Read the Passage.
"Did you see that?" Joe said to his friend Bill.
"You're a great shooter!"
Bill caught the basketball and bounced it before
throwing it again. The ball flew into the net.
"Bill, you never miss!" Joe said admiringly.
"Unless I'm in a real game," Bill complained.
"Then I miss all the time."
Joe knew that Bill was right. Bill performed much
better when he was having fun with Joe in the school
yard than he did when he was playing for the school
team in front of a large crowd.
"Maybe you just need to practice more," Joe suggested.
"But I practice all the time with you!" Bill objected.
He shook his head. "I just can't play well when people are
watching me."
"You play well when I'm watching," Joe pointed out.
"That's because I've known you since we were five
years old," Bill said with a smile. "I'm just not
comfortable playing when other people are around."
Joe nodded and understood, but he also had an idea.
The next day Joe and Bill met in the school yard again
to practice. After a few minutes, Joe excused himself.
"Practice without me," Joe said to his friend. "I'll be
back in a minute."
Joe hurried through the school building, gathering
together whomever he could find—two students, a math teacher, two secretaries, and a janitor. When Joe explained
why he needed them, everyone was happy to help.
Joe reminded the group to stay quiet as they all went
toward the school's basketball court. As Joe had hoped,
Bill was still practicing basketball. He made five
baskets in a row without noticing the silent people
standing behind him.
"Hey, Bill!" Joe called out finally.
Bill turned. A look of surprise came over his face.
"I just wanted to show you that you could play well
with people watching you," Joe said. "Now you'll have
nothing to worry about for the next game!"
1. What would be the best title for the story?
A. Joe Joins the Team
B. Practice Makes Perfect
C. Bill Wins the Big Game
D. Bill's Basketball Problem
2. Why is Bill upset?
A. He plays better in practice than he does during games.
B. The school yard is not a good place to practice.
C. Joe watches him too closely when he plays.
D. His team loses too many games.
