1. The British and Sport
The British are a sporting nation. Like everyone else they love football -in fact, they invented it. Most British towns and cities have a football team. Every year, each team plays in the Football Association competition. The two best teams play in the Cup Final at Wembley Stadium in London. Some fans pay up to £250 for a ticket for the Cup Final. It is one of the biggest sporting events of the year.
Cricket is a typically British game. The only other countries that play are Pakistan, India, the West Indies, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Cricket is a summer game, lovely to watch from under old trees on a village ‘green’. It looks slow, but it can be exciting if you understand what’s going on. There are eleven men in each team. One man (‘the bowler') throws the ball, and a ‘batsman’ hits it with his bat.
Cricket is a very long game. The big international matches go on for five days. But in the real English way, the players always stop for tea.
Tennis is mother popular game in Britain. Every summer, in June, the biggest international tennis tournament takes place at Wimbledon, a suburb of London. There are strawberries and cream for sale, and everyone hopes the rain will stay away.
Many British people who live near the sea, a lake or a river enjoy sailing. If you are really enthusiastic, and rich enough to buy your own boat, you can take part in one of the annual sailing races or ‘regattas’ at Cowes, near Portsmouth, for example, or at Henley on the river Thames.
2. Football and Rugby
Britain’s national sport is football. During the football season (August to May) most professional footballers play two matches every week. Many people say this is too many because the players cannot devote to international games. The 22 best English teams play in the Premier League, run by the Football Association (the FA). The other professional teams play in the three divisions run by the Football League. Liverpool is the most successful team and has won the most games and tournaments.
Rugby is type of football. It is played with an oval ball and players can both kick or run with it. There are two types of rugby: in Rugby Union there are teams of 15 players, who are amateurs. In Rugby League there are 13 players in a team, the players are all professionals.
3. Sport in the USA
Baseball is the most popular summer sport in America. The first American baseball match was in 1839 in New York, but some people think that baseball comes from a much older game called rounder, played in Europe for many years.
To play baseball, you need two teams of nine players. The ‘pitcher’ throws the ball, and the ‘batter’ hits it with a bat.
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 every year.
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 very different game. The players can run with the ball, touch and push each other. The field looks different and even the ba!' is a different shape. Players wear special clothes for American football, with helmets on their heads, because the game can be dangerous. Like international football teams, American teams have eleven players.
Basketball is another popular game in America. Only five people play in each team. One American basketball team, the Harlem Globetrotters, is famous all over the world. These extraordinary sportsmen, all very tall, have shown the world that sport can be funny as well as exciting.
Americans love winter sports, and ice hockey is a great favorite. This game, the national sport of Canada, is very fast, and can be dangerous. So if you play ice hockey, remember to wear your helmet!
4. Did you see the game last night?
Spectator sports in America are an obsession. Many people attend sporting events, listen to sports on the radio, and watch games on television. People of every age, race, and class buy sports magazines; the most widely sold is Sports Illustrated. Almost every major newspaper has a sports section.
Sports are often a topic of conversation. People talk about game scores, what happened during the game, or predictions about the strategy and success of specific teams and players.
Children are encouraged to participate in sports at an early age.
There are children’s baseball, soccer, football, and basketball teams in almost every community. The rivalry between high schools and colleges in sporting events goes right through the school year from football in September to track and field in June. Cheerleaders and bands lead the supporters in rooting for their home team.
Sports are important in college. Students who show talent in a sport like tennis, track and field, swimming, football, or basketball can apply for sports scholarships. College football still attracts big crowds today. The best college players are selected by professional teams.
Задание 2. Переведите вторую и четвертую части текста.
2. Футбол и регби
Британский национальный вид спорта-футбол. Во время футбольного сезона (август-май) большинство профессиональных футболистов проводят по два матча в неделю. Многие люди говорят, что это слишком много, потому что игроки не могут посвятить международные игры. В число 22 лучших Английские команды играют в Премьер-Лиге, управляемой Футбольной ассоциацией (FA). Другие профессиональные команды играют в трех дивизионах футбольной Лиги. "Ливерпуль" - самая успешная команда, выигравшая наибольшее количество матчей и турниров.
Регби-это вид футбола. Он играет с овальным мячом, и игроки могут как удар или бежать с ним. Существует два вида регби: в регбийном Союзе есть команды 15 игроков-любителей. В регби есть 13 играет в команде, все игроки-профессионалы.
4. Ты видел игру вчера вечером?
Зрительский спорт в Америке-это одержимость. Многие люди посещают спортивные мероприятия, слушать Спорт по радио, смотреть игры по телевизору. Люди всех возраст, раса и класс покупают спортивные журналы; наиболее широко продаются спортивные иллюстрации. Почти в каждой крупной газете есть спортивный раздел.
Спорт часто является темой для разговора. Люди говорят о результатах игр, что случалось во время игры или прогнозы о стратегии и успехе конкретные команды и игроки.
Детям рекомендуется заниматься спортом в раннем возрасте.
В бейсбольных, футбольных, футбольных и баскетбольных командах каждое сообщество. Соперничество между вузами и колледжами в спортивных мероприятиях идет прямо через учебный год от футбола в сентябре до легкой атлетики в Июнь. Болельщицы и группы ведут сторонников в болеть за свою домашнюю команду.
Спорт важен в колледже. Студенты, которые показывают талант в таком виде спорта, как теннис, легкая атлетика, плавание, футбол или баскетбол могут претендовать на спортивные стипендии. Футбол по-прежнему привлекает большие толпы. Лучшие игроки колледжа выбраны профессиональными командами.