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Skills Test Unit 3 B (Reading - Writing)

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36 views3 pages

Skills Test Unit 3 B (Reading - Writing)

Uploaded by

Antonio Coito
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Reading

Fair play for women in football


In 2011, the Japanese women’s football team beat the United States to win the World Cup. It was big
news in Japan, and star players such as Homare Sawa became household names. It seemed that, at
last, women’s football in Japan was getting the attention and respect that it deserved. A year later,
however, when the team arrived at the airport to fly to the Olympic Games in London, the players
were shocked to discover that their national football association had booked seats in business class
for the men’s football team, but seats in the economy section of the plane for Homare and her
teammates. Despite all their success and self-sacrifice, they were still second-class citizens in the
world of football.
Since the first World Cup in 1991, women’s football has grown rapidly. In fact, it has become
arguably the fastest growing sport in the world. However, the astonishing story of how appallingly
the Japanese world champions have been treated is typical of the way that football associations and
sports media ignore and patronize women’s football. The situation is very unfair, and many people
believe that attitudes should change.
In recent years, women footballers have shown as much commitment to their sport as male
footballers, but they have earned very little in comparison to the millions of euros that even average
male professionals earn. It is, of course, true to say that men’s football raises a lot more money from
ticket sales and sales merchandise, and major men’s football matches get much bigger TV audiences
than women’s games, so nobody is suggesting that women should get the same pay as men.
However, what women in football want is more investment, support and exposure. Research at a
British university showed that, although almost half the football teams at the university were
women’s teams, they received 30% less funding than the men’s teams, they could only practise and
play on the best football pitches when the men’s teams didn’t need them, and, in the university
newspaper, very few of the sports articles were about women’s sport.
There are other reasons why women’s football deserves more support. First of all, the success of
women’s football has been very positive for society. It has persuaded more and more girls to take up
sport, and this has had enormous benefits in terms of improving the health and raising the self-esteem
of young women. Secondly, it has made young women realise that team sports are for them, and that
they can not only be participants, but they can also be knowledgeable supporters. This is good for
both men’s and women’s football. The number of female supporters at men’s games is rising these
days, and that’s because more and more women have played the game and fallen in love with it.

1
1 Read the text. Circle the correct answers (a–d).
1 As a result of winning the 2011 World Cup, some female Japanese footballers
a moved to the US to play football.
b joined the Japanese football association.
c became very well-known in Japan.
d were chosen to represent Japan at the Olympics.
2 On the flight to attend the Olympic Games
a only members of the national football association had seats in business class.
b all Japanese football players had to sit in the economy section of the plane.
c the women’s team sat in a different section to the men’s team.
d the members of the women’s team did not sit together.
3 According to the text, women’s football
a has rapidly become less popular in recent years.
b is undoubtedly bigger than any other sport.
c has become increasingly popular since the 1990s.
d is as big today as it was during the first World Cup in 1991.
4 The writer of the text argues that female footballers
a deserve to see more of their matches on TV and reported in newspapers.
b should earn the same as men because they show the same commitment.
c ought to work harder to raise money from ticket sales and merchandise.
d don’t play enough matches at universities in Britain.
5 According to the text, women’s football is good for society because
a it has encouraged more girls to participate in sport.
b more men are starting to watch women’s football.
c there are fewer women supporters at men’s games.
d young women think team sports are only for men.

2
Writing
2 You are at the summer tennis camp described in the advertisement. Write a personal letter
to your friend Polly, who is currently at a football camp in Scotland. Tell her your news.

SPRINGFIELD SUMMER TENNIS CAMP


Learn to play tennis with professional coaches
Stay at our residential campus complete with gym and swimming pool
Go on guided tours to local places of interest
For ages 12–18
Beginners, improvers and advanced players welcome

Write your letter. Use the plan to help you.


Paragraph 1: Start the letter and ask Polly how she is.

Paragraph 2: Describe how you feel about the camp.


Paragraph 3: Describe what you have learnt and what you have been doing.

Paragraph 4: Ask Polly for some information about her camp.

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