RK SPM Revision Cloze Passage Boxing

The first known boxers were the ancient Greeks, who toughened up young men by making them box with bare fists. Later, a length of leather was (9) ............. around their hands and forearms to protect them.

• wraps

• wrapping

• wrapped

• wrap

Although the sport was brutal, in ancient Greece, boxers who killed their (10) ............ received a stiff punishment.

• participants

• partners

• friends

• opponents

During the Middle Ages—from 500 to 1500 A.D.—boxing fell out (11) .......... favour.

• of

• in

• on

• off

It became popular in England about 100 years later, when the new middle class had the time (12) ........... money for sports.

• or

• and

• but

• yet

Boxers would travel to matches held at inns and bars, and their loyal fans would follow. No gloves were used in the early 1600s in England. (13) ........... , like the ancient Greeks, boxers used bare fists and—something new—wrestling holds.

• However

• Instead

• Therefore

• Likewise

Because (14) ........... many people were badly hurt or killed, padded boxing gloves began to be used in the United States (15) _X_ 1880.

• few

• very

• some

• so

Because (14) _X_ many people were badly hurt or killed, padded boxing gloves began to be used in the United States (15) ............ 1880.

• within

• at

• between

• around

Boxing soon became fashionable and safer. Harvard University offered boxing as a recreational sport in the 1880s. U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt’s love of the sport helped to further popularise it. It was said that Roosevelt boxed regularly with a (16) .......... heavy-weight champion named Mike Donovan.

• former

• late

• instant

• last

During World War I, boxing was part of the required training (17) .......... army recruits. The Golden Gloves Championship for boys, which (18) _X_ in the 1930s, also helped spread the sport’s popularity.

• as

• for

• to

• by

During World War I, boxing was part of the required training (17) _X_ army recruits. The Golden Gloves Championship for boys, which (18) .......... in the 1930s, also helped spread the sport’s popularity.

• begin

• began

• begun

• beginning