六、任务型阅读(本大题共5小题，每小题1分，共5分)

阅读下面短文，根据短文内容完成句子。

Football is liked by lots of people in many parts of the world. Children in Europe, Asia, and South America spend much time playing football. They attend important football matches. This sport is a source (来源) of national pride for many of them.

Why is football so popular? One of the reasons is its simple rules. Both players and spectators (观众) can easily understand the rules. Also, you only need a ball and a field to play football. They can be found almost anywhere. Even in poor countries, people can find some kind of football and the space to play. What's more, football brings people together. People can make friends when they are playing football.

Even though a ball is all you really need, balls have changed over the years. Early footballs in ancient China were made of leather (皮革) with hair in them. A rubber (橡胶) ball was invented in 1855. It was similar to the kind which we use today.

51. Children in Europe, Asia, and South America spend much time ______.

52. It's easy for both players and spectators to understand ______.

53. Even in poor countries, people can find some kind of football and ______ to play.

54. People can ______ when they are playing football.

55. Early footballs in ancient China ______ leather with hair in them.

答案解析：

51.根据第一段“Children in Europe, Asia, and South America spend much time playing football.”可知，欧洲、亚洲和南美洲的孩子们花很多时间踢足球。“spend time (in) doing sth.”表示“花费时间做某事”，所以这里填playing football。

52.由第二段“One of the reasons is its simple rules. Both players and spectators (观众) can easily understand the rules.”可知，球员和观众都能很容易理解足球的规则。所以这里填the rules。更多真题请微信搜索英语巴士小程序。

53.从第二段“Even in poor countries, people can find some kind of football and the space to play.”可知，即使在贫穷国家，人们也能找到某种足球和踢球的场地。所以此处填the space。

54.依据第二段“What's more, football brings people together. People can make friends when they are playing football.”可知，人们在踢足球的时候可以交朋友。can后接动词原形，故填make friends。

55.根据第三段“Early footballs in ancient China were made of leather (皮革) with hair in them.”可知，中国古代早期的足球是由里面有毛发的皮革制成的。“be made of”表示“由……制成”，这里说的是过去的情况，主语Early footballs是复数，所以be动词用were，故填were made of。