Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the United States and other parts of the world. It has a history of [1]have a history of : 有一段多长的历史；有…的历史；拥有…的历史 over a century [2]century: US: [ˈsentʃəri] UK: [‘sentʃəri] n. 世纪；百年；100 年；（一个运动员所得的） 100 分. The inventor [3]inventor: US: [ɪnˈventər] UK: [ɪnˈventə(r)] n. 发明家；发明者；创造者 of basketball, James Naismith, came from Canada. He invented basketball for his students in 1891. At first [4]at first: 首先，起初, it was an indoor [5]indoor: US: [ˈɪndɔr] UK: [ˈɪndɔː(r)] adj. （在）室内的；在户内进行的；在室内用的 game so that [6]so that: 为的是，以便于 students could play in bad weather.
Basketball soon became [7]become: US: [bɪˈkʌm] UK: [bɪ’kʌm] linkv. 成为；变成；开始变得 very popular. In 1946 the National Basketball Association (NBA) came into being [8]come into being: 形成；产生；开始存在. There were many great basketball stars in the NBA. For many years they were all Americans. But now many good players come from other countries.
Basketball is both an indoor and [9]both .. and … 两者都；两个都；两者兼具 outdoor game. It is a team sport with two teams of five players each. The goal [10]goal: US: [ɡoʊl] UK: [ɡəʊl] n. 目标；目的；球门；射门 is to throw the ball through [11]through: US: [θru] UK: [θruː] adv. 通过；直达；彻底；自始至终 prep. 穿过；以；由于；贯穿 the other side’s [12]side: US: [saɪd] UK: [saɪd] n. 边；身边；一边；一面 basket [13]basket: US: [ˈbæskət] UK: [ˈbɑːskɪt] n. 篮；筐；篓；一篮 and to stop the other team from doing so [14]stop sb. from doing sth. 阻止某人做某事. You can throw it from any part of the court with one hand or both hands. You can also pass the ball to your teammates. But you must follow [15]follow: US: [ˈfɑloʊ] UK: [ˈfɒləʊ] v. 遵循；跟随；跟着；追随 the rules. For example [16]for example: 例如, you can’t hold [17]hold: US: [hoʊld] UK: [həʊld] n. 抓；握；拿；支撑 v. 拿着；抓住；抱住；托住 the ball and run with it. To win basketball games, you should have good skills [18]skill: US: [skɪl] UK: [skɪl] n. 技能；技巧；技术；技艺. But it is more important for you and the other players to play as [19]as: US: [əz] UK: [əz] prep. 作为；像；当作；如同 conj. 随着；正如；因为；由于 adv. 如同；（指事情以同样的方式发生）和…一样 a team. You are sure to enjoy playing this popular sport.
Word Bank
| ↑1 | have a history of : 有一段多长的历史；有…的历史；拥有…的历史 |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | century: US: [ˈsentʃəri] UK: [‘sentʃəri] n. 世纪；百年；100 年；（一个运动员所得的） 100 分 |
| ↑3 | inventor: US: [ɪnˈventər] UK: [ɪnˈventə(r)] n. 发明家；发明者；创造者 |
| ↑4 | at first: 首先，起初 |
| ↑5 | indoor: US: [ˈɪndɔr] UK: [ˈɪndɔː(r)] adj. （在）室内的；在户内进行的；在室内用的 |
| ↑6 | so that: 为的是，以便于 |
| ↑7 | become: US: [bɪˈkʌm] UK: [bɪ’kʌm] linkv. 成为；变成；开始变得 |
| ↑8 | come into being: 形成；产生；开始存在 |
| ↑9 | both .. and … 两者都；两个都；两者兼具 |
| ↑10 | goal: US: [ɡoʊl] UK: [ɡəʊl] n. 目标；目的；球门；射门 |
| ↑11 | through: US: [θru] UK: [θruː] adv. 通过；直达；彻底；自始至终 prep. 穿过；以；由于；贯穿 |
| ↑12 | side: US: [saɪd] UK: [saɪd] n. 边；身边；一边；一面 |
| ↑13 | basket: US: [ˈbæskət] UK: [ˈbɑːskɪt] n. 篮；筐；篓；一篮 |
| ↑14 | stop sb. from doing sth. 阻止某人做某事 |
| ↑15 | follow: US: [ˈfɑloʊ] UK: [ˈfɒləʊ] v. 遵循；跟随；跟着；追随 |
| ↑16 | for example: 例如 |
| ↑17 | hold: US: [hoʊld] UK: [həʊld] n. 抓；握；拿；支撑 v. 拿着；抓住；抱住；托住 |
| ↑18 | skill: US: [skɪl] UK: [skɪl] n. 技能；技巧；技术；技艺 |
| ↑19 | as: US: [əz] UK: [əz] prep. 作为；像；当作；如同 conj. 随着；正如；因为；由于 adv. 如同；（指事情以同样的方式发生）和…一样 |
