Basketball is the only major sport that is 100 percent American in origin. It was 11 in 1891 by Naismith , a PE teacher in a high school 12 Springfield , Massachusetts. As New England winter is extremely 13 , he could not find any game 14 for his students. One day , an idea 15 him. Why not have the students pass and shoot a big orange ball through a basket indoors? Gradually the play spread throughout the United States, and later to the rest of the 16 . At first , a soccer ball was used in the game ; 17 ball used today came a little later .

Basketball was first included in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, and in 1949 the National Basketball Association ( NBA ) was formed. Thereafter , the game gradually became popular. Today , it is regularly rated as the favorite 18 of Americans . it is played everywhere from playgrounds to driveways by ordinary people. At the 19 level, players such as Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal 20 wide popularity.

11. A. invented B. discovered C. found D. made

12. A. at B. in C. by D.to

13.A. warm B. hot C. by D. to

14. A. reliable B. inevitable C. suitable D. reasonable

15. A. made out B. occurred to C. came up D. thought of

16. A. county B. state C. world D. country

17. A. a B. an C. the D. /

18. A. event B. sport C. item D. exercise

19. A. special B. traditional C. seasonal D. professional

20. A. gained B. will gain C. have gained D. had gained

（責(zé)任編輯：中大編輯）