Sports in the USA

Sports play an important part in American life. Professional baseball and football games attract large crowds. Many people watch sports on television. Although many parents complain about their children being couch potatoes, there are sports sessions at schools for all ages. College students are usually also required to take physical education classes to complete their studies.

Many popular keep-fit activities began in the USA. Charles Atlas, Arnold Schwarzenegger and others have inspired people to take up body-building. Many women joined the ‘fitness craze’ as a result of video workouts produced by stars like Jane Fonda and Cindy Crawford which they could watch and take part at home. New fitness books are continually published. They create fashion for new types of exercise. These are such types of exercise as wave aerobics, which is done in a swimming pool. Cardio kickboxing is a form of aerobics which involves punching and kicking a punchbag. Many rich Americans employ their own personal trainers, either at home or at a fitness centre, to direct their exercise programmes.

Baseball is the most popular sport in America. Americans start playing baseball young. There are “leagues” which children of eight can join. The top players become big stars and earn a lot of money.

Americans play tennis, hockey and most other international sports. But they do not play football in the same way as the rest of the world. American football is a different game. The players can run with the ball, touch and push one another. The field looks different and even the ball is of different shape. Players wear special clothes. They have helmets on their heads because the game can be dangerous.

Basketball is another popular game in America. Only five people play in each team. Some American basketball teams are famous all over the world. These are, for example, the Chicago Bulls and the Harlem Globetrotters.

Americans love winter sports. Ice hockey is a great favourite. This game is very fast and can be dangerous. So, it’s a good thing to wear your helmet.

Essay 7:

Joining sports clubs is becoming more and more popular with people who want to be physically active. However, some people think that taking regular exercises on their own using special guides and DVD courses is much more useful. What is your opinion?

Essay 8:

Some people say that men are more interested in sport than women. Do you agree? What is your opinion?

( Aphanasyeva Task ) Extreme sports have become more and more popular. However, some people say they are a risk to health. What can you say for and against doing extreme sports?

Extreme sports have become very popular in some countries. Those who do them are mainly people who are physically fit and enjoy the excitement of white water rafting, bungee jumping and sky surfing. However, there may be risks connected with extreme sports that may discourage people from doing them.

Many people consider that there is nothing that compares to the thrill that extreme sports can give you. They help you to overcome your fear of danger and develop your powers of concentration. In addition, they are cheap enough for almost anyone to take part in and do not require a lot of special equipment. Some enthusiasts say that they help them with stress in their everyday lives.

On the other hand, some doctors argue that people who go in for risky sports regularly may have health problems later in life. These include damage to your knees and ankles which may even bring on arthritis when you are older. Furthermore, some health professionals say that people over thirty should not take part in extreme sports because they are not so fit and they could injure themselves.

To sum up, it may be wise to consider the risks to your health before taking up an extreme sport and to avoid it if you think you might not be really healthy. If you are willing to accept the risks, then there is nothing to stop you from enjoying extreme sports.

(Muzlanova,Task 33). Extreme sports have taken off in a big way over the last twenty years. However, quite a few people object to these dangerous sports, highlighting the risk of accident.

What is your opinion? Do you understand people who are fond of extreme sports?

There is no doubt that extreme sports are becoming more and more popular nowadays. Nevertheless, these sports are considered rather dangerous and it is quite difficult to understand why people put their lives at risk.

As for me, I can understand people who are addicted to risky sports. First of all, they try extreme sports for the thrill and excite­ment. They just want a new experience and new emotions to con­quer. For them extreme sport is an antidote to our safety-first, shrink-wrapped world. Besides, risky sports enable people to con­front fears and to satisfy their curiosity. Finally, young people are likely to take risks because they want to look daring and outrageous.

However, parents are often against extreme sports because of the possibility of injury. They are also afraid that young people will become addicted to taking risks. As a matter of fact, many ex­treme sports are even less dangerous than traditional ones. Im­provements in equipment allow the reduction in risk and if you do not take things to the edge, extreme sports are rather safe. In ad­dition, risky sports help people to relax and to find new friends who share the same passion. In my opinion, it is much better than drug addiction.

To sum up, I strongly believe that extreme sports are as ben­eficial as traditional kinds. They offer the opportunity to carve your own path and find out where your limits lie. Personally, I am not a risk taker but I respect people who go to extremes.

Fill in the table “Extreme Sport: Pros & Cons” and write the essays:

Essay 9: Extreme sports have taken off over the last twenty years and they are becoming more and more popular. However, some people think that risking life should be forbidden by law. What is your opinion? Why do you think people are attracted to dangerous sports or other dangerous activities? Do you think it is right to stop people from taking risks? Would you like to try any life-threatening sports that claim the lives of many people?

Topic 40

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Дата добавления: 2015-11-14