Answer Close-Reading Questions
Have students write their responses, or use the Close-Reading Questions to guide a discussion.
• What details in “Looking for the Next Baseball Stars?” support the idea that baseball is “a path to a better life” in the Dominican Republic? (Text Evidence)
More than 10 percent of Major League Baseball players come from the Dominican Republic, and they earn considerably more than most people in that nation. For example, Nelson Cruz earned $1 million playing for the San Diego Padres this year, while the average Dominican worker makes about $9,000 per year. Baseball is also one of the largest industries in the country and contributes about $400 million per year to the economy. Furthermore, Dominican stars like Cruz and Pedro Martinez have used their earnings to invest in their communities.
• Summarize the section “Catching On.” (Summarizing)
Baseball is an important part of life in the Dominican Republic. It was introduced to the Dominican Republic in the late 1800s by immigrants from Cuba. Since the first recorded game in 1886, the sport has gained in popularity. In the 1960s, Ozzie Virgil became the first Dominican to play in Major League Baseball in the U.S. Many Dominicans have followed in his footsteps. Juan Marichal, Pedro Martinez, and David Ortiz are three examples of Dominicans who have been voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Last year, six players with Dominican roots helped the Houston Astros win the World Series.
• According to “Looking for Your New Heroes?,” how is a new professional women’s cricket league in India defying expectations and encouraging girls to defy expectations too? (Central Ideas)
The Women’s Premier League is defying expectations because professional cricket players in India had always been men. It is also successful, with about 50 million people having watched the league’s games on TV this spring. The WPL is encouraging girls to defy expectations by showing how women can support themselves independently in a country where only about 1 in 5 women have careers. Girls like Sunaina and Naina are playing cricket on local teams with dreams of going pro.
• Based on “Meet a Sports Legend,” what are some of Roberto Clemente’s accomplishments? (Key Details)
At age 20, Clemente was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates. He went on to become a Hall of Fame player. Clemente spoke out against the intense discrimination and unjust laws he faced as a Black Puerto Rican player. He convinced the Pirates to sign more Black and Latino players, taught baseball to children in Puerto Rico, and gave speeches about working hard.
• What do the three articles have in common? How do they show the impact of sports? (Integrating Information)
The common thread among the three articles is that they all provide examples of how sports open up new opportunities and drive progress. The first article shows how baseball has provided jobs and led to investments in the Dominican Republic. The second article shows how a professional women’s cricket league is helping change perceptions of women in India. The third article profiles Roberto Clemente as an example of someone who used sports to give back to his community and fight injustice.