Sports

Vocabulary Building

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Keywords	Main word	Example sentence
team sport (6 players), ball, net	volleyball	We played volleyball on the beach yesterday.
small ball, gloves, baseball cap	baseball	My brother wears his baseball cap every day.
basket	basketball	The children play basketball in the school yard.
KO, gloves, ring	boxing	My father watches boxing on TV on Saturdays.
grass, to hit a ball, wooden bat	cricket	Many people in England enjoy watching cricket in summer.
bicycle	cycling	Cycling is good for your health and the environment.
grass, to kick the ball, to score a goal, penalty	football	They scored a goal in the last minute of the football match.
fast cars	formula-1	Formula-1 races are very loud and exciting.
to hit a ball, holes	golf	My grandfather plays golf every Sunday morning.
ice, team sport, stick, puck	ice hockey	In Canada, many children learn to play ice hockey.
black belt	judo	She has a black belt in judo after ten years of practice.
boat, paddle	rowing	Rowing is hard work but it makes your arms strong.
oval ball, 13 or 15 players	rugby	The rugby players got very dirty during the rainy match.
boat, wind	sailing	We went sailing on the lake last summer.
moving on ice on skates	skating	Skating is fun but you need to practice to not fall.
snow, not snowboard, to glide	skiing	I go skiing with my family every winter in the mountains.
snow, not skiing, a wide ski	snowboard	You need good balance for snowboard.
ping-pong	table tennis	Table tennis is a popular indoor sport in many schools.
motorcycle	motor racing	Motor racing is very fast and dangerous.
grass or clay court, 2 players or 2 pairs, racket	tennis	My sister plays tennis twice a week after school.

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Popular Sports Around the World

There are many different sports people enjoy playing and watching. Some sports need a team, while others you can play alone.

Volleyball is a team sport with six players. They hit a ball over a net. Baseball players use gloves to catch a small ball and wear baseball caps. In basketball, players try to throw the ball into a basket to score points.

Boxing is a fighting sport. Boxers wear gloves and fight in a ring. A KO means "knock out" when one boxer wins.

Cricket is played on grass. Players hit a ball with a wooden bat. Cycling is a sport where people ride bicycles. It's good exercise and also a way to travel.

Football (or soccer in America) is very popular. Players kick a ball on grass and try to score a goal. If someone breaks the rules in the penalty area, the other team gets a penalty kick.

Formula-1 is a sport with very fast cars. In golf, players hit a small ball into holes on a special field.

Ice hockey is played on ice. It's a team sport where players use sticks to hit a puck. In judo, the best fighters earn a black belt.

Rowing is a sport where people use boats with paddles to move on water. Rugby is similar to football but players carry an oval ball and there are 13 or 15 players in a team.

In sailing, people use boats that move with the wind. Skating means moving on ice with skates. Skiing and snowboard are winter sports on snow. In skiing, you have two long skis, but in snowboard, you have just one wide ski.

Table tennis, also called ping-pong, is played on a table with a small ball. Motor racing is a fast sport with motorcycles. Tennis is played on a grass or clay court with rackets by 2 players or 2 pairs.

Reading Comprehension Questions:

How many players are in a volleyball team?
What do baseball players use to catch the ball?
What do boxers wear on their hands?
What do cricket players use to hit the ball?
What do football players try to score?
What do ice hockey players use to hit the puck?
What is another name for table tennis?

True/False Statements:

Formula-1 is a sport with slow cars.
In judo, the best fighters get a black belt.
Rugby has fewer players than volleyball.
Skiing and snowboard are summer sports.
In tennis, there can be 4 players in a match.
Boxing happens in a field.
Cycling is only for transportation, not a sport.

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Personal Questions

Do you watch [volleyball | boxing | football | formula-1 | rugby]? Example (football): "Yes, I do. I often watch football since it's very popular in my country. I like to watch it with my friends on weekends. My favorite team is Manchester United. We sometimes make food and watch important matches together."

How often do you watch [baseball | cricket | ice hockey | motor racing | tennis]? Example (tennis): "I watch tennis about twice a month. I especially like to watch big tournaments like Wimbledon. I don't understand all the rules, but I enjoy seeing the fast games. Sometimes I watch highlights on my phone."

Do you play [football | basketball | golf | table tennis | cycling]? Example (basketball): "Yes, I do. I play basketball at school twice a week. I'm not very tall, but I'm fast. I usually play with my classmates after lessons. It's good exercise and very fun."

Where do people play [volleyball | tennis | ice hockey | golf | rugby]? Example (golf): "People play golf on special fields with grass and holes. These places are called golf courses. They are very big and have 18 holes. Players need to walk a lot between shots."

What equipment do you need for [boxing | skiing | sailing | tennis | cycling]? Example (cycling): "For cycling, you need a bicycle, of course. You also need a helmet for safety. Some people wear special clothes and shoes. If you ride at night, you need lights too."

Why do people enjoy [football | basketball | swimming | tennis | boxing]? Example (swimming): "People enjoy swimming because it's good exercise for the whole body. It's also fun and refreshing in hot weather. Some people like to swim in competitions. It's also a good way to relax."

Which is more exciting, [football | basketball | boxing | formula-1 | ice hockey] or [tennis | golf | cycling | sailing | rowing]? Example (football vs. tennis): "I think football is more exciting than tennis because there are more players and goals. The fans are very loud and happy when their team scores. Tennis is quieter and slower. I prefer team sports."

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4: One-Minute Talking Points

1. Volleyball

What is volleyball? (team sport, net, ball)
Types you know? (beach, indoor)
Do you play it? When?
Equipment needed for volleyball?
Difficult or easy? Why?
Popular in your country?
Best place to play volleyball?
Watch on TV? Which teams?

2. Football

What is football? (kick ball, goals)
Famous players you know?
Play or just watch? How often?
Rules you understand about football?
Your favorite team? Why?
Watch World Cup matches?
Football in schools in your country?
Better than other sports? Why?

3. Basketball

What is basketball? (throw ball, basket)
Play in school or elsewhere?
Famous basketball players?
Height important for basketball players?
Watch NBA games?
Basketball courts near your home?
Skills needed for good players?
Fun to play? Why?

4. Tennis

What is tennis? (racket, court, net)
Play tennis? How often?
Famous tennis players you know?
Equipment needed for tennis?
Singles or doubles preference?
Tennis courts in your area?
Watch tennis tournaments? Which ones?
Good exercise? Why?

5. Swimming

What is swimming? (water sport, strokes)
Can you swim? How well?
Where do you swim usually?
Swimming styles you know?
Important skill to learn? Why?
Swimming in your school?
Best season for swimming?
Safety rules for swimming?

6. Cycling

What is cycling? (bicycle, wheels, ride)
Have a bicycle? What kind?
Cycle for sport or transportation?
Places you like to cycle?
Safety equipment for cycling?
Mountain or road cycling preference?
Cycling competitions you know?
Good for health? How?

7. Boxing

What is boxing? (fighting, gloves, ring)
Watch boxing matches? When?
Famous boxers you know?
Dangerous sport? Why?
Boxing training in your area?
Skills needed for boxing?
Age to start learning boxing?
Boxing in Olympics - watch it?

8. Ice Hockey

What is ice hockey? (ice, stick, puck)
Popular in your country?
Watch ice hockey games?
Equipment needed for players?
Dangerous or safe sport?
Famous teams you know?
Ever tried playing? Experience?
Winter Olympics ice hockey - interesting?

9. Skiing

What is skiing? (snow sport, mountains)
Ever been skiing? Where?
Equipment needed for skiing?
Skiing locations near you?
Difficult to learn? Why?
Winter holiday activity?
Dangerous aspects of skiing?
Skiing or snowboard preference? Why?

10. Golf

What is golf? (clubs, holes, ball)
Ever played golf? Where?
Famous golf players?
Golf courses in your area?
Expensive sport? Why?
Skills needed for golf?
Relaxing or boring sport?
Age limits for playing golf?

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Everyone should play sports

Linkers: It's true, but..., I agree because..., I don't agree..., On the other hand..., For example...

For

Sports keep people healthy — keywords: exercise, strong, heart
Sports teach teamwork and cooperation — keywords: team, share, help
Sports build discipline and good habits — keywords: practice, routine, focus
Sports help people make friends — keywords: friends, meet, talk
Sports are fun and reduce stress — keywords: fun, smile, relax

Against

Sports can cause injuries and pain — keywords: hurt, broken, pain
Sports can be expensive for some families — keywords: fees, kit, travel
Sports take time from study or work — keywords: time, study, busy
Sports can create pressure to win or perform — keywords: stress, pressure, nervous
Not everyone can play because of illness or disability — keywords: health, limit, not able