Unlike most sports, which evolved over time from street games, basketball was designed by one man to suit a【C1】______ purpose. The man was Dr. James Naismith, and his purpose was【C2】______ a vigorous game that could be played 【C3】______ in the winter. In 1891. Naismith was an instructor at a training school, which trained【C4】______ education instructors for the YMCAs. That year the school was trying【C5】______ up with a physical activity that the men could enjoy【C6】______ the football and baseball seasons. None of the standard indoor activities【C7】______ their interest for long. Naismith was asked to solve the problem for the school. He first tried to【C8】______ some of the popular outdoor sports, but they were all too【C9】______ . The men were getting bruised from tackling each other and【C10】______ hit with equipment. So, Naismith decided to invent a game that would incorporate the most common elements of outdoor team sports without having the real physical contact. Most popular sports used a ball, so he chose a soccer ball because it was soft and large enough that it【C11】______ no equipment, such as a hat or a racket to hit it. Next he decided 【C12】______ an elevated goal, so that scoring would depend on skill and accuracy rather than on 【C13】______ only. His goals were two peach baskets,【C14】______ to ten-foot high balconies at each end of the gym. The basic【C15】______ of the game was to throw the ball into the basket. Naismith wrote rules for the game,【C16】______ of which, though with some small changes, are still【C17】______ effect. Basketball was an immediate success. The students【C18】______ it to their friends and the new sport quickly【C19】______ on. Today, basketball is one of the most popular games【C20】______ the world. 【C1】