TEXT 1: READING SKILLS

Sports History
Baseball

Baseball is historically an American sport, which has spread to a number of other countries. Many
theories exist to explain how baseball extended into Latin America fromthe north in the
nineteenth century. Some experts believe that American marines first took it to Nicaragua; others
say that it was brought to Mexico by oil workers, or to Cuba by sailors. However it happened, the
region developeda great interest in the game and exported it farther toneighboring countries such
as Puerto Rico, Venezuela,and Panama. Missionaries, teachers, television, and more recently
U.S. professional players have spread baseball to Asian countries, and teams in the national
leagues in in Japan and Korea have many supporters.

Golf

Historians believe that golf originated in Scotland. As earlyas the 1400s, pebbles were knocked
into rabbit holes using a stick or club. In 1744, the first set of golfing regulations was created in
Edinburgh. In the nearby town of St. Andrews, the Society of St Andrews Golfers was formed,
which later became known as the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. Today, St Andrews
Links is one of the most famous courses in the world.

In 1888, a Scotsman named John Reid established the StAndrews Golf Club in New York. In
1895, the United States Golf Association was formed, and by 1901 there were more than 1,000
golf courses in the U.S. Around this time, golfers from Scotland and England were invited to the
U.S. to teach the sport to enthusiastic Americans. Since then, the U.S. has produced some of
the world’s leading golfers, and the sport now has fans worldwide.

Skiing

The oldest known ski (about 4,000 years old) was found in Sweden, but ancient people in many
parts of the world used pieces of wood to travel on snow. There are records of skiing in northern
China in the seventh century, and the Vikings used skis in the tenth and eleventh centuries.
Originally, skiing was used for transportation, but the people of Norway developed it into a sport
in the 1700s.

After ski lifts were invented in the 1930s, skiing spread toother countries in Europe and became a
popular winterpastime. It began in Chile and Argentina in the 1940s, and in Japan in the 1950s.
Now snow-making machinery makes skiing possible for a longer season every year.

Task 1: Circle the correct answer to complete each statement.

1
1. Baseball originally came from (Mexico / Canada / the United States).

2. Golf originally came from (France / Scotland / Italy).

3. The first golfing rules were created in the (1700s / 1800s / 1900s).

4. Skiing was developed by the (Swedes / Norwegians / Swiss).

5. Skiing was first used for (transportation / exercise / a sport).

Reading skill: Scanning

We often use scanning in daily life to find a piece of information that we need.Some
examples are looking for a telephone number in the phone book, finding a word in a
dictionary, or finding the answer to a question.

Task 2: Complete the statements, then discuss your answers with a partner.

1. Baseball moved from ______________ to the nineteenth century (the 1800s).

2. The first set of golfing rules was created in the city of __________________

3.__________________is one of the most famous golf courses in the world.

4. Skiing became popular internationally after_____________ were invented.

Task 3: Check the correct boxes. More than one answer may be correct.

Baseball Golf Skiing

1. This sport started in Europe.
2. This sport was first used for everyday life.
3. Workers brought this sport to other countries.
4. The rules for this sport are very old.
5. This sport has spread to many countries.

Task 4: For each group, circle the word that does not belong. The words in italics are
vocabulary items from the reading.

1. extend spread enlarge reduce

2. skilled amateur professional expert
3. independent league group organization
4. rule law opinion regulation

2
5. establish start create close
6. happy enthusiastic uninterested excited
7. fan supporter critic enthusiast
8. time period season variety

Task 5: Complete the sentences using the words in italics from Task 4. Be sure to use the
correct form of the word.

1. Tina is a big _________ of the Chicago Buils; she never misses a game the team plays during
their whole_____________every year.
2. The Danube River begins in the north of Europe and ____________ south into many countries
including Germany, Austria, and Hungary.
3. One of the __________ of Little League Baseball is that a player cannotbe older than 18.
4. In 1858, the first-ever amateur - the National Baseball Association of Baseball Players was
______in the United States.

TEXT 2
Look at the sentences below about a company which organises sports camps.Then read the
text to decide if each sentence is correct or incorrect. If it is correct, mark A on your
answer sheet. If it is not correct, mark B on your answer sheet.

1. Some centres are open all winter.

2. The activities available depend on the weather.
3. Action Sports Camps courses are unsuitable for people who are excellent at sport.
4. You need to have your own sports equipment.
5. Children and adults spend some time together each day.
6. Some of the staff are unqualified.
7. Action Sports Camps only recommend accommodation of a high quality.
8. You have to pay the total fee one month after you book.
9. Action Sports Camps charge you more if you pay with your credit card.
10. If you cancel three weeks before your camp, you will get half your money back.

ACTION SPORTS CAMP

Action Sports Camps provide activity holidays for children
aged over five and adults. We offer training in over twenty
sports at ten different centres throughout the UK. All the
centres are open from April until October, and some
open during the winter for weekend courses. The sports
offered differ from one centre to another, so if you want to
do something in particular, you should check our colour
brochure.

3
The camps are not just limited to outdoor sports - we cover a wide range of indoor activities as
well. So if the rain comes, the camps continue, although you may have to take off your football
boots and pick up a squash racket instead. With the experience we've gained over the years, we
put together the right mix of sport and activities providing sport for all, not just for those who are
brilliant at athletics. It is unnecessary to bring any equipment because it is all provided.

We work in small groups, children working with others of their own age, but we do all come
together for social activities and meals. So different members of a family can make their own
individual choices, but they get a chance to exchange their experiences later on.

Our centres offer first-class accommodation, food and facilities - and the staff are first-class too.
Qualified teachers or professionals receive training from us, and many work with us year after
year. We always employ qualified staff for activities such as swimming, trampolining and
gymnastics, but some of the assistants organising the children's games are students, many of
whom came to the camp themselves when they were younger.

At most of our centres, accommodation is in a hostel or tents. It is not possible for us to arrange
other accommodation, but we can send you a list of what is available in the area. Most of the
places are recommended to us, but not all, so we are not responsible for the quality of the
accommodation on this list. Luxury accommodation is not available near our camps.

To book a place at a sports camp, complete the form and send it with a cheque for the deposit to
the address below. The rest of the fee can be paid at any time, but we must receive it at least one
month before your camp. Please note, to keep costs down, you are charged 2.5% extra by us if
you pay with your credit card. You will receive a letter of confirmation within ten days of sending
your form. Cancellations made up to a month before the camp are refunded in full apart from a
5% administration fee. Fifty per cent of the fee is refunded if a cancellation is made up to two
weeks before the date of the camp. After that, no refunds can be given.

Task 1: Read the instructions to the Exam Task.

1. How many sentences are there?

2. What are the sentences about?

3. What do you have to read?

4. What do you have to decide?

5. When do you mark A on your answer sheet?

6. When do you mark Bon your answer sheet?

4
Task 2: Read sentences 1-10 to get a good idea what the text is about. Match the sentences to
the topics that they refer to.

Topics Questions
a. places to stay 7
b. how the day is organised
c. cancellations
d. what happens if it rains
e. what you need to take
f. when to pay
g. when they are open
h. staff qualifications
i. method of payment
j. who the courses are suitable for

Task 3: Read the text to find the information you need. For each sentence (1-10), mark the
part of the text where you think the answer is.

1. Look at the sentences again.

2. Compare them with your underlined text.
3. Decide whether the sentence is correct orincorrect.

Exam tip

You don't need to understand every word in the text to answer the questions. Some
parts of the text aren't tested, so don't worry about them.

TEXT 3. The people below all want to learn a new sport. On the next page there are
descriptions of eight sports centres. Decide which sports centre would be the most suitable
for the following people. For questions 1–5, mark the correct letter (A–H).
A. Suzanne's Riding School B. Lackford Sailing Club
You can start horse-riding at any age. Choose Our Young Sailor's Course leads to the Stage
private or group lessons any weekday 1 Sailing qualification. You'll learn how to sail
between 9 a.m. and 8.30 p.m. (3.30 p.m. on safely and the course also covers sailing
Saturdays). There are 10 kilometres of tracks theory and first aid. Have fun with other
and paths for leisurely rides across farmland course members afterwards in the clubroom.
and open country. You will need a riding hat. There are 10 weekly two-hour lessons
(Tuesdays 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.).
C. Adonis Dive Centre D. Windmill Tennis Academy
Our experienced instructors offer one- month Learn to play tennis in the heart of the city and
courses in deep-sea diving for beginners. have fun at our tennis weekends. Arrive on
There are two evening lessons a week, in Friday evening, learn the basic strokes on
which you learn to breathe underwater and Saturday and play in a competition on
use the equipment safely. You only need a Sunday. There's also a disco and swimming
5
swimming costume and towel. Reduced rates pool. White tennis clothes and a racket are
for couples. required.
E. Hilton Ski Centre F. Avon Watersports Club
If you take our 20-hour course a week or two We use a two-kilometre length of river for
before your skiing holiday, you'll enjoy your speedboat racing and water-skiing. A
holiday more. Learn how to use a ski-lift, how beginners' course consists of ten 20- minute
to slow down and, most importantly, how to lessons. You will learn to handle boats safely
stop! The centre is open from noon to 10 p.m. and confidently, but must be able to swim.
Skis and boots can be hired. The club is in a convenient central position
and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with
lessons all through the day.
G. Glenmorie Golf Club H. Hadlow Aero Club
After a three-hour introduction with a Enjoy a different view of the countryside from
professional golfer, you can join this golf club. one of our two- seater light aeroplanes. After a
The course stretches across beautiful rolling 50- hour course with our qualified instructor,
hills and is open from dawn until dusk daily. you could get your own pilot's licence.
There are regular social evenings on Beginners' lessons for over-18s are arranged
Saturdays in the club bar. You will need your on weekdays after 4 p.m.
own golf equipment.

NO People Details Centre

Dionysis works in the city centre and wants to take

up a sport that he can do regularly in his lunch
1.
hour. He enjoys activities which are fast and a bit
dangerous.

John and Betty already play golf at weekends.

Now they have retired, they want to learn a new
2. activity they can do together in the mornings in the
countryside.

In six weeks’ time, Juan is having a holiday on a

Caribbean island, where he plans to explore the
3. ocean depths. He has a 9-to-5 job and wants to
prepare for this holiday after work.

6
 Tomoko and Natalie are 16. They want to do an
activity one evening a week and get a certificate at
4.
the end. They would also like to make new friends.

Alice has a well-paid but stressful job. She would

like to take up a sport which she can do outside
5. the city each weekend. She also wants to get to
know some new people.