The Geometry of the Court
The concrete basketball court behind Oakridge Middle School was always alive with the sharp squeak of rubber soles and the relentless thud of bouncing leather during sixth-period lunch. When Julian transferred to Oakridge in early October, the court was the first place he gravitated toward. Tall, gangly, and still adjusting to a recent growth spurt that left him perpetually self-conscious, Julian longed to belong to the spirited group of eighth-graders who dominated the asphalt every afternoon. Unfortunately, his enthusiasm far exceeded his experience.
On his second day, Julian nervously approached the court during team selections for the annual intramural three-on-three tournament. Marcus, the undisputed captain of the school's top squad, glanced at Julian with skeptical appraisal. Marcus was swift, precise, and obsessed with winning. When Julian was placed on a provisional scrimmage team to demonstrate his abilities, disaster struck almost immediately. Julian’s footwork was erratic, he fumbled basic chest passes, and an ill-fated layup attempt bounced awkwardly off the top corner of the backboard, sailing out of bounds into the chain-link fence. A smattering of laughter erupted along the bleachers.
- periphery:
- The outer edge or boundary of an area.
- provisional:
- Arranged or existing for the present, possibly to be changed later.
- reluctance:
- Unwillingness or hesitation to do something.
- trajectory:
- The curved path that an object follows through the air or space.
- contrite:
- Feeling or expressing sincere remorse or sorrow for a mistake.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Why did Julian struggle during his initial scrimmage in early October?
- 2How did Marcus react after watching Julian's first scrimmage performance?
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About this short story passage for 7th Grade
“The Geometry of the Court” is a short story reading passage about Perseverance and Growth, written for 7th Grade. It takes about 6 minutes to read (940 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.