Text B. 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,

TEXT C. THE FOOTBALL MATCH (A Conversation)