In sports, answering is the act of scoring following the opponent scoring that match the scoring act, thereby neutralizing the most recent scoring effort of the opponent and keeping in line with the opponent's score.
As long the opponent keeps answering each score that is made, the game will remain tied, giving either team a chance of winning. But when a team scores, and the other team fails to score in response, the scoring team will obtain a lead, which if they can maintain, they can win the game.
In American football, most scoring that takes place is either seven points at a time via a touchdown (including the extra point) or three via a field goal. In most cases, when either type of score is achieved by one team, the other team will immediately get a chance to receive a kickoff and start an offensive drive. It is possible for the receiving team to run to kickoff for a touchdown, thereby nullifying the effect of the touchdown that was just scored. If not, the team can still attempt to score on their new drive.
In basketball, the teams generally alternate possessions that do not last longer than 24 seconds. While most shots made are two points each, teams have the ability to gain ground on the opponent either by hitting the less common three pointers, or by scoring unanswered points following drives when their opponent fails to score.