Sport and Games

Exercise 1.

What Makes all People Kin

People all over the world are very fond of sports and games. That is one thing in which people of every nationality and class are united.

The most popular outdoor winter sports are shooting, hunting, hockey and, in the countries where the weather is frosty and there is much snow—skating, skiing and tobogganing. Some people greatly enjoy figure-skating and ski-jumping.

Summer affords excellent opportunities for swimming, boating, yachting, cycling, gliding and many other sports. Among outdoor games football takes the first place in public interest; this game is played in all the countries of the world. The other games that have firmly established themselves in favour in different countries are golf, lawn-tennis, cricket, volley-ball, basket-ball, and so on. Badminton is also very popular.

All the year round many people indulge in boxing, wrestling, athletics, gymnastics and track and field events. Scores of young girls and women go in for callisthenics.

Among indoor games the most popular are billiards, table tennis, draughts and some others, but the great international game is chess, of course. The results of chess tournaments are studied and discussed by thousands of enthusiasts in different countries.

So we may say that sport is one of the things that makes all people kin.

Assignments after the text.

I

1. Speak about different sports and games

2. Now lets speak about sports and games popular in the world:

1. Say everything that you know about winter sports and games.

2. Say everything you know about summer sports and games.

3. Say everything you know about sports and games, that people can do all the year round.

II

1. Say what kinds of sports and games are popular in different seasons

1. in our republic

2. at our Institute

2. Say what kinds of sports are popular in the group (say if students of your group have been doing this or that kind of sport for a long time, if they have made progress in it; if they have ever taken part in any competition, when).

3. Say what kinds of sport are popular in Judy’s college.

4. Say what kinds of sports you do.

Exercise 2.

Sports and Games Popular in England

— What would you say are the most popular games in England today? — Well, I suppose football, that is, soccer or rugger, and cricket.

— What are the other outdoor games?

— Oh, there’s tennis, hockey, golf, and so on. Tennis is played all the year round—on hard courts or grass courts in summer, and on hard or covered courts in winter.

— What about horse-racing?

— I should say that is one of the most popular sports in Great Britain. Then there are, of course, walking-races, running, swimming and boxing. — I’ve been told that there are no winter sports in England. — Well, you see, the English winter isn’t very severe as a rule, and we don’t often have the chance of skiing, skating or tobogganing, but winter is the great time for hunting, provided the ground is not too hard. — Is there any golf to be had near London? — Oh, yes, any amount. There are dozens of good golf-links within an hour or so of London. You ought to join a golf club if you’re keen on the game. — I think I shall if I get the chance. What about indoor games? — Well, there’s chess, billiards, cards, table tennis... By the way, do you play billiards? — Well, I do, but of course, I’m not a professional or a champion, just an ordinary amateur, and not a very good one at that.

(From “The Linguaphone English Course”)

Assignments after the text

This talk took place between Jan and Mr. Priestley after Jan’s arrival in London.

I

1. Say everything

1. what Jan was interested in

2. what Mr. Priestley told Jan about sports in England

2. Name all kinds of sports that are popular in England. Say when people do this or that kind of sport.

II

1. Make up a conversation about sports and games popular in England and Russia.

Exercise 3.

Study the text and search for some arguments in favour of sport. Summarize the text.