People think children should play sports. Sports are fun, and children stay healthy while playing with
others. However, playing sports can have negative effects on children. It may produce feelings of poor
self-esteem or aggressive behavior in some children. According to research on kids and sports, 40 million
kids play sports in the US. Of these, 18 million say they have been yelled at or called names while
playing sports. This leaves many children with a bad impression of sports. They think sports are just too
aggressive.
Many researchers believe adults, especially parents and coaches, are the main cause of too much
aggression in children’s sports. They believe children copy aggressive adult behavior. This behavior is
then further reinforced through both positive and negative feedback. Parents and coaches are powerful
teachers because children usually look up to them. Often these adults behave aggressively themselves,
sending children the message that winning is everything. At children’s sporting events, parents may yell
insults at other players or cheer when their child behaves aggressively. As well, children may be taught
that hurting other players is acceptable, or they may be pushed to continue playing even when they are
injured. In addition, the media makes violence seem exciting. Children watch adult sports games and see
violent behavior replayed over and over on television.
As a society, we really need to face up to this problem and do something about it. Parents and coaches
should act as better examples for children. They also need to teach children better values. They should
teach children to enjoy themselves whether they win or not. It is not necessary to knock yourself out to
enjoy sports. Winning is not everything. In addition, children should not be allowed to continue to play
when they are injured. Sending a child with an injury into a game gives the child the message that health
is not as important as winning. If we make some basic changes, children might learn to enjoy sports
again.
(Adapted from Reading Challenge 2 by Casey Malarcher and Andrea Janzen)
Câu 31. Which of the following could be the main idea of the passage?
A. Children should be discouraged to play sports when they are too young.
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B. Playing sports is not always beneficial to children’s health.
C. The negative impacts sports bring children outweigh its positive effects.
D. Playing sports may make children more violent.
Câu 32. The word “this” in paragraph 1 refers to _____________.
A. playing sports
B. millions of kids playing sports in the US
C. being yelled or called names while playing sports
D. aggressive behavior
Câu 33. The word “reinforced” in the second paragraph could be best replaced by ________.
A. strengthened B. deteriorated C. reduced D. prevented
Câu 34. According to paragraph 2, the following are the reasons of children’s aggression, EXCEPT
__________.
A. parents and coaches are too aggressive to win.
B. children are likely trained that it’s appropriate to commit a foul against an opponent.
C. violent manners are repeated many times on television.
D. children shout at their opponents as playing.
Câu 35. What does the author suggest in the last paragraph?
A. Relishing themselves should be children’s principal purpose when playing sports.
B. Aggressive behavior is indispensable in playing sports.
C. Children are inevitable to hurt or yell at other players when playing sports.
D. Being injured in sports is not acceptable.
Câu 31. Which of the following could be the main idea of the passage?
A. Children should be discouraged to play sports when they are too young.
B. Playing sports is not always beneficial to children’s health.
C. The negative impacts sports bring children outweigh its positive effects.
D. Playing sports may make children more violent.
Câu 32. The word “this” in paragraph 1 refers to _____________.
A. playing sports
B. millions of kids playing sports in the US
C. being yelled or called names while playing sports
D. aggressive behavior
Câu 33. The word “reinforced” in the second paragraph could be best replaced by ________.
A. strengthened B. deteriorated C. reduced D. prevented
Câu 34. According to paragraph 2, the following are the reasons of children’s aggression, EXCEPT
__________.
A. parents and coaches are too aggressive to win.
B. children are likely trained that it’s appropriate to commit a foul against an opponent.
C. violent manners are repeated many times on television.
D. children shout at their opponents as playing.
Câu 35. What does the author suggest in the last paragraph?
A. Relishing themselves should be children’s principal purpose when playing sports.
B. Aggressive behavior is indispensable in playing sports.
C. Children are inevitable to hurt or yell at other players when playing sports.
D. Being injured in sports is not acceptable.