Question

james naismith was a teacher who taught physical education in the 1890s. one day naismiths boss told him to create a game that students could play indoors during the winter months. he had only fourteen days to complete this task. with the help of some peach baskets and a ball, naismith developed the idea and rules for the game of basketball. to naismiths surprise, basketball developed into a sport with lasting popularity.
text 2
in 1891, james naismith created an early version of the football helmet. the idea for this invention came to him after he was hurt while playing football. he was worried about getting hit in the head, so he decided to protect it with padding. his girlfriend, maude sherman, sewed together pieces of fabric to protect his ears. later on, he used the leather from a rugby football to create a better helmet.
which sentence best combines the main, or central, ideas of both texts?
james naismith changed sports by designing an early football helmet and inventing the game of basketball.
james naismith was a physical education teacher who worried about his students safety, so he invented the football helmet.
after being hurt while playing football, james naismith developed the rules for the game of basketball.
james naismith was told by his boss to develop the rules for basketball and to design a football helmet.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each text's main idea: Text 1 is about Naismith inventing basketball. Text 2 is about him creating an early football helmet. Now we check the options:

• Option 1: "James Naismith changed sports by designing an early football helmet and inventing the game of basketball." This combines both main ideas (inventing basketball and designing the football helmet) correctly.
• Option 2: Only focuses on the football helmet and a new detail (students' safety) not in the texts, so incorrect.
• Option 3: Incorrectly links his football injury to developing basketball rules, which is not supported.
• Option 4: His boss only told him to create a game (basketball), not to design a helmet, so incorrect.

Answer:

James Naismith changed sports by designing an early football helmet and inventing the game of basketball.