# The origins of tennis - 科目：雅思阅读真题（Part 1） - 考频：中频 - 最近考试：2025.9.13 - 题目数：13 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/a126ebb4-61fc-4835-9e33-23260089c4df（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 A The game of tennis has a very long history. It is officially still known as lawn tennis,' partly because it was originally only played on grass, and also to distinguish it from the older game known as 'real tennis,' from which the modern game developed. B Some people believe that the ancient Egyptians, Greeks,and Romans played various versions of tennis. No drawings or descriptions of any tennis-like games have been discovered, but a couple of Arabic words dating from ancient Egyptian times are cited as evidence. The theory goes that the name "tennis' is derived from the Egyptian town of Tennis alongside the Nile, and the word 'racquet' evolved from the Arabic word for the palm of the hand, rahat. C Aside from these two Arabic words, there is no other evidence for any form of tennis prior to the year 1000. Most historians believe the origins of the game date back to 11th- and 12th- century France. It's thought that French monks were the first to play a basic game of handball against their monastery buildings, or over a rope strung across a courtyard. Those who dispute more ancient origins argue that the name 'tennis' is derived from the French tenez, which meant something to the effect of 'take this,' said as one player would serve to the other. D This game took on the name jeu de paume, which means "game of the hand or palm." But as they found playing with bare hands quite uncomfortable, players began using a simple glove,and later either a glove with webbing between the fingers or a solid paddle, similar to the ones used in table tennis today. Wooden racquets were not invented until much later. E The French nobility learned the game from the monks, and some accounts report as many as1,800 tennis courts in France by the 13th century. The game, which remained exclusive to the upper classes, gained more popularity over the 14th and 15th centuries. As it became increasingly fashionable, outdoor courtyards were modified into indoor courts. The game became such a widespread diversion among the aristocracy that both the pope and the French king tried to ban it. By the 16th century, the game had spread to England, where it became known as tennis.' Both kings Henry VII and Henry VIII were avid players who promoted the building of courts, and it also became a very fashionable game among the English upper classes. F An example of one of these early real tennis' courts can be seen at the royal palace of Hampton Court near London. It was built in 1525 and is still used today. Only a handful of such courts remain. It is a tall, narrow indoor court, bearing more resemblance to a squash court than the type of tennis courts we are familiar with today. 'Real tennis' is a remarkably fast and difficult game as the ball can be bounced off any of the surfaces, some of which are slanted at odd angles. The net is just over 1.5 metres high at each end, but drops to just under a metre in the middle. G Until the 19th century, the ball was either constructed from a wad of hair, wool, or cork wrapped in string and cloth or leather. Then a major development took place when Charles Good year invented vulcanisation, a process that allows rubber to withstand heat and cold. This led to the development of rubber tennis balls. During the 1850s, players began to experiment with these new balls, which bounced easily on outdoor grass courts. H In 1874 a Welshman, Major Walter C. Wingfield, known as the father of lawn tennis,' had the idea of devising rules, which he published. He also introduced standardised equipment,including racquets, balls, posts, and a net, which he patented and sold in sets. The game quickly became a very popular and sociable open-air pursuit for the English middle classes.People also started playing tennis in countries such as the United States, Russia, India,Canada, and China. I However, not all of Wingfield's ideas ultimately survived. Inspired by his knowledge of Greek, he called his version of tennis Sphairistike - a name which never caught on. Interestingly, his original court had the shape of an hourglass, with the net across its narrowest section. J A major tennis tournament took place for the first time in Wimbledon, London in 1877, and its organising committee came up with a rectangular court and a modified set of rules that are essentially the same as for the game we know today. The net was still high at the sides, a carryover from the game's indoor ancestor. But by 1882, the specifications for the size of the court, the equipment, and the rules had evolved to their current form. ## 题目与答案 ### 1. 1 There are a few surviving documents which show that a game similar to tennis was played in the ancient world. 1 There are a few surviving documents which show that a game similar to tennis was played in the ancient world. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：FALSE 原文定位：No drawings or descriptions of any tennis-like games have been discovered, but a couple of Arabic words dating from ancient Egyptian times are cited as evidence ### 10. 1874 Major Walter C. Wingfield ·Published written 10_____ for the game. 1874 Major Walter C. Wingfield ·Published written 10_____ for the game. **答案**：rules 原文定位：In 1874 a Welshman, Major Walter C. Wingfield;had the idea of devising rules, which he published ### 11. ·Produced complete sets of tennis 11_____ for sale. ·Produced complete sets of tennis 11_____ for sale. **答案**：equipment 原文定位：He also introduced standardised equipment, including racquets, balls, posts, and a net, which he patented and sold in sets 同义替换：「for sale」↔「sold」 ### 12. ·Introduced a name for the game which was never adopted. ·Designed an unusual 12_____ for the court. ·Introduced a name for the game which was never adopted. ·Designed an unusual 12_____ for the court. **答案**：shape 原文定位：his original court had the shape of an hourglass ### 13. 1877 ·The first large 13_____ was held. 1877 ·The first large 13_____ was held. **答案**：tournament 原文定位：A major tennis tournament took place for the first time in Wimbledon, London in 1877 同义替换：「first large」↔「major」 ### 2. 2 An early form of tennis involved players hitting a ball with just their hand. 2 An early form of tennis involved players hitting a ball with just their hand. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：TRUE 原文定位：But as they found playing with bare hands quite uncomfortable, players began using a simple glove 同义替换：「hitting a ball with just their hand」↔「bare hands」 ### 3. 3 The game of table tennis developed around the same time as tennis. 3 The game of table tennis developed around the same time as tennis. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：NOT GIVEN 原文定位：later either a glove with webbing between the fingers or a solid paddle, similar to the ones used in table tennis today ### 4. 4 Tennis became popular with all sections of French society in the 14th and 15th centuries. 4 Tennis became popular with all sections of French society in the 14th and 15th centuries. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：FALSE 原文定位：The game, which remained exclusive to the upper classes, gained more popularity over the 14th and 15th centuries 同义替换：「all sections of French society」↔「exclusive to the upper classes」 ### 5. 5 The indoor courts created in the 14th and 15th centuries were larger than the outdoor courtyards. 5 The indoor courts created in the 14th and 15th centuries were larger than the outdoor courtyards. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：NOT GIVEN 原文定位：As it became increasingly fashionable, outdoor courtyards were modified into indoor courts ### 6. 6 There were attempts to prevent French aristocrats from playing tennis. 6 There were attempts to prevent French aristocrats from playing tennis. - TRUE - FALSE - NOT GIVEN **答案**：TRUE 原文定位：The game became such a widespread diversion among the aristocracy that both the pope and the French king tried to ban it 同义替换：「French aristocrats」↔「aristocracy」 ### 7. The development of tennis in England 'Real tennis' court at Hampton Court ·The bail may be hit against the 7_____ around the court. The development of tennis in England 'Real tennis' court at Hampton Court ·The bail may be hit against the 7_____ around the court. **答案**：surfaces 原文定位：the ball can be bounced off any of the surfaces, some of which are slanted at odd angles 同义替换：「ball may be hit against」↔「bounced off」；「around the court」↔「surfaces」 ### 8. ·The 8_____ is lower in the centre. ·The 8_____ is lower in the centre. **答案**：net 原文定位：The net is just over 1.5 metres high at each end, but drops to just under a metre in the middle 同义替换：「lower」↔「drops to」 ### 9. 1850s ·Balls made out of 9_____ started to be used. 1850s ·Balls made out of 9_____ started to be used. **答案**：rubber 原文定位：This led to the development of rubber tennis balls. During the 1850s, players began to experiment with these new balls --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。