Name Date Score__________ Reading Comprehension - Story 1 Directions: Read the story below very carefully and then answer the questions that follow. Wings on His Feet If you know about the flying slam dunk, then you know about Michael Jordan. Jordan flew into basketball history in 1984. That’s the year the Chicago Bulls chose him to join their team. The rest is history. At six fee six inches, Jordan could jump higher than players half a foot taller. He could wiggle and waggle around in the air. He could toss off shots that left other players shaking their heads. How did he do it? Jordan once said he sometimes felt like he had little wings on his feet. His success on the court didn’t come from magic wings, though. It came from practice. Michael grew up in a middle-class family in Wilmington, North Carolina. His parents taught all of their children to work hard. They told them not to waste their talent. Maybe that’s why Michael and his brother, Larry, played so hard on their grass basketball court. They both wanted to be the best. Day after day, Michael and Larry pounded it out on the backyard court. Michael tried out a lot of sports before he settled on basketball. He tried football, track, and baseball. He thought he was too short and skinny to play basketball. Even though he was small, Michael became one of the best players on this ninth-grade basketball team. He was quick and driven by a will to win. One of this friends said, “If it was a game of Horse and you beat him, you would have to play another game until he won. You didn’t go home until he had won.” Michael could hardly believe it when he didn’t make the varsity basketball team his sophomore year. He was upset, but he didn’t stop. Instead, he worked even harder. He became the star player on the junior varsity team. He scored up to 40 points in the game. Varsity players came to the games to check out his moves. The next year he made the varsity team. By the time he started playing on the varsity team, Michael had grown four inches. He decided to focus on basketball. He never let up on himself. He pushed his teammates to work as hard as he did. He also became a good student. He hoped to go to college when he finished high school. After high school, Michael went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Even he was surprised when he was chosen to start as a shooting guard. His first season was a great success. He even made the winning shot at the national championship game. He left college before his last year to play for the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was afraid he’d be a flop. However, his hard work and will to win launched him right to the top. During the 13 years that Jordan played with the Chicago Bulls, he was named the NBA Most Valuable Player five times. He earned the NBA record for highest career scoring average. He demanded the best of himself and other team members. With Jordan in the lead, the Bulls won six national championships. In 1996, he was named one of the greatest North American athletes of the 20 th century. Will there ever be a player better than Jordan? Jordan once said that somewhere out there is another kid who won’t be afraid, a kid who will work hard and build on the example of those who have gone before. Maybe that kid will grow little wings on his feet and fly off to fame, just like Michael Jordan! Questions Make sure you have read the story completely before answering the questions. 1. What important values did Michael Jordan’s parents teach him when he was young? 6. (A) to work hard and not waste his talent (B) to make as much money as possible (C) to become a doctor or lawyer (D) to speak out against crime 2. If you scan this article to find something, this means you (A) (B) (C) (D) 3. write down everything about it. reread the whole thing quickly look through the article just reread the first paragraph What did Michael Jordan do when he didn’t make the varsity team as a sophomore? (A) he almost gave up (B) he thought that it was unfair (C) he worked even harder (D) he went to a different school 7. What award did Michael Jordan get five times? (A) highest scorer (B) greatest player (C) most valuable player (D) richest player This story is mostly about (A) Michael Jordan’s NBA championships (B) how to play basketball well (C) how Michael became a great player (D) Michael Jordan’s hometown 4. In the story, when it stated Michael had a will to win, it meant (A) he was determined (B) he was unsure of himself (C) he didn’t have to try very hard (D) he wanted to give up 5. From reading the article, you can tell that Michael Jordan (A) hating losing (B) cared only about himself (C) never had to practice very much (D) didn’t really enjoy playing basketball. RMW * Comprehension Practice * 2003