Question

[Lê Quỳnh Anh]

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.

Baseball evolved from a number of different ball-and stick games (paddle ball, trap ball, one-old-cat, rounders, and town ball) originating in England. As early as the American Revolution, it was noted that troops played “baseball” in their free time. In 1845 Alexander Cartwright formalized the New York Knickerbockers’ version of the game: a diamond shaped infield, with bases ninety feet apart, three strikers - you’re - out, batter out on a caught ball, three outs per inning, a nine-man team. “The New York Game” spread rapidly, replacing earlier localized forms. From its beginnings, baseball was seen as a way of satisfying the recreational needs of an increasingly urban - industrial society. At its inception it was it was played by and for gentlemen. A club might consist of 40 members. The president would appoint two captains who would choose teams from among the members. Games were played on Monday and Thursday afternoons, with the losers often providing a lavish evening’s entertainments for the winners.

During the 1850 - 70 period the game was changing, however, with increasing commercialism (charging admission), under - the - table payments to exceptional players, and gambling on the outcome of games. By 1868 it was said that a club would have their regular professional ten, an amateur first - nine, and their “muffins” (the gentlemanly duffers who once ran the game). Beginning with the first openly all - salaried team (Cincinnati’s Red Stocking Club) in 1869, the 1870- 1890 period saw the complete professionalization of baseball, including formation of the National Association of Professional baseball players in 1871. The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs was formed in 1876, run by business-minded invertors in joint-stock company clubs. The 1880s has been called Major League Baseball’s “Golden Age”. Profits soared, player’s salaries rose somewhat, a season of 84 games became one of 132, a weekly periodical “The sporting News” came into being, wooden stadiums with double-deck stands replaced open fields, and the standard refreshment became hot dogs, soda pop and peanuts. In 1900 the Western League based in the growing cities of the Mis west proclaimed itself the American League.

Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?

A. The wealthy gentlemen who first played baseball, later needed to find another recreational opportunity if they did not want to mix with other or become a “muffin”.

B. Hot dogs would not have become as popular as they did, without the professionalism and commercialism that develop in baseball.

C. The “New York” spread rapidly because it was better formalized.

D. Business - minded investors were only interested in profits.

Answer 1

[Dương Hoàn Anh]

Đáp án C.

Key words: inferred from the passage

Clue: “The New York Game” spread rapidly, replacing earlier localized forms: “New York Game” lan truyền nhanh chóng, thay thế các kết cấu định xứ trước đó.

Phân tích đáp án:

  A. the wealthy gentlemen who first played baseball, later needed to find another recreational opportunity if they did not want to mix with other or become a “muffin”: Một người đàn ông giàu có chơi bóng chày lần đầu tiên, sau đó phải tìm một cơ hội giải trí khác nếu họ không muốn bị nhầm lẫn với người khác hoặc trở thành người ngớ ngẩn.

  B. hot dogs would not have become as popular as they did, without the professionalism and commercialism that develop in baseball: Hot dog sẽ không thể trở nên được ưa chuộng nếu không có sự chuyên nghiệp hóa và công nghiệp hóa điều mà đã phát triển ở môn bóng chày

  C. the “New York” spread rapidly because it was better formalized: Môn thể thao của New York lan truyền nhanh chóng bởi vì nó có kết cấu tốt hơn.

  D. business - minded investors were only interested in profits: Các nhà đầu tư chỉ quan tâm đến lợi nhuận từ bóng chày.

Ta thấy New York Game có thể thay thế các kết cấu trước đó nghĩa là nó phải có kết cấu tốt hơn do đó đáp án chính xác là C.