W6/Unit 4. Practice 2(12) Extreme sports

Extreme sports

W6/Unit4. Hobbies and Sports: Practice 2(12). Extreme sports

Extreme sports give people a strong sense of risk, thrill, and excitement. They are physically demanding, and they often involve speed and height. One reason many people participate in extreme sports is because of the “adrenaline rush” they get. Another reason is because they like a challenge. People who choose extreme sports want to experience something very different from daily life.

Even though they may be dangerous, extreme sports are popular with people in many parts of the world. Some people like to participate in these sports, while others just like to watch them. Here are some of the most popular extreme sports.

01

Bungee Jumping

This sport involves jumping from a very tall structure, such as a bridge or high building, while attached to a long elastic cord. The excitement comes from the free fall after you jump. The cord stops you at the end of fall and makes you bounce up and down. Bungee jumping was first done in New Zealand but is now common in many countries.

01

Hang Gliding

In this air sport, you pilot a hang glider, a very light aircraft that does not have a motor. Most people only use the movements of their bodies to control the glider. Hang gliders can fly very high and cover great distance and also perform amazing stunts in the sky.

01

Mountaineering

This is one of the most popular sports. It combines mountain hiking and climbing. Sometimes it includes skiing in snow-covered areas. Maybe this sport is so popular because it can be more extreme or less extreme depending on the difficulty of the mountain you choose to climb. It is a sport that any physically fit person can do.

01

Mountain Biking

Mountain bikes have stronger frames than other bikes. They are usually wider and have larger tires. The gears are designed to help bikers climb steep hills and ride over rough areas. The handlebars allow you to sit up straighter than on other bikes. Mountain biking activities include riding over rough, open areas in the country and riding up and down steep hills. Some mountain bikers do stunts while riding.

01

Surfing

A surfer rides the crest of a wave as it rolls toward the shore. The most extreme surfers ride huge waves that are more than 20 feet (about 6 meters) high. There are two different types of surfboards: long and short. Each type of board requires a different surfing style. Surfing is probably one of the oldest extreme sports. It has been part of Polynesian culture for hundreds of years, but today it is popular around the world.

01

Snowboarding

Snowboarding began with a man’s gift for his daughter. He tied two skis together. There was a rope in front for her to steer with. Standing on this snowboard, his daughter could “surf” downhill in the snow. This toy, the Snurfer (from the words snow and surf) became hugely popular. Over time, people improved the original design, leading to the modern snowboard. Today, expert snowboarders try death-defying tricks and turns on their boards. They challenge themselves by snowboarding in mountainous places with deep snow and obstacles such as steep, rocky cliffs.

EXERCISE A Write the name of the sport that matches each description. 1. This sport is popular in the winter: ________________________________ 2. This is one of the oldest extreme sport: ________________________________ 3. People who don’t like too much risk can do this: ________________________________ 4. You can’t be afraid of heights to do these sports: _______________and ______________ 5. You spend time in the sky when you do this sport: ________________________________ 6. You do these sports where the land is steep: , __________, __________ and __________

EXERCISE B Match the words from the reading that are similar in meaning. 1. very (par. ) a. challenge (par. 1) 2. dangerous (par. 2) b. stunts (par. 6) 3. cord (par. 3) c. rope (par. 8) 4. control (par. 4) d. steer (par. 8) 5. difficulty (par. 5) e. hugely (par. 8) 6. tricks (par. 8) f. death-defying (par. 8)

EXERCISE C Recognizing Purpose Check (√) the writer’s main purpose in the reading. __1. to teach people how to do different extreme sports __2. to warn people about the dangers of different extreme sports __3. to give general information about different extreme sports __4. to convince people to try different extreme sports

EXERCISE D Relating Reading to Personal Experience Discuss these questions with your classmates. 1. Which of the extreme sports mentioned in the article would you like to try? Which ones would you never try? Why? 2. Can you think of a person you know or a famous athlete who does extreme sports? Which sport does this person do? Why do you think he or she likes extreme sports? 3. Where is the nearest place for you to go if you want to participate in or just watch the extreme sports mentioned in the article?

Thank you