4. Translate into English:

1. Происхождение гонок на лодках между Кембриджем и Оксфордом датируется 1829 годом.

2. Футбол, регби, гольф и большой теннис произошли в Великобритании.

3. Зрители наслаждались теннисным турниром в Уимблдоне.

4. Парусный спорт особенно популярен в Великобритании.

5. Футбол – это очень зрелищный вид спорта.

6. Большой теннис отличается от настольного тенниса.

7. Много выдающихся теннисистов играют в Уимблдоне.

8. В Великобритании время досуга и спортивная жизнь воспринимаются серьезно.

9. Все получали удовольствие от матча между Арсеналом и Челси.

10. Регби и американский футбол имеют много общего.

Answer the questions:

1. What is sport for the Englishmen?

2. What sports and games are practiced in England?

3. What is the most popular sport in Great Britain?

4. In what teams do Englishmen play football?

5. Is professional sport widely spread in Great Britain?

6. What sports are professional in Great Britain?

7. What is the biggest stadium in London?

8. What games are national in Great Britain?

9. Is rowing a popular sport in Great Britain?

10. When was the first boat race between Oxford and Cambridge held?

11. Is sport a compulsory subject at the English school?

12. What kinds of sport are popular with the English students?

Texts for additional reading:

A national passion

Sport probably plays a more important part in people's lives in Britain than it does in most other countries. For a very large number, and this is especially true for men, it is their main form of entertainment. Millions take part in some kind of sport at least once a week. Many millions more are regular spectators and follow one or more sports. There are hours of televised sports each week. Every newspaper, national or local, quality or popular, devotes several pages entirely to sport.

The British are only rarely the best in the world at particular sports in modern times. However, they are one of the best in the world in a much larger number of different sports than any other country. Think of any pastime (indoor bowling, darts or snooker), however trivial, which involves some element of competition, and somewhere in Britain, there is probably a 'national association' for it which organizes contests.

The British are a sporting nation. Like everyone else they love football – in fact, they invented it. Most British towns and cities have a football team. Every year, each team plays in the Football Association competition. The two best teams play in the Cup Final at Wembley Stadium in London. Some fans pay up to 250 pounds for a ticket for the Cup Final. It is one of the biggest sporting events of the year.

Sport plays such a large part in British life, that many idioms in the English language have come form the world of sport, for example "to play the game" means to be fair, and "that's not cricket" means that's not fair.

Popular sports in britain

Golf was probably invented in Holland but has been played in Scotland for at least 400 years. At first it was played with balls made of wood, then of leather stuffed with feathers. The earliest rules were drawn up in 1754 at the Royal and Ancient course in St. Andrews.

Golf courses are popular meeting places of the business community; it is, for example, very desirable for a bank manager to play golf.

Tennis is another popular game in Britain. Every summer, in June, the biggest international tennis tournament takes place at Wimbledon, a suburb of London. There are strawberries and cream7 for sale, and everyone hopes the rain will stay away.

Tennis was originally called “sphairistike”. The first rules were drawn up by the All-England Lawn tennis and Croquet club when it held its first tournament in the London suburb of Wimbledon in 1877. Wimbledon is still the world's most famous tennis event.

There are plenty of tennis clubs, but most towns provide tennis courts in public parks, and anyone may play tennis cheaply on a municipal court.

Many British people who live near the sea, a lake or a river enjoy sailing. If you are really enthusiastic, and rich enough to buy your own boat, you can take part in one of the annual sailing races or “regattas” at Cowes, near Portsmouth, for example, or at Henley on the river Thames.

Rowing is one Olympic sport which has a great history in Britain, beginning in some schools and universities. Some regattas on the Thames have been social events for well over a hundred years, and today's best rowers have had international successes.

Advanced Task:

Make a report or Power Point Presentation about the following sports, originated or popular in Great Britain:

1. soccer

2. cricket

3. rugby

4. golf

5. lawn-tennis

6. hockey

7. crocket

8. snooker