Lesson 4. Extreme Sports

Getting ready for the task:

• Have you ever ridden a horse?
• Have you ever ridden a camel?
• Have you ever climbed a mountain?

Key words:

a hang gliding — a sport in which you fly while hanging from a frame like a kite
dehydration — losing too much water from body
tiredness — a feeling that you need to rest/to sleep
altitude — the height above sea level
a glider — a light aircraft that flies without an engine
injured — harmed, damaged
a bend — a curve, esp. a sharp one, in a river, road, or path
1

CW. Look at the photos and discuss the questions.

• What is an extreme sport?
• Have you ever participated in an adventure activity?
• Do you think that the people who are good at extreme sports are strong or talented?
• Why do some people choose extreme sports?
2

PW. Read the sample and make up a dialogue on extreme sports:

1. Fatima:
Hang gliding is a dangerous sport. Do you enjoy this sport? What kind of adventure sport do you like most?
Murad: ... .
2. Nuray:
We know, you are good at mountain climbing.
What are some dangers that you’ve experienced?
Tunar: ...
LISTEN AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS! Read Listening Material
Listen to the passage and answer the following questions.
  1. What is the passage mainly about?
    A) History of BASE jumping
    B) Young people’s favourite sports
    C) BASE jumping as an extreme sport
    D) Extreme sports in the 21st century
    E) Extreme sports against traditional sports
  2. Which is not mentioned according to the passage?
    A) Extreme sport athletes train themselves
    B) Mountain biking is a kind of extreme sport
    C) Extreme sports are dangerous and risky
    D) Extreme sports are major sports in 21st century
    E) Extreme sport athletes join sport shows very year
  3. Choose the correct statement.
    A) Base jumping is jumping without parachutes
    B) Base jumpers hate speed and height
    C) Extreme sports will never become popular
    D) Base jumping is jumping off tall buildings
    E) Soccer and baseball are extreme sports
  4. Which word has the closest meaning “a person who is proficient in sports”
  5. Complete the sentence according to the passage.
    Extreme sports will become … of the 21st century

An extreme sport is an activity with a higher level of danger. Many extreme sport athletes work on their own and without a coach. In extreme sports, there are fewer rules than in traditional sports. Heart-stopping activities such as mountain biking, snowboarding and skydiving are known as ‘extreme sports’. They are attracting more and more people, especially younger people. One of the most extreme of all these sports is BASE jumping. It started in 1980, BASE jumping is jumping off tall buildings, towers and bridges using a parachute. It’s dangerous, but of course that’s why BASE jumpers love it. Some experts predict that extreme sports will become the major sport of the 21st century. They may become more popular than traditional favourites - like soccer and baseball. At one recent extreme sports show in Chicago, most of the crowd were kids under sixteen.

  1. What is the passage mainly about?
    A) History of BASE jumping
    B) Young people’s favourite sports
    C) BASE jumping as an extreme sport
    D) Extreme sports in the 21st century
    E) Extreme sports against traditional sports
  2. Which is not mentioned according to the passage?
    A) Extreme sport athletes train themselves
    B) Mountain biking is a kind of extreme sport
    C) Extreme sports are dangerous and risky
    D) Extreme sports are major sports in 21st century
    E) Extreme sport athletes join sport shows very year
  3. Choose the correct statement.
    A) Base jumping is jumping without parachutes
    B) Base jumpers hate speed and height
    C) Extreme sports will never become popular
    D) Base jumping is jumping off tall buildings
    E) Soccer and baseball are extreme sports
  4. Which word has the closest meaning “a person who is proficient in sports”
    Answer: “athlete”
  5. Complete the sentence according to the passage.
    Extreme sports will become … of the 21st century
    Answer: “the major sports”