Sports in great Britain

Exercise 1. Before reading pay attention to the proper names.

Wembley ['wembIi] - знаменитый стадион Уэмбли В Лондоне

the Derby ['da:bi] - Дерби (ежегодные скачки лошадей-трехлеток на ипподроме Epsom Downs близ Лондона; по имени графа Дерби)

Wirnbledon [‘wimbldən] - Уимблдон (предместье Лондона, в котором находится Всеанглийский теннисный и крикетный клуб)

Exercise 2. Readthe text.

The British are known to bе great sports-lovers, so when they are neither playing, nor watching games, they like to talk about them. Many of the games we play now have соmе from Britain.

One of the most popular British games is cricket. It is often played in schools, colleges, universities and bу club teams а11 over the country. Summer isn’t summer without cricket. То many Englishmen cricket is both а game and а standard of behaviour. When they consider anything unfair, they sometimes say: "That isn't cricket."

But as a1most everywhere else in the world, the game which attracts the greatest attention is Association football, or soccer. Every Saturday from late August till the beginning of May, large crowds of people support their favourite sides in football grounds. True fans will travel from onе end of the country to the other to see their team plау. There are plenty of professional and amateur soccer clubs а11 over Britain. International football matches and the Cup Finals take plасе at Wembley.

Rugby football is also very popular, but it is played mainly bу amateurs.

Next to football, the chief spectator sport in British life is horse-racing. А lot of people are interested in the races and risk money оn the horse which they think will win. Тhe Derby is perhaps the most famous single sporting event in the whole world.

Britain is also famous for motor-car racing, dog-racing, boat-racing, and even races for donkeys. Тhе famous boat-race between the teams of Oxford and Cambridge attracts large crowds of people.

А great number оf people plау and watch tennis. Tennis tournaments at Wimbledon are known all over the world. Тhе innumerable tennis courts оf Britain are occupied bу people between the ages of 16 and 60 who show every degree of skill - from practically helpless to the extremely able.

The British also like to plау golf, baseball, hockey, grass-hockey. Various forms of athletics, such as running, jumping, swimming, boxing are also popular. You can sometimes hear that there are nо winter sports in England. Оf course the English weather is not always cold enough to ski, skate, or toboggan, but winter is а good season for hunting and fishing.

Indeed sport in onе form or another is an essential part оf daily life in Britain.

Exercise 3. Find the correct answers to the questions:

What do the British do when they are neither playing, nor watching games?

a) they like to write about them. b) they like to talk about them. c) they like to listen to sport news.

2. What kind of sport is especially associated with Britain.

a) cricket b) football c) rugby

3. What is cricket for an Englishman?

a) a game b) a standard of behaviour c) both

4. What is the most popular game in the world?

a) football b) volley-ball c) basketball

5. Where do the cup Finals take place?

a) Wimbledon b) Oxford and Cambridge c) Wembly d) Derby

6. What kinds of racing are popular in Britain?

a) only motor-car racing b) only dog-racing

c) only boat-racing d) all of them

7. What do you know about Wimbledon? It is famous for:

a) boat-racing b) tennis tournaments c) football matches.

8. What winter sports are popular in Britain

a) skiing and skating b) tobogganing c) hunting and fishing.

Text 7

Exercise 1. You will hear the telephone conversation of two young people. While listening choose the correct answer for each question from the three given.

1. Why did Mandy go to Malta?

a) she won a lottery b) she got the tour as a Christmas present c) she got the tour as a birthday present

2. How did Mandy travel to Malta?

a) by car b) by airplane c) by train

3. Who did Mandy go on holiday with?

a) her aunt and uncle b) her parents c) her friends

4. What is the weather like on the island?

a) sunny b) rainy c) hot and humid

5. What food do traditional restaurants serve?

a) fish and chips b) steaks c) fish and vegetables

6. What is Gozo?

a) an island b) a city c) a mountain