Reading Comprehension

HE WAS ONLY WRONG BY TWO!

John was a football coach at a British University. He always tried to find good football players for his team. John trained his players very well. They were good at running, jumping, swimming, rowing and playing different games. They often took part in races and practically always won. All John’s players were tall strong men, excellent sportsmen and just nice people. They hardly ever gave him trouble and the University team was the best in the South of England. Regular training, keeping to a diet and a lot of exercises were very important for the sportsmen. They always followed the coach’s advice and received good and excellent results in all home and international competitions and matches. They rarely lost a game or hardly ever ended matches in a draw. In fact, they practically always won. The only trouble with some of his football players was their poor knowledge of many school subjects because the sportsmen were often not good at Maths, English, etc. and it was not always easy for them to be good University students. One day the coach brought an excellent young football player to the Professor of the University. The Professor had to ask the young player some questions. The Professor chose very easy questions, but the boy couldn’t answer them. At last the Professor asked, “Well, what’s fi ve times seven?” The student thought for a long time and then answered, “Thirty-six.” The Professor shook his head and looked at the coach. “It’s impossible!” he said. “I don’t want to punish your team. I understand he can throw a ball very well, but he doesn’t know mathematics at all. He can’t be a student.” But the coach seriously asked, “Oh, please, sir! Let him become a student. He was only wrong by two.”

John tried to find …

John’s football players were good at …

 They hardly ever gave him ...

They always followed the coach’s ...

Was the coach good at Mathematics?

Did the players often lose the games?

What was the only trouble with players?

Where did the players take part in?

What was important for the sportsmen?

What didn't the professor want to do with the footballers?

Where did the team get good results?

How long has the boy thought to answer the professor?