football clubs formed an association and agreed to call the game association football. It is also called soccer, a word that comes from the soc in the association. In most parts of the world, the game is called football. At least ten different forms of football are played in the world today.

1. The writer implies that

(a) English kings were interested in sports.

 (b) football became popular in 19th century England.

(c) modern football originated in England.

(d) football is an ancient game.

2. Footballer’ was banned in England in the 12th century because

 (a) players were using other people’s land.

 (b) King Henry was scared of sports.

(c) very few people wanted to join the army.

(d) soldiers were neglecting archery practice.

3. King Henry’s law said that

(a) people playing the game would be imprisoned.

(b) spectators would be imprisoned.

 (c) owners of football fields would be imprisoned.

 (d) Both (a) and (c)

4. King James allowed people to play football because.

(a) he was kinder than Henry II.

 (b) he did not force people to practice archery for warfare.

(c) he liked the game very much.

 (d) firearms were used in war instead of bows & arrows.

5. Football is a popular sport because

 (a) it is an ancient sport.

(b) it is played in England.

(c) it is played all over the world.

 (d) there are ten different forms of sport.

ANSWERS

1. (d)               2. (d)

3. (d)               4. (d)

5. (c)

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