Why play games? Because they are fun, and we can learn even more while playing. Following the rules, planning your next move, acting as a team member — these are all “game” ideas that you will come across all through your life. They can help you in different ways.
Think about some of the games you played as a young child, such as rope-jumping and hide-and-seek. Such games are very interesting. But perhaps more importantly, they translate part of life into exciting games that teach children some of the basic rules they will be expected to follow the rest of their lives, such as taking turns and cooperating (合作).   
Many children’s games have a practical side. Children around the world play games that prepare them for work they will do as grown-ups. For example, some Saudi Arabian children play a game called bones, which improves the hand-eye coordination (协调) needed in fishing.
The most famous games of all, the Olympic Games, bring athletes from around the world together to take part in friendly competitions. People who watch the event (比赛项目) know that a gold medal is a win for the whole country, not just the athlete who got it. For countries experiencing natural disasters (灾害) or wars, an Olympic win can mean so much.
Sports games are also an event that unites (团结) people. Football is the most popular sport in the world. People all over the world play it — some for fun and some for a living. Nicolette Iribarne, a Californian football player, has discovered a way to spread hope through football. He created a foundation (基金会) to provide poor children with not only soccer balls but also a bright future.
Next time you play your favorite game or sport, think about why you enjoy it, what skills are needed, and whether these skills will help you in other parts of your life.
【小题1】What are children expected to learn when they play games?

Dear Mum,

    I don’t think you understand my life．You think I should be studying all the time．I know  you want me to find a good job when I grow up，but I would like to have a wonderful time．too．You never think about fun thing for me to do like music and sports．Two days ago，when I was watching a football game on TV，you asked me to stop and to do my homework．After finishing my homework，still I read my football magazines．You said I must go to bed early．That was bad enough，but yesterday was the worst day．I bought some computer games，and put them in my bag so that you couldn’t see them．I told you I would do my homework first．I knew it was wrong to lie(撒谎) to you，but you told me that Dad would talk to me later．Mum，I don’t like what you did to me！I really love you，Mum，but I wish you could try not to be so strict with me．

                                                            Love，

                                                            Zhang Ning

根据短文内容，选出最佳答案。

1．Zhang Ning’s mother wants him __________ when he grows up．

    A．to be a teacher         B．to find a good job

    C．to work in a big city    D．to become a football star

2．__________ is Zhang Ning’s favorite sport．

    A．Football      B．Volleyball      C．Basketball    D．Baseball

3．Zhang Ning is asked __________．

    A．to watch TV             B．to do sports

    C．to play computer games    D．to study all the time

4．Zhang Ning put the computer games in the bag because __________．

A．he didn’t like them   

B．he played them many times

    C．he wouldn’t like his mother to find them

    D．there was something wrong with them

5．We know from the letter that __________．

    A．ZhangNing lives a very happy life

    B．Zhang Ning hates his mother

    C．Zhang Ning wishes to study all the time

    D．Zhang Ning’s mother is very strict with him

Why play games? Because they are fun, and we can learn even more while playing. Following the rules, planning your next move, acting as a team member — these are all “game” ideas that you will come across all through your life. They can help you in different ways.

Think about some of the games you played as a young child, such as rope-jumping and hide-and-seek. Such games are very interesting. But perhaps more importantly, they translate part of life into exciting games that teach children some of the basic rules they will be expected to follow the rest of their lives, such as taking turns and cooperating (合作).   

Many children’s games have a practical side. Children around the world play games that prepare them for work they will do as grown-ups. For example, some Saudi Arabian children play a game called bones, which improves the hand-eye coordination (协调) needed in fishing.

The most famous games of all, the Olympic Games, bring athletes from around the world together to take part in friendly competitions. People who watch the event (比赛项目) know that a gold medal is a win for the whole country, not just the athlete who got it. For countries experiencing natural disasters (灾害) or wars, an Olympic win can mean so much.

Sports games are also an event that unites (团结) people. Football is the most popular sport in the world. People all over the world play it — some for fun and some for a living. Nicolette Iribarne, a Californian football player, has discovered a way to spread hope through football. He created a foundation (基金会) to provide poor children with not only soccer balls but also a bright future.

Next time you play your favorite game or sport, think about why you enjoy it, what skills are needed, and whether these skills will help you in other parts of your life.

1.What are children expected to learn when they play games?

2.What can we learn from the passage?

3.What’s the main idea of the passage?