单选题

What Makes a Soccer Player Great?

Soccer is played by millions of people all over the world, hut there have only been few players who were truly great. How did these players get that way-was it through training and practice, or are great players "born, not made"? First, these players came from places that have had famous stars in the past-players that a young boy can look up to and try to imitate. In the history of soccer, only six. countries have ever won the World Cup-three from South America and three from western Europe. There has never been a great national team-or a really great player-from North America or from Asia. Second, these players have all had years of practice in the game. Alfredo Di Stefano was the son of a soccer player, as was Pele. Most players begin playing the game at the age of three or four.
Finally, many great players come from the same kind of neighborhood-a poor, crowded area where a boy's dream is not to be a doctor, lawyer, or businessman, but to become a rich, famous athlete or entertainer. For example, Liverpool, which produced the Beetles, had one of the best English soccer teams in recent years. Pele practiced in the street with a "ball" made of rags. And George Best learned the tricks that made him famous by bouncing the ball off a wall in the slums of Belfast.
All great players have a lot in common, hut that doesn't explain why they are great. Hundreds of boys played in those Brazilian streets, but only one became Pele. The greatest players are born with some unique quality that sets them apart from all the others.

单选题 According to the author, which of the following statements is true?

A、 Soccer is popular all over the world, but truly great players are rare.
B、 Millions of people all over the world are playing soccer, but only six countries have ever had famous stars.
C、 Soccer is played by millions of people all over the world, but only six countries from South America and western Europe have ever had great national reams.
D、 Soccer is one of the most popular games all over the world, but it seems the least popular in North America and Asi

【正确答案】 A

【答案解析】[解析] 细节题。依据是第一段的第一句话：Soccer is played by millions of people all over the world, but there have only been few players who were truly great．根据第一段的第四句话：In the history of soccer, only six countries have ever won the World Cup-three from South America and three from western Europe可知只有南美和西欧的六个国家曾经获得过世界杯比赛的冠军。但是仅凭这一点并不能断定只有南美和西欧国家才有过球星，或者是只有南美和西欧国家球队才最好，这样判断未免有些绝对，因此B、C选项是错误的。第五句话确实提到了北美和亚洲没有真正好的球队和球星，但是并不等同于在亚洲和北美足球受到冷落，因此D也是错误的。

单选题 The word "tricks" at the end of Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ______.

【正确答案】 C

【答案解析】[解析] 词义题。理解该词关键要看修饰它的定语从句，使他出名的东西不可能是cheating(骗术)，另外experience(经验)和training(训练)是每个足球球员都具有的，只有一些练就的、过硬的、特有的技巧、球艺(tricks/skills)才是使一个球员成功的关键因素，故选C

单选题 The Brazilian streets are mentioned to illustrate that ______.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】[解析] 推断题。根据第二段第一句：Finally, many great players come from the same kind of neighborhood-a poor, crowed area．最后一段第二句话又提到：Hundreds of boys played in those Brazilian streets, but only one became Pele．可以推断出一个伟大的球员可能出生在贫民区，D是正确选项。

单选题 In the last paragraph the statement "... but only one became Pele" indicates that ______.

单选题 The author mentions all the factors that may affect a soccer player's success except ______.

【正确答案】 D

【答案解析】[解析] 推断题。首先在第一段倒数第二句Alfredo Di Stefano was the son of a soccer player, as was Pele．说的是家庭环境(family back ground)，其次第二段的第一句Finally， many great players come from the same kind of neighborhood-a poor，crowded area说的是生活环境(neighborhood)，第二段Pele practiced in the street with a "ball" made of rags．And George Best learned the tricks．说的是训练(practice)都会影响球员的成功，只有D选项即球员的性格未有提及。