Vocabulary Work

Use the context to guess the approximate meanings of the words.

1. Some take electric generators. Others heat their irons on gas stoves.

2. However, the quality of the ironing is important, too. Each item must be well pressed.

3. Some teams have corporate sponsors. The German corporation Rowenta, an iron maker, pays for Shaw's team.

4. One team ironed while on a kayak in the Atlantic Ocean.

1. The following words are in the readings. Find other words that are related to them.

compete

corporation

champion

competition

champion

Discussion

1. What do you think of extreme ironing and professional eating? Are they sports? Would you participate in them?

2. Are there any other sports that you think are silly?

PART II Read the next article to find the answers to these questions.

1. According to the writer, which of these activities are sports? figure skating golf gymnastics baseball

2. How did he make his decision?

3. Do all athletes participate in sports?

4. Is everyone who participates in a sport an athlete?

(READING)

What Makes a Sport? What is a sport? In my opinion, there are some activities that are definitely sports: baseball, football, basketball, hockey, golf, and bowling. And there are some activities that are definitely not sports: cheerleading, dance, figure skating, and gymnastics. How did I decide? An activity is not a sport if a judge or a group of judges chooses the winner. The competition itself should decide the result. Judges decide the winners of figure skating, cheerleading, dance, and gymnastics competitions. Therefore, none of them are sports. In the non-sports listed, judges determine the winners based on their opinions. Judges are human and many things can influence them. Maybe they think one competitor wins too often or not enough. Perhaps they don't like one of the contestants. Perhaps they just prefer one competitor's music or their clothes. The point is that we can never be certain that the winner was really the best. Of course, you might say that every sport has judges. Umpires in baseball and referees in basketball make decisions, too. However, one bad decision by an official doesn't decide the winner of these games. The competition does. According to my definition, activities like bowling, Ping-Pong, and even curling are sports. The person or team that has more points or finishes first wins. The opinion of a judge is not necessary.

There is one more important point. You can be an athlete and not participate in a sport. Cheerleaders, dancers, gymnasts, and figure skaters are incredible athletes. Their activities require a lot of athleticism, strength, and flexibility. They are athletes, but they do not participate in sports. They participate in athletic competitions. In addition, you can participate in a sport and not be an athlete. Bowlers and golfers do not have to be great athletes. They are people with a specific skill, but they are not athletes.

There is one exception to my definition. NASCAR is not a sport. It is simply entertainment. And, in my opinion, it's not even good entertainment.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14