Sports for grades 1–2: questions with answers
The Sports questions for grades 1–2 from the game, with the correct answers and an explanation for each.
How many players does a football team have on the pitch?
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
Correct answer: 11 — Each side has eleven players including the goalkeeper, so twenty-two are on the pitch at kick-off.
How many rings are on the Olympic flag?
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
Correct answer: 5 — The five interlocking rings were designed by Pierre de Coubertin in 1913 and first flown at the 1920 Antwerp Games.
How often is the FIFA World Cup held?
- every year
- every two years
- every four years
- every five years
Correct answer: every four years — The first World Cup was played in 1930; only the 1942 and 1946 editions were cancelled, because of the Second World War.
In which sport is Wimbledon a famous tournament?
- golf
- cricket
- rowing
- tennis
Correct answer: tennis — Wimbledon has been played in south-west London since 1877 and is the only Grand Slam still played on grass.
How many players from one team are on a basketball court at the same time?
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Correct answer: 5 — Five per side: traditionally two guards, two forwards and a centre, with substitutions allowed at any stoppage.
Which colour card sends a footballer off the pitch?
- yellow
- blue
- green
- red
Correct answer: red — Yellow and red cards were introduced at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico so that fans in any language could understand the referee.
In which sport is a 'home run' scored?
- baseball
- cricket
- golf
- basketball
Correct answer: baseball — A home run is a hit that lets the batter run around all four bases; the game is played in nine innings.
How long is a marathon?
- 10 km
- 21.1 km
- 30 km
- 42.195 km
Correct answer: 42.195 km — The odd distance was fixed at the 1908 London Olympics, when the course ran from Windsor Castle to the royal box in the stadium.
How many minutes does a football match last, not counting extra time?
- 30
- 60
- 90
- 120
Correct answer: 90 — Two halves of forty-five minutes, plus stoppage time added by the referee for injuries and delays.
In which country were the ancient Olympic Games held?
- Greece
- Egypt
- Italy
- Turkey
Correct answer: Greece — The ancient Games were held at Olympia every four years from 776 BC in honour of the god Zeus.
In which sport did Usain Bolt become a star?
- swimming
- athletics
- boxing
- cycling
Correct answer: athletics — Bolt won the 100 m and 200 m sprints at three Olympic Games in a row: Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016.
Which sport is Serena Williams famous for?
- golf
- athletics
- swimming
- tennis
Correct answer: tennis — Serena Williams won 23 Grand Slam singles titles, the most by any player in the professional era of tennis.
In which sport is a puck used?
- ice hockey
- field hockey
- curling
- lacrosse
Correct answer: ice hockey — The puck is a flat disc of vulcanised rubber; it is often frozen before a game so that it slides better and bounces less.
Which sport is played with rackets and a shuttlecock?
- squash
- badminton
- table tennis
- tennis
Correct answer: badminton — Badminton has been an Olympic sport since Barcelona 1992; the shuttlecock is traditionally made of goose feathers.
Which sport made Michael Jordan famous?
- baseball
- American football
- basketball
- golf
Correct answer: basketball — Jordan won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls and two Olympic gold medals, in 1984 and 1992.
In which sport do competitors shoot arrows at a target?
- archery
- fencing
- shooting
- biathlon
Correct answer: archery — Archery was one of the sports at the 1900 Paris Olympics and has been on the programme continuously since 1972.
Which sport is raced in the Tour de France?
- running
- cycling
- motor racing
- rowing
Correct answer: cycling — The Tour is a three-week bicycle race of about 3,500 km around France, held almost every year since 1903, normally in July.
Which sport is Tiger Woods famous for?
- tennis
- baseball
- boxing
- golf
Correct answer: golf — Woods won 15 major championships, including the Masters at Augusta five times, the first in 1997 at the age of 21.
In which sport did Michael Phelps win his Olympic medals?
- rowing
- diving
- swimming
- athletics
Correct answer: swimming — Phelps won 28 Olympic medals between 2004 and 2016, more than any other athlete in history.
What is the aim of a game of chess?
- capture all the pieces
- checkmate the king
- reach the last row
- capture the queen
Correct answer: checkmate the king — Checkmate means the king is under attack and cannot escape; the game ends at once, however many pieces remain on the board.