The word “sport” first meant something that people did in their free time. Later it often meant hunting wild animals and birds. About a hundred years ago the word was first used for organized games. This is the usual meaning of the word today. People spend a lot of their time playing football, basketball, tennis and many other sports. Such people play because they want to. A few people are paid for the sport they play. These people are called professional sportsmen. They may be sportsmen for only a few years, but during that time the best ones can earn a lot of money. For example, a professional footballer in England earns more than 30, 000 dollars a year. The stars earn a lot more. International golf and tennis champions can make more than 500, 000 dollars a year. Of course, only a few sportsmen can earn as much money as that.

　　Perhaps the most surprising thing about sportsmen and money is that the stars can earn more money from advertising than from sports. An advertisement for sports equipment does not simply say “Buy our things”. It says “Buy the same shirt and shoes as…”. Famous sportsmen can even advertise things like watches and food. They allow the companies to use their names or a photograph of them and they are paid for this. Sport is no longer just something for people’s spare time.

　　1. From the passage we can learn that _______.

　　A. people spend too much money on sports B. the development of sports is slower than any other activity

　　C. most people enjoy sports because they can earn money D. nowadays sport is not merely a pastime for people

　　2. Nowadays, the word “sport” means _______.

　　A. what people do in their spare time B. hunting wild animals and birds

　　C. organized games D. something people are paid to do

　　3. People play sports for _______.

　　A. fun B. different purposes C. money D. keeping fit

　　4. What surprises people most is that _______.

　　A. the stars get more money from advertising B. the word “sport” meant hunting animals

　　C. professional sportsmen are paid for what they do D. only a few sportsmen can earn $ 500, 000 a year

　　【答案解析】本文介绍了 sport 这一单词的意义演变以及体育名人效应所带来的各种收益。

　　1. D。细节题。根据 Later it often meant hunting wild animals and birds. About a hundred years ago the word was first used for organized games 可推知此题答案为 D。

　　2. C。细节题。根据 About a hundred years ago the word was first used for organized games. This is the usual meaning of the word today 可推知此题答案为 C。

　　3. B。推断题。根据 Such people play because they want to. A few people are paid for the sport they play 可以推断人们进行体育活动怀有各种各样的目的。

　　4. A。细节题。根据 Perhaps the most surprising thing about sportsmen and money is that the stars can earn more money from advertising than from sports 可推知此题答案为 A。

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