III. Read the dialogue:

Sports in the USA

(a talk between an American and a foreigner)

F: Excuse me, sir. Could you answer a few questions concerning sports?

A: Well, I don’t mind it, but tell me why you decided I am an expert on sport.

F: Oh, don’t worry. I am interested only in some general information about sports

in the USA and I noticed that you started reading “New York Times” with

sports columns.

A: Ah, well, actually, I always do it like thousands of Americans who are also

football fans.

F: Is football as popular in the USA as it is in the UK or as in Argentina or Brazil?

A: Football is extremely popular, though we consider baseball our national game.

Basketball also attracts crowds of fans.

F: Are there professional football teams?

A: Actually all the major football teams belong to universities and colleges, so they

are non-professional.

F: How often do they play?

A: They play one game a week, usually on Saturday at the University or College

has a big stadium. Autumn is the season for football.

F: Is baseball also amateur?

A: Baseball, on the contrary, is a professional sport, that means that players receive

the salary. There are baseball teams in the biggest cities of America. The season

lasts from October till April and the teams play one or two games every day.

F: You’ve said basketball attracts crowds of fans.

A: Oh, yes, the popularity of basketball has increased in the last few years. The

major teams also belong to colleges and University.

F: So, they are non-professional either, aren’t they?

A: Yes, you are right. But there’s a well organized National Tournament and the

best team of the season becomes the National Champion.

F: What is the season?

A: Basketball is played from December to March. During this Period each team

plays two or three games a week.

F: Thank you very much. You’ve given me very useful information.

A: Oh, not at all. It’s been a pleasure to talk to you.

1. Underline the sentences containing information, which is new to you. Read it.

2. Say whether the following statements are True or False. Prove your answer:

1. Basketball teams are non-professional in the USA.

2. There are no professional teams in the US universities (in Russia).

3. Baseball is a national American game.

4. Football came from England.

5. Professionals receive salary for the games.

6. Basketball is played in summer in the USA.

7. No National Tournaments are held in basketball.

8. The major basketball teams belong to Universities and colleges.

9. Autumn is the best season for baseball.

IV. Act as interpreters: Sports in Britain

A: What are the English national games?

B: Крикет, футбол, гребля, хоккей, теннис и гольф. Почти все англичане

любят играть в крикет и футбол.

A: А когда они играют в эти игры?

B: Professional and amateurs usually play cricket from May till September. There

is a cricket club in almost every town of England? But the most famous and the

oldest is in the Marylebone Cricket club in London. If this club loses the game it

is a national disaster.

A: Я знаю, что существует два вида футбола: американский футбол и регби, и

они очень популярны в Англии.

B: You are right. Soccer is played almost everywhere in the country. Rugby is

more complicated. But it is played in many countries and villages too.

A: And what other outdoor games are the English people keen on?

B: Они любят играть в гольф. Теннис также очень популярен в Англии. Most

English parks have courts for playing tennis. Every summer a great international

tournament is held in Wimbledon (the suburbs of London) in which tennis

players from all over the world take part.

A: А я предпочитаю игру в команде. Поэтому мне очень нравится хоккей. А

как насчет других видов спорта: гребли, конный спорт, стрельба?

B: I suppose sports of all kinds are encouraged in England.