Can you read and understand? Comprehension for kids

Read the following pieces filled with facts - read it at least twice and see how much you can remember without looking at the piece again.  

Once you are done you can read the piece again and fill in the missing answers.  

The alternative is you can use this as a listening test, where somebody else reads the piece to you and you listen and answer.

The Comrades marathon

           

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In 1921 the first Comrades Marathon was run from Pietermaritzburg  to Durban, South Africa.  It is an ultra marathon and is 90 km long.

Only 48 runners entered for this first race but only 34 pitched up and started the race.  There were only 16 people who could finish it.

Bill Rowan was the first man to cross the finish line.

Today it is one of the biggest events on the sports calendar and thousands of people take part in it.

1. What is the name of the marathon this piece is on?
2. In which country does it take place?
3. When did it take place for the first time and from where to where?
4. What is the distance of this marathon and what type of marathon is it?
5. How many runners entered, how many started the race and how many ended it.
6. Who was the winner of the first Comrades marathon?

Gary Player

        

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Gary Player was born on  1 November 1935 in Johannesburg, South Africa.  He is one of the best know golfers from South Africa and is known all over the world.

He has won 9 world championships and has traveled more than 15 million km and is still seen as one of the best sportsman ever.

He has designed 300 plus golf courses around the world and in 1974 he became part of the 'World Golf Hall of fame'.

He has won 165 golf tournaments over 6 continents in six decades.  Truly an inspiration.

For enrichment - You can read more about this sport icon here (make a summary of the reading piece or compile your own questions and answer it)

1. When was Gary Player born and how old is he now?
2. How many golf courses has he designed?
3. What happened to him in 1974?
4. On how many continents has he played?
5. Why do you think he is an inspiration to people?