OCTOPUSH

     While most people envision the sport of hockey being played on the ice in skates or on pavement in rollerblades, some athletes play underwater with snorkels.  Underwater hockey, also called octopush, is a non-contact sport in which two teams compete to shoot the puck into the opponent's goal.  Players attempt to maneuver the puck, called a squid, with pushers (plastic or wooden sticks, which are approximately one foot long).   Athletes wear masks, fins, snorkels, mouth guards, caps, and gloves specially designed to prevent abrasions and impact injuries to the playing hand.  Teams are composed of ten players; however, a maximum of only six athletes from each team may compete at once.  The puck is placed in the middle of the pool while players hover above their goals awaiting the start of the game.  Once play begins, each athlete guards his or her assigned zone but may swim anywhere in the pool.  Playing continues until one team scores a goal, or the referee signals a break, which may be the result of a foul, a timeout, or the end of the period.  The game is played in two ten- to fifteen-minute halves with a half-time interval, during which teams switch sides of the pool.  Since players compete under six- to eight-feet of water, the game is very much a team sport; players rely on each other to take control of the puck while others surface for air.

     Invented in Britain in 1954, to keep divers in shape during the off-season, the sport now boasts international appeal for all ages.  The World Underwater Federation holds world championships every two years.  More than thirty-six teams, with representatives from Ireland, U.S.A., France, South Africa, and others, competed at the World Underwater Hockey Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2004.  The sport continues to grow in popularity, as the many underwater hockey clubs adhere to a for-fun policy: they play for enjoyment.

6.  Why did the author write this passage?

     A.  to explain how hockey players keep in shape during winter months

     B.  to describe an unconventional form of hockey

     C.  to inform the reader about a popular sport in Great Britain

     D.  to describe the World Underwater Federation

7.  Of the following statements about underwater hockey, which is true?

     A.  Players may stay only in their assigned zones.

     B.  The game is divided into three periods.

     C.  Players defend specific zones in the pool.

     D.  A maximum of ten players from each team may be in the pool at one time.

8.  As used in the passage, the word abrasions most nearly means:

     A.  irritations

     B.  scrapes

     C.  fractures

     D.  bruises

9.  Using the information provided in the passage, which statement is the most logical inference?

     A.  Because the sport is non-contact, players may compete against different age groups and weight classes.

     B.  Because octopush is played in water, it it not as fast as regular hockey or as difficult to play.

     C.  Since players are allowed to wear snorkels, it is not essential for athletes to hold their breath for long periods of time.

     D.  Underwater hockey is popular only in English-speaking countries.

10.  Which of the following best states the reason for the first paragraph?

     A.  It describes how octopush got its name.

     B.  It describes the rules of underwater hockey.

     C.  It describes how athletes train during the off-season.

     D.  It explains how athletes compete in octopush.