Sporting life6Unit 6 Sporting life162Teaching suggestions and answer keys Note: The Further teacher development section and Photocopiable worksheet has notes on various sports and a quiz activity that will give Ss an opportunity to use a lot more language about sports, including some details of a wide range of sports and games. This could be used at any time in this unit, eg after reading Passage 1 or 2.Starting point1 Work in pairs. Think of:[Note that good dictionaries often have pages illustrating selected sports with key vocabulary items.]Sporting life Unit 6(续表)2 Work in pairs and discuss the questions.1 Which is more important for you: taking part in sport, or winning?• F or me, I believe taking part in sport is more important than winning, because there are always fewerwinners than the number of participants. Participating in a sport is itself a winning action for healthand life benefits. In this sense everyone is a winner.• F or me, I think taking part in sport and winning are both important. I know taking part in sport canimprove our health, but what’s the point of doing it if I am not aiming to win? Winning gives me themotivation and strength to go on participating.2 Why is an Olympic medal prized more highly than other sports trophies?There are a number of reasons for this. Firstly, the Olympic Games represent a spirit beyond sports,which promotes a gathering of all nations, aiming for the best, being peaceful, building up mutualunderstanding, developing friendship, solidarity and fair play through participation and thus making abetter world. Secondly, Olympic medals represent the ultimate symbols of excellence in sports. Thirdly,those who have won Olympic medals are regarded as heroes and they are looked up to as role models.The whole world is involved in the events. Olympic medals have had a much bigger impact on ordinarypeople than other sports trophies.3 Can spectators help an athlete to win?To certain extent, they can if they give encouragement to the athlete. However, it also depends on howthe athlete reacts to the support psychologically and if the athlete has the potential to win. Sometimesathletes feel the crowd is desiring them to win, and they perform better; at other times athletes ignorethe crowd because they are concentrating and focussing so much on their task.4 Is it important to support your favourite player, your team or your country?I believe so, particularly a team I favour. Of course if I support the team, I need to support the players.If this is a team representing our country, that would be even better.163Unit 6 Sporting lifeActive reading (1)1 Work in pairs. Decide which of the words you can use to describe the feelings of an athlete just beforean important competition.For confident athletes, they may feel calm, confident, determined, hopeful, composed and also focussed and eager. For less confident athletes, they may feel nervous and terrified.How might an athlete feel after the competition?For winners: thrilled, victorious, exhausted, relieved.For others: disappointed, exhausted, (perhaps) relieved and thrilled if the result is better than what they expected.2 Which Olympic sports event for women:• allows you to win a gold medal even if you don’t win the race?• lasts two days?• also includes the long jump?T his event is the Heptathlon which is a combined two-day event for women.Note: The heptathlon consists of seven events (“hepta” means “seven” in Greek): Three are track events – the 100m hurdles, 200m and 800m events, and four are field events – the high jump, shot put, long jump and javelin. On the first day, athletes participate in the 100m hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200m events. The other events are on the second day. The winner is the woman who achieves the highest number of points collected in all the events. She does not need the top score in any single event, but competitors must take part in all the events. Points are calculated for each event by measuring distance and speed. The equivalent event for men is the decathlon (“deka” means “ten” in Greek) with ten events (100m, 400m, 110m hurdles, 1500m, long jump, high jump, shot, discus, pole vault and javelin).My dream comes trueBackground informationDenise Lewis, the writer, is a British athlete, born in 1972, who won the gold medal for the heptathlon at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. After her 2000 Olympic gold medal event, she was given an OBE (Order of British Empire), an honour given by the Queen, to recognize her contribution to sports and other championships. In the 2004 Olympic Games she had to withdraw due to injuries. She retired from sports in 2005.164Sporting life Unit 6165Culture pointsYelena Prokhorova is a Russian heptathlete, born in 1978. She won a silver medal for the heptathlon at the 2000 Olympic Games. Later in 2001, she won the world championship for the heptathlon. However, she was suspended from competition between 2005 and 2006 because she had a positive test result for a banned substance (ie she failed a drugs test).Sabine Braun is a German athlete in track and field. She had a long athlete career in different sport disciplines, including the heptathlon. She started her international sport career in 1982 and won many international medals and championships until 2002 when she retired from her sporting career.Sydney is the largest and most cosmopolitan city in Australia, famous for the Harbour, Harbour Bridge, Opera House and Bondi and other beaches. Sydney hosted the 2000 Olympic Games in which 199 nations participated with the motto of “share the spirit”.The World Championships are organized by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and were originally every four years but now every two years; the European Championships , organized by the European Athletics Association, take place every four years (but will be every two years after 2010); the Commonwealth Games include teams from over 71 nations and dependencies and is held every four years; there are four teams from the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) but only one UK team for the Olympics or World Championships.Date and location of International Athletics Events & OlympicsO = Olympics; W = World Championships; E = European Championships; C = Commonwealth Games 2000O: Sydney, Australia 2006E: Gothenburg, SwedenC: Melbourne, Australia 2011W: Daegu, Korea2001W: Edmonton, Canada 2002E: Munich, GermanyC: Manchester, England 2007W: Osaka, Japan 2012O: London, UK2003W: St Denis, France 2008O: Beijing, China 2013W: Moscow, Russia 2004O: Athens, Greece 2009W: Berlin, Germany 2014C: Glasgow, Scotland 2005W: Helsinki, Finland 2010E: Barcelona, SpainC: Delhi, IndiaUnit 6 Sporting life166Example questions:• Where were the Olympic Games held in 2000: in which city and country?Sydney, Australia• An Australian city held a large international athletics event in 2006: in which city and which event?Melbourne, Commonwealth Games• The Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester: in which country and when?England, 2002 (not UK, because England is a separate nation for the Commonwealth Games)• London will host something in 2012 and Glasgow something in 2014: What are these two events and in which countries?London, UK, the Olympic Games in 2012; Glasgow, Scotland, the Commonwealth Games in 2014 (Notice that we say UK [not England] for the Olympics but Scotland [not UK] for the Commonwealth Games because there are different UK nations for the Commonwealth Games, but not for the Olympics.)• Two Scandinavian cities held international athletics championships in 2005 and 2006: in which cities, in which countries and which championships?Helsinki, Finland, World Athletics Championships; Gothenburg, Sweden, European Championships• Four Asian cities held / will hold international athletics championships / Olympics between 2007 and 2011: which cities, in which countries, and in which years?Osaka, Japan, World Athletics Championships (2007); Beijing, China, Olympic Games (2008); Delhi, India, Commonwealth Games (2010); Daegu, Korea, World Athletics Championships (2011)Language points1 … and the adrenaline was pumping. (Para 2)Adrenaline is a chemical produced by your adrenal glands that makes your heart beat faster and gives you more energy when you are excited, frightened, or angry. The adrenaline was pumping means she felt full of sudden energy and excitement as she was ready to start the race.2 I had to finish this race fewer than ten seconds behind the Russian athlete Yelena Prokhorova. If Icould do that, the title would be mine. (Para 3)The heptathlon has seven events and is judged with a system of points: Points are given according to the time of the 100m hurdles, 200m and 800m and the distance in the high jump, shot put, long jump and javelin. The winner is the athlete with the most points overall. The passage is about the final event, the 800m. Because Lewis has scored the highest number of points in the previous six events, she does not need to win this one, but she does need to finish the race within a certain time to get enough points to win the gold medal and the title of the Olympic Champion.3 At the bell I was 2.3 seconds behind her. (Para 9)In track events in athletics a bell rings to signal to the athletes that there is only one lap left in their race.4 I could do it, but it would be close. (Para 10)When Lewis sees the clock, she knows she can finish within the time she needs (she can do it), but theSporting life Unit 6time will be very close (it will be a narrow victory, she knows that every second can make the difference to win or lose the gold medal).5 … my name in lights. (Para 13)If you see your name in lights (eg in the streets, such as in street signs or advertisements), it means you are famous. In sports when an athlete’s name is in lights on a digital screen in the stadium, it is to announce that this athlete is a winner.6 I felt a tingle through the whole of my body. (Para 13)A tingle is a feeling in part of your body when it stings slightly. Here it shows a small amount of anexciting (or uncomfortable) feeling of emotion.Reading and understanding3 Answer the questions.Which phrases in the passage tell us that:1 the race took place in the evening?Hundreds of lights illuminated Stadium Australia.2 the writer felt very nervous before the race?My heart was beating loudly, my mouth was dry and the adrenaline was pumping.3 the writer had decided to use the strategy she had worked out earlier?I tried to keep composed, telling myself not to panic, to stick to the plan …4 the writer was going to put all her effort into the race?I knew I would do my best, that I would run my heart out and finish the race.5 nothing except winning or losing would be important after the race?Just two laps until the emotional and physical strain of the past two days and 28 years would be eclipsedby victory or failure.6 the writer stopped thinking about one thing and started thinking about something else?•I felt unified with the crowd – we all had the same vision and the same dream.•M y ankle was bandaged against an injury I had incurred in the long jump just a couple of hoursearlier, but I shut out all thoughts of pain …•I was aware of where the other athletes were, and was sure that I’d just made it … But I couldn’t helpthinking, what if I have just missed out? What …?167Unit 6 Sporting life•R elief, a moment of calm, … I felt a tingle through the whole of my body … arms aloft and fistsclenched.7 the writer refused to allow herself to think that she’d won?•Until I saw it on the scoreboard, I wouldn’t let myself believe it.•I smiled, still not sure.•But I couldn’t help thinking, what if I have just missed out?8 the writer worried that she might have lost?What if I’ve been through all this, and missed out?Dealing with unfamiliar words4 Replace the underlined words with the correct form of the words and expressions in the box.1 I was extremely tired and I had no energy left. (exhausted)2 There was a sound of loud excited shouting from the crowd as the race came ended. (roar)3 Running along the last section of the track was the hardest part of the race. (stretch)4 They gave me a feeling of increased confidence just at the right moment. (boost)5 The hard physical effort showed in her face. (strain)6 I found strength in my personal thoughts and emotions. (inner self)7 I needed to keep calm and relaxed; I didn’t want to panic and lose my concentration. (composed)5 Match the phrases in the box with their definitions.1 to begin a journey, a race etc (set off)2 to happen or exist immediately before something (lead up to)3 to lose an opportunity to have or do something (miss out)4 to move away from, or move ahead of (pull away)5 to run as fast as the other people (keep up with)6 to struggle against someone or something that is attacking you (fight back)7 to stop yourself from thinking about (shut out)8 to take note of the time while you wait for something to happen (count down)6 Answer the questions about the words.1 Hundreds of lights illuminated Stadium Australia …Was the stadium (a) bright, or (b) dark?2 The Olympic gold medal was … hanging tantalisingly in the distance.Was the medal hanging in a way that was (a) exciting because you are eager to get it, or (b) challengingbecause you can’t reach it?3 … it was completely exhilarating …Was the feeling one of (a) disappointment and anger, or (b) excitement and being full of energy?168Sporting life Unit 6 4 Union Jacks fluttered all around the vast, beautiful stadium.Were the supporters a) throwing paper charms, or (b) waving flags?5 I felt unified with the crowd …Did the writer feel (a) lonely and isolated, or (b) together with the spectators?6 … an injury I had incurred in the long jump …Did the writer feel the injury was (a) an unpleasant experience, or (b) something that usually happens?7 … I could hear the commentary team talking about …Were these people (a) broadcasting to an audience, or (b) talking to themselves?8 I felt a tingle through the whole of my body.Was this a feeling of (a) excitement, or (b) pain?9 … arms aloft and fists clenched …Did the writer (a) wrap her arms around her body, or (b) lift her arms above her head?Reading and interpreting7 Work in pairs. Look at the sentences from the passage and answer the questions.1 My heart was beating loudly, my mouth was dry and the adrenaline was pumping.… just when my legs were burning and I could see the gap …I felt a tingle through the whole of my body.What effect does the writer create by describing her physical feelings?•T he writer creates an atmosphere to show that she was very tense and nervous (dry mouth, heartbeating), but at the same time she was excited and energetic (heart beating, adrenaline pumping)before her race.•“Burning legs” give readers a feeling of pain, struggling, exhaustion and possibly a fear of losing therace (because of the opening gap).•T he word “tingle” spreads the effect to readers that they could feel her feeling of excitement,achievement and victory through a feel of pain all over her body.•T he three quotes also show the writer’s feelings during three stages of the race: tense and excited(before the race); struggling and fearful (during the race) and victorious (in the end).169Unit 6 Sporting life2 This race was all about survival. It’s only two minutes, I kept telling myself, anyone can run for twominutes.Just one lap to go. One lap. I could do it.I looked out at the fans, who were waving flags, clapping and shouting with delight. I was the Olympicchampion. The Olympic champion.What effect does the writer create by repeating important phrases?They highlight the key messages which she kept telling herself, the messages which helped her win.She invites readers to see her inner thoughts with this simple and factual information: two minutes, onemore lap towards being the Olympic champion.3 Then my mind turned to the result. Had I done it?What if I’ve been through all this, and missed out?What effect does the writer create by asking herself questions?This shows that she could not believe that she had actually realized her childhood dream. She was ina momentary state of doubt, doubting herself, which is natural when something really important andsignificant happens to you.Developing critical thinking8 Work in pairs and discuss the questions.1 Do you think the writer is successful in describing her feelings?Yes, particularly she is good at describing her feelings through using how different body parts react andsense the emotions:•d eafening noises, heart beating loudly, shouts of encouragement, cries of hope, roar of the crowd, clapping and shouting with delight (sounds);•p umping adrenaline, a tingle through the whole of my body, bandaged ankle, burning legs, thoughts of pain (feelings in the body);•l ifted spirits, mental stamina, inner self, I thought I had, keep negative thoughts from my mind, smiled, still not sure (internal thoughts and reactions);•the sea of faces, arms aloft, fists clenched (body actions).She is also successful in using a string of emotional adjectives and adverbs to describe her feelings andsurroundings which stimulated her feelings:•i lluminated, deafening, tantalisingly, loudly, fantastic, completely exhilarating, terrifying, composed, unified, vocal, emotional and physical, gruelling, exhausted, not sure, relief, calm.2 How do you think her supporters in Stadium Australia felt?They must have been extremely excited and proud that she had won. This is reflected through theirshouting, loud cheering, and waving flags to support her.3 What do you think the original spirit of the Olympic Games was?The original spirit the Olympic Games, represented by its motto “Swifter, Higher, Stronger” was used in1894 when the International Olympic Committee was founded. A more well-known motto, which wasintroduced in 1908, was “The most important thing is not to win but to take part!”170Key words to describe the Olympic spirit include: friendship, solidarity, fair play, honour, glory,dedication, passion, and courage. Each Olympics has its own particular slogan or motto: for the 2008Beijing Olympics, “One World, One Dream”, has the idea of friendship, peace and solidarity linked tothe idea that we strive for a bright future for humanity. When you think about the Olympic spirit, yourealize that it is about sports and athletics, of course, but it is also about everyone.Talking pointWork in pairs and choose the best answer to the questions.How much do you know about sport?1 What kind of person is a good sport?(a) Someone who is good at sport.(b) Someone who likes to watch sport.(c) Someone who always behaves in a reasonable way and is willing to help.2 Which two words mean nearly the same?(a) Sporting.(b) Sport. (c) Sportsmanlike.3 What is likely to happen when something has a sporting chance of happening?(a) It has a reasonable chance of happening.(b) It’s unlikely to happen.(c) It will happen because of skill and luck.4 What are the features of a sports utility vehicle (SUV)?(a) A small fast car, often with a roof that you can take off.(b) A car that has power in all four wheels, and can drive over rough surfaces.(c) A racing car.5 Who wears a sports jacket and sportswear?(a) A person playing sport.(b) A sportsman.(c) A man, for informal occasions, such as parties.6 What do you expect to find at a sports centre?(a) Various sports facilities such as a gym and a swimming pool.(b) Somewhere to do sports such as riding and cycling.(c) The most important venue for sport in a town.7 Where might you attend a sports day?(a) At a stadium.(b) At a school.(c) At an office.171Active reading (2)1 Work in pairs and discuss the questions.1 What are the most popular sports in China?Well, I believe it has been a tradition that sports like basketball, table tennis, badminton, volleyball,swimming, gymnastics, martial arts and taijiquan are the most popular sports in China. However, inrecent years, football has certainly become very popular, along with some other sports like golf, tennis,skiing, car racing, and snooker.2 Do you think foreigners can understand Chinese sports?This is a strange question. Why not? Chinese people can surely understand sports which have come toChina from other countries, invented or developed by foreigners, can’t they? So the reverse must also betrue, don’t you think? Many foreigners are interested in traditional Chinese sports like martial arts andtaijiquan and if they learn them well they can understand them.3 Do you understand foreign sports, such as baseball and cricket?•O h, I’ve heard the names of these sports before, but I don’t know the rules and hardly watch them,because I don’t think we have matches of these sports in China, but I may be wrong.•Y es. I understand a bit. In baseball two teams take turns to hit the ball or to pitch and field it. Thehitters use a bat to hit the ball so that they can run round four bases to score points, while the otherteam try to catch the ball or quickly get it to one of the bases before the hitter can reach it. I believecricket has the same basic idea but players run between two sets of sticks, a wicket, and the styleof throwing and hitting the ball is different and the bat is different as well. The scoring system isdifferent, too.4 How much do you think national culture is reflected in sports?I believe participating in sports is a very important way to publicize, popularize and develop a nationalculture, which can be seen from many aspects like the spirit, condition and facilities for sports, whichrepresent the quality of life in general, For example, the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and Para-Olympics were such successful events via sports to show how the Chinese nation is keen to practisetheir motto of “One World, One Dream”. Chinese people demonstrated their devotion to the ideal ofpeace, respect, care, working for a better life and they shared their vision with all other nations. Fromthe events and ceremonies, people in the world can see that China has developed a modern society,with good sporting, transport and living facilities. Chinese people heartily supported the event and wereenthusiastic about helping foreign visitors enjoy their time during the events in China.1722 Look at the title and the first two paragraphs of the passage and answer the questions.1 Blow the whistle on someone or something means to tell people about something you know is wrong.Why do you think the writer choose this title?The use of the word “whistle” here is a pun, which indicates a) something needs to be said about thesoccer and, b) the referee blows a whistle to start and stop a soccer match.2 Is baseball a popular sport in France?No. I don’t think so. But football is very popular there.3 Is the writer French or American?I believe the writer is an American, because the writer indicates that baseball is a foreign sport to hisFrench friend, but baseball is a popular one in the US.4 Is baseball a popular sport for Americans?Oh, yes. Baseball is played in schools and by professionals. Other popular sports include basketball,American football and ice hockey, I understand. But in the 2008 Olympics, the US team only won theBronze for baseball. The Korean team won the gold!5 Is soccer a popular sport for Americans?Unfortunately it is not, although there is more interest in it now. The writer indicates this, “I will haveno clue what’s going on out there on the ‘pitch’”.6 Will the rest of the passage describe baseball or soccer?I guess it is about soccer, since the last few sentences talk about how puzzled the writer is about soccer.7 Will it be a factual description or a humorous one?Well, it is likely to be a humorous one. The first paragraph describing his French friend has set the toneof the article which shows signs of humour and it isn’t really serious.8 Does the writer enjoy watching soccer and find it exciting?I doubt it very much, since the writer claims “I’m colliding with this same cultural barrier” when peopledon’t know the rules and reasons for the excitement of the game.9 Is the writer looking forward to the (football) World Cup?Not really. The writer chose to talk about how much he had been puzzled (“blow the whistle on the so-called beautiful game”).173Blowing the whistle on soccerCulture pointsSoccer is a word for the game of football. The word soccer is used so that it is not confused with American football.The World Cup Soccer Tournament is a world-wide competition for international football, held every four years. A tournament is a series of matches in which the winner of each match plays again in the next round until there is a final with only two teams, one of which will be the winner. The 2006 World Cup was held in Germany: The qualification process involved 198 national football associations and 31 teams, plus the host nation, went on to the final stages; the final was won by Italy.Nabucco is a famous 1842 opera by Verdi (1813–1901) about Nabucco (630–562 BC; Nebuchadnezzar in English), king of ancient Babylon – roughly, modern Iraq – whose armies in 587 BC captured Jerusalem, destroyed the city and its famous temple, took much of the Jewish population prisoners and exiled them to the city Babylon. “The Slaves’ Chorus” comes from Act III of the opera, when the slaves long for their homeland and sing “Va, pensiero, sull’ali dorato” (“Fly, thought, on golden wings”). In the passage, the author suggests that the fans’ humming or chanting of songs (to encourage their team or taunt the opposition) is mournful and sad like Verdi’s famous chorus.Thierry Henri is a French football player who has been an outstanding striker in England (for Arsenal) and Spain (for Barcelona) and for the French national team.John Motson commented on football for BBC radio and television for 30 years, covering well over 1,000 matches including all major championships in Britain, Europe and the World. He was very popular with football fans and was regarded as the BBC’s “voice of soccer”.A yellow card is shown to a football player by the referee as a warning for reckless or illegal play. A red cardmeans that the player has infringed the rules more severely and he is sent off the field and cannot continue to play. A second yellow card automatically means a red card.Injury time is time which, because of stopped play with injuries, is added at the end of the game. This time, perhaps several minutes, can be crucial win-or-lose moments in a close game.The offside rule is a soccer rule that limits how far forward the attacking players may be when they are involved in play. A player cannot gain an advantage by waiting for the ball near the opponents’ goal: There must be at least two opponents between him and the goal. The rule can be complex and controversial in its interpretation, but it is important because if the referee signals offside, the opposing team gets an indirect free kick, which can be a great advantage.American football is a ball game with complex rules and intricate strategies, played in a number of countries but mainly in the US. Each team has 11 players on the field at a time (out of 46 in a whole team who are divided into offence, defence and specialized teams) and each player has a specialized role or task for each specific play. Players carry the egg-shaped ball and pass or hand it backwards to others (a “running play”) or throw it forwards to team-mates (a “passing play”). Opposing players may “tackle” a player running with ball (by pushing, grasping or pulling) or block other players. Plays usually begin with a “scrimmage” in which players on the field take up particular formations for offence and defence and consist of a series of “downs” 174。
