Basketball players commonly use the backboard, the rectangular board behind the basketball hoop, to help them make shots players can bounce, or "bank," the ball off the board and into the hoop. But this was not
the original purpose of backboards. To place the first basketball hoops high off the ground, the inventor of
basketball, James A. Naismith, nailed them to the balcony of the gymnasium. However, when a shot was
taken, fans sitting on the front row of the balcony could interfere with the ball. Naismith attached the hoop to
a backboard to prevent fan interference, not to help players.
Question
According to the passage, which of the following is true of the backboard in basketball?
o It can interfere with players' shots, causing them to miss the hoop.
o It was a part of the very first basketball game.
o Its original purpose was to keep spectators from touching the ball
O It is not commonly used by today's players.