History of Soccer - Grade 7 Reading Comprehension Worksheet

It looks like you've uploaded a reading comprehension worksheet titled "History of Soccer", intended for Grade 7 students. However, the image only includes the passage and does not show any questions or tasks to solve.

Since no specific question is provided, I’ll help by:

1. Summarizing the passage.
2. Explaining key historical facts about soccer.
3. Providing example comprehension questions that might accompany this text (so you can practice or understand how to approach it).

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🔍 Summary of the Passage: "History of Soccer"

This passage traces the origins and evolution of soccer from ancient times to modern professional leagues.

#### Key Points:
- Ancient Origins: The oldest soccer-like games were played 2,000 years ago in China, Greece, and Rome, using rocks or animal hides stuffed with hair as balls.
- Modern Beginnings: Soccer evolved in 19th-century England and was brought to the United States by immigrants.
- Standardization: In 1863, England created its first football association, which established rules—such as no carrying the ball by hand—separating soccer from rugby.
- Industrialization & Popularity: As industrialization grew in England, soccer became more popular among working-class people. Paid players emerged in the 1900s, turning soccer into a revenue-generating spectator sport.
- Professional Leagues:
- First professional league: English Football League.
- Germany introduced semi-professional leagues in 1949.
- First professional German division: 1963/64.
- U.S. leagues formed in 1967 (National Professional Soccer League and United Soccer Association), later merging into the North American Soccer League (1968).
- Major League Soccer (MLS) was founded in 1996.
- Global Growth: Soccer's popularity increased globally; the 1994 FIFA World Cup was hosted in the U.S., further boosting interest.

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📝 Example Comprehension Questions (Based on This Passage)

Here are some typical questions that might follow this passage:

#### 1. What evidence does the passage provide that soccer has ancient roots?
> Answer: The passage states that the oldest soccer-like sport was played 2,000 years ago in ancient Chinese, Greek, and Roman cultures, where a rock or animal hide was used as a ball.

#### 2. Why did the English football association create rules in 1863?
> Answer: To standardize the sport and establish official rules, such as prohibiting carrying the ball by hand, which helped separate soccer from rugby.

#### 3. How did industrialization affect soccer in England?
> Answer: Industrialization led to more people having free time and forming workplace teams. Soccer became popular among the working class and eventually turned into a paid, professional sport.

#### 4. What change occurred in the U.S. in 1996 related to soccer?
> Answer: Major League Soccer (MLS) was established in 1996, marking the creation of a major professional soccer league in the United States.

#### 5. Why did European countries switch from calling the sport “football” to “soccer”?
> Answer: They switched to avoid confusion between soccer and American football (which is also called "football" in the U.S.).

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✔ How to Approach Reading Comprehension:

1. Read the passage carefully — look for main ideas and supporting details.
2. Identify key dates, events, and causes/effects.
3. Understand vocabulary in context (e.g., "standardized", "industrialization").
4. Answer questions based on evidence from the text.

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If you have a specific question or task related to this passage (like answering questions, summarizing, or identifying main ideas), please share it, and I’ll help you solve it step by step!