Question

Read the paragraph.

Each year between April and October, millions of baseball fans head out to fields across America to watch their favorite teams compete against each other. But how and when did baseball become recognized as the national sport of the United States?

To engage the reader, the author

asks a thought-provoking question.
uses a quotation.
presents a series of interesting facts.
gives an anecdote.

Answer 1

asks a thought-provoking question.

The second sentence ("But how and when did baseball become recognized as the national sport of the United States?") directly invites the reader to wonder and continue reading.