Ex.2. READ AND TRANSLATE THE TEXT «THE MOST POPULAR SPORTS IN BRITAIN»

A recent survey revealed the most famous Englishman of all time. By asking people to identify celebrities from their photos, it was found that the most recognized face was not Shakespeare, the great writer, not Churchill, the famous politician, but David Beckham, captain of the England football team. This survey shows us just how important sport is to English people, and what an important role it plays in our lives to this day.Sport plays such a large part in British life that many idioms in the English language have come from the world of sport. For example, “to play the game” means “to be fair”, and “that’s not cricket” means “that’s unfair”. “It’s not cricket” to run off with your best friend’s girl. “It’s not cricket” to kick a man when he is already down. Today the expression is used mostly by older generation or jokingly.The most popular sport in Britain is football, of course. A lot of people support their local clubs at matches on Saturday afternoons, or watch the matches live on TV. When there is an English match, the pubs in England are full of people supporting the national team, and during a tournament like the World Cup the interest across the country is unbelievable – newspapers, television programs, radio commentary – everyone has an opinion to express, and it can be hard to escape the constant discussion. Every year each team in England plays in the Football Association competition. The two best play in the Cup Final at Wembley Stadium* in London. Some of the best-known English clubs are Manchester United, Liverpool and the Arsenal.

The game, especially associated with England, is cricket. It is slow, and a spectator sitting in the afternoon sun after his lunch may take a nap for half an hour. Cricket is a summer game, it is played in schools, colleges and universities. International games of cricket last for five whole days and include breaks for lunch and tea!

Tennisis also very popular in Britain. Every summer in June and July the biggest tournament in the world takes place at Wimbledon. It started at a small club in London in the nineteenth century. Now a lot of traditions have changed. For example, the women players don’t have to wear long skirts, and the men players – long trousers. But other traditions haven’t changed at Wimbledon. The courts are still grass, and visitors still eat strawberries and cream.

Next to football the chief spectator sport in Britain is horse-racing. A lot of people are interested in the races and risk money on the horse which they think will win. In June for one week a small town Ascot becomes the centre of the horse-racing world. It is called Royal Ascot because the Queen always goes to Ascot.

Britain is also famous for motor-car racing. “Vintage” cars have to be more than 50 years old and in a very good condition. A traditional rally for them starts in London and finishes in Brighton. That’s a distance of 70 km.

The most famous boat racingin England is between Oxford and Cambridge universities. It first started in 1829 and has been held every spring since 1836. A lot of people come to watch this competition, and millions watch it on TV.

Lots of people also regularly go swimming at the local pool, or go to the gym to keep fit. For people who would rather stay inside, there are the traditional pub games – snooker, darts, etc.

EX.3. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

1. What do you mean when you say “That’s not cricket”?

2. When do usually local clubs play football?

3. Is it possible to watch them live on TV?

4. What game is especially associated with England?

5. Why is horse-racing in Ascot called Royal Ascot?

6. Would you risk money on a horse?

7. What are the main demands to a vintage car?

8. Do you think vintage cars are expensive?

9. Does boat racing between Oxford and Cambridge have a long history?

10. What British sports do you like most of all? Why? Do we have them in Russia?

EX.4. MATCH THE SPORT AND THE DESCRIPTION:

Ex.5. MATCH THE SPORT AND THE LOCATION:

Ex.6. MATCH THE WORDS AND THE TRANSLATIONS

Ex.7. DEVIDE THE SPORTS INTO 2 GROUPS

1. parachuting

2. climbing

3. ice skating

4. swimming

5. tennis

6. basketball

7. exercising

8. hockey

9. diving

10. jogging

11. golf

12. horse riding

13. bowling

14. football

15. aerobics

16. rugby

17. hiking

18. hunting

19. cycling

20. baseball

21. fishing

22. running

23. karate

24. skiing

EX.8.MATCH THE WORDS FROM EX.7 TO THE RIGHT DESCRIPTION

Read the description and guess the activity or sport.

1.An indoor game in which you roll a large heavy ball along a wooden track in order to knock down a group of pins. ______________

The activity of running slowly as a way of exercising. ____________

3.Game played indoors between two teams of five players. Each team tries to win points by throwing a ball through a net. _____________

4.A game in which the players hit a small white ball into holes in the ground with a set of golf clubs, using as few hits as possible. __________

5.The activity in which you jump out of a plane falling slowly and safely to the ground. _______________

6.An outdoor game played by two teams with an oval ball that you kick or carry. ______________

7.The activity of riding a bicycle. _______________

8.Physical activities that you do in order to stay healthy and become stronger. ________________

The sport or activity of riding horses. _________________

10.The sport of moving yourself through water using your arms and legs. __________________

11.The sport of moving down hills or across land in the snow wearing skis. _______________

12.The sport or activity which is similar to jogging but moving much faster. _______________

The activity or sport in which you move quickly on ice. ____________

14.The game played by two teams of eleven players who try to kick a round ball into the other team's goal. ______________

The sport of going up mountains or rocks. ______________

16.The sport of swimming under water using special equipment to help you breathe. __________________

17.An activity in which you chase and kill animals for food or sport. ________________

The sport or business of catching fish. ______________

19.A game for two people or two pairs of people who use rackets to hit a small soft ball backwards and forwards over a net. _______________

A type of physical exercise you do listening to music. ___________

21.An outdoor game between two teams of nine players, in which players try to get points by hitting a ball and running around four bases. _________

22.A game played on grass by two teams of 11 players, with sticks and a ball. _______________

23.A Japanese fighting sport, in which you use your feet and hands to hit and kick. ____________

24.The activity of taking long walks in the mountains or country. _______________