Americans are getting ready for the biggest soccer event in the world.For the first time the world cup soccer competition will be held in the United States.While millions play the game around the world,soccer or football has only recently become popular here.It is only in the last 30 years that large numbers of young Americans became interested in soccer.Now it is the fastest growing sport in the country.A recent study found that almost 18 million young boys and girls play soccer in the United States.
　　The study also found that soccer is beginning to replace more traditional games like American football as the most popular sport among students.And so,when the world cup begins next week,more than one million Americans are expected to go and see the teams play.Organizers say this year's world cup will be the biggest ever.All the seats at most of the 52 games have already been sold.
　　Soccer has been played in the United States for a little more than one hundred years.But how did the sport come to this country?And how long has it existed in other parts of the world?No one knows exactly where the idea for soccer came from,or when people began playing the game.Some scientists say there is evidence that ball games using the feet were played thousands of years ago.There is evidence that ancient Greeks and Romans and native American Indians all played games sim-ilar to soccer.
　　Most experts agree that Britain is the birthplace of modem soccer.They also agree that the British spread the game around the world.Unlike the game today,which uses balls of man-made material or leather,early soccer balls were often made of animal stomachs.The rules of early soccer games also differed from those we have today.
　　1.For how long has soccer been played in the United States?
　　A.About a hundred years.
　　B.About fifty years.
　　C.Only recently.
　　D.About thirty years.
　　参考答案：A
　　参考解析：细节题。见第三段第一句话。
　　2.Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the text?
　　A.Americans were preparing for the world cup when the author wrote this article.
　　B.More younger Americans became interested in soccer in the last 30 years.
　　C.Soccer is the fastest developing sport in the world.
　　D.The article was written before the world cup held in the United States.
　　参考答案：C
　　参考解析：是非题。见文中第一段第五旬提到，足球在美国是发展最快的运动，但没有说在世界范围内是发展最快的运动。故选C。
　　3.What is the author going to state in the next paragraph?
　　A.There have been attempts to start a professional soccer organization in the U.S..
　　B.In the 12th century soccer games in Britain often involved whole towns.
　　C.Professional soccer grew quickly in Europe.
　　D.Experts believed that the United States would win.
　　参考答案：B
　　参考解析：推理题。文中最后一段讲述了英国足球是现代足球的发明国，接下来就应该介绍一下足球在英国的发展才符合逻辑。故选B。
　　4.Who invented the modem soccer game?
　　A.American Indians.
　　B.British.
　　C.Geeks
　　D.Romans.
　　参考答案：B
　　参考解析：细节题。见最后一段第一句，英国是现代足球的发明者。
　　5.Which was the most popular sport as a traditional game among students?
　　A.Basketball.
　　B.American football.
　　C.Soccer.
　　D.Tennis.
　　参考答案：B
　　参考解析：细节题。见第二段第一句，“…soccer is beginning to replace more traditional games like American football as the most popular sport among students.”可知“American football”是在青少年中最为流行的传统运动。故选B。
　　参考译文
　　美国准备着迎接世界上最大的足球盛宴，他们有史以来第一次承办了世界杯。当全世界有数以百万计的人在踢足球时，这项运动在关国才刚刚火热起来。大批美国青年人对足球感兴趣还是最近30年的事。但现在它是美国发展最快的运动。一项最近的调查显示大约有一千八百万的美国青年男女踢足球。
　　这项调查同样表明，足球已经开始代替更多的传统运动，比如橄榄球，成为学生当中最流行的运动。因此，世界杯下周开赛时预计去看球的美国人超过一百万。主办方声称这一届的世界杯会成为历史上最盛大的一届。52场比赛中大部分场次的座位已全部售完。
　　足球在美国仅仅有一百多年的历史，但这项运动是怎样流传到这个国家的?足球在世界其他地方存在多久了?没有人确切地知道足球是从哪里起源或是人们从什么时候开始踢足球。某些科学家表示，有证据证明用脚玩的球类运动几千年前就有了。现在也有证据显示古希腊、古罗马和美国土著印第安人玩类似于足球的运动。
　　大部分专家都承认英国是现代足球的发源地，他们同样也认为英国把足球传播到了世界各地。不同的是，现在比赛中用的足球是人造材料或是皮革质地，而过去使用的球常常是用动物的胃做的。早期足球比赛的规则也与现在有所不同。