The Amazing Acrobatics of Sepak Takraw

What is sepak takraw?

• a dance in South Africa that is performed in a circle, with a large group, to the beat of drums

• a sport in Southeast Asia where teams of three work to hit a ball across a net without their arms or hands

• a board game in Southeast Asia where teams of five work together to answer science questions

• a sturdy plant from South Africa that has shiny leaves, star-shaped flowers, and small red fruit

How does the sepak takraw sport compare to the version soldiers would practice in the Chinese military?

• Sepak takraw as a sport is played as a competition against another team, while the Chinese military would use it as an exercise for stretching and agility.

• Sepak takraw, the sport, is a performance by a group of people trying to keep a ball in the air, while the Chinese military would play against another team.

• Sepak takraw, the sport, is usually played in teams of five people, while the Chinese military would play in smaller groups of two people.

• Sepak takraw, the sport, is played with no teams and five people in a circle, while the Chinese military would play in two teams of three people.

3. Sepak takraw is an important part of Thai culture. What evidence from the text supports this conclusion?

• “One version most likely came from a Chinese military program. As part of this program, soldiers would kick a ball and try to keep it in the air with their feet. At the time, the ball was made from animal hide and chicken feathers.”

• “In 1829, the Siam Sports Association created the first official rules of the game. The organization added the net between the teams and hosted the first public tournament.”

• “In this sport, three teammates work together to hit a ball across a net using only their feet, knees, chest and head. The ball is not allowed to touch the players’ arms or hands.”

• “Within just a few years, sepak takraw was played in most Thai schools. The game became very popular. It was even played to celebrate the kingdom’s first constitution in 1933!”

4. The Olympics is a competition of many sports that athletes from all around the world participate in. How would making sepak takraw an Olympic sport broaden its audience?

• That means it would get its own official song that people around the world would learn and sing.

• The sepak takraw teams at the Olympics would be five people instead of three so more people would play the sport.

• The beautiful sepak takraw costumes would attract a lot of people to go and watch the games.

• It would be played in front of a world audience where many people could see and learn about the sport.

5. What is the main idea of this text?

• Chinlone is a version of sepak takraw where people stand in a circle and try to keep a ball in the air in graceful and entertaining ways instead of competing against other teams.

• In the 1960s, the Asian Sepak Takraw Federation standardized the rules of the game, decided on its official name, and got the sport accepted to be played in the 1968 Olympics.

• Sepak takraw, a popular sport in Southeast Asia where teams work together to hit a ball without using their arms or hands, has been standardized over time and gained popularity.

• Sepak takraw, now a popular exercise program in Southeast Asia, was a training method used by the Chinese military where soldiers would try to keep a ball in the air with their feet.

6. Read the following sentences from the text:

“Sepak takraw has been around in different forms for a very long time. Since the 15th century, different versions of sepak takraw have been played across many Asian countries. One version most likely came from a Chinese military program….One distinct version of the game is found in Myanmar and is called ‘chinlone.’”

As used in this excerpt, what does the word “version” most closely mean?

• a piece of writing in a newspaper

• a nation with its own government

• a person who is liked and admired

• a particular form of something

Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.

Sepak takraw has been around for a long time but was standardized only recently, ________ allowed for more cultures to play it together and caused the sport to gain popularity.

• although

• which

• namely

• earlier

8. What are some other names Asian cultures use for sepak takraw?