2. A) You’re going to read the passage about sporting events in Britain. While reading pay special attention to how many events draw large crowds in the country.

SPORTING EVENTS IN BRITAIN

A number of sporting events in Britain are national institutions. Some are popular occasions, attended by thousands of spectators from all levels of society and watched on television by millions. Others are elegant and exclusive outdoor parties for the rich and their friends, where sport is secondary to social enjoyment. The Cup Final is an example of one extreme, Ascot of the other. Some, such as Wimbledon, are an interesting mixture of both.

Most of these events are attended by members of the Royal Family as well as by politicians, film stars, singers and business people. The venues are equipped with luxurious ‘hospitality suites", used by companies to promote their business and thank important clients for their loyalty. Tickets for most of these events can be expensive, but not usually beyond the reach of ordinary people. They are often hard to find, however, as space is limited and there is great demand.

There are, of course, hundreds more events which draw large crowds – notably in football, cricket, golf, sailing and motor-racing – and everyone has their favourites. The historical traditions, the holiday atmosphere, and the pleasure and excitement of the spectators (often with an element of suspense provided by the weather) make these some of the most enjoyable and friendly occasions of the year.

b) Find a word or expression in the passage which means:

1) the place where a sporting event happens;

2) people who watch a sporting event;

3) not open to everybody, restricted;

4) too expensive for;

5) many people want it.

3. A) Read the article below and pay special attention to the possibility children in Britain have to do sports.

KIDS NEED EXERCISE, BUT WHAT KID?

Haley Moran –Wollens is not an elite athlete. She is a 13 year-old who, like lots of other teenagers, wants to be fit. And, like a growing number of teenagers whose parents can afford it, she has a personal trainer.

In her case the trainer is Rodica Vranceanu, who charges $75 an hour for after school workouts as Radu Physical culture, a gym in Midtown Manhattan. “I don’t want to be the skinniest,” Haley said. “I just want to work out. But a lot of people do it for the nice bodies, even at my age.”

Though personal training is by no means the norm for American children, a small but growing number of their parents are paying the membership fees to private gyms for aerobics, weight lifting, and body-moulding activities once considered for adults only.

At the Spectrum Club in Valencia, California, children aged 13 to 17 can become Teen Fit members. They tend to go for stationary bicycles and weights, said Cindy Breakfield, sports manager, who added that personal trainers were available for the younger set.

The Eastcoast Atlantic Club in Port, Washington, N.Y., has a programme called Excel, which offers personal training at $45 an hour to children aged 12 to 17, said Christopher Patti, the fitness director.

Some health experts hail the trend, saying that too many children do not get enough exercise. But others disagree. “It’s a sad precedent,” said Richard Killingsworth, a scientist at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. “We are teaching behaviour that it’s O.K. to be sedentary all day except for the one-hour exercise class. In the past decade, our children have lost the idea of what it is to enjoy being young and physically active.”

b) Mark the following statements as true (T) or false (F). Do it in figures and letters. Correct the false statements in writing.

1) More and more of American teenagers are beginning to take up basketball and tennis nowadays.

2) Haley goes to the gym to get rid of some extra energy.

3) Personal training is fairly cheap and affordable for most Americans.

4) Athletic Clubs can’t cope with the growing number of kids who want exercise and personal training.

5) Most health experts welcome teenagers’ desire to attend fitness centres and sport clubs.

4. a) Read the report below and suggest a title for it.

REPORT

This report has been written to inform the local community of the results of an investigation into the use of the new cycle track between Ferry Road and the city centre, which was carried out in the first week of March 2001.

The purpose of the investigation was to determine how successful the track has been in meeting the needs of the people in the Marston area, and to discover any problems that may have been experienced by its users.

Questionnaires were distributed to cyclists throughout the week. Respondents were asked to supply biographical information, and were asked for what purposes and how frequently they used the track, how satisfied they were with it, and whether they had any suggestions for improving it.

It was found that the track is mainly used for the purpose of commuting to and from work, but is also used for leisure and recreation. Most users fall into the 20 - 50 age bracket, and surprisingly few schoolchildren use the 20 track. It is used on a regular basis by most people, with fewer than 10% of cyclists saying that they used it once a week or less.

The investigation also revealed that over 80% of users were satisfied with the track overall, with one in five of these claiming to be very satisfied. Reasons for satisfaction centred mainly on the fact that it provided a safe alternative to car use, but a substantial number of replies mentioned the fact that it cut journey times to work, and provided a welcome escape from traffic-clogged and polluted roads. Regarding improvements, one third of respondents referred to the unsatisfactory lighting at night," and a small number commented on the need for resurfacing on certain stretches of the track.

Overall, it appears that the track is fulfilling its purpose of 35 providing a safe alternative route for cyclists in the Marston area, and that the vast majority of its users are satisfied with it.

As a result of the investigation, the following recommendations have been made:

• that the council should investigate the lighting and take appropriate measures to ensure that it does not fail at night.

• that resurfacing should take place on two stretches of the road.

• that the Cycling Officer should liaise with local schools to encourage more children to use

the track to travel to school.

b) Put these sections in the order they are mentioned in the report.

Findings. Background information. Aim of report. Conclusions. Action points.