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James Fallows, Throwing Like a Girl

James Fallows, Throwing Like a Girl

Read Throwing Like a Girl and check your comprehension by answering the following questions.Then “submit” your work.

1. On the opening day of the 1994 baseball season, who threw out the first ball at Wrigley Field?

Bill Clinton

George Bush

Hillary Clinton

Jimmy Carter

2. Why do men and women generally throw a ball differently?

Throwing a ball the way a man throws it looks too masculine.

There is a structural difference in their shoulders.

The female arm is significantly shorter and, therefore, does not have the same leverage as the male arm.

Boys are simply taught to throw differently than girls.

3. What is the fundamental mistake made by someone “throwing like a girl”?

He or she throws with his or her body facing the target.

The ball is not pitched with enough force.

The pitcher is concerned about getting hit by the ball.

The pitcher’s wrist is too limp.

4. How did actor John Goodman learn about “throwing like a girl”?

Until he played the part of Babe Ruth, he had never thrown a big league baseball.

When he played the part of Babe Ruth, Goodman had to learn to throw with his left hand instead of his right (Ruth was left-handed).

He noticed that it was equally hard to teach his son and his daughters how to throw a ball.

His wife made him teach her how to throw like a guy.

5. What is one of the best ways to teach an adult how to throw a ball without embarrassment?

Play catch with someone who is skilled but who uses his or her nondominant hand.

Learning to throw a ball as an adult is like learning to speak another language as an adult: it’s almost impossible.

People who throw like girls should practice with each other.

An adult woman should learn from another adult woman.