Discuss the following questions in small groups.

a) What’s the most popular sport in our country (to watch and to play)?

b) How popular are the sports below?

 

gymnastics table tennis

archery hockey

badminton judo

cycling football

fencing sailing

 

Put the sports from Exercise 2 in the correct columns. Add more sports to each column.

DO

GO

PLAY

 

 

Make a list of the sports you have played in your life. Put them in order of enjoyment. Compare the lists with your group mates.

 

Put the words in the correct groups.

 

football racket court bat pitch lawn tennis boots golf net clubs training shoes whistle swimming helmet ball pool skates goals ice hockey rink stick

 

SPORT:

PLACE:

EQUIPMENT:

 

6. Write down:

 

- five games where you can hit the ball (with some equipment)

- four games where you can pass the ball (with hands or feet)

- three games where you can catch the ball

- two games where you can kick the ball

- one game where you can head the ball

 

Complete the sentences.

· The letters NBA mean ……………………, the association which controls basketball in the United States.

· A rugby ball is similar to the ball used in football, but there is one important difference: the shape. A football is …………, but a rugby ball is …………, like an egg.

· The Winter Olympics happen every ………… years.

· The sport of judo is now popular all over the world, but it began about 120 years ago in ………….

· The ………… player always starts in a game of chess.

· A soccer referee signals the end of a game by giving ………… long blows on his whistle.

· An ………… match has three periods of twenty minutes – that’s sixty minutes in all.

· The leader of the Tour de France wears a ………… shirt.

 

Discuss the following questions with your partner. Then write a brief report.

· What sport do you do? How often/ where/ when do you do it?

· Do you take sport seriously or do you do it just for fun?

· Are you competitive?

· Are you good at any sports? Which?

· Have you taken up a new sport recently?

· Have you ever given up a sport? Why?

 

9. a) Read the text and answer the questions.

Sports in Great Britain

English people are fond of all kinds of sports. During autumn and winter shooting and fox-hunting are the great sports in Great Britain. Boxing is very popular especially in large towns and important boxing matches are attended by many spectators.

Horse-racing is also a great national sport. Among games football and cricket take the first place in public interest; huge crowds watch matches between the most important clubs, while practically every school or large business firm has its own cricket and football clubs.

Tennis is another very popular game while golf has firmly established itself and there are golf-links all over the country.

The numerous rivers offer excellent opportunities for swimming and rowing and the Oxford and Cambridge boat-race, in which crews from these two universities compete, takes place every spring on the Thames.

 

1. What are the great winter sports in Britain?

2. What games are especially popular?

3. What sports event takes place every spring on the Thames?

 

b) Work in pairs. Write a similar text about sports in Russia using the underlined words and word combinations.

10. a) Read the text and complete the sentence.

This text is about ………………………………………………………………………

The Olympic Games have a very long history. They began more than 2000 years ago in Greece. The Greeks were very fond of music, plays and all kinds of physical exercises. The games took place every four years at Olympia. All the cities in Greece sent their best athletes to take part in the Olympic Games. The strongest athletes ran, jumped, wrestled, threw a discus, and boxed. There were also chariot races.

The Games were very popular, thousands of Greeks used to watch them. It was a tradition to stop wars during the Olympic Games. The competition lasted five days. The winners got olive wreaths. It was the highest honour. When the champions came home people greeted them with flowers.

For a long time from 394 till 1896 there were no Olympic games. Since 1896 the best athletes of the world have met again every 4 years. The games have always been exciting. The winners who show the best results are awarded gold, silver and bronze medals.

 

b) Answer the questions.

1. When were the first Olympic Games held?

2. What did the strongest athletes do during the competition?

3. What was the highest honour for the winners?

4. When were the Olympic Games revived?

5. What awards do the winners get?

11. a) Read the text and translate the text.

My first big match

The first football match I went to was a few years ago, when a friend gave me a ticket to the FA Cup Final between Arsenal and Liverpool. I had never been to such a big stadium before, so it was a new experience for me.

I remember being a bit nervous on my way into the ground because there were so many people everywhere. But once we had found our seats I began to relax and enjoy myself. The atmosphere was really great, and it got even better when the teams came out onto the pitch.

It turned out to be a good game. Both teams played well and there were lots of chances at both ends of the pitch. Arsenal scored first, only twenty minutes from the end, but Michael Owen scored twice in the last ten minutes for Liverpool. The supporters went crazy and when the referee blew the whistle for the end of the match the noise was incredible. I’ve been to quite a few matches since then, but none of them has been as exciting as my first Cup Final.

 

b) Answer the questions.

 

1. Have you ever been to a sports event? If so, can you describe it?

2. Do you play any sports? Have you been doing much sport lately?

3. Do you belong to any local sports club?

4. Do you love watching sport on television? What are your favourite sports programmes?

5. Do you support any particular team in football, volleyball, basketball, or any other sport?

12. a) Read the following interviews in pairs. Change roles.

Interview 1

Gym assistant: Hello. We’re doing a survey of our customers. Can I ask some questions?

Lisa: Yes, that’s OK.

Gym assistant: Thank you. First, what’s your name?

Lisa: Lisa. Lisa White.

Gym assistant: And how often do you come to the club, Lisa?

Lisa: Three times a week, usually.

Gym assistant: Do you use the running machines?

Lisa: Yes, I do.

Gym assistant: Right, can you run ten kilometers in an hour?

Lisa: Oh no, I can’t. Maybe in 70 or 80 minutes.

Gym assistant: That’s good. And do you work out in the gym?

Lisa: Yes, I do, twice a week.

Gym assistant: OK, and what weight can you lift?

Lisa: Well, I don’t usually lift a lot, but I can lift 35 kilos.

Gym assistant: Do you use the swimming pool?

Lisa: No, I don’t.

Gym assistant: Really? Why not?

Lisa: Well, I can’t swim, so I don’t use it.

Gym assistant: Can’t you? We offer lessons here, you know.

Lisa: I know, I know, but I’m scared of water.

Gym assistant: I see. Well, I’m sure our trainer can help you…

 

Interview 2

Gym assistant: What’s your name?

Dan: Dan. Dan Tobin.

Gym assistant: And how often do you come to the club, Dan?

Dan: Twice a week, usually.

Gym assistant: Do you use the running machines?

Dan: Yes, I do.

Gym assistant: Can you run ten kilometers in an hour?

Dan: Oh yes, I can. Easy. I can run that in about 30 minutes.

Gym assistant: Really? That’s fast! And do you work out in the gym?

Dan: Yes, but only once a week.

Gym assistant: OK. What weight can you lift?

Dan: I can lift 50 kilos.

Gym assistant: That’s good. And do you use the swimming pool?

Dan: Yes, I do. I usually swim two kilometers, but I can swim five kilometers.

Gym assistant: Really?

Dan: Oh yes, I’m super fit!

Gym assistant: Yes, clearly. Can we test your fitness today? We have a machine…

Dan: Oh, is that the time? I can’t stay, I’m afraid, I have an important meeting. Bye.

Gym assistant: But I have… oh…

 

b) Make changes to speak about yourself. Practise your interview with a partner, then role-play it in front of the class.

ROUND-UP