JBal Have you ever been to a baseball game in another country or watched one on television? + Alex and Emily Godfrey had been in Japan with their parents for nearly a week. They were there to visit their mother™ old college roommate, who had moved to Japan after college to teach English. She had planned to come home after a few years, but she had fallen in love with the country and with the man who would eventually be her husband. 2 “What's our plan for the afternoon?” asked Alex after lunch one day. + “Wells” said Mr. Ito, “we have tickets for a 4:00 baseball game. How does that sound?” 4 “Thad no idea baseball was popular in Japan,” replied Alex. 5 “Dad takes us to professional games a few times a year at home.” said Emily. “Alex and I Keep a list of cities we've visited where we have had a chance to go to a game. I had no idea that Tokyo would ever be on our list! © The tox and the Godfreys prepared for the afternoon's events. Justa few hours later, they found themselves standing inside the stadium among a crowd of excited fans. + “What are the names of the teams that are playing today?" asked Alex, looking around curiously. ® “The home team is the Yakult Swallows. They will be playing the Hiroshima Teyo Carp." said Mrs. Ito. “Baseball isn’t my cup of tea, but this promises to be a pood game” ° ‘The two families found their seats in the bleachers. Alex and Emily grinned as they listened to all the noisemakers around them. Some people were hitting together plastic bats, and others were yelling through megaphones that looked an though they had been hinged together. Wo “Are those cheerleaders?” asked Emily. She was referring to a group of men on the ball ficld Whe led the crowd in chants and cheers Mrs. Ito nodded, “I forget that Americans don’t have cheerleaders for baseball games. It also probably seems unusual that they"re all men. That's just one of the differences between ‘American and Japanese baseball culture” 1 Once the game began, Emily and Alex became quickly engrossed. The game itself didn’t seem much different at all from the ‘American baseball games they had attended. They were surprised, though, to see people waving American flags from time to time. 1) Mr. Ito explained, “Japanese teams are each allowed to have three foreign players, When, ‘American players come up to bat, their fans Show support by waving your country’s flag.” 14 In between innings, Mrs. Ito bought Alex and Emily a snack, Some vendors sold pretzels, popcorn, and het dogs, but Alex and Emily decided to try one of the Japanese alternatives, With Mrs. Ho's help, they selected yakisoba, noodles flavored with ginger and sey sauce. '3 At the end of the game, the Godfreys and the Atos piled back into the carto head home. Alex and Emily were tired, but their minds were racing with all they had scen that day. te “Did you have a good day, kids?” asked Mrs. Godtrey, turning to Alex and Emily. 1 ‘They nodded, “I wish we could go to JBall games at home, too.” said Emily. “After today. I Have a feeling that American baseball may never be quite as interesting again.Vocabulary Skills ‘Write the words from the story that have the meanings below. happening after some time 2. cone-shaped devices used for projecting sounds Reading Skills ‘Why were the Godfreys in Japan? 2. What do you think Emily meant when she said, “American baseball may never be quite as interesting again"? 3. directing attention 4. completely absorbed or occupied 5S. options; choices An idiom is a group of words that has a special meaning. For example, the idiom Ait the hay means fo go 10 bed. Write the idiom from Paragraph $ on the linc next to its meaning. 6. something of interest; something a person enjoys A prefix is a group of letters added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning. The prefix un- means or. For example, uninterested means not interested. Add un to each word below. Then, write the mea 7 aware 8. fortunate 9. healthy a0. even 2 of the new word. 3. What is one way American and Japanese baseball are similar? What is one way they are different? 4, Do you think that Alex and Emily will ge to another JBall game if they have a chance? Why or why not? Circle the word that best completes each sentence. 5. Alex and Emily decide to try food that they would not be to find at an American game. allowed likely impressed 6. The Godfreys are to. learn how American and Japanese baschall are different. curious refusing apprehensive 7. Noisemakers are a popular at Japanese baseball games. explanation resource custom